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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />8. The large, deep basin is believed to be an excavated pond for previous gravel mining operations. The <br />USACE may have regulatory authority over this basin and WCA may also regulate any proposed impacts. <br />Historical review data will be useful to better understand necessary regulations for this basin, specifically <br />if this area was previously wetland. Impacts to that basin should also be discussed during the pre- <br />application meeting. <br />9. The project will require an Environmental Assessment Work (EAW). One item to note is that Elk River <br />has known habitat for the Blanding’s turtle, which is identified as a rare and significant natural feature by <br />the DNR Natural Heritage Inventory System (NHIS). This will need to be addressed in the EAW. The <br />site is also home to many mature trees as noted during the wetland delineation review. The applicant <br />should submit a tree preservation plan, specifically near wetlands and the Trott Brook. <br />10. The applicant may also consider water saving infrastructure. Recently a similar mixed residential <br />development utilized water runoff recycling programs to provide homeowners water for irrigation <br />purposes. We expect water usage in these homes for lawn irrigation to be significant and water-saving <br />measures could provided an added value to these homes. The system collects runoff in ponds and uses <br />different pipes to route this water specifically for watering lawns and gardens. If this is something Lennar <br />is open to, city staff would be eager to discuss. <br />11. Another potential opportunity for added value would be for the developer to consider adding electric <br />vehicle charging in some homes. With the significant increase in electric vehicle adoption, we know <br />residents will be looking to add at-home charging in the near future. The vast majority of EV charging <br />occurs overnight, at home. Elk River Municipal Utilities offers many rebate programs and has been open <br />to the idea of a pilot project to add EV charging or EV-ready infrastructure in new homes. If Lennar is <br />interested, this could be a great partnership. <br />12. Storm water considerations for the large basin: <br />a. We don’t know of any precedence using large, human-excavated mining basins for stormwater <br />treatment. The biggest difficulty will be in determining how much water quality the basins <br />provide and what sort of maintenance would be required for these mining basins. <br />b. If they are very deep they may be too difficult to be maintained. We may allow the project to use <br />the large basins for rate control, but the applicant should show that water quality and volume <br />control are provided upgradient of the large open-water basins. <br />c. Size the site BMPs such that they can be properly maintained and show that the site BMPS <br />provide the required water quality and volume control needed for the property, but we may allow <br />plans to incorporate the large basins in their HydroCAD calculations to show that proposed rates <br />leaving the parcel are lower than existing rates. <br />d. Adding stormwater to an established basin that has essentially become a lake and is now home to <br />a variety of wildlife species is also a point of consideration in reviewing the possible use of the <br />basin for stormwater needs. <br />13. ERMU Water Department will require a 12” trunk water main from the existing 12” water main in the <br />northwest corner of this proposed development to the south for a future connection to 183rd Ave and to <br />the east to connect to Cleveland St. <br />14. Staff will continue to review the proposal and include additional comments during planned work <br />sessions.