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• • • Environmental Assessment Worksheet Nature's Refuge Conservation Development Lino Lakes, Anoka County, Minnesota Draft Document — September 25, 2006 Page 3 The site consists of oak and aspen second - growth forests, planted pines, fallow agricultural fields, and wetlands of varying type and ecological quality. A large wetland complex occupies much of the eastern portion of the site. The complex includes rare wetland plant communities and several rare plant species. The property was farmed until early last century, but since then has developed somewhat mature second - growth forest. The only current land uses are unauthorized recreational uses, and two utility easements that cross the northern portion of the site. Drainage ditches that were presumably dug during the site's agricultural period are still effective in connecting some of the wetlands to each other and to the off -site drainage network. Proposed Project According to the project plan, the site will be divided into a residential area and surrounding nature - conservation areas. The subdivision will be accessible from the south via an entrance from Main Street immediately west of Lino Lakes Elementary School, and from the north via an entrance from Pine Street. An irregular network of new, curbed, yet -to -be -named residential streets will be built along a roughly north -south axis to provide access to 278 newly platted lots. Sanitary sewer and water supply will be extended from existing infrastructure to service these new lots. The streets will wind through the development, avoiding the majority of wetlands. The typical lot will be rectangular and approximately 80' by 120', but the winding, irregular nature of the streets will mean that many lots will have different dimensions and shape, though their sizes will be similar (see Proposed Site Plan, Figure 4). The project will include restoration and management activities for the majority of the property's wetland area in order to create conservation areas and to offset wetland impacts created by the project. Based in part on the presence of rare plant species (see rare plant locations in Figure 3) and communities on the project site, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) has already given verbal approval to apply the "Exceptional Natural Resource Value" (ENRV) provisions of the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) to the wetland impact mitigation plans for the project. Under these provisions, the Applicants will gain extra mitigation credits for properly restoring the wetlands that support rare species and unique vegetative wetland communities. This will provide enhancement and protection for a valuable natural area, while providing wetland mitigation credit to offset the proposed wetland impacts created by the project, and excess mitigation credits that will be used as wetland mitigation bank credit. The proposed conservation areas will consist of non - impacted wetlands and adjacent forested upland areas. The conservation areas will be placed under conservation easement, and will be restored according to a formal restoration plan. The plan will include initial restoration activities, plus a 5 -year maintenance and monitoring plan. Following this establishment period, the conservation areas will be preserved, and managed in perpetuity. The funding plan for this ongoing management has not yet been determined, but will probably include a combination of sources (e.g. escrow earnings, homeowner fees). The project will include the creation and maintenance of pedestrian trails through the development. These trails will be linked to the City's trail system as it develops. The trails will separate pedestrians from roadways, and will traverse small portions of the conservation areas. The trails will be constructed to be compatible with the City's "greenway" system. Phasing and Construction Activities The site will be constructed in multiple phases. The anticipated phasing is to begin at the south and proceed to the north. All phases are anticipated to be complete in 3 to 5 years. Construction of the first phase (south of the main drainage ditch) will possibly begin in late 2006. For each phase, the erosion control measures and storm water ponds will be constructed first to provide sediment control during construction. Grading of the streets and home sites will follow. Utility construction will be next, followed by street construction. Turf establishment and infiltration areas will be installed as grading and street construction are completed. The construction activities sequence will be in accordance with that specified in the particular phase's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).