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K:\021158-000\Admin\Permits\22.16 Oneka Prairie\Replacement\MEMO_HugoCityCouncil_OnekaPrairieWetlandReplacement_031123.docx 178 E 9TH STREET | SUITE 200 | SAINT PAUL, MN | 55101 | 651.286.8450 | WSBENG.COM Memorandum <br />To: Tom Weidt, City of Hugo Mayor <br />Becky Petryk, City of Hugo Council Member <br />Phil Klein, City of Hugo Council Member <br />David Strub, City of Hugo Council Member <br />Mike Miron, City of Hugo Council Member <br />CC: Rachel Juba, Community Development Director <br />From: Tony Havranek, WSB <br />Date: March 11, 2023 <br />Re: City Project No. 22.16 Oneka Prairie Development <br />I have drafted this memo regarding a MN Joint Application Form for Activities Affecting Water <br />Resources in Minnesota to impact and replace wetlands as part of the Oneka Prairie Residential <br />Development Project. <br />Larry Alm (Southwind Holdings) submitted an application requesting approval for wetland impact <br />sequencing and replacement. The application was considered complete on October 19, 2022, <br />and a subsequent notice of application was issued on October 27, 2022. The initial comment <br />period for the application expired on November 18, 2022. However, the applicant and his team <br />had not fully addressed potential impacts from drainage and activities that resulted in fill. Site <br />stormwater designs had not been finalized by this date. As such, the review period was extended <br />twice to accommodate the applicant’s consultants to provide a final stormwater design that was <br />acceptable and subsequently submit final wetland impact totals. <br />The purpose of the project is to develop 24 acres of rolling pasture, hay, and wetland into 59 <br />residential lots (see attached maps). <br />A wetland boundary and type application was approved on September 14, 2022 and was issued <br />on October 4, 2022, which identified nine (9) wetland basins within the project area. The wetland <br />communities include seasonally flooded basins, wet meadows, and shallow marshes. <br />Eight (8) of the 10 on-site wetlands are proposed to be impacted, with wetlands G, B, and B` <br />proposed to be impacted in their entirety. Wetland functions provided by these wetlands include: <br />•Surface water detention <br />•Nutrient Transformation <br />•Carbon Sequestration <br />•Other Wildlife Habitat <br />Six (6) alternatives were considered for this project as part of the wetland conservation act (WCA) <br />sequencing requirement. The first was the no-build alternative. This was rejected as it would not <br />accomplish the purpose of addressing the deficit of residential housing in the region. <br />G.7