02-18-2025 Planning Commission Packet (2)

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Edward E. Hamm Trustee Property: Conservation Design Plan: Initial Phase Orono, Minnesota Page 7 more of four established criteria. The house and outbuildings may meet two of the four criteria. The two of the four criteria that may apply are listed below: • Associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. • Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. An architectural historian may be able to provide a better evaluation of the house and outbuildings and the potential for listing on the National Register of Historical Places. SUMMARY Pinnacle visited the Edward E. Hamm Trustee 20-acre parcel located at 485 Orono Orchard Road South in Orono, Minnesota on November 1, 2024. Observations were limited by the previous night’s 2-4 inches of snow; however, we were able to determine the land classification and cover types since the snow-covered areas were mostly maintained lawns. The information and data collected during the Site visit was used in preparing the initial phase of the Conservation Design Plan. The land classifications and land cover types defined by the MCLLS were identified and confirmed. The northern 15-acre parcel consisted of Planted or Cultivated Vegetation, Artificial Surfaces and Associated Areas, Forests, Herbaceous land classifications. The land cover types ranged from the short grass areas with mixed trees and impervious surfaces located near the highest elevations where the house, gardens, and outbuildings are located. The areas that slope from the house and outbuilding area to the wetlands or the Private Drive are mostly short grass areas with sparce tree cover. Tree cover in this area was dominated by Norway Spruce, and Sugar Maples. Other notable trees included: Oaks, Eastern Red Cedar, Scotch Pine, Silver Maple, Red Maple, and Northern Catalpa. The vegetation under the tree canopies consisted mostly of maintained lawns. The Maple-Basswood Forest contained a variety of tree species and buckthorn dominated the understory. The Marsh Area, Wetland 2, was dominated by cattails in the deeper portions of the marsh with reed canary grass dominating the wet meadow fringe. Due to the ongoing maintenance of the 20-acre parcel, no rare plant communities were observed, and none were identified on the Hennepin County Natural Resource Inventory map for the site area. Three wetlands are located on the northern 15-acre parcel, Wetlands 1, 2 and 3. Wetland 2 is a DNR protected wetland with an identification number of 27085600. In 2021 MCWD issued a NOD for the previously conducted wetland delineation confirming the wetland types, sizes, and boundaries, which remains valid until 2026. The northern 15-acre parcel steeply slopes from the house and outbuildings in the northeast to Wetland 2 in the northeast portion of the parcel, to the southwest towards the Private Drive, and south to Wetland 1. A ridge separates the northeastern portion of the northern 15-acre parcel from the northwestern portion. Drainage in the northwest portion of the northern 15-acre parcel is to the northwest towards Wetland 3 and the Prive Drive. The southernmost portion of the 15-acre parcel drains to Wetland 1 from the highpoint near the intersection of Fox Street and Orono Orchard Road South. The southern 5-acre parcel slopes steeply from a highpoint near the intersection of Fox Street and Orono Orchard Road South to the south, southwest, and west to the Private Drive. Corridors Views of Orono Orchard Road South and Fox Street would be considered negative due to the visible utility infrastructure and structures, particularly multi-family residential. Views along the Private Drive would be considered negative due to the views of structures, particularly multi-family residential. 304