10/04/2006 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Environmental Assessment Worksheet Nature's Refuge Conservation Development Lino Lakes, Anoka County, Minnesota Draft Document — September 25, 2006 Page 21 periods. Some of this activity will be visible from publicly accessible areas along Main Street and Pine Street, and possibly from adjacent neighborhoods and the elementary school. 27. Compatibility with plans and land use regulations.' plan, land use plan or regulation, or other applicable la ona1, state or federal agency? X Yes _No. yes, describe the plan, discuss its comps t'bi If no, explain. d use, water, or resource management p1 iprehensive of a local„' The Lino Lakes Comprehensive Plan includes goals and policies for a wide variety of issues relevant to new development such as the natural environment, land use and growth management, and transportation. The Comprehensive Plan guides the project site for Low Density Sewered Residential land use. "Low- density" indicates a target housing density of 1 to 3 units per acre. The proposed project will result in a housing density of approximately 1.2 units per acre (278 units on approximately 232 acres) if the entire property is considered, or about 2.78 units per acre (278 units on approximately 100 acres) if the conservation areas are excluded from the calculation. The site is in a City - designated first -stage growth zone, meaning that development may be considered during the period from 1998 to 2010. Most of the site is within the existing Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA), so the City may extend sanitary sewer service to this area. Additional MUSA will be needed for the remaining part of the site. The project site is in the City of Lino Lakes, City Planning District 3. The project is compatible with all planning recommendations for District 3 listed in the City's Comprehensive Plan, especially the establishment of greenways and using innovative development techniques to preserve high quality natural amenities. The City has a growth management policy that regulates the number of new platted lots /units per year and the amount of MUSA that can be used annually. However, the policy removes most growth restrictions from conservation development projects as an incentive. City planning documents prioritize the preservation of the natural environmental assets of Lino Lakes. Also encouraged is the use of "conservation development" to integrate preservation with appropriate development of City land. The Nature's Refuge development has been designed as a conservation development that will restore, manage, and preserve natural assets while providing new housing. The restoration and conservation aspects of the project are consistent with numerous goals stated in the Natural Environment section of the Policy Plan chapter of the City's Comprehensive Plan. To realize those goals, the Plan establishes a set of policies. The Nature's Refuge project is specifically consistent with the following: General Policies General Policy 3: Integrate new development to the natural characteristics of the land to enhance the development through the preservation of attractive natural amenities (i.e., wetlands, waterways, wooded areas, slopes, etc.). Consider new development regulations that serve to preserve unique natural areas. General Policy 5: Promote greenway planning to protect environmentally sensitive areas of the City, to preserve natural area and open space, and to define neighborhoods: Comment: The project is specifically designed to integrate the residential area with green space and protected natural areas, including forest and wetland, including rare wetland communities. The project will actively restore and conserve these natural areas, providing greater preservation of Lino Lakes' natural assets than a passive - conservation easement approach would provide.