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5. Adopt Ord Amend Chpt 18CITYOF CHANHASSEN 7700 Market Boulevard PO Box 147 Cha~hassen MN 553! ? Administration Phone 9522271100 Fax: 95222711!0 Phone 9522271180 Fax~ 9522271190 Engineering Phone: 952227 1160 Fax~ 952 227 1170 Finance Phone: 9522271140 Fax: 9522271110 Park & Recreation Phone: 9522271120 Fax: 952 22/1110 Recreation Center 2310 Coulter Bouievard Phone: 9522271400 Fax 9522271404 Planning & Natural Resources Phone 9522271130 Fax 9522271110 Public Works 1591 Park Red ?'one: 952 227 1300 Fax: 952 2271310 Senior Center R'one: 952.227 1125 Fax 952 ',!271110 Web Site www ci cha~O~assen nxl us MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: Todd Gerhardt, City Manger Bob Generous, Senior Planner February 23, 2004 SUB J: Adoption of Ordinance amending Chapter 18, Chanhassen City Code, Subdivisions; Approval of Summary Ordinance for Publication Purposes ACTION REQUIRED A simple majority vote of City Council members present is required to adopt the amendment; however, a 4/5ths vote is required for approval of the summary ordinance for publication purposes. BACKGROUND The proposed changes to Chapter 18 have been reviewed previously by the Chanhassen Planning Commission as public hearings on December 2, 2003 and continued on January 20, 2004. City Council reviewed the draft changes during the summer of 2003. SUMMARY Staff believes that the majority of the amendments are administrative in nature, clarifying submittal requirements and timing. The following areas which generated additional issues at the previous Planning Commission and City Council discussions of the ordinance amendments: Section 18-37 Exemptions. The city attorney advised staff that the exemption requirement was both confusing and redundant, since such issues are guided by state statute and the definition of a subdivision. The city only certifies that such changes are not governed by the city's subdivision requirements. However, at least one member of the Planning Commission felt that the language should remain and voted against recommending approval of the ordinance amendment. Also, the distinction between metes and bounds subdivisions in the urban service area was deleted. The City ct Chanhassen · A oro'~,'~n,~ cgm:T~un~ty with clean lakes qua!i~? schools a charming ¢towntown [hri;' qg businesses winding t ails, a ~¢! beautiful parks A great pace to ive ;*,,',)rk snd play Mr. Todd Gerhardt February 23, 2004 Amendment Chapter 18 Page 2 Section 18-57 streets. The Planning Commission previously wanted to require the maximum street width for minor arterial and local street pavement widths. Staff proposed using our existing detail plate pavement width. The attached ordinance, which was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission, is consistent with the city's detail plates. Section 18-61 (c) landscaping and tree preservation. The Planning Commission had wanted to void the application and make the applicant start over. Staff has prepared language halting the process to get revised plans, but not voiding the application. Section 18-61 (d) (4) landscaping and tree preservation. This item deals with the calculation of the amount of tree removal. Staff has proposed using the front 105 feet of the lot to estimate the area of tree removal for a subdivision. The 105 feet includes the 30-foot front setback (an area where small utility installation takes place, where building materials are stored, and where vehicles and access to the site is taken), a 47-foot house (the average building envelope depth), a 12-foot deck and a 15-foot grading area, plus one foot to round up to the nearest five feet. Staff sampled surveys from the building department to determine if there is an average building envelope that should be used to determine adequate building area. The average building envelope is 2,226 square feet with a range of 1,833 square feet to 2,971 square feet. These building envelopes range in length from 56 to 80 feet with a depth from 31 to 55 feet with an average dimension of 68 feet by 47 feet. Section 18-61 (d) (5) landscaping and tree preservation. Staff and the Planning Commission are recommending a financial penalty for the damage or removal of protected trees in addition to the replacement of the tree(s). The original proposal was for $500. The Planning Commission recommended $300 per diameter inch for "protected" trees that are removed as part of the construction process. Section 18-78 (b) (5) Required improvements. Staff had originally proposed that sidewalks be included on all local streets. The Planning Commission had previously agreed with the requirement. However, City Council was not comfortable with the blanket requirement and directed that staff develop criteria for the inclusion of sidewalks in a subdivision. The Planning Commission concurred on the criteria and added clarifications. Mr. Todd Gerhardt February 23, 2004 Amendment Chapter 18 Page 3 Staff is recommending approval of the amendments. Attached are the proposed revisions to Chapter 18 of the Chanhassen City Code in a strikethrough and bold format as well as the ordinance amending Chapter 18. PLANNING COMMISSION UPDATE The Planning Commission voted four for and one against a motion recommending adoption of the ordinance amending Chapter 18, Subdivisions, of the City Code. RECOMMENDATION Staff and the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council adopt the following motion: "The Chanhassen City Council approves the attached ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Chanhassen City Code and approves the summary ordinance for publication purposes." ATTACHMENT 1. Ordinance Amending Chapter 18, Subdivisions, Chanhassen City Code. 2. Summary Ordinance. 3. Code Amendments in stike-through and bold format. 4. Planning Commission Minutes of January 20, 2004. 5. Planning Commission Minutes of December 2, 2003. 6. Tree Removal Calculations Sample 1, Burlwood. 7. Tree Removal Calculations Sample 2, Ashling Meadows. 8. Survey Results, City Tree Removal Calculations. 9. Average Building Envelopes and Surveys. g:\plan\bg\city code\cc memo ch 18 subdivisions.doc CITY OF CHANHASSEN CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA ORDINANCENO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 18 CHANHASSEN C1TY CODE, SUBDIVISIONS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA ORDAINS: Section 1. Chapter 18, Article I, Section 18-1 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby repealed. Section 2. Chapter 18, Section 18-37 (a) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby repealed. Section 3. Section 18-37 (b) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: The city council may approve a metes and bounds subdivision of a lot into two (2) lots if both resulting lots meet the minimum requirements of the zoning ordinance and abut a public or private street. To the extent possible, the new boundary line shall be parallel to a previously existing lot line. The city council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed subdivision after notice of the date, time, place and purpose of the hearing has been published once in the official newspaper, and a proposed development notification sign has been erected on the subject property by the applicant, both at least ten (10) days before the date of hearing. Written notice shall also be mailed by the city to the applicant and all owners of record within five hundred (500) feet of the outer boundaries of the subdivision. Failure to post a proposed development notification sign or to give notice or defects in the notice shall not affect the validity of the proceedings. At least three (3) weeks prior to the hearing the applicant shall submit to the city: a. A survey (prepared and signed by a registered land surveyor); b. A list of property owners within five hundred (500) feet of the boundaries of the parcel to be subdivided; c. Except as waived by the city, all information required for plats. Section 4. Section 18-39 (a) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: After the pre-application consultation and at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting of the planning commission at which action is desired, the applicant may file with the city, an application for preliminary plat approval. The application shall be accompanied by copies of the plat in such number as required by the city, an eight and one-half-by-eleven- inch reduction of each sheet, proof of ownership satisfactory to the city, and a list of property owners within five hundred (500) feet of the property certified by an abstract company. The applicant shall pay the application fee established by city council resolution. All required data, documentation plans, copies and fees must be submitted before the application will be considered complete. Rejection of the plat by the city council, or abandonment or withdrawal of the proposed plat by the subdivider, shall not entitle the applicant to the return of all or any part of the application fee. Section 5. Section 18-39 (f) (7) c. of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: Lack of adequate sanitary sewer systems or no ISTS (individual sewage treatment system). Section 6. Section 18-40 (2) f. of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: Topographic data within the property to be subdivided and one hundred (100) feet beyond the property boundary, showing contours as follows: two foot intervals where slope is ten (10) percent or less; five foot intervals where slope is ten (10) to fifteen (15) percent; ten-foot intervals where slope is greater than fifteen (15) percent. All areas of the subdivision to be platted with a slope greater than twenty-five percent must be clearly indicated. However, on undevelopable sections or larger acre lots topographic data may be reduced to significant physical characteristics, such as top and toe of slope, if in the opinion of the city the area is viewed as unsuitable for future subdivision. Location and elevations of on-site and abutting water courses, lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams, and marshes at date of survey and their ordinary high water mark plus approximate high and normal water elevations shall also be shown. A wetland delineation report and surveyed wetland line for all jurisdictional wetlands on or within one hundred (100) feet of the property boundary shall be submitted. The delineation shall be no more than three (3) years old, unless accompanied by documentation demonstrating the delineation has been reviewed in the past three (3) years and is accurate or revised to reflect changes on-site. Flood plain areas, location of wooded areas, rocky outcrops, power transmission poles and lines and other significant physical features shall also be shown. Section 7. Section 18-40 (4) c. of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: A drainage plan for the area indicating the direction and rate of natural storm water runoff and those unaltered areas where storm water collects and percolates into the ground. A proposed drainage plan for the developed site indicating the direction and rate of runoff, the path of all storm water discharge to the public storm water infrastructure and those areas where storm water will collect and percolate into the ground shall also be included. Storm water management shall be consistent with the city's surface water management plan. Section 8. Section 18-41 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: (a) Unless otherwise provided in the development contract for phased development, within one (1) year after the date of the city council approval of the preliminary plat, the subdivider shall file an application for approval of the final plat. In addition to the application the subdivider shall submit: (1) Copies of the plat in such quantities as is required by the city; (2) Two (2) mylar copies of the plat; (3) One (1) two hundred (200) scale copy of the plat. (4) 1"=200' scale mylar reductions of the final plat with just street names and lot and block numbers.digital copy in .dxf format (the .dxf file must be tied to the current county coordinate system) and a digital copy in .tif format of the final plat shall be submitted. If the final plat application is not filed within this period, the preliminary plat will be considered void unless for good cause shown an extension is requested in writing by the subdivider and granted by the city council prior to the one-year anniversary date of the preliminary plat approval. The application for final plat approval shall be filed at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the meeting of the city council at which action is desired. (b) The final plat shall conform to the requirements of this chapter and to all conditions set forth in the approval of the preliminary plat as modified during final plat approval. (c) The city council shall review the final plat and shall approve or disapprove it within sixty (60) days of receipt of the completed application. (d) No final plat shall be recorded by the city until the plat is in a form acceptable for recording with the county, the proper filing fees have been paid to the city, a development contract has been signed, appropriate security has been furnished, and no other payments to the city related to the development are outstanding. (e) Upon approval of the final plat by the city council, the city shall notify the applicant of the approval and within thirty (30) days thereafter, the applicant or the city attorney shall file the final plat with the county recorder and furnish the city evidence of such recording. Failure of the applicant to comply shall be cause for revoking the city's approval. The developer shall pay the city a fee established by city council to reimburse the city for the cost of updating the city's base maps and geographic information systems (GIS) data base files and converting the plat and record drawings into an electronic format. Section 9. Section 18-56 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: The proposed subdivision shall conform to the comprehensive plan, the design standards, and Chapter 20 of the City Code. The design standards set forth in this article are minimum requirements. The city may impose additional or more stringent requirements concerning lot size, streets and overall design as deemed appropriate considering the property being subdivided. Section 10. Section 18-57 (b) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: b) Street right-of-way widths shall be consistent with the comprehensive plan and official map, and shall conform to county and state standards for trunk highways. If no such plans or standards are applicable, right-of-way and pavement widths shall not be less than the following: Street Right-of-Way Roadway/Pavement Classifications Widths (feet) Width (feet) Minor arterial 100 36 Collector 80 36 Local street (rural residential) 60 24 Local street (urban residential) 60 31 Local street 60 36 commercial/industrial) Cul-de-sac, turnaround radius 60 45.5 urbm~/residential) Cul-de-sac, turnaround 60 40 radius(rural residential) Cul-de-sac, turnaround 60 48 radius(commercial/industrial) Private Street (Residential Serving 30 20 A-2, RR, RSF, R-4) Private Street (Residential Serving 40 24 R-8, R-12, R-16) 40 26 Private Street (commercial/industrial) Section 11. Section 18-61 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: (a) Required landscaping/residential subdivision. 4 Each lot shall be provided with a minimum of one (1) deciduous or conifer tree to be placed in the front yard. The type of tree shall be subject to city approval. Coniferous trees must be at least six (6) feet high and deciduous trees must be at least two and one-half (21/2) inches in diameter at the time of installation. This requirement may be waived by the city where the applicant can demonstrate that a suitable tree having a minimum diameter of two and one-half (21/2) inches for deciduous and six-foot height for evergreen is located in an appropriate location on the lot. The following trees may be used to meet planting requirements: Scientific Name Deciduous Trees Common Name Acer saccharunl Maple, Sugar or hard Cazva ovata Shagbark Hickory Celtis occide~italis Hackberry Juglans nigra Black Walnut Quercus rubra Oak, Red Quercus alba Oak, White Quercus bicolor Oak, Bicolor Quercus macrocarpa Oak, Bur Tilia americana Linden, American Acer rubrutn spp. Maple, Red, all varieties Acer xfreema.ii, spp. Maple, Freeman, all varieties Acer sacc~d~arint.n 'Silver Quee.' Maple, Silver Queen Aesclthts glabra Ohio Buckeye Bet.la t~igra Birch, River Betlda papyrifera Birch, paper Bet.la pendula 'Dalecarlica' Birch, cut leaf weeping Catalpa speciosa Northern Catalpa Fraxin.s spp. Ash, all varieties Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo Gleditsia triaca.thos i~ermi& spp. Honeylocust, thornless - all varieties Gymnocladus dioic.s Coffeetree, Kentucky Tilia spp. Ul.l.S spp. Linden, all varieties ELM, DED-resistant varieties Ornamental Acer ginnala Maple, Amur Amelanchier spp. Serviceberry or Juneberry Crataegus spp. Hawthorn, all varieties Malus spp. Crabapple, assorted flowering-Varieties, Ostrya virginiana Ironwood Populus tremuloides Aspen Sorbus spp. Ash, Mountain, all varieties Phellodendron amurense Amur Corktree Prunus cerasifera 'Newport' Plum, Newport Prunus triloba Plum, flowering or Rose Tree of China Prunus virginiana 'Schubert' Chokeberry, Schubert Syringa reticulata Lilac, Japanese tree Conifers Abies balsamea Fir, Balsam Abies coucolor Fir, Concolor Larix lariciua Tamarack Picea abies Spruce, Norway Picea glauca Spruce, White Picea glauca densata Spruce, Black Hills Picea pungens Spruce, Colorado Green Pinus nigra Pine, Austrian Pinus ponderosa Pine, Ponderosa Pinus resinosa Pine, Norway Pinus strobus Pine, White Pinus syh, estris Pine, Scotch Pseudotsuga menziesii Fir, Douglas Thuja occidentalis Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis 'Techny' Techny Arborvitae (2) The tree(s) must be installed prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy or financial guarantees acceptable to the city must be provided to ensure timely installation. (3) All areas disturbed by site grading and/or construction must be seeded or sodded immediately upon completion of work to minimize erosion. When certificates of occupancy are requested prior to the satisfaction of this requirement, financial guarantees acceptable to the city, must be provided. (4) No dead trees or uprooted stumps shall remain after development. On-site burial or burning is not permitted. (5) Landscaped buffers around the exterior of the subdivision shall be required by the city when the plat is contiguous with collector or arterial streets as defined in the comprehensive plan and where the plat is adjacent to more intensive land uses. Required buffering shall consist of berms and landscape material consisting of a mix of trees and shrubs and/or tree preservation areas. No fences will be permitted between the required buffer and the collector or arterial street. Where appropriate, the city may require additional lot depth and area on lots containing the buffer so that it can be adequately accommodated and the homes protected from impacts. Lot depths and areas may be increased by twenty-five (25) percent over zoning district standards. The landscape plan must be developed with the preliminary and final plat submittals for city approval. Appropriate financial guarantees acceptable to the city shall be required. (b) It is the policy of the city to preserve natural woodland areas throughout the city and with respect to specific site development to retain as far as practical, substantial tree stands which can be incorporated into the overall landscape plan. (c) No tree removal shall be permitted except as approved in a subdivision, planned unit development or site plan application. Removal of trees prior to city approval will result in the issuance of a citation. The cleared area shall be replanted at a rate of two (2) times the DBH inches (DBH means diameter measured at breast height, 4.5 feet above the ground) of trees removed, if known, or one (1) tree per 1,089 square feet of replacement area with the required replacement area calculated at 1.5 times the canopy coverage area that was removed. Additionally, the development review process shall be halted and the developer shall be required to resubmit revised existing site condition and tree inventory plans and new landscaping plans incorporating the additional planting requirements. (d) The following standards shall be used in evaluating subdivisions and site plans: (1) It is a policy of the City of Chanhassen to protect the integrity of the natural environment through the preservation, protection, and planting of trees. The city finds that trees provide many benefits including: stabilization of the soil by the prevention of erosion and sedimentation, reduction of storm water runoff and the costs associated therewith, improvement of air quality, reduction of noise pollution, control of urban heat island effect, protection and increase of property values, protection of privacy, energy conservation through natural insulation, control of drainage and restoration of denuded soil subsequent to construction and grading, protection from severe weather, providing habitat for birds and other wildlife, conservation and enhancement of city's physical and aesthetic environment, reforestation of open lands, and general protection and enhancement of the quality of life and general welfare of the city. It is therefore the purpose of this section to provide regulations related to the cutting, removal, or killing of trees on construction and development sites and to ensure the protection and preservation of the natural environment and beauty of the City of Chanhassen. (2) Prior to the submittal of development plans, a tree survey of the site shall be prepared by a registered landscape architect, licensed forester, or other professional approved by the city. This survey shall include the species, DBH size (DBH means diameter measured at breast height, 4.5 feet above the ground), condition, location of all, trees over six inches in diameter and any damaged or diseased trees on site. All significant special, damaged or diseased trees shall be tagged and identified by number on the survey. A delineation of the existing canopy coverage area(s) which outlines all areas covered by tree canopy shall be included as part of the survey. Additionally, all damaged and diseased trees shall be cataloged with the nature and extent of any damage or disease specified. Based on this survey and either site observation and measurement or a current aerial photograph (taken within one (1) year of the date of plan submittal) interpretation, the following shall be calculated: 1. Base line canopy coverage. 