Consider the Natural Resources Aspects of the Bunker Lake Crossing Subdivision (Project No. 25-105); Case of Capital Real Estate Inc.

The City has received an application from Capital Real Estates Inc. (the "Applicant") for consideration of a Final Plat for Bunker Lake Crossing, a three (3) lot subdivision located south of Bunker Lake Boulevard, north of Sunwood Drive, and east of Armstrong Boulevard (the "Subject Property").  Typically, landscaping is reviewed as part of a Site Plan. However, the Applicant has essentially designed the layout and landscaping for two (2) of the three (3) lots in this subdivision (the third lot is for Taco Bell, which is also on this evening's agenda).

Project Overview
This Minor Plat will create three (3) lots intended for Quick Service Restaurants (QSR).  The northernmost lot will be occupied by Taco Bell and the southernmost lot will be occupied by Chipotle.  The Applicant is still working on securing a tenant for the middle lot.  All three lots will have a shared access off of Sunwood Drive (north of the roundabout) and there will also be a right-in only for northbound traffic on Armstrong Boulevard (between the northern and middle lots).  Each lot will have parking for their respective uses.  All three parcels will be connected to the City's sanitary sewer and water systems.

Existing Natural Resources
The City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) does not identify any native plant communities within the Subject Property.  The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) categorizes the Subject Property as being 'Urban with Little Vegetative Cover' with a small section of 'Wetland Shrubland' in the northwest corner.  There are no floodplains on the Subject Property.  There are essentially no wetlands on the Subject Property except for a couple of points where the wetland 'jogs' slightly onto the Subject Property, but there are no proposed impacts on the wetland.

Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan
The site is devoid of any tree cover and thus, there is no need for a Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan.

Landscape Plan
The Landscape Plan covers the southernmost lot and the middle lot of the Minor Plat.  The shared access will be lined with evergreen trees.  The greenspace parallel to both Armstrong Boulevard and Sunwood Drive will be lined with deciduous trees.  Internally, there will be a mixture of evergreen and deciduous shrubs primarily abutting the buildings, but also scattered in the parking lot islands and adjacent to the dumpster enclosures.  The proposed species and sizes are acceptable.  Ground cover will be established via a combination of sod and seeding.  Staff has requested that a five (5) foot strip of sod be included behind the curb.  Additionally, Staff has requested more information about the proposed fencing along the western side of the plat (along Armstrong Boulevard).  Ideally, the fencing will be consistent with the proposed wrought iron fencing proposed for the Taco Bell site (northernmost lot).

 

The Applicant is responsible for all costs associated with this application.

Staff recommends approving the natural resources aspects of this project, contingent upon compliance with Staff's review comments.

Motion to recommend approval of the natural resources aspects of this subdivision.