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4^ Metropolitan Council Working for the Region, Planning for the Future March 24,1997 I CITY OF _ I ORONO JUSEBO^S Mike Gaflfron Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator City of Orono P.O. Box 66 Crystal Bay, MN 55323 MAR 2. 7 1S9T EAW Review Spring Hill Golf Club in the Cities of Orono and Medina Received by the Council for Review on March 10,1997 Metropolitan Council District 3 Referral File 16482-1 Dear Mr. Gaffron: Council staff has reviewed the environmental assessment worksheet(EAW) for the proposed development of Spring Hill Golf Club on land situated on the north shore of Long Lake in northeast Orono and southeast Medina. The total project area of 195 acres, which encompasses the former Spring Hill Conference Center would include a new golf course and a clubhouse remodeled from the existing conference center. Access to the facility would be from County Road 6 and Tamarack Drive. Wastewater will be treated by using the existing on-site septic system which serviced the conference center. The Golf Club is proposed to be open for use in the spring of 1999. The EAW raises no metropolitan system impact issues and an EIS is not necessary for regional purposes. Generally what is in the EAW was well prepared. However, staff finds the EAW incomplete in the assessment of environmental issues and the relationship of the golf club construction proposal to woodland protection goals contained in both the Council ’s Regional Blueprint and in the Medina Comprehensive Plan. 11. Fish, Wildlife and Ecologically Sensitive Resources Further study should be done with regard to the impact the golf course will have on the Big Woods forest tract located on the site. Council staff is specifically concerned about the proposed location of golf course holes 8-13 within one of the three tracts of Big Woods trees located in the northwest comer of the proposed site. Less than 1% of the original Big Woods forest tracts are in existence today. This forest has regional significance, and every effort should be made to preserve all three tracts. The Metropolitan Council ’s Regional Blueprint, adopted December 19,1996, under Action Step D states: "The Council will encourage the protection of the region ’s significant woodlands and the long-term management of the urban forest." Based upon the site plan, the siting and layout of golf holes 8-13 will significantly alter the forest ’s environment by disrupting the continuity of the forest. The EAW states that the project wilt transform the forest tract into “...forest fiinge type of community.’’ This would permanently alter the forest ’s envirorunent, making it uninhabitable for sortie species of plants, trees and song birds. The extent of 230 East Filth Street St. Paul. Minnesota 55101-1634 (612)291-6359 Fax 291-6550 TDO/TIY 291-0904 An Equal Opportunity Employer Metro Info Line 229-3780