6.4. SR 07-15-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Howard R, Green Oompany July 2, 2002 File: 818000J-0240 Ms. Michele McPherson Director of Planning City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330-5600 RE: MISSISSIPPI OAKS THIRD ADDITION FINAL PLAT Dear Ms. McPherson: As requested, we have reviewed the final plat for the Mississippi Oaks Third Addition. The plat consists of 51 lots and is the completion of the Mississippi Oaks development. Based on our review, we would offer the following comments: Lots 19, 20, 24-29, Block 2 and Lots 1 and 2, Block 3 are along the Mississippi River bluff. The bluff line has never been designated on the grading plan. However, a settlement agreement struck between the developers of Mississippi Oaks and the City of Elk River concerning tree removal along the bluff line designates a "restricted zone" generally described as below elevation 872.0. Therefore, all areas below 872.0 should be covered by an easement. There is an easement shown in the final plat, but when the distance is scaled to elevation 872.0 on the grading plan, it does not line up with the easement line on the plat. The easement line should be farther toward the street on each of the lots by approximately ten feet. With no home construction allowed in the area covered by this easement and with the City requirement that homes have a 20-foot backyard area before bluffs and/or ponds and wetlands, the house pad restrictions on these lots would be down to approximately 30 feet in width. This width would seem to be unreasonable to build fairly expensive homes along the Mississippi River. We believe the developer should look at realigning Concord Street further away from the river to allow more depth in the building area for the lots along the river bluff. Also, the grading plan shows walk-out elevations at 871.0 on Lots 27 and 28, Block 2. Clearly, if the bluff is designated as below 872, these elevations will need to be raised above 872 so that there is no cutting of trees or excavating below 872. The grading plan does indicate some grading of the bluff which must be eliminated on Lot 2, Block 3. An Agreement About Vegetation Alterations needs to be recorded for each of the lots on the river bluff prior to any issuance of building permits on these lots. This agreement has been drafted by the developer's attorney and reviewed by the City Attorney previously for purposes of use in prior additions. This document cannot be recorded on the final plat; therefore, a separate document must be prepared for each individual lot. Ltr-062602-McPherson[1] 1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 · 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389