2. Minimum canopy coverage requirements. The following table shall be used to determine the minimum amount of canopy coverage that must be maintained or provided on-site as part of the development. It shall represent the minimum canopy coverage, consisting of existing tree canopy and/or additional trees required for the site. Existing wetland and bluff areas located on site shall be excluded from the calculation of site area in the determination of site coverage. If a forested area is to be dedicated to the city for park land, then this area shall not be included in the base line canopy coverage area calculation nor shall it count towards the minimum canopy coverage for the site. Base Line Canopy Coverage Per Acre Comprehensive Plan Designation 80-- 60--79% 40--59% 20--39% 19% or 100% less Commercial/industrial/institutional 28% 25% 20% 14% 10% High density residential 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% Medium density residential 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% Low density residential 55% 46% 35% 30% 25% Large lot residential Base line canopy coverage is the canopy coverage existing at the time the development application is filed with the city. Minimum canopy coverage is determined by using the matrix. Priority shall be given to retaining stands of trees and undisturbed wooded lands over individual specimen trees that will be incorporated into the development. No more than ten (10) percent of the canopy retention requirement may be met by an individual tree that is not included within a designated woodland area. For developments that do not meet the minimum canopy coverage, the developer shall be required to develop a forestation plan to bring the total canopy coverage up to the minimum requirement. Where existing woodlands are removed or there is a loss of trees that would otherwise be used to meet the canopy coverage retention requirement, the developer shall develop a woodland replacement plan. The replacement plan must designate an area at least one and two-tenths (1.2) times the removed canopy coverage area that shall be planted with replacement trees for those removed. These plans shall locate additional trees either as a continuation of existing stands of trees that are to be preserved or create new stands of trees in desirable locations such as along roadway corridors, on the north and west perimeters of the development, in common open areas, or adjacent to park facilities. The following criteria shall be followed in establishing minimum canopy coverage: 1. When planting trees, one (1) tree shall be deemed to provide one thousand eighty-nine (1,089) square feet of required canopy coverage; 2. Trees must be from the approved list of desirable species (preference given for trees designated as native); 3. No more than one-third (~/3) of the trees may be fi'om any one (1) tree species; 4. Trees shall average at least two-and-one-half-inch caliper and may be a minimum of one-and-one-half-inch caliper; 5. Not less than twenty (20) percent of the trees shall be conifers; 6. Conifer trees shall average seven (7) feet and shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in height; 7. Plant materials used for the reforestation shall be of a similar species as vegetation found on site; 8. Trees shall be used that are appropriate to the soil conditions found on site; and 9. Trees shall be from certified nursery stock as defined and controlled by Minnesota Statute sections 18.44 through 18.61, the Plant Pest Act. (3) In order to calculate the tree removal area of the single-family detached development, the applicant must include the front 105 feet of the each lot within the tree removal area of the development. (4) Minimizing the tree loss should be achieved by any combination of the following: a. Realignment of streets, utilities and lot lines. b. Consideration of alternative utility configurations such as the use of ejector pumps, force mains, or revised home elevations to minimize grading. c. Reductions in roadway width and right-of-way and increase in street grade up to ten (10) percent when the applicant can demonstrate that significant tree preservation is directly related to the modification. d. Use of private streets in lieu of public streets. e. Variation in street radius and design speed. f. Modified grading plans. g. Within PUDs, the city council may consider waiving minimum lot area requirements and/or density transfers as long as it can be demonstrated by the applicant, that tree preservation can be enhanced. In no case shall overall project densities exceed what is allowed by the Comprehensive Plan. The greater the level of preservation, the greater flexibility will be considered by the city. h. Within PUDs, variations to building setback lines provided a minimum twenty (20) foot building separation is maintained between buildings on adjacent lots. The setback variations shall be established and recorded as part of the plat approval. (5) Trees designated for preservation shall be protected by snow fences with clearly marked signage specifying that the area is off limits for construction activities, or other means acceptable to the city, prior to land preparation or construction activities. Protective barriers in locations determined by the city must remain in place until all construction activities are terminated. No equipment, chemicals, soil deposits, or construction materials shall be placed within the protective barriers. All understory trees and natural vegetation should be preserved within the boundaries of the protective areas. Where this protection area cannot be maintained or would otherwise render lots undevelopable, an alternate protection, mitigation or tree replacement plan may be considered and approved by the city. This plan may include the use of retaining walls, installation of aeration systems, requirement for post construction deep root fertilization and soil aeration, or construction vehicle ramp systems. Failure to properly protect trees during construction will result in a fine of $300.00 per diameter inch of tree(s) harmed, removed or destroyed in addition to the replacement planting of subsection (9) below. (6) At the city's discretion, conservation easements may be required to protect designated tree preservation areas. Such easements shall be permanently marked and signed as a conservation area with low profile monumcntation 10 acceptable to the city. A monument is required for each three hundred (300) linear feet of tree conservation area. Within designated woodland areas, the city shall encourage the use of indigenous grasses and plant species to more closely resemble a natural area. Home owners associations shall be responsible for the maintenance of vegetation in common areas. Individual property owners shall be responsible for the maintenance of vegetation on their property. The planting of trees in excess of those required by this ordinance is permitted within the designated woodland area. (7) During the removal process, trees shall be removed so as to prevent blocking of public rights-of-way or interfering with overhead utility lines. (8) The removal of diseased and damaged trees is permissible only if they cannot be saved. These trees shall not be counted when computing the base line tree canopy coverage. (9) If any protected significant trees are removed or killed or there is a loss of trees as the result of construction activities, the city requires replacement at the rate of two (2) diameter inches per each inch of DBH of the removed, killed, or lost trees. The replacement trees shall be at least two and a half (2I/2) inches diameter and will be species that conform to the List of Desirable Tree Species for Planting in Chanhassen. No more than one-third (1/_0 of the trees may be from any one (1) tree species. Other species or sizes may be used as replacement trees subject to approval by the city. Alternately, at the city's discretion, if a developer removes trees within a protected area, the canopy coverage area shall be calculated for that area and a replacement area one and one-half (1.5) times the canopy coverage area that was removed shall be planted. One tree shall be planted for each one thousand eighty-nine (1,089) square feet of required replacement area. Trees shall be from the list of desirable tree species, no more than one-third (~/3) of trees fi'om any one (1) tree species, average two-and-one-half-inch diameter with a minimum one-and-one- half-inch diameter, a similar species as vegetation existing on site, and appropriate to the soil conditions. Any replacement trees that cannot be planted on the original site due to space restrictions shall be planted on city property at locations to be determined by the city. (10)Financial guarantees acceptable to the city shall be required to ensure satisfactory installation of landscaping requirements. Section 12. Section 18-78 (b) (5) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sidewalks may be required. The following criteria shall be used in determining if sidewalks are to be included in a development: a. Sidewalks that connect to existing sidewalks within adjacent developed areas. 11 b. Sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to adjacent schools, parks and neighborhood commercial areas. c. Sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to existing, within adjacent developed areas, and proposed trails as shown in the City of Chanhassen Comprehensive plan. d. Sidewalks that are located in residential areas with long blocks or many dwelling units on the street(s), or commercial or industrial areas. Section 13. Section 18-79 (f) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows: Land area conveyed or dedicated to the city shall not be used in calculating density requirements of chapter 20 and shall be in addition to and not in lieu of open space requirements for planned unit developments. Section 14. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and publication. PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of City Council of the City of Chanhassen, Minnesota ,2004, bythe Todd Gerhardt, City Manager Thomas A. Furlong, Mayor (Published in the Chanhassen Villager on CITY OF CHANHASSEN CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. __, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 18 OF THE CHANHASSEN CITY CODE SUBDIVSIONS. The purpose of this code amendment is to delete definitions which are consolidated in Chapter 1 of the City Code; delete confusing exemptions provisions; eliminate the distinction between metes and bounds subdivisions in the urban service; require plan submittals 30 days prior to the public hearing; require submittal of a wetland delineation report with the preliminary plat and show the path of storm water discharge to public storm water infrastructure; require submittal of 1"=200' mylar final plats and digital formatted final plats; require final plat documents be submitted 21 days prior to the city council hearing; specify street pavement widths that are consistent with the city's detail plates; clarify minimum front yard landscaping requirements; prohibit the burning of trees on site; specify sanctions for the removal of trees prior to city approval of the plans; require that trees six inches and larger shall be located on the tree survey; add that bluff areas are excluded from canopy coverage area calculations; delete woodland management plan requirements; clarify that the tree removal calculations shall include the front 105 feet of a lot; institute a fine of $300.00 per diameter inch for protected trees that are removed or damage as part of site construction; and provide criteria for the inclusion of sidewalks as part of a plat. A printed copy of Ordinance No. __ is available for inspection by any person dunng regular office hours at the office of the City Manager/Clerk. PASSED, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION this 2004, by the City Council of the City of Chanhassen. __day of CITY OF CHANHASSEN BY: AND Thomas A. Furlong, Mayor Todd Gerhardt, City Manager/Clerk (Published in the Chanhassen Villager on .). CODE AMENDMENTS 12/27/02 2/20/03 3/13/03 11/18/03 12/12/04 Chapter 18, Subdivisions (Note: Changes are in bold and strike-through format. Comments are in italics.) Sec. 18-1. Definitions. All definitions shall be consolidated in chapter 1. Wetland delineation means a boundary between jurisdictional wetland and nonwetland based on the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. Acceptable wetland delineations shall be no more than three (3) years old, unless accompanied by documentation demonstrating: 1. The delineation has been reviewed in the past three (3) years by a person trained and experienced in the application of the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual; and 2. That the delineation is still accurate or has been revised to reflect existing site conditions. *This definition is necessary in order to specti~ what constitutes an acceptable wetland delineation. Wetland delineation report means a report containing a brief site narrative, maps of the site and all pertinent data sheets that document the establishment of a wetland delineation. *This d~finition is necessary in order to specify what constitutes an acceptable wetland delineation report. Definitions shall be incorporated in Chapter 1. Sec. 18-37. Exemption. ~],**~,4 lot into (b) The city council may approve a metes and bounds subdivision of a r' ...... two (2) lots in areas inside the urSan service area if both resulting lots meet the minimum requirements of the zoning ordinance and abut a public or private street. To the extent possible, the new boundary line shall be parallel to a previously existing lot line. The city council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed subdivision after notice of the date, time, place and purpose of the hearing has been published once in the official newspaper, and a proposed development notification sign has been erected on the subject property by the applicant, both at least ten (10) days before the date of hearing. Written notice shall also be mailed by the city to the applicant and all owners of record within five hundred (500) feet of the outer boundaries of the subdivision. Failure to post a proposed development notification sign or to give notice or defects in the notice shall not affect the validity of the proceedings. At least three (3) weeks prior to the hearing the applicant shall submit to the city: (1) A survey (prepared and signed by a registered land surveyor); (2) A list of property owners within five hundred (500) feet of the boundaries of the parcel to be subdivided; (3) Except as waived by the city, all information required for plats. (c) Upon approval of an administrative or metes and bounds subdivision, the city shall notify the applicant of the approval and within thirty (30) days thereafter, the applicant or the city attorney shall file the documents with the county recorder and furnish the city evidence of such recording. Failure to comply shall be cause for revoking the city's approval. *Subsection(a) of the ordinance is co~[using and redundant, since by definition, the change of a lot line is not a subdivision (parts 1 and 2) and part 3 is covered under section 18-4. Subsection (b) is being amended to eliminate r~ference to the urban service area, since these subdivisions, which must fully comply with the zoning ordinance and are routine in nature, should not require the fidl blown review process. A public hearing would be held at the City Council. These changes were recommended by the City Attorney to eliminate coqfusion. Sec. 18-39. Preliminary plat - Generally. (a) After the pre-application consultation and at least ~,,,~,,~ ~ thirty (30) days prior to the meeting of the planning commission at which action is desired, the applicant may file with the city, an application for preliminary plat approval. The application shall be accompanied by copies of the plat in such number as required by the city, an eight and one-half-by-eleven-inch transparency reduction of each sheet, proof of ownership satisfactory to the city, and a list of property owners within five hundred (500) feet of the property certified by an abstract company. The applicant shall pay the application fee established by city council resolution. All required data, documentation plans, copies and fees must be submitted before the application will be considered complete. Rejection of the plat by the city council, or abandonment or withdrawal of the proposed plat by the subdivider, shall not entitle the applicant to the return of all or any part of the application fee. *Submittal o[preliminary plats 21 days prior to the Plannin.~ Commission date does not provide sufficient time to notice the plat, nor distribute items for comments. The current practice is to have submittal deadlines a month prior to the Planning Commission date. (f) The findings necessary for city council approval of the preliminary plat and the final plat shall be as follows: (1) The proposed subdivision is consistent with the zoning ordinance; (2 The proposed subdivision is consistent with all applicable city, county and regional plans including but not limited to the city's comprehensive plan; (3) The physical characteristics of the site, including but not limited to topography, soils, vegetation, susceptibility to erosion and siltation, susceptibility to flooding, and storm water drainage are suitable for the proposed development; (4) The proposed subdivision makes adequate provision for water supply, storm drainage, sewage disposal, streets, erosion control and all other improvements required by this chapter; (5) The proposed subdivision will not cause environmental damage; (6) The proposed subdivision will not conflict with easements of record. (7) The proposed subdivision is not premature. A subdivision is premature if any of the following exists: a. Lack of adequate storm water drainage. b. Lack of dedicated and improved public streets. c. Lack of adequate sanitary sewer systems and not: ISTS (individual sewer treatment system). d. Lack of adequate off-site public improvements or support systems. *This is a MCC recommendation. Sanitary sewer is required [or all suburban style development. ISTS may be permitted in appropriate large lot developments and as permitted in section 20-906. Sec. 18-40. Same--Data required. (2) f. Topographic data within the property to be subdivided and one hundred (100) feet beyond the property boundary, showing contours as follows: two foot intervals where slope is ten (10) percent or less; five foot intervals where slope is ten (10) to fifteen (15) percent; ten-foot intervals where slope is greater than fifteen (15) percent. All areas of the subdivision to be platted with a slope greater than twenty-five percent must be clearly indicated. However, on undevelopable sections or larger acre lots topographic data may be reduced to significant physical characteristics, such as top and toe of slope, if in the opinion of the city the area is viewed as unsuitable for future subdivision. Location and elevations of on-site and abutting water courses, lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams, and marshes at date of survey and their ordinary high water mark plus approximate high and !ow normal water elevations shall also be shown. A wetland delineation report and surveyed wetland line for all jurisdictional wetlands on or within one hundred (100) feet of the property boundary shall be submitted. The delineation shall be no more than three (3) years old, unless accompanied by documentation demonstrating the delineation has been reviewed in the past three (3) years and is accurate or revised to reflect changes on-site. ~aere fiver or stream. Flood plain areas, location of wooded areas, rocky outcrops, power transmission poles and lines and other significant physical features shall also be shown. *The change is to make this rule consistent with the in[ormation required {'or storm water ponds The second change will ensure that sta[~'has an adequate amount of time in which to review the wetland delineation prior to final review o{'the subdivision, h~clusion o[ the wetland delineation is {'or clarification purposes, since these reports are required of subdivisions. The requirement for a meauder line two {bet above the recorded high water elevation is unnecessary.