5.3. & 5.4. PCSR 06-09-2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1.2.4 SITE SCREENING • The region surrounding the SDA consists of rolling terrain and heavily wooded areas that effectively screen the SDA from many views of the surrounding area without additional screening features. Photos of views from the area surrounding to the SDA are included in Exhibit 1. Mining is currently allowed to occur within 50 feet of the property line along Hwy 169 on the east and along 221St Avenue NW on the south. Mining is also allowed to occur within 200 feet from the property line along the west side of the property. The current screening plan for the SDA was developed by Tiller Corporation to screen mining activities. The Landscape/Screening Plan is shown in the drawings labeled L2.01, L2.02, and L5.01. Renderings of the Landscape/Screening plan are presented in Exhibit 3. ERL intends to enhance the existing screening plans to effectively screen views of the landfill from TH 169, 221St Avenue and the City's Railroad Hiking Trail. To do this, the following will occur: The existing berm constructed along the eastern edge of the property to screen the current mining operations from TH 169 will be enhanced to screen the landfill. The enhanced berm will include a triple row of trees, which will consist of a mixture of hardwood and evergreen trees, along with additional shrubs to screen the SDA. The combination of the enhanced earthern berm and trees will provide year round screening along TH 169, as presented in Exhibit 3. Natural topography currently screens the majority of the current and proposed mining operations from 221St Avenue. Prior to mining activities in the vicinity of 221St Avenue, Tiller Corporation will construct an 8-10 foot landscaped berm along 221St Avenue to screen mining activities. With the construction of the berm along 221St Avenue, a triple row of trees is being proposed. The trees will be a mixture of hardwood trees and pine trees, and will provide year round of screening 221St Avenue. • A 200-foot buffer zone of has been established along the west side of the SDA between the property line and grading limits. No grading activities will occur within this buffer zone located along the west side of the landfill between the City's Railroad Hiking Trail and the landfill grading limits (see Exhibit 1, Photo 7). This setback allows for the preservation of the existing trees in the area, as well as area for establishment of enhanced screening in the future if deemed necessary. Currently, the dense vegetation located along the bike trail corridor in the buffer zone effectively screens the SDA from view of the trail users. This vegetation will remain throughout the development of the SDA since it is within the grading limits setback. The SDA will have up to a 450 foot setback along the eastern and southern property boundary, allowing for ample area for berms and plantings with a mixture of trees. The setback ranges from 250-450 feet along the east side and 300-450 feet along the south side from the property line to the cell boundary. 1.2.5 PROPOSED LANDFILL DESIGN The ERL is designed to dispose of non-hazardous solid wastes. The design as well as the construction and operation of the landfill are governed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Sherburne County, and the City of Elk River. Each of these three regulatory bodies have performed a detailed review of the design of the landfill as well as reviewed the environmental impacts of the landfill development through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft and Final EIS is located in Exhibit 2. 0 Elk River Landfill SDA ~ ~ gonestroo VVenC~< Section 1-4 Land Use Application ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ,~a..