10-25-1993 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Zoning File #1884 October 15, 1993 Page 2 clearing" is defined in Section 10.56, Subdivision 3.13 as "the complete removal of trees or shrubs in a contiguous patch, strip, row, or block." The property owner upon notification of the violation indicated a knowledge of the code prohibitions on tree cutting. This property owner has been before the Council in the past for grading violations in the 0-75’ zone in conjunction with their previous residence on Maxwell Bay (see Exhibit L). The property owner was issued a violation citation, told to do no further work to remove the stumps which remain today as evidence of the violation, and advised to make this after-the- fact application. Staffs intent for the application process in this case is not to ultimately have the after-the-fact variance approved, but to deny the variance and have Planning Commission and Council review and approve a restoration plan. This is in line with the DNR comments dated October 14, 1993 (Exhibit J). Extent of Clearing Please review Exhibit E. In the north«;rly 1/3 of the 0-75’ zone, three trees 6" or greater in diameter were removed. Two 24" maples and one 30" other hardwood remain. What does not show on the sketch is that approximately two dozen 2" to 6" trees were removed, as well as two to three dozen 0 to 2" tree-. The stumps of all trees are clearly evident if you visit the sue. In the southern third of the 0-75’ zone, the surveyor has identified the location of seven stumps with diameter 6" or greater (staff noted nine such trees, see photos). Again, approximately two dozen 2" to 6" trees were also taken and a virtually uncountable number of 0 to 2" trees and shrubs that were likely 3’ to 15’ in height. Note that no grading was done in the 0-75’ zone. Restoration Plan Please see Exhibit I. Applicant’s landscape designer proposes to replant Linden and Ash species to replace the 6"+ diameter trees removed. He has indicated to stawould be in the 4" to 5" caliper range, the largest size he would expect to survive transplanting in this area. On the north 0-75’ area, he proposes three trees to repla< e the three 6"-»- trees that were removed. In the south 0-75’ he proposes six trees, plus three along the lot line adjacent to the neighbor’s tennis court and just outside the 0-75 zone. Although he has not specifically proposed any additional trees or shrubs to compensate for the many smaller trees that were cut, he has indica*ed verbally that gray twig dogwood would be a suitable understory planting.