03-31-1997 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 c March 20, 1997 Richard C. Krueger 1175 Willowbrook Drive Orono, MN. 55391 RECEIVED MAR 2 1 1997 Mr. M. Gaffron City of Orono 2750 Kelley Parkway, P.O. Box 66 Crystal Bay, MN. 55323 CITY OF ORONO Dear Mr. Gaffron: I am a resident of 1175 Willowbrook Drive, and my property is adjacent to the proposed Spring Hill Golf Course. In response to the Springhill Environmental Assessment Worksheet, I have two major concerns regarding the golf course project: 1) The Medina 26 Big Woods is one of the few significant segments of Big Woods remaining in Hennepin County, and is a critical link between Wolsfeld Woods and Wood Rill Scientific and Natural areas. It has been identified by the Minnesota DNR as a very important segment of the Big Woods, and they have “highly recommended and encouraged that actions to preserve the existing community, without fragmentation, be incorporated into the project design." The golf course as currently designed, will destroy the Medina 26 Big Woods. Only iso}.>'ed woodlots will remain. I urge the cities of Orono and Medina to consider the possibility of facilitating the acquisition of this property, along with the Springhill property, as a nature preserve through a combination of public and private financing. I realize this may sound impractical, but consider the fact that most major park acquisitions, including many of our national parks, were viewed as farfetched at the time. It was only after establishment of the parks, that the public officials who created the parks were no Ir -er seen as impractical, but as farsighted. I also sugg . that you ask DNR officials to inspect “Medina 26 ” in May to insure that there are no endangered plants or animals living on this property. Schoell and Madson said they walked through the Big Woods in the fall of 1996. Autunm is not the best time to determine whether there are any endangered or threatened species of plants or animals. 2) If the golf course is approved, the wetland on my property will be negatively impacted by the small dam placed at the southern end of Wetland 17. Asa result of this dam, the wetland on my land will be significantly drier than before. I discussed this with Mr. Brahman of Schoell and Madson, and he said that the dam will restore my wetland to pre- 1940 conditions. He bases this assertion on aerial photographs, which he says indicate n channel was dug to faciiitate drainage in the 1940 ’s. If this is true, which I question based on examination of aerial photographs in the EAW, it is of no c».nsolation to me.