04-21-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View Planning Commission April 21, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Director Ericson indicated that as a condition of approval, the developer will be required to replant trees at two trees per each front yard. Director Ericson indicated the soils have been reviewed through soil borings and they are suitable for development with a foot or two of organic soil down to four feet in some places. He then said that the City has a high water table but with the soil balancing on site all of the basements of the new homes would be above the water table. He further commented that the City’s engineers are reviewing the plan to make sure there are no issues with it. Director Ericson indicated this has been a project that has been in the works for years and he thanked residents that have been involved with the project and invited anyone interested to voice concerns and ask questions as the City wants to make sure that all concerns are addressed. Director Ericson indicated there would be another public hearing before Council to review the same preliminary plat with any changes that have occurred through the Planning Commission recommendation. Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. David Veenstra of 3000 County Road H2 asked why the pond is being deepened and the trees destroyed to make a second pond. Director Ericson indicated the pond is being expanded to address runoff from H2 and to handle runoff from the site itself. He then explained that the water is captured by catch basins and piped through the development to the first pond to allow for solids to settle out before it flows through to the next pond. Director Ericson indicated that while there will be trees lost on the property, the determination was made to save the trees on either side of the pond to screen it from adjacent properties and that is why the pond was elongated rather than widened. Mr. Veenstra said he feels the City is destroying a beautiful woods and losing all of the filtration that the trees provide and he is sick about it. He then said he thinks it is an environmental disaster and does not think you get any better ground water this way because trees do a better job. He further said he thinks this is insane. Mr. Veenstra asked how power would be brought to his property. Gary Nordness, representing ProCraft, or, member of development team, indicated that they will be working with Xcel Energy on how to place the power and then said that it would be up to Mr. Veenstra whether he wants his power to remain on the pole or be run underground. Mr. Veenstra asked why he was never approached by the developer on this matter.