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• <br />• <br />Fox Den Acres <br />page 5 <br />Utilities: Sanitary sewer and water service will connect to existing facilities in Fox Road. <br />As of May 6th, the analysis of the water system was pending to determine if pressure and <br />circulation are adequate for this development. If not, this project is premature. <br />Grading and Stormwater Management: Stormwater ponds will be created in several <br />locations on the site. There are unresolved questions regarding if the ponds will function as <br />proposed due to high water elevations relative to surrounding wetlands. This requires <br />geotechnical tests to determine ground water elevation. As of May 5th, we have not test data. <br />The drainage design along the western edge must not impact the existing homes. Several lots are <br />noted for "custom grading." However, we do need to ensure that the grading plan establishes <br />fundamental grading parameters in these areas. Further information must be supplied. <br />Drainage and utility easements will need to cover the ponds and stormwater facilities. <br />Easements also must be platted along all the external property lines. <br />The project requires the approval of the Rice Creek Watershed District. The District approved <br />the wetland delineation, but we have no documentation of further project approvals. <br />Existing City Easement: The project also proposes the partial vacation of an existing <br />ponding and flowage easement held by the City. This easement covers most of the land to the <br />east and south of the site, which comprises a large wetland area. A 100' strip (approx. one acre) <br />of the easement would need to be vacated on the eastern side of the plat. This also would include <br />triangle on the south (about 0.8 acre, within the 40 -acre area), and some narrow strips elsewhere <br />in the proposed plat. <br />This easement vacation is an issue because of the additional area proposed for development <br />outside the existing MUSA and growth area. The vacation of the flowage easement would be <br />necessary if the additional growth area is approved. <br />The City looks carefully at requests to vacate such easements. We require that the applicant <br />prove that the easement is not necessary and that the vacation will have no negative effect. The <br />only reason to vacate the portion of the easement on the east edge of the project would be to <br />provide for the additional lots outside the growth area and MUSA. On the south, lots can be <br />created within the growth area with the easement in place, though perhaps fewer of them. It does <br />not appear that the vacation is justified with the proposal as submitted. <br />ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD <br />The Environmental Board reviewed this application on March 31St. Recommendations are <br />attached. The recommendations include pursuing a conservation development, with design <br />flexibility, to facilitate a greenway corridor along the south and east sides of the site. <br />