(7~8~03) (4) c. A drainage plan for the area indicating the direction and rate of natural storm water runoff and those unaltered areas where storm water collects and percolates into the ground. A proposed drainage plan for the developed site indicating the direction and rate of runoff, the path of all storm water discharge to the public storm water infrastructure and those areas where storm water will collect and percolate into the ground shall also be included. Storm water management shall be consistent with the city's stetro surface water management plan. *The first change will ensure that staff is able to evaluate any inconsistencies in &ira or problems that may occur as a result q['a subdivision's discharge through adjacent properties. The second change will make the langttage consistent with the language used throughout the rest qf the city code.(7/9/03) Sec. 18-41. Final Plat 4 (a) Unless otherwise provided in the development contract for phased development, within one (1) year after the date of the city council approval of the preliminary plat, the subdivider shall file an application for approval of the final plat. In addition to the application the subdivider shall submit: (1) Copies of the plat in such quantities as is required by the city; (2) Two (2) mylar copies of the plat; (3) One (1) two hundred (200) scale copy of the plat. (4) 1"=200' scale mylar reductions of the final plat with just street names and lot and block numbers.digital copy in .dxf format (the .dxf file must be tied to the current county coordinate system) and a digital copy in .tif format (pdf compatible) of the final plat shall be submitted.If the final plat application is not filed within this period, the preliminary plat will be considered void unless for good cause shown an extension is requested in writing by the subdivider and granted by the city council prior to the one-year anniversary date of the preliminary plat approval. The application for final plat approval shall be filed at least f~ae, eemd4) twenty-one (21) days prior to the meeting of the city council at which action is desired. (b) The final plat shall conform to the requirements of this chapter and to all conditions set forth in the approval of the preliminary plat as modified during final plat approval. (c) The city council shall review the final plat and shall approve or disapprove it within sixty (60) days of receipt of the completed application. (d) No final plat shall be xpprv.'.'ca.d recorded by the city ...... ;~-,,M~ until the plat is in a form acceptable for recording with the county, the proper filing fees have been paid to the city, a development contract has been signed, appropriate security has been furnished, and no other payments to the city related to the development are outstanding. (e) Upon approval of the final plat by the city council, the city shall notify the applicant of the approval and within thirty (30) days thereafter, the applicant or the city attorney shall file the final plat with the county recorder and furnish the city evidence of such recording. Failure of the applicant to comply shall be cause for revoking the city's approval. f) The developer shall pay the city a fee established by city council resolution to reimburse the city for the cost of updating the city's base maps and geographic information systems (GIS) data base files and converting the plat and record drawings into an electronic format. *This sentence lists the deadline fbr submitting a final plat for Council approval as 14 days prior to the Council meeting. Engineerin,~ staff'has always used a three ~veek (21 day) minimum for submitting a final plat prior to the Council meeting that it will be considered. This is a more realistic deadline to ensure that staff has sufficient time to process the final plat report, development contract, administration fee calculation, etc. The city requires the 1 "=200' scale mylar reductions of the final plat with iust street names and lot and block numbers for addressin~ purposes. The final plat documents and fees are never £ully known at the time of final plat approval, rather these fees are determined and paid and the development contract signed prior to recordin~ of the plat. To facilitate the updating of the geographic information system, GIS, the city is requirin,~ that plats be included in electronic format. Fees are established in Chapter 4 of the City Code, which is adopted by ordinance. Sec. 18-56. Generally. The proposed subdivision shall conform to the comprehensive plan, zening ordinance and design kandboak standards, and Chapter 20 of the City Code. The design features set forth in this article are minimum requirements. The city may impose additional or more stringent requirements concerning lot size, streets and overall design as deemed appropriate considering the property being subdivided. *MCC recommendation. Sec. 18-57, Streets. Subsection b: b) Street right-of-way widths shall be consistent with the comprehensive plan and official map, and shall conform to county and state standards for trunk highways, if no such plans or standards are applicable, right-of-way and pavement widths shall not be less than the following: Street !Right-of-Way I Roadway/Pavement Classifications Widths (feet) Width (feet) Minor arterial I00 36 to ~,~, Collector 80 36 Local street (rural 60 24 residential) Local street (urban 60 '~ '" '~ 31 residential) Local street 60 36 (commercial/industrial) Cul-de-sac, turnaround 60 44_ 45.5 radius (urban/residential) Cul-de-sac, turnaround 60 40 radius(rural residential) Cul-de-sac, turnaround 60 48 6 radius(commercial/industrial) Private Street (Residential 30 20 Serving A-2, RR, RSF, R-4) Private Street (Residential ¢0 40 24 Serving R-8, R-12, R-16) Private Street 30 40 26 (commercial/industrial) * The table lists the allowable pavement widths for minor arterial streets as 36-44 feet. The Planning Commission originallyrecommended that the minimum roadway width .for minor arterials be 44 feet and the minimum local street width be 32 feet. However, as part o.[ the public hearing, the Planning Commission accepted the roadway width as outlined in the ordinance. Engineering staff has used a standard street width of 36 feet for minor arterial streets, hz addition, the City's standard detail plate for urban streets only shows a 36-foot wide street. The table lists the allowable pavement widths for local (urban) streets as 28-32 feet. Engineering staff has used a standard street width of 31 feet for local (urban) streets. In addition, the City's standard detail plate for urban streets only shows a 31-{hot wide street. Engineering would like to eliminate the range and have 36 feet as the only listed pavement width for minor arterials and 31 feet as the listed width for local urban streets. Ifa range of street widths is allowed, engineering believes that developers will undoubtedly choose to build the least costly option, i.e., a 28-foot wide street. This is in direct conflict with what the City's standard has been in the past. To avoid confusion, staff believes there should be one standard street width. Any deviation from the stan&zrd would be approved as part of the subdivision review process as conditions warrant. Section 18-56 (o) (7) requires a 40 foot easement for multifamilv and commercial industrial private streets. Sec. 18-61. Landscaping and tree preservation requirements. fa) Required landscaping/residential subdivision. (1) Each lot shall be provided with a minimum of one (1) deciduous or conifer tree to be placed in the front yard. The type of tree shall be subject to city approval. (The~.~.,~';' ..... -,,,~ ~,,~, ,~,~;'4~ ~" .,o~ ~.~r spedes). Coniferous trees must be at least six (6) feet high and deciduous trees must be at least two and one-half (2~/2) inches in diameter at the time of installation. This requirement may be waived by the city where the applicant can demonstrate that a suitable tree having a minimum diameter of two and one-half (2~/2) inches for deciduous and six-foot height for evergreen '~ rou~ (~) r~, ~ .... ~ ........~ .................... s ....... is located in an appropriate location on the lot. The following trees may be used to meet planting requirements: *This distinction is confitsing and unnecessary. Deciduous or conifer addedJbr clarification purposes. The landscaping is provided as part of the landscaping plan for the project. The ordinance contains the list of species. (7/15/03) D.4 ...... ~;~ Common Name Deciduous Trees Acer saccharum Maple, Sugar or hard Carya ovata Shagbark Hickory. Celtis occidentalis Hackberry Juglans nigra Black Walnut ~uercus rubra Oak, Red Ouercus alba Oak, White ~uercus bicolor Oak, Bicolor Ouercus macrocarpa Oak, Bur Tilia americana Linden, American .......... ~m--~- M~i~,' ~'..,t ........... Acer rllbr~ull $pp. Maple, Red, all uarieties Acer x freemanii, spp. Maple, Freeman, all varieties Acer saccsharJnum 'Silver Queen' Maple, Silver Oueen Aexctllzis glabra Ohio Buckeye Betula nigra Birch, River Betula papyr~J~ra Birch, paper Betula pendula 'Dalecarlica' Birch, cut lea.{'weeping Catalpa speciosa Northern Catalpa Fraxinus ~mcric~:m, spp. Ash, Whkc all varieties Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo Gleditsia triacanthos inermi& spp. Honeylocust, thomless - all varieties Gymnocladus dioicus Co~fleetree Kentucky Tilia spp. Linden, all varieties Ulm~s spp. EL~, DEP-resista~l varieties Ornamental Acer ~innala Map[c, Amur Ame[anchier spp. Sen, iceberry or Juneberry Crataegus ,~p. tlawthon~e, all varieties Malus (varioux ...... ; .... ~,~ ...... /spp. Crabapple, assorted flowering- Varieties~ t?ud:~'/vc r. Red c,. Ost~a virginiana Ironwood Populus tremuloides Aspen Sorbus spp. Ash, Mountain, all varieties Phellodendron amurense Amur Corktree Prunus ceraMJ~ra 'Newport' Plum, Newport Prunus triloba Plum, flowering or Rose Tree qfl China Prunus virginiana 'Scht~bert' Chokeberry, Schubert~ Syringa reticulata Lilac, Japanese tree Conifers Abies balsamea Fir, Balsam Abies concolor Fir, Concolor Larix laricina Tamarack Picea abies Spruce, No~ay Picea glauca Spruce, White Picea glauca densata Sprt~ce, Black Hills Picea pungens Spruce, Colorado Gree~ Pi~zus nigra Pi~e, Austrian Pint~s ponderosa Pine, Ponderosa Pinus resinosa Pine, Nonvay Pinus strobus Pine, White Pinus s?lvestris Pine, Scotch Pseudotsuga menziesii Fir, Douglas Tht~ja occ'identalis Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis 'Techny' Tec'ln~y A rbo~itae *Changes denote spelling corrections and clarification ot'species. Deletions include redundant mentions and poor selections. (2) The tree(s) must be installed prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy or financial guarantees acceptable to the city must be provided to ensure timely installation. *Grammatical correction. 10 (3) All areas disturbed by site grading and/or construction must be seeded or sodded immediately upon completion of work to minimize erosion. When certificates of occupancy are requested prior to the satisfaction of this requirement, financial guarantees acceptable to the city, must be provided. (4) No dead trees or uprooted stumps shall remain after development. On-site burial or burning is not permitted. *Bun~inR orRanic waste, such as wood, is a waste of resources. A variety of other disposal options are available. (5) Landscaped buffers around the exterior of the subdivision shall be required by the city when the plat is contiguous with collector or arterial streets as defined in the comprehensive plan and where the plat is adjacent to more intensive land uses. Required buffering shall consist of berms and landscape material consisting of a mix of trees and shrubs and/or tree preservation areas. No fences will be permitted between the required buffer and the collector or arterial street. Where appropriate, the city may require additional lot depth and area on lots containing the buffer so that it can be adequately accommodated and the homes protected from impacts. Lot depths and areas may be increased by twenty-five (25) percent over zoning district standards. The landscape plan must be developed with the preliminary and final plat submittals for city approval. Appropriate financial guarantees acceptable to the city shall be required. (b) It is the policy of the city to preserve natural woodland areas throughout the city and with respect to specific site development to retain as far as practical, substantial tree stands which can be incorporated into the overall landscape plan. (c) No ~ .......,,~. ~ ~' ..... a~ ............ ~, .............. areas tree removal shall be permitted except as approved in a subdivision, planned unit development or site plan application. Removal of trees prior to city approval will result in the issuance of a citation. The cleared area shall be replanted at a rate of two (2) times the DBH inches (DBH means diameter measured at breast height, 4.5 feet above the ground) of trees removed, if known, or one (1) tree per 1,089 square feet of replacement area with the required replacement area calculated at 1.5 times the canopy coverage area that was removed. Additionally, the development review process shall be halted and the developer shall be required to resubmit revised existing site condition and tree inventory plans and new landscaping plans incorporating the additional planting requirements. *There have been several cases in which a developer has be,gun clearin,g bel%re final approval. This is a problem in case the subdivision isn't approved by the cit~,. The Planning Commission has previously stated that it would like to make the application void and have the developer restart the process. Star. f has added the lan!gua!~e that the development review process be halted and the developer resubmit plans recognizing the ehan!~ed conditions. Our concern is that the review deadline may be exceeded. The City Attorney's o,f, fiee concurred with staff's concern. II (d) The following standards shall be used in evaluating subdivisions and site plans: (1) It is a policy of the City of Chanhassen to protect the integrity of the natural environment through the preservation, protection, and planting of trees. The city finds that trees provide many benefits including: stabilization of the soil by the prevention of erosion and sedimentation, reduction of storm water runoff and the costs associated therewith, improvement of air quality, reduction of noise pollution, control of urban heat island effect, protection and increase of property values, protection of privacy, energy conservation through natural insulation, control of drainage and restoration of denuded soil subsequent to construction and grading, protection from severe weather, providing habitat for birds and other wildlife, conservation and enhancement of city's physical and aesthetic environment, reforestation of open lands, and general protection and enhancement of the quality of life and general welfare of the city. It is therefore the purpose of this section to provide regulations related to the cutting, removal, or killing of trees on construction and development sites and to ensure the protection and preservation of the natural environment and beauty of the City of Chanhassen. (2) Prior to the submittal of development plans, a tree survey of the site shall be prepared by a registered landscape architect, licensed forester, or other professional approved by the city. This survey shall include the species, DBH size (DBH means diameter measured at breast height, 4.5 feet above the ground), condition, location of all o~r~, o,~, .......... , o~, ..... , trees over six inches in diameter and any damaged or diseased trees on site. All significant special, damaged or diseased trees shall be tagged and identified by number on the survey. A delineation of the existing canopy coverage area(s) which outlines all areas covered by tree canopy shall be included as part of the survey. Additionally, all damaged and diseased trees shall be cataloged with the nature and extent of any damage or disease specified. *Locating all trees over six inches in diameter is consistent with the survey requirements for building permits. a. Based on this survey and either site observation and measurement or a current aerial photograph (taken within one (1) year of the date of plan submittal) interpretation, the following shall be calculated: 1. Base line canopy coverage. 2. Minimum canopy coverage requirements. The following table shall be used to determine the minimum amount of canopy coverage that must be maintained or provided on-site as part of the development. It shall represent the minimum canopy coverage, consisting of existing tree canopy and/or additional trees required fol' the site. Existing wetland and bluff areas located on site shall be excluded from the calculation of site area in the determination of site coverage. If a forested area is to be dedicated to the city roi' park land, then this area shall not be 12 included in the base line canopy coverage area calculation nor shall it eoumy count towards the minimum canopy coverage for the site. Base Line Canopy Coverage Per Acre Comprehensive Plan Designation 80-- 60--79% 40--59% 20--39% 19% or 100% less Commercial/industrial/institutional 28% 25% 20% 14% 10% High density residential 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% Medium density residential 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% Low density residential 55% 46% 35% 30% 25% Large lot residential 68% 56% 43% 35% 25% Base line canopy coverage is the canopy coverage existing at the time the development application is filed with the city. Minimum canopy coverage is determined by using the matrix. Priority shall be given to retaining stands of trees and undisturbed wooded lands over individual specimen trees that will be incorporated into the development. No more than ten (10) percent of the canopy retention requirement may be met by an individual tree that is not included within a designated woodland area. For developments that do not meet the minimum canopy coverage, the developer shall be required to develop a forestation plan to bring the total canopy coverage up to the minimum requirement. Where existing woodlands are removed or there is a loss of trees that would otherwise be used to meet the canopy coverage retention requirement, the developer shall develop a woodland replacement plan. The replacement plan must designate an area at least one and two-tenths (1.2) times the removed canopy coverage area that shall be planted with replacement trees for those removed. These plans shall locate additional trees either as a continuation of existing stands of trees that are to be preserved or create new stands of trees in desirable locations such as along roadway corridors, on the north and west perimeters of the development, in common open areas, or adjacent to park facilities. The following criteria shall be followed in establishing minimum canopy coverage: 1. When planting trees, one (1) tree shall be deemed to provide one thousand eighty-nine (1,089) square feet of required canopy coverage; 2. Trees must be from the approved list of desirable species (preference given for trees designated as native); 3. No more than one-third (~/.~) of the trees may be fi'om any one (1) tree species; 4. Trees shall average at least two-and-one-half-inch caliper and may be a minimum of one-and-one-half-inch caliper; 5. Not less than twenty (20) percent of the trees shall be conifers; 6. Conifer trees shall average seven (7) feet and shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in height; 7. Plant materials used for the reforestation shall be of a similar species as vegetation found on site; 13 (3) 8. Trees shall be used that are appropriate to the soil conditions found on site; and 9. Trees shall be fi'om certified nursery stock as defined and controlled by Minnesota Statute sections 18.44 through 18.61, the Plant Pest Act. Tree survey; Loca ............ ~, L ........... v ......... fencing; Location Ac ~,, .