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population graze, frolic, and give birth to new life on the lot in question. I have included with <br /> this letter,pictures that I have taken of the some of the wildlife. The wildlife will suffer if the <br /> variance is granted to Solid Rock Church. The local deer population will diminish, if not, cease <br /> to exist, if the land is ever developed on due to disrupting their habitat with further human <br /> development. This lot also holds multiple old trees that house a vast array of birds, insects, and <br /> nocturnal creatures. It would be a shame to tear down these trees that are appeasing to the eye, <br /> providing habitats to numerous creatures, and providing cleaner air to the city of Elk River, thus <br /> reducing pollution. Furthermore, tree preservation is a component of the comprehensive plan. It <br /> states in the comprehensive plan, "Establish tree preservation and protection standards to <br /> maintain the integrity of the City's natural vegetation". There are numerous components of the <br /> city of Elk River's comprehensive plan that do not support this variance. As it appears in the <br /> comprehensive plan, as a member of council, you need to "Evaluate all proposals for industrial <br /> development in order to minimize the impacts on municipal and natural systems". It is your job <br /> to uphold the vision of the comprehensive plan. Therefore, please consider the affect this <br /> variance would have on the trees and wildlife, even down to the smallest creature and/or plant. <br /> What the city may feel is a minor change to the land, could vastly impact the food chain and <br /> ecosystems, not just in the Brentwood neighborhood, but in the surrounding areas as well. Open, <br /> natural spaces should and need to be preserved. The city of Elk River needs to uphold the vision <br /> of the comprehensive plan and"Develop,preserve and protect environmental resources within <br /> the area, such as forest, wetlands, water bodies and shorelines, with respect to open space, <br /> recreational uses, water and air quality, and natural ecosystems" and "Require that development <br /> plans demonstrate a compatibility with natural features and systems". Furthermore, developers <br /> should strive to preserve open spaces to execute the Greenway concept. The city of Elk River <br /> All information obtained from the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan Building the Future of Elk <br /> River,August 2004 Page 3 <br />