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Environmental Board <br />July 27, 2022 <br />Page 2 <br />APPROVED MINUTES <br /> <br /> <br />53) in the northwest quadrant of the City. The property is guided for low, medium and <br />high-density residential uses in the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The <br />Environmental Board reviewed a development concept plan for the property in January <br />of this year. <br /> <br />Due to the proposed number of residential units, preparation of an Environmental <br />Assessment Worksheet (EAW) is required by Minnesota Rules. The process operates <br />according to rules adopted by the state’s Environmental Quality Board (EQB). The <br />EAW document is designed to provide a brief analysis and overview of the potential <br />environmental impacts for a specific project and to help the City, referred to as the <br />Responsible Government Unit (RGU), determine whether an Environmental Impact <br />Statement (EIS) is necessary. The questions contained within the document are <br />established by the EQB <br /> <br />Chair Comments <br /> <br />Chair Sullivan discussed the possibility of incorporating pollinator gardens and <br />native plant species into the project. <br /> <br />Chair Sullivan questioned if some of the proposed housing units will have basements <br />or if all housing units will be slab on grade. <br /> <br />Alison Harwood, from WSB & Associates, clarified that there will be housing units <br />with basements. <br /> <br />Chair Sullivan voiced concern over with permanent wetland fill occurring on the <br />site. <br /> <br />Mr. Nelson stated that developers will need to go through several layers of <br />regulatory review with Rice Creek Watershed District, Board of Water and Soil <br />Resources, Army Corps of Engineers, and MPCA in order to mitigate wetland <br />impact. <br /> <br />Board Comments <br /> <br />Mr. Parsons asked if there will be a diverse array of boulevard trees or if every <br />resident will receive the same species of boulevard tree. <br /> <br />Mr. Parsons discussed the stormwater analysis process. <br /> <br />Staff Comments <br /> <br />Mr. Nelson discussed the City’s plan of diversifying boulevard tree species and <br />incorporating fire adapted native oak species into open spaces. <br /> <br />Mr. Schwartz made a MOTION to recommend the Robinson Property <br />Environmental Assessment Worksheet to be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning <br />Board and City Council subject to conditions listed in the staff report. Motion was