10-20-1997 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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r ill .'20 97 17:51 ®012 5.‘)7 5601 DSU. INC.©002 •'05 Woodtand Imnacfs; 1. Most the site is either wooded or impacted by two wetlands. The two wetlands total approximately 2.2 acres or approximately 22% of the site. The wooded areas total 6.6 acres or approximately 67% of the overall (gross) site, or 87% of the net site excluding wetlands. The wooded areas generally include both hardwood and softwood species. The central uplands and south facing wetland fringe are covered by a predominantly oak/maple/basswood woods with individual trees ranging from saplings to mature specimens. 2. One of the primary issues regarding this proposal is the impact on the high quality woods present on the site, and the resultant loss of many large oak, maple and basswood trees. The largest trees are found throughout the central upland area and along the steep slopes that form the northern fringe of the largest wetland. These hardwood trees range in size from approximately 3 inches to more than ) inches in diameter. There are 30 to 40 (or more) very large oaks and maples located in and around the central highland area. There are also several areas with significant densities of young oak/maple/basswood that are beginning to developing into nice hardwood stands. 3. Most of the larger trees have had adequate room to develop and are very well formed, and it appears that sometime in the past the site may have been grazed or mowed. These trees are exactly the type of large trees that home buyers/owners find most desirable. Preserving as many of the individual specimens, and young wooded oreas as possible will add a great deal of interest and value to both the development arid the surrounding area. The developer and their consultant have already shown an understanding of this potential by preserving a portion of the central wooded area, and by their choice of project name -- Minnetonka Woods. 4. Unfortunately, the proposed disturbed area appears to coincide with the location of many of the best trees and woods, and it appears that many if not most of the large specimens and young oak/mapie woods would be removed during the development process. This conflict leads to the following recommendation which I suggest would benefit both the developer and the Community. A. I recommend that a tree survey be submitted that identifies the location, size and species of all hardwood trees 12 caliper inches or larger in diameter. This survey will allow the City to accurately assess the development impacts on the woods and visual character of the areas. It will also allow the project's planning consultant to evaluate and adjust the layout — to preserve as many high value trees and wooded areas as possible. Some of the types of adjustments that could help retain significant trees and woods trees may include: • Reducing the street width to 28 feet. This width would still allow for parking on one side and would allow more layout and grading flexibility for avoiding desirable trees/woods. It may also be possible to shift the road alignment to the north to preserve more of the desirable central woods. -2-I