01/31/2007 Environmental Board Minutes

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ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING JANUARY 31, 2007 Ms. O’Dea stated the board would like to put in their standard wording as a recommendation to request roadway areas be kept to a minimum. Mr. Traylor questioned who would install the proposed trails. Mr. Grochala responded that the developer is required to put in paved trails. Mr. Traylor asked about volumes on retention water. Mr. Asleson responded that there are Rice Creek Watershed District requirements that have to be met. Mr. Grochala stated that Core Development is the master developer. Comforts of Home would be residential only. Core Development will bring in a partner for grocery, etc. Ms. Bor asked if it is an option for the board to table this item. Mr. Grochala responded that this is a preliminary approval and the board needs to act on the information as is. If this item is tabled, it may not come back to the board. State laws require the city to act on this application within 60 days. Mr. Grochala stated that approval or denial is not where the board should be at. That would be Planning & Zoning Board’s statutory role. The Environmental Board is making recommendations to Planning & Zoning Board to take into consideration. The Environmental Board should look at this site as it concerns the Environmental Board and how the site is suppose to be developed. Ms. Bor questioned what verbiage to use rather than approval or denial. She suggested using; forward the proposal with recommendations from the board. It was unanimous that the Environmental Board would like to say, forward with recommendation, not approval or denial. Ms. O’Dea asked if there were any residents here to speak on this issue. Brenda Olson from Woodridge Lane was present to speak. Ms. Olson noted the plan has no designated open space. She stated that the homes in the area have sump pump systems. All but two months of the year, the pumps are operating. She was concerned that if this development is at a higher elevation, water will be going right down to the present homes. She stated half of the homes sold recently in the area are on the 100 year flood plain. She is concerned that there is not a buffer between the proposed town homes and present single family homes. Ms. Bor asked Ms. Olson what she would like to see as a buffer. Ms. Olson stated she would like to see a buffer of green space and landscaping. Ms. Bor asked if this project were to occur, what would make it livable. Ms. Olson stated she does not feel a wall of town homes would be a buffer. 4 DRAFT MINUTES