Sketch Plan for North Fork Meadows

The purpose of this case is to introduce the EPB to a proposed Sketch Plan for North Fork Meadows. The proposed development is located along the south side of Alpine Drive immediately east of Puma Street (the "Subject Property"), adjacent to the Riverstone project. More detailed plans, including Landscape and Tree Preservation plans, will be developed and submitted in the coming months as part of a Preliminary Plat package.

North Fork Meadows is a proposed 97-unit residential development consisting of a combination of single family homes and detached townhomes. The Subject Property is zoned R-1 Residential (MUSA) and a Zoning Amendment accompanies this request to rezone the parcel to a Planned Unit Development (PUD).  The proposed public benefit for consideration of a PUD is land that would be donated to the City for a portion of the Lake Itasca Greenway, connecting The COR with the newest community park at Lake Itasca.

Based on the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS), the Subject Property consists almost entirely of dry grassland with a small area of wetland-shrubland along the southern boundary (adjacent to the proposed greenway).  Per the City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI), only a small portion at the southern boundary of the Subject Property was identified as a natural area, consisting of Altered/Non-Native Plant Community (per MLCCS, this is considered a semi-natural community and does not qualify for natural quality ranking) and Native Species Present in an Altered/Non-Native Plant Community (implies that there were native species present but within a non-native plant community). The National Wetland Inventory (NWI) does identify wetland along the southern boundary of the Subject Property.  There are no floodplain areas within the Subject Property.

While there are not more detailed plans available (not required until the Preliminary Plat stage), this is an opportunity for the EPB to review the project in general as it relates to natural resources. Items to consider may include recommendations for boulevard trees (rather than front yard trees), retention of trees in the northwest corner of the Subject Property (granted, it is not known what is there in terms of species, size, quantity, or condition), potential areas for pollinator friendly landscaping, and density transitioning along with the eastern boundary.  Note that due to the adjacent properties to the east being zoned R-1 Residential (Rural Developing), density transitioning is required.  The Sketch Plan has been modified to include a forty-five (45) foot wide landscaped 'buffer easement' to address density transitioning.

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

Based on discussion; no specific action is needed.