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1 <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD <br />ITEM 6B <br /> <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br /> <br />DATE: August 28, 2024 <br /> <br />REQUEST: Natures Refuge North Concept Plan Review <br /> <br />APPLICANT: M/I Homes of Minneapolis/St. Paul, LLC <br /> 5354 Parkdale Drive, Suite 100 <br /> St. Louis Park, MN 55416 <br /> <br />OWNER: KCR Investments <br /> 35209 Sand Pointe Dr. <br /> Crosslake, MN 56442 <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />Natures Refuge North is a proposed residential subdivision on approximately 59 acres located <br />north of the Natures Refuge development on Main Street. The Environmental Board first <br />reviewed a concept plan for the project at the October 25th, 2023, meeting. Since the initial <br />review the developer, M/I Homes, has been working through advisory board, City Council and <br />neighborhood comments to further explore the feasibility of the project. <br /> <br />In April of 2024, the Environmental Board, staff and developer discussed a potential <br />collaborative effort to address tree mitigation requirements. That discussion centered on the <br />idea of restoring/establishing the native plant to resemble historical conditions. This would <br />include developing a long-term management and stewardship plan for the open space. <br /> <br />Due to concerns over support, uncertainty over the restoration outcome and measurement of <br />success, along with neighborhood desire to preserve a more intact wooded area, M/I Homes <br />refocused design efforts on minimizing impacts. The revised concept plan prioritizes open <br />space preservation, minimizes the development footprint and results in a substantial reduction <br />in tree removal. <br /> <br />M/I Homes is currently proposing a 92-lot subdivision, that: <br />1. Provides approximately 8.5 acres of wooded open space adjacent to the Arena Acres <br />neighborhood. <br />2. Preserves approximately 34 acres of open space in perpetuity as either public park land <br />or private open space under a conservation easement in lieu of tree mitigation while <br />still providing a per lot payment in lieu of park dedication.