05/29/2001 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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The City does not have a tree mitigation /replacement guideline. In lieu of this requirement, the applicant believes that the proposed landscaping plan meets the goals and objectives of the City's landscaping requirements. The site grading activities will result in the removal of 21 Tamarack trees from the property. Specific to this action, sixty -seven (67) Tamarack trees will be planted in the northwest and east areas of the site, surrounding and in the bio- retention basins. The Tree Preservation Plan is provided in Exhibit K. Wetlands Two partially drained wetlands lie at the eastern end of the project site. These wetlands are described in more detail under Question 12. Fish and Wildlife The proposed project will result in a reduction in wildlife habitat and an attendant reduction in wildlife numbers on the project site. None of the species affected are in danger of significant population reductions or of becoming uncommon as a result of the proposed project. Specific impacts are discussed in more detail below. Mammals Because the project site is predominantly upland old field, most of the mammalian species are consistent with this habitat type. Such species include thirteen -lined ground squirrels, woodchucks, red fox, pocket gophers, meadow voles, deer mice and striped skunks. The site has limited forested areas that may receive use by white - tailed deer, eastern chipmunks, raccoons, gray squirrels, cottontail rabbits and gray fox. Due to their partially drained state and the associated invasion of woody plants, the wetlands on the site probably receive more use by the above - listed upland forest species than wetland dependant species. The reed canary grass - dominated portions of the basins provide limited mammal habitat, being used primarily by - meadow voles. Impacts to mammals will primarily be associated with the clearing and conversion of forested and grassland habitats to developed uses. The reduction in habitat for species using these areas will ultimately reduce mammal populations on the project site. Birds The primary birds using the project site are those adapted to old field areas such as include mourning doves, American robins, chimney swifts, eastern kingbirds, tree swallows, barn swallows, common grackles, brown headed cowbirds, house finches, house sparrows and starlings. Bird use of forested and shrubby areas is more limited due to the relatively small amount of this habitat on the site. Species that use such areas include American crows, downy woodpeckers, blue jays, black- capped chickadees, white - breasted nuthatches, house wrens, gray catbirds, brown thrashers, cedar waxwings, warbling and red -eyed vireos, northern cardinals, indigo buntings, chipping sparrows, white - throated sparrows, goldfinches and broad - winged hawks. Yellow warblers, common yellowthroats, song sparrows and red - winged blackbirds use the wetland fringes. The site encompasses no suitable habitat for waterfowl or wading birds. It is also unlikely that the site receives much use by bird species dependant on large tracts of unbroken forest (e.g. scarlet tanager, ovenbird, yellow- throated vireo, red -eyed vireo and cerulean warbler). With conversion of the project site to developed uses, the site will no longer provide habitat for bird species using the old fields and limited woodlands on the site. The proposed on -site water quality treatment pond will provide limited habitat for waterfowl and wading birds, though it has not been designed to have significant wildlife habitat value. The off -site wetland mitigation areas will increase the habitat available for a variety of wetland dependant bird species. Page 11 of 28 Draft EAW Lino Lakes Marketplace May 11, 2001