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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20240424 Environmental Board MinutesEnvironmental Board April 24, 2024 Page 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Sullivan called the Environmental meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on April 24, 2024. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. SWEARING IN OF BOARD MEMBERS 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as presented. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ms. Nelson made a motion to approve the February 28, 2024 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Ms. Holmes. Motion carried 5 – 0. 6. OPEN MIKE Chair Sullivan declared open mike at 6:34 p.m. Carol Featherstone, 631 Andall Street, Lino Lakes, MN 55014, was unsettled that there were 4,600 trees being removed for the new development in Nature’s Refuge. She reviewed the tree sizes and the age of the trees and was DATE: April 24, 2024 TIME STARTED: 6:30 p.m. TIME ENDED: 8:09 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: John Sullivan, Shawn Holmes, Julia Nelson, Lindsay Buchmeier, Jonathan Parsons MEMBERS ABSENT: Cassie Cavegn, Alex Schwartz STAFF PRESENT: Andrew Nelson, Michael Grochala, Julie Whitney Environmental Board April 24, 2024 Page 2 DRAFT MINUTES disappointed with the decision to cut them down. She asked the Board to hold MI Homes accountable for replacing the 3,900 trees due to the mitigation process. Raymond Stanke, 663 Andall Street, Lino Lakes, MN 55014, Mr. Stanke appreciates the wildlife that he has enjoyed since moving here in the 1990’s. He said reptiles and amphibians were bountiful. He stated there has been a decline in the wildlife over the last ten years. Mr. Stanke stated he saw a wood turtle on a neighboring property that was on the endangered list. Mr. Stanke feels it is criminal and self harming to ignore what is happening. He feels whatever is getting into the water and killing the tree frogs is not helping. He spoke to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control and feels it is criminal what they are putting in the water. Open Mike was closed at 6:46 p.m. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Nature’s Refuge North – Restoration and Tree Mitigation Plan Natures Refuge North is a proposed subdivision with 99 single-family residential lots on an approximately 59.3 acres site located just north of the Natures Refuge development on Main Street. The Environmental Board first reviewed a concept plan for the Natures Refuge North project at the October 25th, 2023 meeting. Since the initial meetings with the Environmental Board and Planning and Zoning Board, the developer, M/I Homes, has been working through the recommendations and requirements to further explore the feasibility of the project. Mr. Nelson wanted to know if the Board would be open to some flexibility on the tree mitigation numbers knowing what we know about this site. He said there is restoration and establishment potential to bring in the rarest native plant community to this area, which is Oak Savanna. Mr. Nelson indicated the suggestion is to find the best possible ecological and environmental outcome for this specific patch of land while honoring the landscape requirements that are valued by the residents. He said the development team has been working to minimize tree impacts and determine what areas have potential for vegetive restoration. Mr. Nelson stated there are conservation developments in the City that are examples of how native plant restoration work can be better incorporated into design. These sites include Foxborough, the Preserve, Saddle Club and Nature’s Refuge. He stated tree mitigation numbers were waived or altered in the past in Environmental Board April 24, 2024 Page 3 DRAFT MINUTES these areas to support restoration efforts. He added conservation developments like Foxborough and the Preserve have long-term stewardship plans in place. Mr. Nelson said without active management or natural disturbance that natural systems degrade over time and invasive plants become dominant. This leads to native plants vanishing. Long-term active management helps to preserve biodiversity in native plant communities and developed areas. Mr. Nelson explained that planting the number of mitigation trees indicated by initial estimates is not reasonable for this site, and will not lead to the best long- term outcome for the outlots. He also said that excessive tree planting is detrimental to both wetland and oak savanna plant communities and long-term stewardship and active management will yield the best result. He stressed the long-term plan will require active collaboration between the Environmental Board, other City groups, the developer, and the developer’s consultants. Mr. Nelson recommended collaboration with the developer to initiate a process to achieve a final product with higher value than tree mitigation alone would provide. He also stated there is potential on this site for a solution that includes establishment and restoration, enhanced greenway system components and overall benefits of biodiversity that may not be possible to this extent on other sites. The next steps will be to establish baseline conditions for the site, incorporate workshops, evaluate alternatives and restoration options, establish long-term maintenance criteria and funding and perform a site assessment to gage restoration efforts. It was the consensus on the Board that they were concerned over the number of trees that were being removed for this development. Mr. Sullivan said he would like to look at other developments to understand what was done and to have an idea of what we can do with this new development. Mr. Nelson said we could have a special meeting or workshop to go over the development and discuss the options for this project. Ms. Holmes thought it would be beneficial to drive through Foxborough to see what they had done. She also thought it would be important to poll the residents to find out how they want to see Lino Lakes developed. Mr. Sullivan inquired if anyone surveys wildlife before land is developed. Mr. Nelson said DNR maintains a database of rare, threatened, and special concern species. The results of these Natural Heritage Information System requests may necessitate additional plant and/or animals surveys and mitigation. Mr. Sullivan thought it was important that this type of information was provided. Environmental Board April 24, 2024 Page 4 DRAFT MINUTES Ms. Buchmeier asked if we would remove the endangered plants or work around them. Mr. Nelson stated it would be a combination of minimizing impacts and transplanting species to donor sites. In closing the Board is open to ecological restoration in place of tree mitigation in certain areas. Mr. Sullivan stressed the importance of tree preservation for this site. Ms. Holmes questioned if we could take extra precautions to save as many trees as possible. Mr. Nelson said there are creative ways to expand the number of trees that are preserved that could be worked through as the project goes forward. 8. ACTION ITEMS A. Linda Avenue Addition – Preliminary Plat The applicant, James Christiansen, is proposing to subdivide the existing lot located at 6217 Hodgson Road into two (2) single family lots for the purpose of constructing two (2) new single-family houses. The lot is 1.37 gross acres (59,796 sf). Ms. Buchmeier wanted to know if Blanding turtle protections would happen for this site. Mr. Nelson stated we could add a statement on providing flyers and factsheets to contractors working on the site. Ms. Holmes also asked if we could provide information on alternative options for ground cover. Mr. Nelson said we could discuss the option of creating a brochure on alternative cover options in the future. Ms. Buchmeier moved to approve the staff recommendations. Motion seconded by Ms. Nelson. Motion carried 5 – 0. 9. UPDATES Mr. Nelson provided updates to the Environmental Board. • City Council accepted Environmental Board goals. • City Council approved a cautionary agreement with Rice Creek Watershed District for the Centerville Lake alum treatment. • City Council approved the spring boulevard tree planting contract for 72 boulevard trees. • The Mayor proclaimed April 26, 2024 as Arbor Day in Lino Lakes • Lino Lakes received recognition for the City’s 33rd year participating in the Tree City USA program. We also received the Growth award for the 5th year. Environmental Board April 24, 2024 Page 5 DRAFT MINUTES • The City completed a prescribed burn with the Fire Department and the Parks and Streets department at the City Hall building, Beams Park, a small stormwater pond at Lino Park and all the native plant areas around City Hall. A. Recycling Updates Ms. Olinger presented the recycling updates. 10. ADJOURN Ms. Holmes made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 p.m. Motion was seconded by Ms. Buchmeier. Motion carried 5 – 0. Respectfully submitted, Julie Whitney – Administrative Assistant Community Development