6.4. SR 05-20-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 23, 2002 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION, 1601 MINNESOTA DR, BRAINERD, MN 56401 Mr. Stephen Rohlf Elk River Building and Zoning Administrator 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, Minnesota 55330 De~Mr. Ro~ The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has reviewed the Wetland Conservation Act application submitted by Dynamics Design and Land Company for the Windsor Park 3ra Addition residential development project, and have the following comments. The wetlands that are proposed to be filled are biologically valuable. They have been designated as a site of modest biodiversity significance by our Minnesota County Biological Survey, and the state-threatened Blanding's turtle has been documented in surrounding sections of land. This area is one of five high-priority Blanding's turtle conservation areas in our 15-county region. A variety of wetland types need to be conserved in order to meet all of the annual life requisite needs (i.e., from summering and feeding habitat to overwinter habitat) of Blanding's turtles at different stages of their development (i.e., from hatchlings through adulthood). We do not believe the proposed plan, which crosses the wetland in three areas with roads and places approximately 82 houses right up to wetland edge is compliant with the principals of the Wetland Conservation Act. Specifically, we believe the applicant needs to explore the following options: 1. Create a looping road that crosses the wetland only at the e:dsting driveway (proposed fill area A), follows the upland southeast to the south property line, follows the south property line to the eastern upland area, and then angles northeast back to County Road 33. This would limit fill to proposed fill area A and possibly the extreme fringe of wetland 1. Impacts to the fringe of wetland 1 would be preferable to crossing it and fragmenting it two additional times. 2. Develop the property using three cul-de-sacs, either by requesting a variance from the city for allowable length in the western upland area, or by accepting a reduction in lot density. 3. Common to options 1 and 2 above, we believe the applicant should look at developing their property north of County Road 33 rather than the middle upland area immediately south of County Road 33. The middle upland area contains a lot of wetland edge, which is productive DNR Information: 612-296-6157, 1-800-766-6000 · TTY: 612-296-5484, 1-800-657-3929 An Equal Opportunity Employer ~.~ Printed on Recycled Paper Containing a Who Values Diversity l~ll~l~ Minimum of 10% Post-Consumer Waste