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Conservation Design Plan <br />Orchard Hills <br />PID 053-3411823440035 <br /> <br /> 1 <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND <br />The Orchard Hills project involves an approximately 39.4-acre parcel located at 135 <br />Orono Orchard Road North (OOR) in the City of Orono, Minnesota. The Subject <br />Property consists of woodlands, wetlands, and altered non-native grasslands. <br /> <br />LEGAL CONTEXT <br />A Rural Oasis Study was performed for the City of Orono in 2005. This study identified a <br />link between the natural systems and the valued scenic character that exists throughout <br />Orono. Based on the values identified in the Rural Oasis Study, ordinances were created <br />that are meant to preserve and enhance the ecological and aesthetic character of the <br />community. Article XII (Conservation Design) Section 78-1632 (Applicability) requires a <br />conservation design plan for all proposed residential subdivisions or multi-unit residential <br />developments greater than five acres in total area. <br /> <br />PROPOSED PROJECT <br />The proposed project involves the redevelopment of the Subject Property to five <br />residential lots. In order to maintain the natural character of the Subject Property the lots <br />will range in size from 2.19 to 16.72 acres. Wetlands and trees will be avoided as much <br />as possible by the redevelopment project. Furthermore, buffers will be provide around all <br />wetlands. <br /> <br />Ecological and Aesthetic Character Review <br /> <br />RURAL OASIS STUDY <br />The Subject Property is not adjacent to any of the corridors analyzed as part of the Rural <br />Oasis Study. Sambatek completed a field review of the Orono Orchard Road segment <br />near the Subject property on April 16, 2020. The observations from this field review are <br />summarized below. <br />Views from Orono Orchard Road (OOR) <br />Coming from the south on Orono Orchard Road (OOR) the major landmark in the <br />immediate area is the Luce Line Trail bridge (Pic101). The winding road is not curbed at <br />this point and feels very bucolic. Curb and gutter begins at the entrance to the Stone <br />Ridge Colony Development and continues north. Near the project entry, existing nearby <br />homes on OOR feel close and sometimes front on OOR. Just to the south of project entry <br />the existing residence has a white picket fence which fits the rural aesthetic (Pic 102). <br />Mature evergreens at project entry are a nice entry feature and contrast the ‘gray’ <br />deciduous vegetation for six months during the year (Pic107). Power poles which run