05-21-1997 Council Packet Special Meeting

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5. 6. 7. 8. 9. efforts made to mitigate the impacts. The impacts are not considered by the Council to be significant environmental effects, and no additional information would be gathered if an Environmental Impact Statement was ordered. Wetland impacts have been addressed and include substantial mitigation resulting in a net gain in wetland acreage. Other permitting organizations, including the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, will review wetland impacts. Permitting during the Project will result in further review of the wetlands areas, including, for example, the required DNR Waters Permit and the DNR Water Appropriations Permit. Other potential environmental impacts which do occur, such as storm water runoff and traffic are mitigated by the Project design and subject to control through County permits and regulations as well as City ordinances. The golf course will preserve the open space character of the area and will maintain natural rural vistas which is consistent with the guide plans of tlie cities for the Project area. Further, the Proposer will work with the City in incorporating a public trail system on the perimeter of the Property. The Council has compared the impacts that may reasonably be expected to occur from the project with the following criteria: a. Type, extent and reversibility of environmental effects. 1.A total of 21 wetlands comprising an area of approximately 23.6 acres are located within the property, of which 1.41 acres are proposed to be filled. However, 3.12 acres of new wetland will be created from uplands. The Council finds that the mitigation actions proposed by the Proposer will more than offset the loss of the 1.41 acres. 11.A portion of the land is currently in a forested or naturally vegetated state, a portion is currently developed for institutional-type use and a portion is formerly agricultural but not used agriculturally for many Page 5 of 8 J