09-22-2004 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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WCA/CWA Wetland Application Gervais Hills GES Project No. 2004.040 June 16, 2004 Page 2 Wetland A is not mapped as a "Protected Water or Wetland" by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and, thus, the DNR would not regulate any of the proposed wetland impacts. Project Need and Purpose The purpose of the project is to provide residential housing opportunities. A need for additional residential options continues to exist in this market area. The site is zoned by the City of Little Canada for the residential use being proposed. Proposed Impacts Nearly all of Wetland A would be filled or excavated to implement the wetland mitigation plans for the project (Figure 4). Wetland A measures 10,500 square feet (0.24 acre). The wetland areas proposed to be excavated measure approximately 2,700 square feet. The portion of the wetland which would be excavated should not be regulated by the WCA nor be subject to 2:1 replacement requirements according to Minnesota Rules 8420.0105 which states: "This chapter regulates excavation in the permanently and semipermanently flooded areas of type 3, 4 or 5 wetlands, and in all wetland types if excavation includes filling or draining or results in conversion to nonwetland." The wetland is Type 2 and excavation for the wetland mitigation basins will not result in filling or draining of wetland or render it non - wetland. The portion of existing wetland in the northern mitigation wetland measures approximately 600 square feet which would not be excavated or filled. The total area of filled wetland which is regulated by the WCA equals 7,200 square feet (0.17 acre). Sequencing Analysis No Build Alternative The no -build alternative would involve no development of the site as a residential subdivision. The no -build alternative is not a feasible and practicable alternative because it conflicts with the City of Little Canada's zoning for the site. Also, the no -build alternative is not consistent with the project purpose. Alternative Sites Alternative sites are not feasible or prudent and would not fulfill the basic project purpose since the intent is to develop a residential project on this site which is guided for such use by City zoning. If this project is not built, another of the same type will likely be proposed which, given the size and position of the on -site wetland, would also be unable to be implemented without impacting the wetland.