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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5B - Jeffers Pond16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: AGENDA ITEM: MAY 2, 2005 5B STEVE ALBRECHT, CITY ENGINEER CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING WETLAND REPLACEMENT PLAN FOR JEFFERS POND PROJECT NO. 03-31). THE (CITY DISCUSSION: History On January 18, 1994, the City Council passed Resolution 94-01 adopting the permanent rules of the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) of 1991. Along with this, the Council also assumed the role of local government unit (LGU) for making WCA determinations for landowners. The purpose of WCA is as follows: 1. Achieve a no net loss in the quantity, quality, and biological diversity of Minnesota's existing wetlands; 2. Increase the quantity, quality, and biological diversity of Minnesota's wetlands by restoring or enhancing diminished or drained wetlands; 3. Avoid direct or indirect impacts from activities that destroy or diminish the quantity, quality, and biological diversity of wetlands; and 4. Replace wetland values where avoidance of activity is not feasible or prudent. Current Circumstances The Jeffers Pond project wetland replacement plan application proposes to impact 1.37 acres of wetland. The WCA requires wetland mitigation of 2.74 acres for this project. Mitigation of these impacts is proposed by creation of 2.25 acres of new wetland and 1.37 acres of Public Value Credits on-site. The total proposed wetland mitigation is 3.62 acres, which exceeds WCA requirements for this project. The WCA Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) reviewed the proposed impacts and mitigation on November 16, 2004 and January 19, 2005. The complete wetland replacement plan application was received on March 21, 2005. A 30-day comment period was completed on April 25th for the project with no written comments received. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers did request via email that the City look at reducing the impacts due to trail crossings. City Staff supports this request and will require an impact reduction of 3,178 s.f. The G:~genda~genda05~Jeffers Pond WCA.DOC www. cit~ofpriorlake, corn Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 reduction can be achieved through the use of boardwalks and a small bridge. This results in a total approved impact of 1.31 acres. The 1.31 acres of proposed wetland impacts include 0.56 acres of impact for the elementary school site. Attached is a copy of the TEP "Findings and Conclusions" for this project, which is the basis for the staff recommendation. Conclusion Staff recommends that the Council approve the Wetland Replacement Plan for the Jeffers Pond Project. ALTERNATIVES: The alternatives are as follows: 1. Adopt the attached resolution that approves the Wetland Replacement plan for the Jeffers Pond Project. 2. Deny this item for a specific reason and provide staff with direction. 3. Table this item for specific reason. RECOMMENDED MOTION: REVIEWED BY: Frank Boyle~~/M~nager 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 RESOLUTION 05-XX RESOLUTION APPROVING THE WETLAND REPLACEMENT PLAN FOR THE JEFFERS POND PROJECT MOTION: SECONDED: WHEREAS, the applicant has prepared plans that avoid unnecessary wetland filling on the project to the greatest extent possible; and WHEREAS, sequencing criteria has been met; and WHEREAS, mitigation is proposed through the following combination: 2.25 acres of on-site new wetland credits and 1.37 acres of on-site public value credits. WHEREAS, the proposed mitigation plan shall be amended to reduce impacts by 3,178 s.f. for trail crossings. WHEREAS, the mitigation plan is in accordance with the Wetland Conservation Act and City of Prior Lake ordinances. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, that 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. The Wetland Replacement Plan for Jeffers Pond Project is hereby approved. Passed and adopted this 2nd day of May, 2005. YES NO Haugen Haugen Fleming Fleming LeMair LeMair Peterson Peterson Zieska Zieska {Seal} Frank Boyles, City Manager G:\Resolution\Resol05kJeffers Pond WCA.doc www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 Memorandum Honorable Mayor and City Council, City of Prior Lake From: Andrea Moffatt, WSB & Associates, Inc. Date: April 19, 2005 Re: WCA Replacement Plan Decision Jeffers Pond City of Prior Lake, MN WSB No. 1430-56 Attached, please find the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) decision documents for the Jeffers Pond site. Paul Oberg has applied for WCA approval of this project. Details of this project are outlined below: The Jeffers Pond project includes the development of 336 acres located south of CSAH 42 and west of CSAH 21. The development includes mixed use residential development, fire station, and elementary school. Public trails will also be constructed throughout the site. The project will impact up to 1.37 acres of wetland. Of this amount, 0.56 acres are associated with storm water pond construction for the school site. Additionally, wetland impact associated with the trail construction may be reduced 0.06 acres in the field during construction with the use of bridges, where feasible. However, since this may not be feasible, the permit is for 1.37 acres of impact. Wetland mitigation will be accomplished through 2.25 acres of on-site wetland creation (New Wetland Credit) and 1.37 acres of wetland buffers (Public Value Credit). This mitigation is in conformance with the Wetland Conservation Act. The applicant submitted a complete permit application for this project on March 21, 2005. The 30-day review period ends April 25, 2005. To date, the US Corps of Engineers has inquired about reducing the wetland impacts associated with the trail construction. Based on the above information and the Findings and Conclusions, we recommend that the City approve this WCA Replacement Plan application. