05-27-1997 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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f. applicable zoning codes, would result in the loss of the "Big Woods" cliaraclcf because of the fragmentation of the tree canopy by driveways, houses and other residential uses. The Proposer has taken various steps to mitigate adverse effects on the forested areas including: i. The design of the golf course has been altered iluough numerous iterations to provide for less intensive use of the land in the forested areas tlian in the non-f'•^csted areas. ii. Relocation and replanting of trees uill ameliorate some of the cfTects of placing the golf course in forested areas. iii. The course has been planned in such a way as to reduce the potential for "islands" of forested areas and has attempted to link forested areas together ns well as to retain forested areas in conjunction with adjacent properties. g. The Proposer has responded to the concerns of the Department of Natural Resources and the request of the the Council for additional analysis and documentation of the specific anticipated impacts on Medina 26, and has provided or will be providing such documentation, including documentation of the changes and impacts to the Big Woods and how those impacts have been minimized, an assessment of habitat changes by covertype for the entire site, identifying impacts to wildlife, and identify ing mitigation available to address those impacts; development of a Tree Protection Plan; development of a detailed Erosion Control Plan. h. It is the conclusion of the Council that while the golf course will have certain environmental effects related to the forested areas, those effects have been substantially documented. There have been and will continue to be efforts made to mitigate the impacts, both voluntarily a.id to be required as conditions within the City’s conditional use permit. The impacts arc not considered by the Council to be significant environmental effects, and no additional information would be gathered if an Environmental Impact Statement was ordered. 5. Wetland impacts have been addressed and include substantial mitigation resulting in a net gain in wetland acreage. Other pemiitting organizations, including the Minncliaha Creek Watershed District, will review' wetland impacts. 6. 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 7. Other potential environmental impacts which do occur, such as storm water runoff and traffic arc mitigated by the Project design and subject to conuol through County* permits and regulations as well as City ordinances. 8. The golf course will preserv e the open space character of the area ai 1 will maintain natural rural vistas which is consistent w iih the guide plans of the cities for the Project area. Further, the Proposer will work with the City in incorporating a public Uail system on the perimeter of the Property*. 9. The Council has compamd the impacts that may reasonably be expected to occur from the project with the following criteria: a. Type, extent and reversibility of environmental cfTccls. i. A total of 2 1 wcllands comprising on area of approxlntately 23.6 fiCfts arc located w ithin the property, of which 1.41 acres arc proposed to be filled. However, 3.1 2 acres of new wetland will be created from uplands. The Council finds that the mitigation actions proposed by the Proposer w ill more than offset the loss of the 1.41 acres. ii. A portion of the land is currently in a forested or naturally vegetated state, a portion is currently developed for institutional-ty pe use and a portion is formerly agricultural but not used agriculturally for many years. TTie property is planned by both cities for uses other than Page 4 of 8 Page 5 of 8