~,.,;.;~ walls; *The Woodland Management Plan does not facilitate i,lproved l%restry nlanagement procedures or increased awareness of building in wooded areas. It has not served the purpose intended and should be eliminated. (4) reqaJred set~acks and easements. In order to calculate the tree removal area the single-family detached development ~, the applicant must include the front 105 feet of the each lot within the tree removal area of the development. the ~ulldlng * Grading and tree removal is usuallv misrepresented and underestinlated o11 wooded lots. This chan,qe would help tninitni~e t/lat proble,1. The intent is to recognire t/lat the tree impact area extends beyond the actual l?uildin,~. (5) Minimizing the tree loss should be achieved by any combination of the following: 14 (6) a. Realignment of streets, utilities and lot lines. b. Consideration of alternative utility configurations such as the use of ejector pumps, force mains, or revised home elevations to minimize grading. c. Reductions in street roadway width and right-of-way and increase in street grade up to ten (10) percent when the applicant can demonstrate that significant tree preservation is directly related to the modification. d. Use of private d~veg streets in lieu of public streets. e. Variation in street radius and design speed. f. Modified grading plans. g. Within PUDs, the city council may consider waiving minimum lot area requirements and/or density transfers as long as it can be demonstrated by the applicant, that tree preservation can be enhanced. In no case shall overall project densities exceed what is allowed by the Comprehensive Plan. The greater the level of preservation, the greater flexibility will be considered by the city. h. Within PUDs, variations to building setback lines provided a minimum twenty (20) foot building separation is maintained between buildings on adjacent lots. The setback variations shall be established and recorded as part of the plat approval. Trees designated for preservation shall be protected by snow fences with clearly marked signage specifying that the area is off limits for construction activities, or other means acceptable to the city, prior to land preparation or construction activities. Protective barriers in locations determined by the city must be located ~^~,,~ ~.,~, ...... ,,..,~,4 .... ,,,~,o~* remain in place until all construction activities are terminated. No equipment, chemicals, soil deposits, or construction materials shall be placed within the protective barriers. All understory trees and natural vegetation should be preserved within the boundaries of the protective areas. Where this protection area cannot be maintained or would otherwise render lots undevelopable, an alternate protection, mitigation or tree replacement plan may be considered and approved by the city. This plan may include the use of retaining walls, installation of aeration systems, requirement fox' post construction deep root fertilization and soil aeration, or construction vehicle ramp systems. Failure to properly protect trees during construction will result in a fine of $~ $I~.~ $300.00 per diameter inch of tree(s) harmed, removed or destroyed in addition to the replacement planting of subsection (9) below. *h is unreasonable to require tree protection fencing located 12x the diameter of the tree. This generally ,takes wooded lots tmbuildable. Tree protection should be required, but it's location should be t}'eld located at each site. While the city may be serious about protecting trees during construction, many developers and builders are not. A penalty /hr failing to protect trees is needed to quickly and eff'ectivelv remedy the situation. Staff' had originally proposed $500 per diamenter inch. City Council felt that this was too ornerous and not fair or equitable. There is a diff'erence between whether trees are removed accidentiallv or purposely, and proving the diff'erence would be very diff}'cult if not impossible. Staff'reviewed the City of Plymouths requirement which is $100 per 15 diameter inch and is proposing that amou~tt as part o[ the code. The Planning Commission.[elt stongly that $100.00 was not su[ficient to deter tree removal and recommended that at least $300.00 be required. (1/20/04) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) At the city's discretion, conservation easements may be required to protect designated tree preservation areas. Such easements shall be permanently marked and signed as a conservation area with low profile monumentation acceptable to the city. A monument is required for each three hundred (300) linear feet of tree conservation area. Within designated woodland areas, the city shall encourage the use of indigenous grasses and plant species to more closely resemble a natural area. Home owners associations shall be responsible for the maintenance of vegetation in common areas. Individual property owners shall be responsible for the maintenance of vegetation on their property. The planting of trees in excess of those required by this ordinance is permitted within the designated woodland area. During the removal process, trees shall be removed so as to prevent blocking of public rights-of-way or interfering with overhead utility lines. The removal of diseased and damaged trees is permissible only if they cannot be saved. These trees shall not be counted when computing the base line tree canopy coverage. If any protected significant trees are removed or killed or there is a loss of trees as the result of construction activities, the city requires replacement at the rate of two (2) ~ diameter inches per each inch of DBH of the removed, killed, or lost trees. The replacement trees shall be at least two and a half (21/2) inches c-atipe-F diameter and will be species that conform to the List of Desirable Tree Species for Planting in Chanhassen. No more than one-third (~/_0 of the trees may be from any one (1) tree species. Other species or sizes may be used as replacement trees subject to approval by the city. Alternately, at the city's discretion, if a developer removes trees within a protected area, the canopy coverage area shall be calculated for that area and a replacement area one and one-half (1.5) times the canopy coverage area that was removed shall be planted. One tree shall be planted for each one thousand eighty-nine (1,089) square feet of required replacement area. Trees shall be from the list of desirable tree species, no more than one-third (~/3) of trees from any one (1) tree species, average two-and-one-half-inch c-ahpe, diameter with a minimum one-and-one-half-inch eahpe~ diameter, a similar species as vegetation existing on site, and appropriate to the soil conditions. Any replacement trees that cannot be planted on the original site due to space restrictions shall be planted on city property at locations to be determined by the city. with this section. Financial guarantees acceptable to the city shall be required to ensure satisfactory installation of landscaping requirements. *The city only requires guarantee o{'the landscaping inxtallatio~. Stati~tj4 it tTvice was redundant. 16 Sec. 18-63. Surface water management. (b) In accordance with the city's surface water management plan as a condition of subdivision approval, subdividers shall pay a water quality and water quantity connection charge. The charge shall be based upon the gross area of the subdivision less the area to be dedicated to the city for ponding, parks and wetland, and right-of-way for state highways, county roads, and local arterial roadways. The subdivision will be given a credit for any on site stormwater improvement which has been oversized to serve property outside the subdivision. The charge for lots oversized due to individual on site sewage disposal and water systems will be reduced to the charge that would be imposed on a one-half (1/2) acre lot. An additional charge will then be imposed if the lot is further subdivided less a credit for the charge previously paid. The charge shall be paid in cash before the subdivision is approved by the city unless the city and subdivider agree that the charge may be assessed against the property. Property being subdivided shall be exempt from the water quality and water quantity connection charges imposed by this section if the charges were paid or assessed in conjunction with a previous subdivision of the property and if the property is not being zoned to a classification with a higher charge. T~'e ...... t .-.r th~ ~ ..... ~. ~ *This change will allow the charge to be adjusted automatically based on changes to a standard cost index. A change is state statute requires adoption o[nzost tees by ordinance. The City has incorporated all the {'ees in Chapter 4. h~clusion of language such as this would be appropriately located in Chapter 4. Sec. 18-78. Required improvements. Subsection(b) (5) Sidewalks ma5'o,~k"". ,, ., be required an~* least ,. .... .. .. ·, .:'4'~,.,. ,,,"r ,~""., ~"~"~,,.~. o-~t~to~o. The following criteria shall be used in determining if sidewalks are to be included in a development: 17 a. Sidewalks that connect to existing sidewalks within adjacent developed areas. b. Sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to adjacent schools, parks and neighborhood commercial areas. c. Sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to existing, within adjacent developed areas, and proposed trails as shown in the City of Chanhassen Comprehensive plan. d. Sidewalks that are located in residential areas with long blocks or many dwelling units on the street(s), or commercial or industrial areas. *Staff is proposing that standards be established for sidewalks and trails. The Planning Commission recommended that sidewalks be mandatory. The Parks and Recreation Commission recomtnends that references to trails be deleted. City Council did not want to require sidewalks outright~ but rather, develop criteria to determine when sidewalks should be included in a development. Sec. 18-79. Park land dedication requirements. (f) Land area conveyed or dedicated to the city shall not be used in calculating density requirements of ~,~,.,~ ,~.,:';~ ..... -~-'.....~,; .... ,,.,~...~..~'~ ...... chapter 20 and shall be in addition to and not in lieu of open space requirements for planned unit developments. * MCC recom~nendation. Minnesota Statutes 462.358 Procedure to ejJbct plan: subdivisio~ regulations. Subdivision 1. Repealed, 1980 c 566 s 35 Subd. la. Authority. To protect a,d promole the public health, safety, at~d ge~eral welfare, to provide.~br the orderly, economic, and sqfe developme~t of land, to preserve agricultural lan&, to promote the availabili(v of hot,sing a, ffbrdable to persons and families of all income levels, and to fitcilitate adequate provision Jbr transportatio~z, water, sewage, storm drainage, schools, parks, playgrotmds, azzd other public services and facilities, a mt~nicipality may by ordi,ance adop! subdivision, regulations establishing standards, requirements, and procedures,Iht the review and approval or disapproval of subdivisions. The regulations may co,tain wzried provisio~zs respecting, and be made applicable only to, certain classes or kinds r~f subdivisions. The regulations shall be uniJbrm for each class or ki,d ¢'sltbdivisio~. 18 A municipality may by resolution extend the application of its subdivision regulations to unincorporated territory located within two miles qf its limits in any direction but not in a town which has adopted subdivision regulations; provided that where two or more noncontiguous municipalities have boundaries less thane{bur miles apart, each is authorized to control the subdivision of land equal distance from its boundaries within this area. Subd. 2. Repealed, 1980 c 566 s 35 Subd. 2a. Terms of regulations. Tile standards and requirements in the regulations may address without limitation: the size, location, grading, and improvement of lots, structures, public areas, streets, roads, trails, walkways, curbs and gutters, water supply, storm drainage, lighting, sewers, electricity, gas, and other utilities; the planning and design of sites; access to solar energy; and the protection and conservation o.(flood plains, shore lands, soils, water, vegetation, energy, air quality, and geologic and ecologic features. The regulations shall require that subdivisions be consistent with the municipality's official map if one exists and its zoning ordinance, and may require consistency with other official controls and the comprehensive plan. The regulations may prohibit certain classes or kinds of subdivisions in areas where prohibition is consistent with the comprehensive plan and the purposes of this section, particularly the preservation of agricultural lands. The regulations may prohibit, restrict or control development.tbr the purpose of protecting and assuring access to direct sunlight for solar energy systems. The regulations may prohibit the issuance of permits or approvals for any tracts, lots, or parcels.tbr which required subdivision approval has not been obtained. The regulations may permit the municipality to condition its approval on the construction and installation of sewers, streets, electric, gas, drainage, and water facilities, and similar utilities and improvements or, in lieu thereof, on the receipt by the municipali(;' of a cash deposit, certified check, irrevocable letter e[ credit, or bond in an amount and with surety and conditions s~(ffi'c'ient to assure the municipality that the utilities and improvements will be constructed or installed according to tile specifications of the municipality. Sections 471.345 and 574.26 do not apply to improvements made by a subdivider or a subdivider's contractor. The regulations may permit the municipality to condition its approval on compliance with other requirements reasonably related to the provisions of the regulations and to execute development contracts embodying the terms and conditions of approval. The municipality may enforce such agreements and conditions by appropriate legal and equitable remedies. Subd. 2b. Dedication. Tile regulations may require that a reasonable portion of any proposed subdivision be dedicated to the ptiblic or preserved for public use as streets, roads, sewers, electric, gas, and water facilities, storm water drainage and holding areas or ponds and similar utilities and improvements. 19 In addition, the regulations may require that a reasonable portion of any proposed subdivision be dedicated to the public or preserved for conservation purposes or[or public use as parks, recreational facilities as de. IS'ned and outlined in section 471.191, playgrounds, trails, wetlands, or open space; provided that (a) the municipality may choose to accept an equivalent amount in cash frown the applicant Jbr part or all of the portion required to be dedicated to such public t~ses or purposes based on the fair market value of the land no later than at the time o.({i'nal approval, (b) any cash payments received shall be placed in a special fimd by the municipali(v used only for the purposes jbr which the money was obtained, (c) in establishi~g the reasonable portion to be dedicated, the regulations may consider the open space, park, recreational, or common areas and facilities which the applicant proposes to reserve for the subdivision, and (d) the municipality reasonably determines that it will need to acquire that portion of land for the purposes stated in this paragraph ax a result of approval of the subdivision. 2O CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 20, 2004 Chairman Sacchet called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Uli Sacchet, Steve Lillehaug, Bruce Feik, Kurt Papke, and Craig Claybaugh MEMBERS ABSENT: Rich Slagle and Bethany Tjomhom STAFF PRESENT: Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; and Bob Generous, Senior Planner PUBLIC PRESENT FOR ALL ITEMS: Janet & Jerry Paulsen 7305 Laredo Drive AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 18 OF CITY CODE; SUBDIVISION. Generous: Thank you Mr. Chairman, commissioners. We've had this several times before you in the past. I did hand out tonight a couple revised sheets and I'll just quickly run through those for you. They're both the strike through bold format so you can see the change and also then it would be the revised ordinance. But in discussions with the city attorney's office, under Section 18.37 we have exemptions from the platting requirements. The attorney's office felt that this section of the code was confusing and redundant. If a lot change, which is sections 1 and 2 lot line changes are not considered subdivision so they are not required by state statute to go through the process and so he said take it out. The second part is for areas outside the urban service area, that you could subdivide property without going through the platting process. Sacchet: Which one is that? Generous: Page 2, it's subsection 3. Right at the top. Sacchet: Okay, yep. Yep. Generous: We're proposing that that be deleted. Section 18-4 has a criteria for when the creation of lots does not create a subdivision and that's for commercial and industrial properties where you create 5 acre or larger parcels, or for residential or agricultural properties that create 20 acre parcels or larger. So we're going to rely on that section and just take it all out here, so anytime, otherwise if you don't meet those criteria you have to go through a subdivision process. The only exemption is if it's a, they want to plat a lot on, or parcel into 2 lots and both lots meet the requirements, then they can skip the Planning Commission review and just have the public hearing at City Council. Those are very you know standard subdivisions. There's no variances involved. Generally there's Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 no public improvements involved and so we thought a public hearing would be adequate at the council level, so that's what Section B would do. It would take out the word platted and then, in areas outside the urban service area. And then the other change that shows up on page 18 of the strike through bold format, which are on the new sheets that I gave you, is one of the commissioners said that we should provide, maybe some criteria that based on either the intensity or density of development, that that would be another area that we would look at having sidewalks involved so we came up with the wording and under D, sidewalks that are located in residential areas with long blocks or many units on the streets or commercial industrial uses. Sacchet: Do you have another one of these for Craig please? Claybaugh: Thank you very much. Generous: So that's the only additional changes that we've made to the ordinance. And then of course we've amended the ordinance to correspond with that and that's what I just recently reprinted the entire ordinance for everyone because there's some...questions. Previously in our review the issues that came up was the tree removal, tree protection portion of the ordinance and we looked at some other communities, what they had. Our Forester actually compared our existing ordinance with requirements that we have these ordinances in places. The net result is that our ordinance required more tree planting. It's not necessarily protection. A lot of the other ordinances permit a percentage of the total trees on site to be removed, and so we believe staying with our target is a good way to do it. It's been working. We've actually expanded the tree removal area. Previously it was a 3,600 square foot building envelope. Now we're saying the first 105 feet of the lot, just estimate that all of that will be removed. If they can save the trees at the time of building permit, then we would be able to credit them for those actually those trees that are actually saved rather than having a blanket thing up front so we'll have all the plantings for the subdivision calculated with the final plat, but not, they wouldn't get any credit for saving anything in fl'ont until they actually came into construct an individual lot and at that time you say, yes you saved 3 trees up here so you're credited against your 3 or 4 trees that are shown in the landscaping plan. Aanenson: ... you're not saving trees up fi'ont. Papke: Are we going to run through the whole thing and then ask questions or do you want questions as we go? Sacchet: Let's interrupt when you have questions because. Papke: Okay. I do have a question or comment on the 105 width restriction. One question and one concern. How do we know it states that it's 105 feet of each lot within the removal area of the development. Is the removal area of the development, is the width and the placement of that 105 foot strip well defined in your mind? If you have a very wide lot, do we know what that piece is? 2 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Generous: Well it would be the front 105 feet. Papke: But what if it's a 200 foot wide lot? Generous: Well it's be 105 by 205 would be the removal. Papke: And you really want to specify that as the removal? Generous: That's just what we're calculating for removal. Now they could, there's other ways they can show that they're going to preserve that and then we can credit that. Papke: Okay. The other. Generous: Because generally we don't get 200 foot wide lots. Papke: Right, but every once in a while you know you might get one like that. The other question or concern I had with that one is kind of the law of unintended consequences here. In that this, does this remove incentive to preserve any trees in that 105 foot strip? Okay, if they're going to get dinged for 105 foot strip, you know as a developer I might say well heck of it. I'll just mow down everything there. I don't have to be careful to preserve trees. Generous: Well they're still credited with those trees from the platting so they, when they come in. Here's where as part of a subdivision we'll have them plant the buffer areas. The perimeter of the site. Areas that we know won't be impacted by site construction. That they're actually saving the trees in the front or side yards that they we said they were moving out, then we would credit that against their total tree requirement. Papke: But is that going to be clear to a developer up front? Aanenson: Right, I think what the goal is is that they're obligated, if there's tree lost, to replace so much. If they can save other trees, that's to their benefit because that would go, and we're looking at it in a holistic, not whether it's an individual. They have to come back with a plan so if they do save those trees that are on those lots, and that should be the incentive that would be less replacement of trees. They're still obligated for that. Feik: I have another question on that. We still don't make any distinction between what I'll call a favorable tree and a, you know an 80 year old cottonwood that's hollow that's going to fall down by itself, or some scrubby box elders that you know they're volunteers. There's not a neighbor in town that would want those. Papke: Versus the 24 inch maple and beautiful tree. Feik: Right. Right, there's no distinction between trees. Do you guys have any concerns? 