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CITY OF LAKE ELMO WASHINGTON COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION 2022-068 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON 38 ACRES AT 4452 LAKE ELMOAVE WHEREAS, the City desires to support projects in its community that protect its natural features quality of life, and WHEREAS, protection of water is essential to our health and well being; and WHEREAS, having adequate natural holding capacity for water is good planning that assists in flooding prevention, soil retention, improved water quality and efficient aquifer recharge; and WHEREAS, having adequate ecological corridors to allow wildlife to move, flourish and remain in our midst is of inherent value; and WHEREAS, this parcel is identified as part of a Minnesota Land Cover Classification System regional ecological corridor and adjacent to Regionally Signficant Ecological Areas- and j 9 WHEREAS, this parcel contains natural features *Including deciduous forest, vernal pools, wetlands and over 1,000 feet of shoreline on, a small unnamed lake; and WHEREAS, this property contains natural habitat, is used f6r tree farming and has very little impervious surface or tilled area, making it an important parcel for local water quality; and WHEREAS, the City has been approached by private landowners who would. like to protect 38 acres at 4452 Lake Elmo Avenue N., Lake Elmo, to assure it remains naturally intact for current and future generations; and WHEREAS, the landowners would like to obtain the City's support in proceeding to be able to complete the project with the necessary partners; and WHEREAS, the Minnesota Land Trust has reviewed theDrODerty in detail and signaled its property interest in protecting the area with a permanent conservation easement; and WHEREAS, the permanent conservation easement will allow the property owner to grant a 40 foot wide utility easement in the northwesterly portion of the property to the City of Lake Elmo. If a utility easement is pursued, its terms and conditions will begin with negotations between the Landowners and the City and be consistent with the terms and conditions of the conservation easement; and WHEREAS, the utility easement corridor was selected to be in an area without wetlands, native plant communities, or cultural sites. The area is dominated by planted conifers that are a part of the Owner's tree farm. It is also adjacent to a proposed building envelope in the northwestern