Consider Landscape Plan for Knoll Properties 2nd Addition

The City has received an application for Site Plan and Plat review for Knoll Properties 2nd Addition.  The proposed project is located at the northeast corner of Ramsey Boulevard and Sunwood Drive (the "Subject Property").  Anderson Dahlen (the "Applicant"), which is an existing Ramsey business (located at 6850 Sunwood Drive, just east of the Subject Property and south side of Sunwood Drive), is expanding and this site allows them to continue operating in Ramsey.  They are proposing construction of a roughly 64,000 square foot building with the potential for a future addition of another 52,000 square feet.

General Background
The Subject Property is zoned E-2 Employment District.  The Plat would create one (1) buildable lot and two (2) outlots.  The proposed, buildable lot would be approximately 9.25 acres (500 feet x 804 feet) and would meet all minimum bulk standards of the E-2 Employment District.

Natural Resources Inventory
The Subject Property is identified as an altered/non-native plant community in the City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI).  It consists of dry grassland per the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS).  There are some scattered trees on the Subject Property, but no woodlands or forest.

Wetlands/Floodplain
The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) does not show any wetlands present on the Subject Property and there are no floodplains present either.

Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan
As previously noted, there are some scattered trees across the Subject Property.  The project should preserve at least thirty percent (30%) of the existing significant tree inches on site.  However, existing trees consist primarily of Siberian Elm (invasive species) and Red Cedar.  Invasive species, as well as trees removed for stormwater ponding, are excluded from the removal threshold calculation (470 of the 589 significant tree inches on site).  Per the Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan, thirty-six inches (36) are required to be saved and the project proposes preservation of sixteen inches (16").  Reforestation will be required; however, it seems clear that the base landscaping will ultimately satisfy this standard.

Landscape Plan
The submitted Landscape Plan is based on the old standards (1 tree per 1,000 square feet of building footprint or 1 tree per 50 linear feet of site perimeter and 1 shrub per 300 square feet of building footprint or 1 shrub per 30 linear feet of site perimeter).  Landscaping standards in the Employment Districts are now based on the canopy cover formula.  Additional information is needed from the Applicant (total site area, total impervious area, total pervious area) to determine if the Landscape Plan, as proposed, meets the current standards.  Proposed species and sizes are all acceptable.

 

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

Motion to recommend approval of the Landscape Plan and Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan, contingent upon compliance with Staff comments in Projectdox.