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Mounds View City Council September 14, 1987 Regular Meeting Page Four %Jim Sandidge, 7817 Bona Road, stated that after last Thursday's meeting, he hoped the Council would deny this petition. He stated they have several people prepared to make statements to the Council opposing this development. Leo Onstad, 7730 Bona Road, read a prepared statement, saying he feels the property is a wetland and a valuable resource for the community, and the City does not have a very good record for maintaining wetlands. He added that while the Harstad Company may be within the letter of the law, they are not within the spirit, and he asked the Council to honor the existing wetland ordinance. Tom McGuigan, the Minnesota representative to the National Audubon Society, reviewed several points made so far, and he explained the mission of the National Audubon Society. He stated he felt many false and misleading statements had been made by the developer, and he reviewed the find- ings of the St. Paul Audubon Society members who visited the area on September 12, and the numerous species they counted. He stated he feels this proposal would destroy the wildlife habitat value of this area, and it would be a violation of City Code. Mr. McGuigan asked the Council to deny the request of the developer for this proposal. Councilmember Hankner asked if the Audubon Society had been active in the reconstruction of wetlands. Mr. McGuigan replied it was possible some chapters may have been, and he stated many agencies have been active in that area. He recommended that an unbiased person come in and define the wetland area, and he recommended Steve Eggers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a very knowledgeable individual who could accomplish the task. Lindsay Little, 5539 St. Michael Street, read portions of the letter from the DNR regarding the proposed development and the effects which could be experienced. He stated that he had chosen Mounds View as the area he wanted to live in because of the wetland area close to his home, and he state.:: everyone must look to the future and preserve the land for future generations. Mr. Ayaz reviewed a list of professionals he had spoken to regarding the proposal, and he stated he feels the wetland ordinance is very valuable and should be protected and upheld. He stated the City is under no obligation to grant a variance to the developer, and the City is the only body that has juridiction over the land. Mr. Ayaz stated he disagreed with Mr. Senden's i of the various organizations that had approved the development, as they had no authority to grant approval, and he reviewed a list of reasons why he feels the Council should deny approval of the request. He stated that if the 100 foot buffer is observed,