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The Comprehensive Plan addresses the issue of maintaining a natural appearance along lakeshore <br />properties. The Plan states minimum green belts \vill be provided with prohibitations against <br />clearcutting or excessive thinning of vegetation. Natural vegetation will be preserved on slopes. <br />Retaining ^Is will be discouraged except when absolutely necessary to prevent erosion, in which <br />case they will be screened with natural vegetation. <br />The City retained Peter Bedker, Ph.D., a consulting forester, to complete a site analysis and make <br />recommendations for restoring the site. Bedker's report and recommendations are attached to this <br />memo. The applicant's are represented by Gary Mueller, landscape architect. It appears the <br />approaches by Bedker and Mueller for restoring the site conflict with one another. Bedker has <br />concluded retaining walls are not necessary for restoration on the site. Replanting of smaller trees <br />can achieve restoration over a period of 20 to 25 years. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: <br />The Planning Co mmission recommended by a 4 to 2 vote to deny the application and to submit a <br />plan implementing the recommendations by Peter Bedker, Ph.D. The Planning Commission voted <br />to send this forward to the City Council absent a suitable restoration plan to expedite the review <br />process as site erosion is a concern on *he bluff. Members of the Planning Commission were <br />opposed to forwarding the application to the Council without an opportunity to review a revised <br />plan. <br />The applicants have not revised the plan reviewed by the Planning Commission. <br />COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED <br />The City Council has the following alternatives to consider: <br />A. Approve the site plan dated 5-28-99, completed by Landplan Associates. <br />B. Deny the restoration plan, noting no application for a conditional use permit and variances <br />"which has been denied wholly or in part shall be resubmittedfor a period ofsix months from <br />the date of said denial, except on the grounds of new evidence or proof of changes of <br />conditions found to be valid by the Planning Commission. <br />C. Refer the application back to the Planning Commission for further review. <br />D. Table allowing the applicants to revise the restoration plan to implement recommendations <br />provided by Peter Bedker, PH.D., consulting forester.