1 mean there seems to be, I think there should be some fairness in that there's some desire quite frankly to have some of those trees removed. I mean when you've got Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 a big old cottonwood like I had at my old house, you know that literally was hollow and it shed branches and you just knew sooner or later it's going to fall on either something or somebody. Generous: Well the ordinance does permit you to exclude if they're hazard trees or sick trees from the calculations. Claybaugh: What about between deciduous and... Just classification of trees. Aanenson: I think what you're looking at is a credit for higher value tree and the question of value, at some point we looked at how we did wetlands. It would add another layer of complexity so let's say you preserve something that's of higher value, then maybe your replacement would even be greater. The replacement requirement might be ever greater because you saved a higher value. I guess we can take a spin at looking at that. Claybaugh: Well as an example in the last development that came in, I forget the name of the developer but the. Feik: Where the wetland, needed to replace the wetland. Claybaugh: Yeah, a lot of less desirable trees in the area and the developer as part of making the presentation made no distinction between some of the more desirable trees and the less desirous trees. With respect to the placement of the retention pond and other things. And to me that would be a substantial factor in considering specifically which type trees are being taken out and what value are they to the community. Aanenson: I'm just trying to make it administratively less complex because we need to work through it, so does the applicant. Certainly we've called out replacement trees that are in the ordinance so somehow you need to get. Claybaugh: But with respect to tree surveys that we've seen. They identify the species of the tree. It wouldn't seem to be that great a stretch to determine by the forester hardwood, softwoods and through a walk through on say trees larger diameter than say 15-16 trunk inches. Aanenson: Those are generally all spelled out and the City Forester does review those but. Claybaugh: But with respect with the health of the tree. Aanenson: Right, that's the one thing that might be missing. I think that's typically why they are walked as part of the tree. We've got one going up that's already been walked as part of the... 4 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Claybaugh: To dovetail that comment, the developers on numerous occasions have identified when we've pointed out a tree on a tree survey, that tree's going to die anyways. Well I'd like to know definitively from our staff if they concur with that assessment or if that's a justified statement or not. Feik: Or one of my thoughts was, could we give the City Forester some discretion. Aanenson: That's where I was going. Feik: You know to say you know, so whoever that person may be at the time, to be able to go out and say okay, this group of trees is not only inconsequential, but if we get rid of the canopy we're going to get more light and we're going to allow these other trees that are more valuable. They're trying to get going a better shot and quite frankly it might be a better deal in the long run. Aanenson: I think that would probably be a good way to do it and make it less complex, but put a caveat in there that's something, the plan will be replaced. We'll put some language in there. Evaluated based on function or value of the trees with the goal trying to save higher value. Have some findings in there which the city attorney would appreciate and so we're qualifying it in some way. Let the City Forester just indicate, I think that'd be... Claybaugh: Well even if it's a commentary from the City Forester. Say I went through. These particular trees caught my eye as being one foot in the grave so to speak or highly desirable, whatever the case may be but any trees that strike her that need further clarification. Aanenson: Sure, and I think we've done that and we've tried to maybe put a tree wall or a retaining wall and we say it's not going to survive you know, but I think that would be an easy way to solve that problem. Claybaugh: Mr. Chair I have another question on a little different vein. Sacchet: Go ahead. Claybaugh: With respect to the 105 foot area that you're identifying, when they submit our landscape plan in conjunction with their application, how is that going to work out with respect. They're going to show us where their new trees are going to be and if any of these existing trees are factored in, what comes out'? What is the final plan going to look like when it comes in front of us? You know obviously it would strike me that there'd be things that are subject to change. If you've ah'eady excluded that 105 foot strip, and they show plantings here A, B and C, now all of a sudden they're able to save half a dozen trees in that 105 foot setback area, what happened to the landscaping plan that we approved? Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Generous: In place of some of the trees they're proposing, the existing trees would take their place. Claybaugh: Now let's put that into context of a buffer. Perhaps there's a lot of discussion about a buffer area. Neighbors have some up and it's important to the commissioners that that buffer is well vegetated. Now, how do we know that if they say trees X, Y and Z over here, that some of those trees that were very important, discussed at length aren't going to be subject to removal because they were able to save some of the trees that were excluded in the 105 foot setback area. Generous: Well a lot of times those specific areas would be designated as part of our review, as part of a preservation area. Aanenson: I think we can add some clarity by that by saying there'd be a priority ranking on the subdivision that came in. Certainly if it seems to be critical a certain buffer, that that would be the last place that tree replacement would be reduced, and like Bob said, it's a conservation easement so I think it's our job as part of the forester section in the report to clarify to you if additional trees can be saved, this is where they would come out, the replacement would come out. Claybaugh: Again the least desirous area, working backwards to. Aanenson: Yep, we can put that ranking kind of in there so you know, and I think that's a good point that the neighbors know that if they save more trees then I'm going to lose my buffer because they might be asking for additional buffer as part of the process. Sacchet: I'm not sure how far you got into this Bob. Generous: Well just to the tree preservation. That was a big change. Sacchet: That was a big piece of it, yeah. Generous: And that, most of it and then as far as the listing of trees, we're trying to combine them and make them flow a little easier in reviewing it. Tree removal. Page 10. Of the strike through bold format. Sacchet: Yeah, if we can go back on page 6. It talks about the required landscaping. 18- 61(a)(1). And I'm not sm'e whether what we're saying is clear enough. We say it requires 1 deciduous tree. Generous: A minimum yes. Sacchet: But then it goes down and starts talking about coniferous trees. So are we saying a coniferous tree would not fulfill the requirement? That part is not really clear to me in that section. You see what I mean? Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Aanenson: Yeah, there's a conflict. Sacchet: There is a conflict isn't it, so I was wondering whether I was stumbling over the language. So if we could line that up because it's my understanding that a coniferous tree could fill it too. It doesn't actually have to be a deciduous, right? Aanenson: Yeah. Sacchet: That's one thing. Okay, so you're on page 10 now? Generous: So if we just added one deciduous or coniferous. Sacchet: Something like that, yeah. So it's not conflicting. Generous: Then we've got to keep going through the 6, 7, 8, 9 is the list. 10 is the removal of trees. We're trying to come up with language that explains what happens if they remove the trees and when they remove the trees. And also this is a time that they, and this is what they'll call the developer removing trees or the part of our ordinance, how we can stop the process and it says if after you have start this process you go in and change the conditions, we want to know what the changed conditions are so that we can count that into our tree removal requirement. And so there's two parts. If you don't know what, if they have, the trees haven't been surveyed, we can estimate the area, canopy area. If they are surveyed then we can use the caliper inches. So that's what that Section C talks about. Sacchet: The comment below that talks about the review deadline may be exceeded. wasn't quite sure exactly what the context of that was. Generous: Well this, at one time we were talking about just, they stopped the process and they can start... We had to bring them through the process. We have. Sacchet: Because of the 60 day type of thing? Generous: Right, and under statute we have a total of 120 days to get a preliminary plat done so we want to try to figure out a way to keep it going forward but let developers know that if they change the game as that process is going forward, that we're going to have to get new information. Sacchet: Then they have to start over potentially? Generous: Basically. Feik: Do they start over or does the clock just stop? Does the clock stop or does it start over? Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Aanenson: Well you've got a couple options. One, you can say we're going to make a motion based on information, or you can give us a letter saying I'll give you as many days as necessary to get the data that I need to get through the process, which we've done on other applications. Figure out that information. You can ask for more than the 60 days. Say we don't think you can get it done with an additional 60 days and you have a right to say, you know if you don't want to get it done, we're going to make a recommendation now because we have to, or if you want to wait and put your best foot forward, and you need another 100 days let's say, then they can give you a letter extending that for whatever length they want to give you. Generous: You know a lot of the information they can turn around rather quickly so you can keep them on track. Feik: But our only choice of recommendation would be recommend to deny, which would still allow them to go to council and to keep the process going. Aanenson: Correct. Correct, you have to do something. You can send it forward with an unfavorable recommendation or request that they, if they want to put a better light on it, then to ask for additional time. Feik: You can determine that the application is null and void. Aanenson: That's a 10 days when we get an application... Feik: Okay. And you can't say that the process would be suspended until such time'? Aanenson: I don't believe so. Once they're... Generous: Submittal date has been found complete, we can find that they don't have enough data and that's where the tabling comes in. We need more information or whatever, and that's legitimate. Sacchet: But that's within the limit of the. . .that's the issue. We can't table forever. Aanenson: Right, and we may have let them go thinking we had enough and then when we get to this level we find something out that we need more information on, and I would think going through to the council, I don't want to speak for the council but i think that would be high enough level that they would want to send it back, and we've had that. Recommend that it come back to the Planning Commission. Generous: On page 11, that change just defines what a DBH means. 12, we found out that the woodland management plans don't really work. No one follows them once the homeowners are in, so they have professional landscape people that are working on these and they have staff that come in and when we get good plans and hopefully people will come to our forester if they want to plant additional trees. So just take all that out. Page 13, Section 4. This is that one where we had the 60 by 60 building pad and then we came Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 in with the square footage and then finally, and I didn't get that change to this section. We came up with that 105 foot, that depth of the lot. The front 105 foot, and this is just as a means for calculating initially what the tree removal would be as part of the subdivision. Sacchet: So explain how this 105 and 8,500 square feet relate. Generous: Well it's based partially on our survey of our average building envelopes and we have that as the background data. If you took 10 different house plans within the community and got an average of their rectangular building area, we took you know if the garage is up here and the house is back here, we just sort of squared everything up and we got an average. Actually we raised it a little bit so a 65 feet house, so you have 30 and 65 and then a deck on the back and then the removal area back there, and so we figured with. Sacchet: Isn't there a danger if we use an average here? I mean the ones that will come in with a small house, they pay the price for the ones that come with the big house, and ones that come with a big house, they don't really, see what I'm saying? I mean if we would want to, we should be higher than the average to really represent the interest of the city, shouldn't we? Generous: Yes, it was based on all these. Sacchet: Because, hum. This is tricky. Lillehaug: Can we get a little revised point of clarification. Where are you showing the revised? Generous: It's in the ordinance. It's in that same section. Aanenson: In the front part. Lillehaug: in this that was handed out? Generous: No. Well it's in where we have the entire ordinance, it would be section 18. 61, whatever the number. It's easier when I have the whole book open. It's a little harder when they're broken out. So for this we took, yes you're right. If they have a deeper house that would be built on it, that's more than 105 feet back...take out more trees. So these are fairly significant. There's a range from like 1,800 to 2,900 square foot building area and so after doing all the math, an average and I don't know what other number we can use. You know you don't want to plan for the worst case and you don't want to plan for the least case so we were someplace in the middle. What's a reasonable expectation. Feik: We're talking single family home still so. Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Generous: Yeah, just for single family house. Other developments have site plans that there are attached units, you'll see more grading plans and you'll have more specificity on the final plan or final building. But on these it could be a range of things so we tried an average range. That's a big house area. Aanenson: And the variable is you never know what the home is until some, a buyer picks that plan to go on that lot. So that's where we need flexibility. Generous: So we did Lundgren was a lot only because they have the bigger houses, or historically they have. In Stone Creek. Lillehaug: What was the average for the houses you used there? That range from 56 to 79 feet, isn't that right? Generous: 66 to 80 feet in length and 31 to 55, and that's what the average, 68 by 47. And that would just be the total building area, including you know some of the yard. And Jill's very pleased with the number that we have. She says that's reasonable. That's what she has seen historically. Basically everything on the front gets moved out to where they build the house and then like 15 feet beyond that. Feik: And this covers where they're going to stockpile the dirt for back filling and you're comfortable it covers all the different. Generous: Right, because generally that has been in the front yard also. The contractor's have put their materials up there. Now we still the case they can come in and they'll have to do the tree preservation if they want to get credit for saving trees there. Sacchet: We have to put a stake in somewhere. That's just the nature of it. Claybaugh: Would there have been a scenario if there was a substantial tree in the front of some of these areas, these lots, that would be reasonable to expect that could be saved that I understand that the builder or the developer has a stake in saving that tree but is there anything the city would do fi'om our perspective to further the survival of that trees, rather than just saying if there's anything left in that first 105 feet, we'll credit it back. Generous: Well you can always make a condition of approval that they try to save a tree but you know. Aanenson: We've gone down the slippery slope with that where we tried to save the tree. We've made these such and through whatever, we're not aware of construction techniques or negligence, you're down the road and the homeowner gets in there. The tree's dying. You've made them save it. Now they come back to the city, you made us save this. It's going to cost us X number of dollars to take it down so I think one thing we've learned over time is to be better stewards of the trees that we're trying to save. Is it reasonable, that's why we changed our calculations to say typically we found the problems...as Bob indicated where there's loading and unloading of material. That 10 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 expectation is if they can and you've got a manager out there that's watching all the time. Otherwise it causes hard feelings. Really hard feelings. Claybaugh: We certainly don't want hard feelings. Aanenson: No, well you know, how about... Claybaugh: No, I understand what you're saying Kate. I just, there's a part of me that I understand specifically where you're coming from but there's also a part of me that has the feeling that once you identify that 105 feet, that anything within that, whether it's worth saving or not, isn't necessarily treated with the degree of weight that maybe should be assigned to it. Aanenson: I agree and I think the one thing that we have learned over time is, as our iteration of these ordinances has gone on, the first when we tried, the very first tree ordinance is we tried to save individual trees and we learned that was a nightmare. The best way to do it is in kind of conservation easements and bigger groups. Claybaugh: I understand you're the ones left with administering these different codes and trying to. Aanenson: Well I think you know we raised everybody's expectations of can this tree really be saved and how close is it to the house and you know we tried to do a better job of evaluating how much damage is going to be through grading, and while we may think a tree in the l¥ont can be saved, somehow the house placement gets in there and guess what? Now we put the sewer line connection too close to it, you know and we just found that's a tough area to try to save. Certainly we always want to save a significant tree. Builders see the value of that too. It's just a tough call. Claybaugh: Most of them do. We'd like to think most of them do, that's the problem is that it's the ones who don't but, understood. Aanenson: Right. Lillehaug: One question on that? So really in essence this is going to save larger stands of trees. It's going to maybe drive developments to maybe have lesser lots because you're trying to get a, you're still trying to maintain the same tree canopy coverage. Generous: Yeah, the same targets are in place. Lillehaug: But you're clearing out the whole front of the lot and they still have to meet that. Generous: For calculating their tree removal. Aanenson: Just for removal and replacement. 