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r <br /> PC Exhibit J�� <br /> R�GcrvcU � <br /> Elizabeth and Ken Weir MAR 10 2Q15 <br /> 1262, Hunter Drnre <br /> M�f�a, MN 55391. CITY OF ORpRO <br /> March 10th, 2015 <br /> Dear Orono Planning Cammissioner: <br /> We live two houses to the North of the Dayton property on Hun#er Drive, and we respect IiArs, <br /> Dayton's desire to develop her land. <br /> Qur interesi is environmenta!and lies with the proposed development plan that places the <br /> greatest burden of natural resource destruction on a significant stand of Big Wo�s �� an <br /> otherwise large and open parcel. The Dayton Big Woods are of particular eoological value <br /> because the stand is corrtig�ous with a permanerrtly oonserved wood�and to the north, forming a <br /> 35-acre quality Big Woods ecology that provfdes specialized habitat for pileated woodpeckers, <br /> nOrthem flickers= red-eyed vireos, scar(et tanagers, hawics and owls, among other specialized <br /> animat and plant species. fn Orono's natural resource inventory in i#s Minnesota Land Cover <br /> Classification Survey, Dayton's woods are classified as moderate to good qualiry. <br /> Few people understand the necessity for natural wooclland to forrn an unbroken canopy in order <br /> to provide the cool, damp, shaded environment in which specialized bird and pfant life can <br /> sunrive. When a woodiand is f�agmen#ed by development, car�opy-opening leads to a dryer, <br /> wanner env�ronment and the incursion of jays, crows, rac�oons and parasitic brown-headed <br /> cowbirds. <br /> The present Sketch Plan for deveiopment of the Dayton proper-ty brings major fragrnentation to <br /> the Dayton Big Woods aiong the site's northem border and in the center of tha woods, yyhi�e we <br /> recognize the increased vafue of Ftiomes that overlook water bodies, and accept the desire for <br /> lots six and seven in tha Big Waods, we respectfully request that the tree removal and grading <br /> be as limited as possible o�these sites. Mare significantly, we ask the commissioners ta <br /> consider reconfigura#ion of lots ePght and nine, in order to to preserve as much unbroken forest <br /> canopy as possible with the conserved parce� to the �� <br /> This would.entaii eliminating hoth the proposed access raad in Ou�ot B along the northern <br /> border of tf�e Dayton property and the proposed cul-de-sac in the woods, Lots eight end nine <br /> can be shifted south and partly �r�ta the created prairie, within the southern border of#he <br /> woodland.The natural hill between�ti�ese two sites will block sight and sounds from County <br /> Road Six. Access for lots six and seven can then be an ex#ension of the e�sting driveway. For <br /> the newly sited lots eight ar�d nine, access would carrre as a driveway off the main drive, Outlot <br /> F. <br /> Big Woods are an �ncreasingly rare resource in the Western suburbs as noted in Orono's Land <br /> Cover and Natura! Resource Classificaiion lnventory. Woodlands are being deared and graded <br /> for development. Once deared they are gons forever, in a region of Minnesota vvhere the native <br /> land caver, prior to European settlement, was all Big Woods. To attempt to replant and recreate <br /> a Big Woods woufd take management and 20p years, that is, permanen#vonservation; to create <br /> a prairie takas managemen#and i 0 to 2Q years. The prairie that Mr. Dayton established is bvely <br /> and an accamplishment, but it does not have a comparable ecological value to the Big Woods. <br />