02-03-25 - Council Work Session Agenda

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Some of the key benefits of having this agricultural easement surrounding the preserved North Oaks areas include: Protection of Open Space: Agricultural easements help preserve open spaces, preventing them from being developed for non-agricultural uses. This maintains the natural landscape and provides aesthetic and recreational benefits to the community. Wildlife Habitat: These easements protect habitats for various species, including those that rely on agricultural lands for breeding, feeding, and shelter. This contributes to biodiversity and supports healthy ecosystems. Environmental Quality: Agricultural easements help maintain soil health, water quality, and air quality by preventing urban sprawl and promoting sustainable farming practices. Buffer Zones: They act as buffer zones around conserved areas, reducing the impact of urban development on these sensitive environments. Economic Benefits: By keeping land in agricultural use, these easements support local farming economies and can provide financial benefits to landowners through tax incentives and conservation funding. Cultural and Historical Preservation: Agricultural easements can protect lands with historical or cultural significance, preserving the heritage and traditional uses of the land. Climate Resilience: Maintaining agricultural lands can enhance climate resilience by sequestering carbon, reducing flood risks, and supporting local food production. Constructing a road adjacent to the preserved water body is likely to significantly increase microplastic pollution. The proposed high -density development in an area currently lacking metro services will inevitably lead to increased car traffic, thereby exacerbating microplastic pollution. Current studies suggest that traffic is a significant contributor to microplastic pollution, with approximately 28% of microplastics entering the environment globally attributed to tire wear from vehicles. Humans can ingest microplastics through contaminated food and water and inhale them from the air. Microplastics have been found in various human tissues, including the placenta. The presence of microplastics in the human body is associated with inflammation, chronic diseases, neurotoxicity, and oxidative stress. While the full impacts of this pollution are still being analyzed, scientists agree that microplastic pollution represents a major health concern. The proposed development will negatively impact the neighborhood through increased light and noise pollution. Light pollution can cause disruption of circadian rhythms, increase the risk of health issues, and cause eye strain and visual discomfort. Many residents chose to move away from urban areas to enjoy tranquility, access to preserved natural areas, and the availability of clean water and air. The construction of a high -density development, particularly with commercial zones, will likely exacerbate light and noise pollution in the area, thereby diminishing its appeal to young families. The proposal fails to consider the community characteristics that make higher density development challenging. The anticipated increase in the number of cars will have significant environmental consequences for the area surrounding this development. The additional vehicles will necessitate the construction of more roads, and the current road infrastructure will be insufficient to support the population growth. Traffic congestion already occurs on Ash Street even with the current density. It is unclear how a road from County J to Centerville will alleviate this traffic issue. The proposed building heights, intended to increase the density of the development area, appear to serve no purpose other than to enhance the developers' profits. These buildings will be an eyesore for the neighborhood, towering over all surrounding structures. They will obstruct the path of migratory birds