11 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Lillehaug: Okay. Aanenson: ...developers are willing to just replace trees. Claybaugh: So this is kind of hope for the best plan for the worst scenario? Aanenson: Again I think we've always, but that's how we've done this and I think for the most part we've been successful. Again looking at comparing ourselves to how other ordinances are administrated in surrounding communities. Claybaugh: At least this way going in you know what you have. Aanenson: Right, and again this is just fine tuning...pretty close to what we're doing is fixing a few things that weren't working and we're having some problems with. Sacchet: Okay. Generous: Page 14 of the strike through bold. Number 6, this is the, once they said they're going to protect something, this goes back to your issue. We finally designate trees that are supposed to be saved and then they start taking them out. This is one of the penalties that we're proposing. $100 per diameter inch. If it's a big tree, you know it's some additional cost for them. I don't know what's the best. $500 council felt was too much. You know $100 we have other communities that are doing it. Sacchet: For the $1007 Excuse me Craig, go ahead. Claybaugh: I'm sorry. Whether it's a conservation easement or whether it's saving trees on a building lot, I think the greatest thing that the city can do, and I don't know that we do it, is get the signage out to inform the people that come beyond these meetings. The excavators that are out there on site. The materials delivery people. I don't know if there's any requirement that, or if staff feels it makes sense that as part of the permit process that there is some signage that's placed out there, that there is a fine in place. And like we talked about before with people going to conservation easements and put in fire pits and such, I know that we had talked about this, both in public and private about possibly having signage put in place at that conservation line. Putting those owners specifically on notice, just like when you go by a utility. You know there's a power line here. There's a gas line here. Everybody's aware of it and I don't know if this would be a good case for that to identify, require the builder, developer to put just a simple sign up on site identifying that as part of the tree preservation there are fines in place so when a truss company comes to deliver a load of trusses, they have an opportunity to see that sign and rather than dropping it right at the trunk of a substantial tree, that maybe they'll exercise a little more care. Aanenson: Well I think there's a couple different areas of control points. One is during construction, and before any, they're authorized to begin construction the sites are walked t2 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 by the city engineer, or engineering staff and the City Forester, maybe the wetlands and it has to be fenced. Everything has to be fenced so there's a pretty good control point there, but that doesn't mean someone doesn't ignore a fence or whatever. But the biggest control point is once the homeowner's in and sometimes you have 2 or 3 homeowners down the road and that's where the education component comes in. Typically those are discovered through neighbors who did buy a wooded lot and are concerned about it and call us on that but they all know through the transaction but once it's moved down the road, that's where it's a little bit harder to prevent people from trimming. That's an ongoing, typically when that happens then the letter goes out to kind of that association just a reminder, FYI there might have been new people moved in. That's a big part of Jill's job, the City Forester's job is education. Just to remind people of what the goals are, whether it's a fence or fire pit or what you can and cannot do, but that's ongoing. That's a good point but it's not always at the construction end. Feik: I want to talk about the fine amount for just a moment. I know City Council thought $500 was a bit punitive but if you've got 12 foot, or 12 inch tree and it's a $1,200 penalty, that's not very much. I don't think, and I know I voiced my opinion on this before but I think it should be punitive. I think that's the whole idea. It's supposed to be a penalty. Not just the cost of the board feet. Claybaugh: Yeah, it's liquidated damages. Feik: Yeah, so I mean granted if council is really uncomfortable with the $500, I would really like to see $300-350. I want to see something more than a slap. That's my personal opinion here. Sacchet: Yeah I support that. I think $100's not enough. You made a statement Bob that other cities have $100. Generous: No, that's what we found in the oncs that we could find that have financial penalties. Feik: Which cities? Generous: Well it was Plymouth is one for sure and then there was one other and I don't remember. Feik: Because my thought, if you don't mind just for a moment. You know we don't have that many trees. You like if it was Minnetonka, I used to live in Minnetonka. There's trees everywhere and quite frankly honestly if you lose a couple trees here or there, it's not a big deal. But with our developments and what we've got on, where we're developing primarily ex-agricultural land, the trees we've got I see that are left are significant. Assuming they're a quality tree. And so I would just like to see, I'd like to see the fine have some teeth to it. 13 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Sacchet: How does everybody else feel? I think $100 is way too low. Now I can understand $500 is considered too high. Somewhere inbetween. Claybaugh: At least $400. Somewhere inbetween there. I'd settle for half of that myself. Generous: Our discussion before is the intent of it, are they doing this maliciously or is it an accidental and then trying to figure that out was a nightmare so. Lillehaug: It doesn't really matter though. Does it matter? Generous: Well yes. Sacchet: Tree dies, tree dies. Generous: But that was sort of the discussion that people had. There should be a difference. Claybaugh: But see a lot of those accidents are due to lack of education. Lack of communication with subcontractors, material suppliers, so on, so on and so forth. And without that accountability up front, and the people coming behind knowing that there's something at stake, that there's a penalty in force, I don't think they're going to treat it with the due diligence that they would if they see a sign or they're made aware that it's $200 or $250 a diameter inch. Papke: I think there is an argument that we are different than Minnetonka but we're actually, from my observations, pretty close to Plymouth. If you look at how Plymouth is developing, it's pretty similar and I think we would be hard pressed to justify saying we are in that much of a different situation than the City of Plymouth. Now one can argue that Plymouth is not being punitive enough. Feik: I'll argue that. Papke: But I think the council, we will have to deal with that argument. That this is not dissimilar to Chanhassen and that is what they're using so there's a precedent there. Feik: You know I'm envisioning a commercial lot. We save a couple of trees. Next thing you know we've got trucks parked on the grass and over the curb and other stuff' going on and it's a multi-tenant deal. The tenants don't own it. They don't care. They come and go. Ultimately the trees die. I don't know, I think $100 is just way too light. Papke: Different approach. Rather than a fine I think I've been pretty consistent in arguing for a more aggressive replacement policy. That all trees are not equal, both in kind and in size. 14 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Feik: Well I think the fine should go to a city fund for forestation. I think it should go to earmarked city fund to be used in the discretion of the city forester and wherever, as to where it would make most sense to spend those dollars. Papke: Perhaps I'm making an assumption but I suspect that the City Council is concerned with the reputation of Chanhassle, okay from a contractor's perspective. Sacchet: There's nothing wrong with the reputation that we value the trees. Papke: But my point is, is rather than a punitive fine, if we're more aggressive from a replacement policy standpoint, it doesn't appear to be punitive but would we get the net effect that we're looking for by doing that? Claybaugh: I personally don't feel we're going to get the effect on any penalty that was in place, replacement and the rest of it until the message trickles down to all the parties involved. Whatever vehicle communicates from the builder to developer to subcontractors to suppliers, that's where you're going to get the greatest bang for your buck. No matter what policy's in place, if they're not aware of it and they don't assign the property weight to the policy that we've established, it's going to have no bearing. To me communication is key. Feik: ...for signs. For paper signs that could go up during construction to be posted that the City provides... Aanenson: I personally think we do all that. I mean for some people if you're trying to get something, it's... Claybaugh: Then if we've done all that, then I think the punitive aspect is more than justified. Aanenson: In my opinion, we've done all that. You've got some guy that's going to unload some trusses and the sup's not sitting out there, who you going to blame'? They're going to go back and then it's finger pointing and we've been through that so I think what we were trying to say is, either the replacement policy, so we're not trying to discern who is at fault here. It's the property owner, whoever's got the letter of credit in place. Either it's a replacement policy or it's a fine. Sacchet: I really think it's good to put some teeth in it. Do the replace, we do have replacement policy and I think it will get more complicated than to put like a dollar figure on it is probably simpler, in my opinion. And yeah, because $500 would be a little bit of a stretch, but somewhere inbetween $100 and $500. $300? Aanenson: I think what we can do is .just communicate up to the council that your feeling was it should be closer to the 5 than the 1. That wasn't enough. Sacchet: I mean $300 would be something to settle but it's only $100. 15 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Feik: I think we should recommend a dollar figure myself. They'll say you guys, take you out of the hot seat to say Planning Commission recommends X. And then you don't have to. Sacchet: 300? How much Bruce? Feik: I say $350 myself. Sacchet: Steve? Lillehaug: $300 minimum. Sacchet: Craig. Claybaugh: I'm satisfied with $250. Sacchet: So I guess the average is $300. We've got $350's. We have $250's. Papke: But there were two votes for $250's. Generous: So we'll present that they...with the $300 in there. Page 15, this is the caliper versus diameter. We had financial guarantees in their place. Changing that out. Fees are in another spot, and then finally in 18-78, I know one time we were all recommending that sidewalks should be automatic. Council was hesitant. They directed us to come up with some criteria that we look at. Still make it permissive, and then up to the city to make that determination. And so we came up with these three and then tonight I gave you that fourth one depending on, and it was trying to be open language about it really depends on the density or intensity of development without coming up with a specific number. What do we mean by many'? Is that more than 20 units or more than 107 Is a few under 7 you know, it's all in semantics. Feik: Same thing with long blocks. Generous: Yes, long block. Feik: What's a long block? Sacchet: Yeah, I'm not quite sure I understand actually then...that image. Papke: I have a question on (c) here, and maybe this is what's confusing. If you look at page 11 of the first section where it's complete and page 16 of the strike through, and Section (c) you have sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to existing. In the first one on page 11 you just have sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to existing. Existing what? You know it's incomplete whereas in the strike through section it says existing and proposed trails. 16 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Aanenson: That's what it should be. Papke: So there seems to be a discrepancy between the two copies. Generous: Yeah, thank you for catching that. Papke: So which one's right? Generous: The what you said. Feik: Existing and proposed trails? Generous: Right, between existing and proposed trails. Papke: I don't know if that was related to your question Uli. Sacchet: Yeah it does because I don't see the whole picture yet. I'm still not sure whether I see the picture that the condition (d) that was added. I mean I understand you want to have some flexibility so it's a little bit fuzzy math but. Aanenson: Well I think, you know actually this comment came from Rich and I think it's a good comment because depending on the lot size, you could have a long block that, if it's a cul-de-sac there's not a lot of traffic. Depending on that, but if you had a street that was higher density, and had more traffic. More people living on it, you might want to provide a sidewalk on that for people to get to the bus. To get to a bus stop. To get out to the trail. So you know a lot of that you look at is setting. And you're see an example of a long cul-de-sac in the next subdivision that comes forward, it will be a good example of does that merit, based on the, you know kind of the surrounding, you know what's around it. Whether the connections are there. What's the flavor of that kind of neighborhood, and that's what we're trying to put some kind of flags to consider a criteria and this was one that we had looked at. Because we do have some that are going to be long cul-de-sacs. Generous: And you didn't want to base it on land use because would you exclude all low density? Well no, that's not the idea and is it a specific number of units? Aanenson: Maybe, maybe not. Feik: Let me ask you a question regarding the verbiage on the beginning of Section 5 where we strike shall and put in may. In my opinion once you put in may it leaves it way up to the discretion of the developer whereas if you leave shall, then they're always asking for a favor not to have to put it in. If you say shall, you got to do it and then they come back and say well you know this block doesn't really warrant it, then you've got some discretion. But if you say may, then they're going to come in with no sidewalks and we've got to fight tooth and nail for every sidewalk going forward. 17 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Generous: Then the city may require it. You know it's really the city's discretion whether or not a sidewalk goes in. Aanenson: I understand what you're saying. If we can just maybe get a legal opinion on that because since we built the criteria. Feik: Yeah, but it's easier to give them some leeway versus to ask them to conform to what is maybe in their mind gray. Aanenson: Because ultimately you're still going through the same criteria to find out if it's a shall, so if you don't meet any of those criteria, then we can make the assumption that you probably wouldn't put it in. But we can get a legal opinion on that... Sacchet: That'd be good. And we're not going into the width of sidewalks anymore. We took that out. Aanenson: Yeah. Yep, I think that's, depending if it's a trail or sidewalk and in some. Generous: If it's a sidewalk you know. Lillehaug: I have a question. Looking at (a), (b) and (c), with exception to the width of the sidewalk, was it at the direction of the Planning Commission that we strike (a), (b) and (c) out? The original (a), (b) and (c) that are struck out. Well, not the original but the bold. The bold strike out, because in my opinion ! would prefer to have the (a), (b) and (c) that are bold and struck out in there because it is specific. It tells us we want a sidewalk basically on every street. And then we deviate downward fi'om there. We see exceptions from there. Aanenson: That was actually the City Council that wanted the criteria built in. You reviewed this once. It went back up and now it's coming back down. So that was kind of their direction. Kind of just put that, and that's where we're struggling with shall, may, kind of get some guidance. Lillehaug: That's why in my opinion I think we go back with the (a), (b) and (c) that are struck out. I mean it's clear. If there's certain cases out there where we want to deviate downward from not having a sidewalk, then that's when staff uses their judgment or the review procedure process will delete a sidewalk. Feik: Well (b) is the same, con'ect? There's no change in (b). Is that cmTect? And (c), minor so I'm trying to find what the difference. Really only (a) is shorten, right? Aanenson: I think he's talking about the (a) above, con'ect? Feik: Oh, you're talking about the paragraph. I thought you were talking about, I apologize. I see. I thought you were talking about the adjustment. 18 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Sacchet: Well you say council didn't like that wording? Is that basically what I hear you saying? Aanenson: Yeah. I don't think they're really required on a collector street, sidewalk on both sides. Now. Depending on the type of development that came in, you might make that a requirement based on the uniqueness of that development pattern. Whether it might be a commercial subdivision that you think this merits a sidewalk. We had that discussion on both sides, but as a general statement that shall be on both sides, they felt that was maybe onerous. Sacchet: Too strong. Aanenson: Correct. Feik: So for example, let me put it into a framework here. If Lyman were rebuilt next year, it would need a sidewalk on both sides under what we had recommended, even though one side's strictly agricultural, and one side. Generous: It's getting a trail on. Feik: Yeah, you would have to do it on both, okay. Aanenson: Right, so that's incorporated already. Feik: Yeah, ! can see that. Aanenson: We're not saying, there might be a development pattern that it might fit that it ends up on both sides, but having a carte blanche, it's going to be on both sides, they said that probably wouldn't work. And some side you might want it 8 foot tying into a trail. Like i say, Lyman is going to be a trail. And more likely be 8 or 10 feet. So we don't want to eliminate it. We want to put people on notice that as each project comes in, depending on how it merits, where it fits in. What's around it? What is an easy connect to? What's the development pattern, and we kind of put our best judgment together with your guidance to say what should those sidewalks be. Actually it kind of gives you carte blanche to do what you want to recommend up to the council. Sacchet: I can see some value in, because if it's too literal it becomes restrictive on everybody's side, including our's. Claybaugh: Right, we just want enough of a foundation so it's not a stretch for us to be requesting it. Aanenson: Right, because there's a park next to you or there's a school. We think it's important to put a sidewalk there. 