05-21-1997 Council Packet Special Meeting

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Public and Private Organization Comments Comment: Janet Green of the Conservation Committee Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union comments on the fragmentation of the Big Woods. Ms. Green “urges” that the Big Woods not be fragmented by the golf course development. And if this cannot be done, they request an EIS to adequately document the measures that are taken to minimize or avoid this significant adverse impact and what alternative measures have been considered. Response: Impacts to the Big Woods have been minimized in several aspects throughout the golf course design. Eleven different routings were prepared and reviewed for the site. A comparison of densities of golf holes on the property south of Co. Rd. 6 and north of Co. Rd. 6 shows that 11.80 Acres per hole of land is proposed, compared to a more dense 9.07 Acres per hole in less sensitive areas. The density is significantly lower in the Big Woods. Fairway design is as narrow as possible in sensitive areas such as Big Woods and wetlands. Average fairway width is approximately 150 feet. In addition, an area (0.64 acres) has been set aside as upland buffer area, for protection under the Wetland Conservation Act. In total, this area is approximately 4.6 contiguous acres of Big Woods. This portion of the property lies adjacent to other Big Woods tracts of residential property. Another area where fairways were designed to minimize impacts, allow for a 2 acre parcel of Big Woods. Most Big Wood tracts are connected so as not to leave “islands ” of isolated areas. Non-impacted wooded areas adjacent to Big Woods will also lessen the island effect. The clearing process on this golf course will go thru many stages. The first stage will be a clearing, 30 feet either side of the center line of the golf hole. After this initial clearing is completed, all of the clearing from that point on will be flagged. Any tree that is in question to remain or be removed will be left until the golf hole has been roughed in, at that point a decision will be made on the trees. Comment: Mr. Bill Busse, from Greenpeace comments, “Given that there are very few examples of Big Woods remnants left in Minnesota and virtually none left in the Twin City Metropolitan Area, and Given that there are already more than 100 Public and Private golf courses in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. I believe that no action should be taken to advance this project.” (letter March 27, 1997) Response: There are no legal requirements protecting Big Woods. The DNR states in their 1995 Circular; "... When the tree canopy is fragmented by driveways, houses, and trails, the cool and moist conditions characteristic of the shady interior of the forest are altered. More sunlight reaches 1 1