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DESIGN GROUP | Landscape Architecture www.calyxdesigngroup.com 105.12.470 Tree Preservation Section f.1: Exception Standards Not withstanding the City’s desire to accomplish tree preservation and protection goals, there may be instances where these goals are in conflict with other City objectives. These conflicts will most likely occur on small, heavily-wooded parcels. The City recognizes there may be instances where it is not practical or reasonable to have an applicant plant the total required replacement trees on site. Applicants may ask the City to approve exceptions to the City’s tree preservation and replacement standards. The City Council may grant exceptions if all of the following conditions exist: a. It is not feasible to combine the subject parcel with adjacent parcels that could use the parcel as required green space; b. Strict adherence to the City’s tree preservation and replacement standards would prevent reasonable development that is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and desirable to the City on the parcel; and c. The exception requested is the minimum needed to accomplish the desired development or redevelopment. a. Within the site’s limits, the project will support and maintain new trees around the development area to meet the Lake Elmo landscape and screening requirements. However, it is not feasible for the Elementary School to plant and continue to maintain additional mitigation trees on property or an adjacent parcel. Rather than funding on-site amenities for elementary students, taxpayer dollars would be going towards a substantial tree mitigation penalty due to the loss of the previous landowner’s planted tree rows. b. This project is a reasonable development that is consistent with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. A new Elementary School is an essential public service for the City of Lake Elmo, especially in a geographically ideal location near the Middle School. c. The Architect and Civil Engineer have worked diligently to minimize site disturbance while maintaining all of the necessary functions and features for the Elementary School including parking, driveways, utilities, and stormwater management. 105.12.470 Tree Preservation Section f.2: Reduced Mitigation for Exceptions If the City Council approves an exception to the tree preservation standards, relief from the requirements of the standards may take the form of reduced mitigation requirements, greater allowable tree removal, higher thresholds for determining significant trees, or any combination of the above. The City Council will determine which form of relief best balances the objectives of the City and tree preservation. The proposed Lake Elmo Elementary School project requests that the City Council exempt the landowner planted trees from a mitigation penalty. The project intends to meet the Lake Elmo standard landscape requirements and mitigation penalty for the removal of naturally occurring site trees. The proposed Elementary School is an essential public service and provides public improvements including ballfields and a playground that will be open to the community. With this tree mitigation exemption, the school will be able use more of the budget for the elementary students’ building , site amenities, and education.