Consider Natural Resources Aspects Related to a Proposed Major Plat Known as Cedar Acres (Project No. 22-136): Case of Tom Dehn

The City has received an application from Tom Dehn (the "Applicant") for a proposed three (3) lot subdivision known as Cedar Acres.  The proposal is to split the property located at 15060 Armstrong Boulevard (the "Subject Property") into three (3) parcels.  The existing home would retain its access from Armstrong Boulevard, while the two new lots would gain access from the extension of the existing 151st Lane cul-de-sac.  Due to the extension of a public road, this application is being processed as a Major Plat (it otherwise would have been processed as a Minor Plat, which would have only been reviewed by City Staff and City Council). 

General Project Summary
The Subject Property is approximately 4.49 acres in size.  It is zoned R-1 Residential (Rural Developing) and is guided as Rural Developing in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.  The parcels to the north, west and east are zoned R-1 Residential (Rural Developing) and are guided as Rural Developing as well.  The parcels to the south and southwest are zoned Public/Quasi-Public (Fire Station) and R-1 Residential (MUSA) - 80 (currrently vacant but part of the recently approved Lynwood Subdivision) and are guided as Public and Medium Density Residential, respectfully.  The surrounding residential parcels range in size from approximately 2.47 acres (directly north) to 0.81 acres (northwest of the Subject Property). 

There is an existing home on the Subject Property, which has access off of Armstrong Boulevard.  The proposed subdivision will result in a total of three (3) lots, one having the existing home and two (2) new, buildable lots.  Based on the current zoning, a variance to lot size will be required, as all three lots will be less than 2.5 acres (approximately 1.65 acres, 1.40 acres, and 1.11 acres).  However, the two new lots accessed from 151st Lane will be generally similar in size to the existing residential neighborhood to the west.

Natural Resources Inventory, Classification, and Weltands/Floodplain
The Subject Property is not identified in the City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) as a native plant community.  The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) identifies the Subject Property as 'Planted or Cultivated Vegetation'.  The National Wetland Inventory does not indicate the potential presence of any wetlands and there are no floodplain areas on the Subject Property either.

Tree Preservation
The application submittal does include a Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan.  The Subject Property is dominated by Red Cedar, with some box elder, elm, and pine as well.  Per the Tree Inventory, the project is well below the threshold for tree preservation and thus, there will be no need for reforestation or restitution.  Furthermore, a Landscape Plan will not be needed as there will be plenty of existing trees retained between the new homes and the road, which satisfies the planting requirements.

Staff had a minor comment on the Tree Inventory (clarifying whether PIN indicates a type of pine tree or pin oak; this has no bearing on the number or type of trees being preserved, more so about oak wilt and whether the developer needs to be cognizant of the oak wilt high risk timeframe).  There were no other comments related to the natural resources aspects of this proposed subdivision.


 

All costs associated with this application are the responsibility of the Applicant.

Motion to recommend approval of the Tree Inventory and Preservtion Plan.