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (763)287-7196. C: i WINDOWSiTemporary lnternet File~iOLK3 941MEMO-041905-hmcc. doc Name and Address of Local Government Unit: City of Prior Lake, 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue SE, Prior Lake, MN 55372 Name of Applicant: Paul Oberg Project Name: Jeffers Pond Type of Application (check one): Date of Decision: ~:!~i ~ Check One: I-~ Approved l"-] Exemption Decision [--] No Loss Decision ~ Replacement Plan Decision ~l Banking Plan Decision [~ Wetland Type/Boundary Decision [5(] Approved with conditions (see note on page 2 regarding use of wetland banking credits) [~] Denied Summary of Project/Findings and Conclusions (indicate exemption number per MN Rule 8420.0122, if applicable): The Jeffers Pond project includes the development of 336 acres located south of CSAH 42 and west of CSAH 21. The development will include single-family homes, townhomes, senior apartments, elementary school, fire station, parks, and trails. As part of this project, it is anticipated that 1.37 acres of wetland will be impacted. Of this total, 0.56 acres of impact is associated with excavation for a storm water pond on the elementary school site. Wetland mitigation will be accomplished on-site through the creation of 2.25 acres of New Wetland Credit and 1.37 acres of Public Value Credit (wetland buffers). This project was reviewed at TEP meetings on November 16, 2004 and January 19, 2005. It was discussed at these meetings that the wetland impact associated with the trail construction could be minimized by using bridges; however, this would need to be determined in the field. It is anticipated that the trail impacts could be reduced from 3,178 sf to 416 sfwith the use of bridges and that these bridges will be implemented into the design if feasible to do so. Therefore, while the overall impacts for this permit are 1.37 acres, this impact will be reduced to 1.31 acres with the use of bridges where feasible. It has been determined that wetland impacts have been avoided, minimized, rectified, and reduced to the greatest extent reasonable based on site constraints within the project area. For those impacts that could not be avoided, the proposed wetland replacement plan includes the following impact and mitigation plans: Page 1 of 3 C. qWINDOgVSiTemporary Internet FileslOLK3941WCA Decision Findings Conclusions Jeffers ~ Acres Permanent Wetland Fill 0.81 0.56 Wetland Excavation (Ponding) Total Impact 1.37 New Wetland Credit Created On-Site 2.25 Public Value Credit Created On-Site 1.37 Total Mitigation Provided Total Mitigation Required OVCA) 3.62 2.74 acres The submitted application is approved based on the following conditions: 1. Wetland impacts associated with the trail construction are further minimized in the field with the use of bridges or other means, as feasible. 2. The WCA Deed Forms are filed with the County, as required. Qualified by the above conditions, the wetland replacement plan has been determined to offset the wetland impacts and fully complies with the Wetland Conservation Act. List of Addressees: Landowner Mr. Paul Oberg 1000 Superior Blvd- Suite 210 Wayzata, MN 55391 Mr. Terry Jeffery Schoell and Madson 10580 Wayzata Blvd Minnetonka, MN 55305 Ms. Kelly Murray Wensmann Homes 1895 Plaza Drive, Suite 200 Eagan, MN 55122 Members of Technical Evaluation Panel Pete Beckius Scott SWCD 7151 W 190th St - Suite 125 Jordan, MN 55352 Les Lemm Board of Water and Soil Resources 520 Lafayette Road North Saint Paul, MN 55155 Watershed District or Watershed Management Organization Shannon Lotthammer PLSLWD 15815 Franklin Trail Suite 100 Prior Lake, MN 55372 Page 2 of 3 C: l WINDO WSI Temporary Internet Files lOLK3 941WCA Decision Findings Conclusions Jeffers ~ Department of Natural Resources Regional Office (select appropriate office): Central Region: Reg. Env. Assess. Ecol. Div. Ecol. Services 1200 Warner Road St. Paul, MN 55106 DNR TEP Representative (if different than above) Mr. Pat Lynch DNR Waters 1200 Warner Road St. Paul, MN 55106 US Corp of Engineers Christina Carballal Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District ATTN: CO-R, 190 Fifth Street East St. Paul, MN 55101-1638 You are hereby notified that the decision of the Local Government Unit on the above- referenced application was made on the date stated above. Pursuant to Minn. R. 8420.0250 any appeal of the decision must be commenced by mailing a petition for appeal to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of the mailing of this Notice. NOTE: Approval of Wetland Replacement Plan Applications involving the use of wetland banking credits is conditional upon withdrawal of the appropriate credits from the state wetland bank. No wetland impacts may commence until the applicant receives a copy of the fully signed and executed "Application for Withdrawal of Wetland Credits," signed by the BWSR wetland bank administrator certifying that the wetland bank credits have been debited. THIS DECISION ONL YAPPLIES TO the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act. Additional approvals or permits from local, state, and federal agencies may be required. Check with all appropriate authorities before commencing work in or near wetlands. LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT To be signed once approved by the City Signature Andrea Moffatt, Environmental Scientist Name and Title Date Page 3 of 3 C:lWINDOWSITemporary Internet FileslOLK3941WCA Decision Findings Conclusions Jeffers t