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<br />Edward E. Hamm Trustee Property: Conservation Design Plan: Initial Phase <br />Orono, Minnesota <br />Page 1 <br />INTRODUCTION Taft Law (Taft) retained Pinnacle Engineering, Inc. (Pinnacle) to prepare a Conservation Design Plan for the Edward E. Hamm Trust property located at 485 Orono Orchard Road South (Site) in Orono, Minnesota. The Edward E. Hamm Trust is interested in splitting a 20-acre parcel into 15-acre and 5-acre parcels. The Conservation Design Plan is required by the City of Orono (City) prior to splitting the current parcel into two parcels. The Conservation Design Plan features a two phased approach. This report constitutes the initial phase. Legal Context In 2005, the City of Orono Rural Oasis study identified an intrinsic link between the natural systems and the valued scenic character that exists throughout the City. City ordinances were created that are meant to preserve and enhance the ecological and aesthetic character of the community. Article XII (Conservation Design) Section 78-1632 requires a conservation design plan for all proposed residential subdivisions or multi-unit residential developments greater than five acres in total area. As stated above, the City required the initial phase of the Conservation Design be prepared for the Edward E. Hamm Trustee property even though there are no plans for development of either of the split lots. The Conservation Design features a two-phased approach to design and development that maintains or improves ecological assets, provides infrastructure that works with the land, and incorporates people's instinctive desire to experience nature. The initial phase entails an inventory and analysis of the potential development site's natural features, existing land uses, and wetland delineation. The second phase entails analyzing the design implications of the findings from the initial phase. The second phase of a conservation design strategy could include a conceptual design for road and lot layouts, planning roads along contours, allowing lots to border natural open space, integrating ecological stormwater management, using smaller lots, alternative stormwater design, and educating the developer and buyers about the ecological values of the landscape. Proposed Project The purpose of the project is to split the 20-acre parcel into two properties, one northern 15-acre parcel north of Fox Street and one southern 5-acre parcel south of Fox Street. No physical development of the properties is proposed or planned at this time. The Site is bordered by Orono Orchard Road South to the east of the property and Private Drives to the west and southwest. Background Information The Edward E. Hamm Trustee parcel located in Orono, Minnesota has a Property Identification Number of 0211723320001 and is within the N ½ of the SW ¼ of Section 30, Township 23N, Range 27W (Lat: 44.968781°, Long: -93.560311°). The parcel currently consists of houses, outbuildings, gardens, driveways, maintained lawns, wooded areas, and wetlands. Pinnacle conducted a site visit on November 1, 2024, to confirm the land classifications, wetland areas previously delineated, locate significant stands of trees, review corridor enclosures, review existing drainage system, and open spaces. Approximately 2-4 inches of snow fell on October 31, 2024, limiting the visual review of the Site; however, we were able to determine the land classification and cover types since the snow-covered areas were mostly maintained lawns. <br />298