19 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Sacchet: It should go somewhere. There's no point to build a sidewalk for sidewalk's sake. I mean like you just said, if you have something along an agricultural field, what's the point. Claybaugh: When, if a developer comes in and you look over the developer and the preliminary stuff to get ready for their application. The developer's going to, or the builder's going to take their cue from staff because you're going to identify in your opinion if there's a sidewalk required or not. So by the time it gets to us, it's kind of the decision's already been made. Aanenson: No, I think we're relying on you to also give input on that because sometimes we may see a different development pattern and you may be closer to a neighborhood or see something a little bit different. And also the park commission's also looking at this and they may have a different, they'll make a recommendation. They have a little bit different twist on it too depending on some things that they see. Sacchet: Well then that's another caveat here too. I mean how much agricultural land are we going to have in this city before too long? It's all going to be gone. Aanenson: Right. I guess what we're saying on the other side of Lyman, as I understood what you're saying Bruce, is probably more large lot you know. But ultimately if there's a school on that side. Feik: Well you want it on one side. You wouldn't necessarily want it on both sides. Aanenson: Correct. Feik: The way we had it was both sides and you've got sidewalks on both sides and one would never be used. Aanenson: Right. Sacchet: Well the more the better with sidewalks. Aanenson: Right, but I would bet that that still gives you a lot of, you know as part of your comments, whether they all make it through, just like when we put some pieces in, sometimes you take... I think it's important if you feel strongly about a development pattern that you add that. Claybaugh: Yeah, that was my concern about the perception and the mind set of the developer or the builder when they came in front of us. How it had all been approached up to that point and it left at least a certain degree of open mindedness with respect to the developer's prepared to hear that maybe staff doesn't feel strongly about it and there's a possibility that the commission will. 20 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Aanenson: No, I think the subdivision you tabled last time is going to actually add a sidewalk. Sometimes in commercial ones you see a development pattern a little bit different. I don't think we've had too much reluctance on that. One that felt strongly about not doing it... Papke: I have concern with the verbiage that we... It's kind of swung from the initial verbiage was extremely specific. And now we have something that's very much open to interpretation. Sidewalks that connect to existing sidewalks. What existing sidewalks? Where'? On the other side of the city? I mean one could. Sacchet: There's always one if you only go far enough. Papke: It's so vague that if I put myself in the role of you know, in the seat of a developer and I look at this and I go, what do they mean? What's it going to take to make these people happy? So I think we may have introduced a little too much. Aanenson: If you go back to the original one Bob did clarify that. If you go back to 11. Generous: Within adjacent developed areas. If you look at the ordinance, I tried to pick up all of those. I didn't get all the strike through's. Sacchet: Maybe you should say sidewalk that connect to existing or planned sidewalks. Otherwise we're never going to be able to start in an area where we want sidewalks because there are no existing ones. Claybaugh: That was my concern. Sacchet: So if we say existing or planned, then we have that covered. Aanenson: Right, and that would be in our official street map...or something, that's a good point. That's a good clarification. Claybaugh: Yeah, because if you have leapfrog developments and you've got pockets undeveloped inbetween. It's reasonable to expect that they'll get sidewalks in the future. Generous: And we would add that language under (c), proposed trails and the (d) as. Aanenson: A perfect example is that we know there will be a park over here but that subdivision hasn't gone in but we still want to connect a sidewalk to get to that, right. I think those are good comments. Claybaugh: That provides a greater degree of comfort. Lillehaug: Now if I could ask a question. Sacchet: Go ahead Steve. 21 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Lillehaug: You threw this at us at the final hour here. Your handout here and it's way back at the beginning. Section 18-37. I disagree with crossing out what you're doing there. Aanenson: Which one? Sacchet: Steve, which page is it? Lillehaug: Very first one on the handout that they gave us. Section 18-37. And my question would be, is if you get rid of Section (a), (a)(1) and (a)(2), then in essence the ordinance does not cover in anywhere that | know of, divide a platted lots to add a portion of a lot to an abutting lot. This is the only area in the ordinance that covers that. Generous: Under the definitions of a subdivision, that's where that exemption comes from. Aanenson: So if you sell a portion of your lot to somebody else, that can be done administratively. It's not considered a subdivision. Subdivision is only when you create a new lot. If you're just moving a property line, it doesn't meet the definition of a subdivision and that's why the city attorney provides a solution... Generous: It's confusing. Feik: Because it's administrative anyway. Aanenson: CoiTect. Claybaugh: Where's that addressed? Generous: It's under the definition of what a subdivision is, and it's under state statute. Claybaugh: Right, I understand this is in there but is administratively what Kate just spoke to, where is that located'? Aanenson: I think it's just a definition of a subdivision. Lillehaug: Okay, I think you're missing the point of my question though is, if you take this out referencing if you're trying to split a lot and add a portion of that lot to another lot, that's not covered anywhere. You don't cover it under Section (b) in your revised. You simply don't have it covered under definition or anything. So then what is it covered under? If it's nowhere addressed in the ordinance is what I'm saying. When you take this out it's not addressed in the ordinances. 22 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Generous: Well the splitting is, it's addressed by the one that's a definition of a subdivision and under state statute. If you look under the definition of subdivision it would say adding a portion of a lot to, or changing a lot line is what it actually is. Claybaugh: If I can interject. 18-37, you're speaking in context of the subdivision codes. Generous: Right. Claybaugh: Now what Kate's speaking to is an individual lot if someone wanted to expand the boundary line, that doesn't meet the criteria or the definition of subdivision. What I was asking is on an individual parcel, not as part of a subdivision, why that was addressed. I understand that you're speaking about 18-37 in the context of subdivision, but what you're commenting on is an individual lot, not defined as a subdivision wanting to adjust the boundary. Aanenson: Right. Just to be clear on how this happens. If someone wants to sell a portion of their lot to the neighboring property, they would go down to the county and record it. The county won't record it until the City of Chanhassen's reviewed it. What I stamp on there, or someone in the planning office that says, it says this is exempt from the subdivision ordinance. That means nobody reviewed it because it's exempt. If you're just moving a property line. You can create a non-conforming lot. Claybaugh: I'll re-state my question. Where is the exemption stated? Anywhere in our, I'm just curious. Aanenson: I don't know that it is. Claybaugh: Okay. Aanenson: Currently at Section 18-377 Is there somewhere else in the code? Claybaugh: Right. How would someone know that that would be exempt. Feik: Or legal. Claybaugh: Right. And that that would be the follow-up question. And legal. Generous: Well except for knowing the definition of a subdivision which is defined. Claybaugh: So what I'm saying is if Kate got, heaven forbid but hit by a bus, okay. She was the only one that knew that that existed, okay, what happens'? What I'm asking is where do we find that? How does someone become aware of that, that that is in fact exempt. Aanenson: People come every day and do it so, 1 mean realtors. 23 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Claybaugh: So word of mouth. Aanenson: Yeah. Generous: Or reading state statute. That's where. Claybaugh: Okay, so it's a state statute. Generous: It's in the state statute. Okay, alright. There we go. That's all I was asking. I'm just looking to be Claybaugh: educated. Aanenson: Sure, sure. It has come up before where we've had people file that create a non-conforming situation where it gives us a lot of consternation but legally someone can do that. Now it may affect their mortgage on their property, but usually we advise people that that may cause them, because if they're going to refinance, typically we get a letter that says is this lot in conformance and then we advise them if they needed that if it was not. Generous: And it's a self-created hardship if you give away the property and create that situation too so, you don't meet the criteria for granting. Aanenson: We would advise on that but it' someone wants to move a property line, they are exempt. Claybaugh: Okay. Commissioner Lillehaug, are you satisfied? Lillehaug: I'm not because. Feik: What's your concern? Lillehaug: Where is the city verifying that it meets all the requirements of the current subdivision codes? Under the current PUD codes. Aanenson: We don't have the authority. That's what I'm trying to say, we do not have the authority. Lillehaug: Certainly we have the authority. Certainly you do. Generous: On a lot line change, no. Aanenson: On a lot line change, no we don't. 24 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Lillehaug: You're telling me that if you have a city PUD and you change a lot line on a parcel in that PUD that the city doesn't have any backbone to reinforce any of the zones that apply to that PUD'? Generous: We have no legal authority to stop that change of lot line. Lillehaug: You have no enforcement of enforcing the PUD is what you're telling me then. Aanenson: On moving a lot line. We have enforcement of a PUD but no. This question has come up several times and we do not. If you would like something from the city attorney to come and talk to you about that... That says it's exempt from the subdivision, we always try to advise the person that you're creating a non-conforming situation. It's a self created hardship. There's notes in the file... Sacchet: So you do look at it and you would inform the people that they're creating a problem but you can't tell them they're not allowed to do it. Aanenson: We can't stop them, right. It's a lot line. Sacchet: But you can make them aware. Is it, you try to make them aware of it. I mean that's kind of your responsibility. Aanenson: ...subdivision is creating a new lot. They're just moving the lot line. There's not a new lot being created. It's conveyance of property which they are exempt from so, again the stop gap measure of control is that the county wants us to see that it's happening, so we put something in the file. We inform the property owner. This may cause problems. You see it when variances come up when people want to say can I buy 3 feet from my property. They find out that the property owner next door is right at the margin and it would cause a setback problem or a square footage requirement problem so they may not want, but it happens when they have the excess, they're willing to work it out and they just do that. Lillehaug: I'm still confused about, you have a PUD, a subdivision that is not fully developed yet. It's not fully complete. Not a house, not every house is on one of these parcels. You're telling me that the city cannot enforce. Generous: The lot lines. Lillehaug: The lot lines. Aanenson: The lot lines, correct. Lillehaug: Even though it's not fully developed. Aanenson: Correct. Even if it was fully developed. They move a lot line. 25 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Generous: Well if it's undeveloped and they create a non-conforming lot... Claybaugh: So then that lot to be developed can no longer be developed. Generous: ...need a variance, and then you don't have to approve the variance. That's what we're saying, we try to inform them that this problem is going to come up. But we can't, we've been advised by the attorney's office, we can't stop it. Lillehaug: How come this wasn't in the original discussion that we started back whenever we started it? I mean this is coming in at us right when we get this. Generous: Because recently there was a change of lot line and the question could they do this and the attorney's office says yes and we said, we tried to show them the ordinance. Claybaugh: So you struggled with it at one point in time as well. Aanenson: Right...take it out because it's confusing because when we were citing this, he said that doesn't apply so we think it's confusing and he recommended we take it out. Claybaugh: I'm still struggling with what. I believe I understand what you told me but I still on a personal level are struggling with it. Aanenson: It doesn't seem right. Claybaugh: No, it does not. Aanenson: i would agree with you. We would agree, and it just doesn't seem right that someone could just move a lot line. But I also want to say, it's a rare exception that somebody creates a problem like that. It's pretty rare. We've had 1 or 2. Lillehaug: It happens though, right? Aanenson: It happens. It always happens but it's, is it less than I percent? Yeah. Feik: Makes sense to me. Sacchet: Okay, thanks for explaining that. Generous: Staff is requesting that the Planning Commission move this forward to City Council. We believe that the changes are, will improve our subdivision review. Sacchet: Well, are there any comments'? Do we have want to invite our visitors if they have a comment. Are with us. Any comments from the Paulsen's? It's not a public hearing but if you want to say something, you're certainly very familiar with the code. I think it'd be appropriate. If you want to speak up. 26 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Jerry Paulsen: Jerry Paulsen, 7305 Laredo Drive. Just the recent discussion here. I guess our concern was if there is no administrative subdivision, if there's no need to go through the Planning Commission, there's also no need to notify neighbors, and that's one of our concerns that the neighbors may not be aware of this property change line is occurring, which may affect them. One other comment that, using Plymouth as a benchmark, they have the same attorney as we do so it might be fair to go out to other cities when you're doing comparisons. They have the same firm. Sacchet: Thank you Jerry. Comments here from the commission. Any comments? Claybaugh: No further comments then what previously stated. Feik: No further comments from me. Lillehaug: My comments, I wouldn't be supporting modifying Section 18-37 as proposed. I'm not totally clear on it and ! don't support it until I guess I'd be fully versed on the true meaning and intent of it and really the city's position on reviewing PUD's. It seems like there is no enforcement if this is deleted, in my mind. Aanenson: Can I answer Mr. Paulsen's question? Sacchet: Yes, please. Aanenson: Typically if you're moving a lot line, there's two parties involved. So the two properties affected, it'd just be two new descriptions. Those are verified internally by the city staff to make sure that they both still close. When they go down to the county, they also have to be verified with two new legal descriptions so those are evaluated so whoever's involved, the neighborhood would be notified in that process. So to say that the neighbor wouldn't know. Sacchet: How would they, how do we notify them'? Generous: Anyone outside is not because it's ah'eady under the existing ordinance it's exempted fi-om the subdivision requirements. Feik: Right, so if I want to convey 2 feet to my neighbor, big deal. Generous: Yeah, you come in and we stamp the deed. It gets recorded at the county. Lillehaug: How about 10 feet and then it leaves only a 35 foot lot. Claybaugh: Non-conforming lot. Sacchet: It's non-conforming. 27 Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2004 Claybaugh: It's not a function for you to deny it...correct.'? Generous: It's a lot line change. Claybaugh: It's an acknowledgement. Aanenson: Right...non-conforming. Anything you come back... Claybaugh: Okay, it's an administrative acknowledgement is what it is. Aanenson: So let's say these are the two homes. They currently both meet the setback. This person decides to sell off 3 feet over here, okay so now both parties would be involved in a new legal description. They have to do that so somebody needs to review before it goes down to the county. So that would be part of the review process. We'd also advise the other person that they're creating a non-conforming situation. That will be in the records. Also if you're going for a re-financing, typically we're called to see if the house is in compliance and that show up and stuff like that. Sometimes you have a mortgage...mortgage company tends to sign off on those too. That's another catch. So that's why I say it's very, very rare that... We have administrative all the time. We do maybe 10-15 of those a year. As far as creating a non-conforming situation, for all the years I've been here, maybe 2. At best. Claybaugh: But the process that we've been discussing is dictated by state statute. Generous: COlTeCt. Aanenson: That's how it's done, right. Sacchet: It seems like the framework is relatively crisp. What I'm hearing you explain to us, it's not... Aanenson: I think there's ...would you be notified'? No because you're exempt from the subdivision you're not creating. Sacchet: So yeah, isn't it a requirement for the city, we don't have jurisdiction so we can't really have a notification requirement either. Claybaugh: No other questions or comments. Sacchet: Alright, I'd like a motion. On the inside of the cover. Feik: I move that the Planning Commission approve the following motion. The Planning Commission recommend the approval of the ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Chanhassen City Code as presented and discussed tonight. Claybaugh: Second. 28 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 3. The applicant shall show the location of the existing driveway on the survey. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0. PUBLIC HEARING: AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 18 OF CITY CODE~ SUBDIVISIONS. Bob Generous presented the staff report on this item. Feik: You know Bob can we, just let everybody know, let's just do this as sort of an open comment as you would. Otherwise if everybody saves our comments to the end. Papke: What page are you on again? Generous: Unfortunately I was looking at the ordinance and I was on page 2 of the ordinance but it was Section number 4 of the ordinance. I don't know if that's the best way to proceed with that. Maybe I should just go over areas of contention or if you have questions. Feik: Yeah, the reason I want to mention that because I had a question regarding that 500 feet. You know 500 feet has come up numerous times over the years, whether 500 feet's adequate. Is it adequate for all applications? Is it applicant for a bakery? It's going to be a different notice I would think requirement for a bakery for somebody else putting up a fence. I'm wondering, and maybe this isn't the time but, I'm not sure that's adequate. Slagle: Can I ask, where are you seeing? Feik: The 500 feet, I'm still on page I. Generous: Page 1 of the ordinance, Section 18-39(a). Feik: I know that is our ordinance and I know we've got to address what we've got in front of us but. Generous: And we have been trying to go beyond in instances. I know like when I did the hotel I went up into the new neighborhood in Arboretum Village because the 500 feet didn't go past West 78m Street so we tried to get everyone on Century Boulevard. Yeah, it's, our ordinance provides more distance in it than state statute requires it. Slagle: Do you have any sense as to how our compares to other communities? Generous: I think we have, the ones that I've seen, we have more, the distance required in the notice. Lillehaug: I think when we sat down to discuss this before and we did discuss this 500 feet, I think we kind of looked at it as a balance cost wise too. I mean if we go 1,000 feet, 33 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 I mean is that reasonable to send out, I mean 1,000 feet might, 1,000 feet just straight across the board might encompass quite a few. Papke: Yeah, because it's surface area. When you double it, you quadruple the number of potential residents you're contacting so. Slagle: I think what I would just throw out to fellow commissioners is again we just ask staff to be, oh what's the word. Be aware of in certain situations because to be quite honest with you, little disappointed in the last meeting's review of that business. The landscape, snow removal and then today's bakery, that we didn't think to go to the neighborhood just on the other side of that...by the apartments. And I know that's an oversight so I'm not being critical but I just think, if we have, if I have your trust that, trust you that you'll. Generous: And this is something we could also bring up at our work session. Feik: Well I don't even think the landscaper got to the apartment building. Tonight's did but the landscaper was outside of that. I don't believe it was. Alright. Generous: I would skip to page 3. It's Section 8 of the ordinance. It starts there. Under the existing ordinance we have a range for the arterial and local streets. The Planning Commission last time had stated a preference for going with the maximum. Staff is recommending that we go with what our detail plates show. We're recommending that everyone come in for a variance on it. Well that was the previous city engineer. So that's one of the discussion items if we want to go forward on that. Go with the detail plate. Would you like to reaffirm your recommendation that we go with the maximum under our ordinance? Lillehaug: I would like to throw out 31 feet. I guess when I'm working with other cities I see 32 feet because you have two standard 12 foot lanes and then you have two standard 4 foot shoulders so that's 32 feet, and that would meet state aid standards. 