11-04-1995 Meeting•
•
TO: ADVISORY PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMISSION
FROM: RICH BRASCH, WATER RESOURCES COORDINATOR
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
RE: NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING SUMMARY ON EASTER
LUTHERAN CHURCH SITE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 1994
Introduction
Following is a summary of the Natural Resources Subcommittee's
discussion of the Easter Lutheran Church development proposal on
Thomas Lake at a meeting of the Subcommittee on November 2, 1994.
A summary of the development proposal is presented in staff's
October 31, 1994 meeting to the Subcommittee which was sent to all
Commission members. Also, a list of those persons attending the
Subcommittee is attached.
Meeting Summary
1. Easter Lutheran Church representatives presented membership
projections and other information that form the basis for the
applicant's desire to develop the site at the proposed
intensity. The applicant is unwilling to reduce the intensity
of the development because of the need for additional space to
accomodate projected future increases in membership and the
desire of the Church to serve its membership from one
location.
2. The Natural Resources Subcommittee expressed concern about the
intensity at which the Church proposes to develop the site,
noting that in addition to the high impervious coverage
(greater than 60% of the site's developable area) about 80% of
the site would be graded. Subcommittee members felt that this
left few options for shifting development features to minimize
impacts on natural resources, especially vegetation.
3. A tree inventory for the site showed 169 significant trees.
The current development proposal calls for removing about 60%
of these trees if no detention basin is constructed on the
site, and up to 75% if a detention basin is constructed. The
Tree Preservation Policy guidelines call for a maximum removal
of 30% for a development of this type before mitigation is
required.
411 4. The applicant has delineated the only wetland on the site, a
fringe wetland adjacent to Thomas Lake which extends along the
• western boundary of the site. The delineation was not
presented on an accurate grading plan for the site, so it is
difficult to tell with certainty whether any filling of the
fringe wetland would occur. However, the location of the
wetland boundary is well inside a 50 foot wide zone adjacent
to Thomas Lake designated "constrained use" by the applicant.
Disturbance within this zone is expected to be minimal, so the
prospects for wetland fill appears small, provided adequate
erosion control is provided.
5. The applicant has no plans to provide a trail link internal to
the development. It should be noted that there is an existing
trail along the east and south boundaries of the development
adjacent to Pilot Knob Road and Cliff Road, respectively.
6. Background on stormwater management issues for this site is
presented in staff's October 31, 1994 memo to the Subcommittee
and Commission. Staff has raised several areas of concern
regarding total reliance on recharge basin techniques proposed
by the applicant to address stormwater quality management
requirements for the site. Those concerns are outlined in the
October 31 memo and have to do with both site suitability and
system design. In short, staff have reservations about relying
solely on a means of treating stormwater from this site which
is largely untested in this climate.
• 7. Staff and the applicant have discussed another option for
addressing stobmwater quality management for the site. This
option involves constructing a conventional detention basin in
the northern portion of the site to partially meet stormwater
treatment requirements. The applicant would then be required
to finance off -site improvements to reduce current loadings
from another sub - watershed in order to meet the non -
degradation standard for Thomas Lake.
•
8. The Natural Resources Subcommittee expressed concern about
off -site improvements to help mitigate the projected impacts
of this development on Thomas Lake. The Subcommittee was
concerned that the use of off -site watershed improvements to
mitigate the impacts of a particular development would reduce
the number of cost - effective options the City can pursue in
the future to decrease loadings to the lake from the existing
watershed.
9. The Natural Resources Subcommittee requested that staff
identify potentially feasibile options for off -site projects
that would reduce loadings to Thomas Lake. Staff will be
prepared to identify these options at the November 14
Commission meeting.
Concluding Comments
The Natural Resources Subcommittee was unable to reach any firm
•
•
recommendations regarding protection of natural resources issues
for the Easter Lutheran Church project proposal. The intent of the
Subcommittee is to bring the issue to the full Commission with the
benefit of the additional understanding of the applicant's proposal
gained during the Sucommittee's meeting. -
Rich Brasch
Water Resources Coordinator
cc. Ken Vraa
Peggy Reichert
Shannon Tyree
•
•
•
NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1994
EASTER LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELC) AGENDA ITEM
ATTENDEES:
Pastor Jim Borgschatz ELC
Lee Anderson ELC
Michael Schroeder ELC Consultant
Jon Widem
George Kubik
*Steve Thompson
John Rudolf
Gregg Hove
Shannon Tyree
Rich Brasch
Nat. Res. Subcom.
II
II
11 II
Adv. Parks, Rec., and
Nat. Res. Comm.
City Staff (Forestry)
City Staff (Comm. Dev.)
City Staff (Water Resources)
*Steve Thompson withdrew from the discussion because of a potential
conflict of interest associated with his membership in the Easter Lutheran
Church.