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15-3739 300 Sixth Ave N July 9, 2015 Page 2 Summary of Review Activity to Date Sketch Plan PC Review, March 16. This property was the subject of a sketch plan review for an 11-lot subdivision at the Planning Commission in March 2015. Although this was an informal review, not a public hearing and not subject to public notice, members of the public were present and allowed to speak, and written public comments were received. Applicant subsequently withdrew the sketch plan application and it was not brought forward for Council review. Preliminary Plat, PC Review, May 18. An application for preliminary plat approval was reviewed by the Planning Commission at its May 18 meeting. The proposal (referenced in this memo as Plan A) was for an 11-lot subdivision consisting of seven lakeshore lots (Mooney Lake) and four off-lake lots, all to be served by septic systems and wells. Access to two lots would be individual driveways directly to Hunter Drive; an additional two lots would access via a private road/driveway extending northward from the intersection of CR6 & North Ferndale Road; and the remaining seven lots to be served by a private road following the route of the existing driveway off of County Road 6 and extending northward. At the public hearing there was significant comment from the public with regard to saving the Big Woods area located in the north central portion of the property. Planning Commission ultimately tabled the application, specifically requesting: 1. Applicant to introduce more formal covenant or easement language, depictions and specificity regarding the proposed non-buildable areas within individual lots. Additionally, identify with clarity the specific building zones within each of the wooded lots, and better document the limitations placed on future property owners regarding clearcutting. 2. Applicant to provide more detail regarding the future intent for preservation of the prairie areas. There was a significant level of frustration expressed by the Planning Commission that the proposed preservation measures described during the sketch plan review have, with the preliminary plat, been diluted to become characterized merely as “the developer has no plans to develop the two large outlots and no interest in developing the two large outlots”. See May 18 PC minutes for additional detail. Preliminary Plat, PC Second Review, June 15. Applicant submitted revised plans and supporting information on June 8, which was included in the June 15 PC packet but had not been reviewed by the City Engineer prior to the June 15 Meeting. At the June 15 meeting Planning Commission reviewed a revised proposal which responded to the previously expressed public concerns by removing one of the proposed lots from the Big Woods area and adding it to the prairie area abutting Hunter Drive. This revised plan is referenced as Plan B in the documents attached to this memo. Planning Commission generally found the revised plan to be a significant improvement over Plan A by reducing the tree removal impact on the Big Woods area. PC recommended that due to the location of the new lot along Hunter Drive within the very visible prairie area, substantial vegetative screening along the south and east borders of that lot should be required to help maintain the open space views of the prairie.