08/14/2024 PZ Combined Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Board June 12, 2024 Page 6 APPROVED MINUTES Dean Dovolis, 331 Washington Avenue N, Minneapolis MN 55401, with DJR Architecture who is the architect for the development. Mr. Dovolis spoke of the history of the site and said the goal is to bring as much back, but still allow occupancy of the site by the various residents. Mr. Dovolis said they are going to try to consolidate the green areas together, the natural areas and the water waste together to capture drainage to develop buffers behind all the houses incorporated with the trail. The idea is to cluster density where it is making the houses tight to the road and trying to enhance some buffers as much as possible through the site to create a continuous realm of natural areas, which will create a lot better biodiversity of what exists today. They will create a site that allows more infiltration, a little more concentration in nature, reduces gray areas, which will do two things because they are eliminating the wells that exist today and try to get more infiltration. They are also going to look at planting a natural buffer area so that if there are high nutrients in the soil, they can develop certain plants to remediate the soil. They will capture rainwater to purify the water. The more nature takes hold, the more the water table gets restored, the more the area starts building itself. They will look at the infiltration limiting green landscape due to the fertilizers and other elements on the lawns causing them to become harsh to the environment. They will also be consolidating bodies of water, large areas of natural environment, and putting the trails where the amenities are. This is to emphasize the connectivity that exists already and to tie those bands of nature that run through the development. The trail system follows all the natural features. This is so the public, and not just the private residents, have the experience of nature and water views. Mr. Dovolis addressed the easements around the properties and that the lawns are not going to be a continuous carpet. They are going to restrict an area to allow natural buffers to occur within it. It works for pollinators, birds, waterfowl, and everything by creating these protected areas. The idea is that yards would be sculptured, but there will be what is called natural easements that will continue through various aspects of the property. The Board asked questions regarding the natural buffers and water connections. Mr. Dovolis the buffers will be part of the easement with a height between two to four feet. Mr. Root asked about invasive species after a year and who would be maintaining the areas. Mr. Dovolis said it would be a combination of the City and the HOA. Ms. Larsen presented the staff report. The applicant, Zikar Holdings, is proposing a master planned development located on the Robinson sod farm property south of CSAH 14 (Main Street) and east of CR 53 (Sunset Avenue). The development contains 4 parcels totaling approximately 156 gross acres and consists of mix of residential housing types, commercial development, and a religious building. The proposed development is called Madinah Lakes.