31 feet, you're cutting it by one foot. I mean we're splitting hairs here but do you see an issue with that Matt at the 31 feet and is that a standard that the city's been using for years and years? Saam: The 31 is yeah. At least since l've been here and previous year's plans that I've seen. But I guess from an engineering standpoint we don't have a problem with 32. Now developers may have a problem with 32 and it might impact environmental features, what have you but yeah we just, like Bob said, we're trying to stick with what our standard has been, at least in the recent past per our detail plates. So I do want to point out the only thing that we varied on page 4 fi'om what you previously recommended was that local street width of 31. I think you had recommended 32. You as a Planning Commission and we have 31 in there so everything else we've gone with your previous recommendations on. I just want to point that out. Lillehaug: And the only reason you switched is because so 31 meets the standard plates. 34 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Saam: Yeah. Lillehaug: You didn't want to switch the standard plate? Saam: We sure can but it's, I guess that's what we arrived at after internal discussions. Lillehaug: I guess I'm okay with 31 feet. Slagle: I am too. Generous: While there was a lot of. Feik: Excuse me, go ahead. Generous: I'm sorry. Next is under the landscaping section. We took out a lot of the redundant requirements and some trees that weren't, we don't like to see anymore. We had some invasive species. We had some maple trees that were, or conifer trees that while they grow fast here don't live long and so Jill said let's slim down this and get rid of a lot of the redundancies. If we're going to say a species and a lot of varieties, let's just list it once. All of the subdividers that come in have landscape professionals that help them create those plans so we're trying to get out of the being too prescriptive there. And so the significant change would be on Section 18-61(c). Slagle: 7. Top of page 7. Generous: Top of page 7, right. Lillehaug: Can we hit on that quick like? Generous: Yes. Lillehaug: So really what that says is if they're beyond the development review process, then you're going to enforce basically the replacement ratio there? Generous: Yes, and they'll have to resubmit plans to show those changes so that basically it tells you that the Planning Commission would table it at that point when they found out that they can't go with those. Slagle: If I may though Bob, we table it. It comes back to tls. You remind tls that it's on a timeline. And you know basically you know we need to approve it or reject it, and as we found out two meetings ago, an applicant can tear down all the trees they want and then have to replace it at a ratio that we show here, but it could be in a city park. Or it could be anywhere in the city. Generous: If they don't fit on the site. And if they're tearing down that many trees we would require to be on site. 35 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Slagle: I guess you know, my question is this. Simply put we have an applicant, and ! don't need to go into names, tears down a bunch of trees north of Lake Minnewashta and you know they pay a fine or who knows. I haven't heard exactly what happened, but they're replacing trees and it could be beautiful, mature trees are now gone and we have trees that I can't even tell you for sure that we maintain some periodic inventory to see if they're still growing. And I just don't see any penalties other than replace. Why not a citation? Why not a stopping of the process and a resubmittal of an application? Feik: Why not forfeiture of a portion of the escrow or the. Generous: Well at this stage we wouldn't have any of that. Slagle: Well why wouldn't we have landscaping escrow? Feik: Well because the application is incomplete so he doesn't have the, either the bond or an escrow or a letter of credit posted yet. Correct? Generous: There's no conditions that he has to comply with. Feik: But you could change it and say that the application must, a new application must be completed or submitted with a revised tree condition. I mean start the process from zero. Generous: But the clock doesn't start fi'om zero is what the city attorney's office... Feik: We can't say the application is deemed incomplete at that time? Generous: Well you could recommend, instead of tabling it they'll deny it or approve without a condition. That they do something. Here we're saying if you go in and you have a site that's wooded and you go and you start removing trees while you're in this process, you're going to have to give us new information because our tree preservation calculations are based on what they submit originally and if they're changing that original submittal information then we need to get that data. So at least you'd have more accurate data information. Slagle: If you listen to what you're saying Bob, 1 mean so 1 come to you with a tree survey that shows 120 mature trees. And in the course of working through staff and what not, I then go and cut down 110 of them illegally, or however you want to phrase it. Prematurely. Whatever the word is. So what you're saying is, oops. I'm sorry. Now 1 just have to give you a survey that shows 10 trees. And now you're going to tell me where to replace them or how many I have to replace. Generous: But we'd have the previous information so they'd have to show the trees being removed. 36 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 9,2003 Feik: From where? Generous: Because the original submittal would have that 100 and whatever, 60 trees. The new submittal would show that they have 50 trees, or so much canopy area less and so we're already counting that as being removed. Feik: All this does to me is ensure that the developer knocks the trees down before they pull, start the application. Generous: Well and that's something we need to clarify... Feik: Knock them down 2 months before any discussion of an application and then they don't ever have to count them. Slagle: And what if they do that? What's the penalty? What do they suffer? Feik: Nothing. Generous: Well no clear cutting is permitted without, except through the site plan, subdivision or building permit process. Violation of the ordinance is a misdemeanor. Feik: Yeah but we had one in fl'ont of us a year and a half ago that was on a hillside with lots of trees, that was actually, it was an outlot. Next to an outlot and was actually zoned agricultural. The owner could knock all the trees down and say he's going to plant corn, and then decide not to. You know, there's nothing you can do about that stuff. Alright. I don't know, any suggestions'? Gentlemen? Slagle: Well if I could say, I would hope, if I may, the city attorney and planning, I mean I would hope that we'd be able to come up with some measure of, what's the word I'm thinking of. To create some penalty, phase, action, that would prevent any of us from going and clear cutting trees if we were going to be requesting some action on the city for a development or something. Feik: Well is there no letter of credit posted with the application? Generous: No, because those are based on compliance with certain criteria. Slagle: So it's a misdemeanor threat if you will of clear cutting I guess. Generous: Yes. Also there's economic self interest for developers. There's a premium paid for wooded lots. You would hope that they would use that as part of their reasoning when they do the development. Slagle: Depends on where you want the woods. Generous: Well that's. 37 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Feik: What's your next item Bob? Slagle: What page are we jumping to Bob? Generous: Section 18-61(d)(4). It's page 9. Now this is one that Jill recommended. The previous ordinance said show a 60 by 60 pad to estimate tree removal. She said 8,400 square feet. Just say that 8,400 square feet of this site is going to have tree removal if there's trees within that 8,400 square feet development. Slagle: Is that easy for people to understand? Lillehaug: I read it about 10 times and I don't understand it. Generous: We took a look at it and she said maybe the first 100, she wanted to go 110 feet. 115 feet of the lot, say that you're going to clear everything out of there to estimate the tree removal. Lillehaug: I just don't understand how it's written there. I mean I can't, without the stuff that's crossed out before and after it, I wouldn't know what that means. I really wouldn't. Feik: But if you just put comma, after 8,400 square feet comma, or 60 by 60. That'd give you some grounds to interpret how that 8,400 came up with. 60 by 60 isn't 8,400. Lillehaug: 8,400 square feet, that's over a 90 by 90 foot pad. Feik: Well that would include obviously all the excavation for foundation and stuff. Generous: Everything in front of the structure. Feik: You have 60 by 60 plus 15 feet all the way around? Generous: No, it's even more. She just said the first, well in here it's 105 feet. Actually she came up with 9,200 and I dropped it down because she was double counting within the 60 foot pad you have supposedly you would have a deck area. Slagle: Bob, can I ask you a question? Again getting back to neighboring communities. What do other communities use? Can we find out'? Generous: They're all over the place but yeah, we can find out. Slagle: I mean I'm just thinking, if you did Eden Prairie. You know, I mean you pick the communities, it'd just be interesting to see what they do. Half a dozen. Generous: Sure. 38 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Lillehaug: Is this section only referring to tree removal so somewhere, I can't remember off the top of my head but somewhere else in the ordinances we're saying they have to demonstrate that they can still place a 60 by 60 foot? Generous: No. Lillehaug: This is it right here? Generous: This is it. Lillehaug: This is only for tree removal that we state that. Generous: Right. That's to calculation, unless you know what the actual building footprints that are going on this site. We had to come up with the mechanism for estimating what tree removal would be. Lillehaug: So nowhere else do we say that an applicant has to demonstrate that they can place a 60 by 60 foot pad? Generous: No. Lillehaug: Separate from tree removal. Generous: So as part of this we wanted, You know | suggested that alternatively we look at just saying the first 105 feet of the lot, but Jill was trying to come up with an area calculation and I don't know if it's a combination of the two that we need for that, and how to make it understandable for people. Papke: Yeah, just don't word it like the dock you know. Generous: Yes, the greater of. Feik: What's the next one? Lillehaug: Did we have problems with how it was worded before? Generous: Well it just said the 60 by 60, and Jill, we had a problem because we thought that was under estimating tree removal because usually they have the house pad and then you have 15 feet beyond that where the grading equipment goes in and the little Bobcats and so. Lillehaug: So actually this 8,400 is actually more conservative if you really look at it. Generous: Yeah, it's closer to what we would think would actually happen. 39 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Lillehaug: Okay. Yeah. Slagle: Are we to page 10 yet'? Generous: The financial penalty, yes. You've got on page number 5, as part of your previous recommendation we have $500 in there. Council felt that was punitive. I didn't check, this came from Plymouth. They had $100. Per diameter inch of trees being removed. Theoretically you know a 28 inch tree that goes out, that's $2,800. Feik: Well that would be in addition to replacement though. Generous: Yes. They would have to pay. Feik: Do we still have the replacement in here? Generous: Yes. The replacement in there is probably not changed. And this is only after, if they, once they get through the process, preliminary plat approval to final plat and they say we're going to save these trees and then they don't do that. Feik: So we should put there, then at the end of that sentence then, you know comma, in addition to the 2:1 replacement as indicated in whatever other section it is. So they understand it's both. It's because you know what, at $100 a diameter inch, there's not a developer in town that wouldn't rather just knock them down. And not replace them. I mean to be construed like the dock. Lillehaug: Probably I mean, you talk about over adjacent to the Legion over here. They've got 3 oaks they're trying to preserve. Well, just cut them down if it's causing too much confusion. You know they're only going to get fined $2,800 bucks per tree. Big deal in their pockets. Feik: Right, right. But if it's that and replacement. Slagle: They have that much money? Lillehaug: I don't know but, it's a big deal to me. Papke: What are we really trying to achieve here? I mean because this is really going to protect small trees, saplings and is it really the old growth oaks in town that we're trying to preserve here'? Is that kind of what we're getting to or what? Because we may take a different strategy if we want to protect a few big old trees versus every tree in the city. Feik: Sure. You could do $500 per inch for any tree over 12 feet. 12 inches. Something like that. Papke: I mean what do we want as a Planning Commission I guess is the question I'm asking. What's our goal? What do we want to try to achieve with this? 40 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Slagle: Well if I can throw out. I remember, and Steve I don't know if you were here but there was an application for a building just south of the church. The old historic church. It's now a Remax building. And there was an old oak that the claim was that they would rock wall around it and Craig was pretty involved in that one and I think basically the concern was that they said they would do this and be being a construction expert if you will, was just sort of, it's just not going to work the way you're thinking and the question came up well, what happens if they say they're going to protect it and it doesn't. And that's what I remember at least personally with the involvement and awareness of these trees, so I think your question's great and I would be an advocate to say that after a certain diameter width we increase the value. And I would hope the council wouldn't feel that large, large trees, by adding that would be punitive. Who knows. Papke: What's the nature of the council's concern from a punitive standpoint? Are they concerned that some guy who's putting up 4 houses is going to get unnecessarily dinged if he cuts down a couple small trees or what, can you give us any context where the punitive. Generous: I think they were just concerned that a developer comes in and he's following the rules and his subcontractors don't and so then he's penalized because he's the responsible party under DC when it's a subcontractor that is storing materials over thc root zones and killing trees or whatever the case may be. Slagle: Wouldn't they just put...subcontractor. Generous: Well it depends on their contractual arrangement I suppose. Papke: isn't that the general contractor's job'? Generous: Well we have you know, same thing with like erosion control fencing. Keeping that up. Lillehaug: One more comment on that 1 guess is, in the ratings here they're, or the council's justification was that they couldn't really distinguish between trees removed, being removed accidentally or purposely. In my mind I guess it really wouldn't matter if they were accidentally or purposely. It should be the contractor's responsibility to purely protect them. So I guess I wouldn't go along with that justification. Papke: ...accidental versus purposeful. Lillehaug: Right, to me it doesn't matter though. Feik: Would this go in the actual development contract as well'? Because if it doesn't go in the contract you'd never know about it and it'd be that much tougher to enforce. Would you include? 41 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Saam: Typically this stuff, if it's in the code already, there's no reason to also put it in the development contract because it's ah'eady in ordinance. Feik: Well I understand that but if the developer actually read it, and then he could go to his excavator and say guys, you knocked these trees over. It's coming out of the sub's pocket. Because I'm looking at it saying you know what, I'm not sure how collectable it's going to be. If it's in the development contract and he's got to acknowledge it. Slagle: Let me ask this. Again without mentioning names, what did we learn from the incident on the north shore of Lake Minnewashta? I mean and some things you can share, some things you can't but I mean something happened there. Clear violation of whatever right, wrong, laws, ordinances we have and there was punitive action against the perpetrator if you will. Was that sufficient in the city's mind? Do we wish we had done more? I mean I just remember Lori being very upset and very disappointed, as was Jill. And so I mean. Generous: I can't answer for them. Slagle: Is it your opinion that what you see here, $100 per diameter inch would be enough of a deterrent to prevent that'? Saam: You're asking me? Slagle: You're my two staff people. Saam: Maybe you meet council half way. If you wanted 500 before and now you don't feel 100's enough, you come to 300. I don't really have an opinion on it. Generous: It could get pretty expensive you know. Diameter inches add up. 28 inches here, 10 there, 5 there. It could be a significant cost. Slagle: We don't want to be negotiating with council. Generous: No. Saam: I guess the one thing I think you should keep in mind is, you know no matter how much you set it, some people if they are bad per se or don't care, you know is it going to matter? And how do you regulate that? So it's tough. I mean most developers that we see aren't going to do what you're referring to up on Minnewashta. I mean we just don't see that happening so. Lillehaug: And then this punitive damage wouldn't have applied there anyways because they weren't finished. Or would have been applied. Were they finished with their approval process? Generous: The replacement, this $100 wouldn't have applied, no. 42 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Lillehaug: Right, because they were, yeah. Generous: But the replacement stuff up fl'ont would have been delayed, their project was delayed long enough anyways with the court. Papke: I hate to let this just slide though because i think we're going to face this in the AUAR area that we were looking at not long ago has a lot of old growth oaks and once we start to look at proposals in that area, this is a potential issue. Slagle: Can I make a recommendation to the commission here? Mr. Chair it looks like there's at least two items, two areas. Tree preservation and sidewalks/trails that the council and the commission are differing on. Is there any reason that they should be part of the work session? And why wouldn't we have that dialogue amongst the two groups versus talking to staff and you go back and. Feik: I think that's a relevant comment but this still is a public hearing so we still have to hear from everybody else too before we move on to what we're going to do with this. I don't disagree. Lillehaug: And maybe it's a point, it's at a point where we give our recommendation again. Feik: My opinion on this deal, you know what, it's supposed to be punitive. That's why we put the dollars in there, and 1 guess I don't have a problem negotiating with council. I don't know. Alright, well let's move on and see what else because we may not take action on this tonight anyway and I want to make sure we get public comment in before it gets too much later. What else do we have to look at here Bob? Generous: Well the last one, significant item was on page 11 in Section I0. It's Section 18-78(b)(5) of the code. It was, right now the ordinance says sidewalks will be required. Previously we had it on all local streets and on one side of collector and arterial and so council said go away from that. Develop criteria where we would look at putting it in and make it not permissive rather than mandatory. Papke: When I read this, I couldn't figure out how you could possibly interpret this. You know, what does it mean that you may be required to put a sidewalk in if there are sidewalks that connect to existing sidewalks. Well connect to what existing sidewalks? Where? Generous: On adjacent developments is what we were looking at. We have subdivisions that are in place. They have a sidewalk up to their property line. When the next development comes in we would make them continue that sidewalk through their project. Feik: Or access the trails. 43 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Generous: Or to access the trail system, yes. And a good example of that is the Hidden Creek development. Off of the north side of Highway 7. Papke: Can you at least then put in here connect to existing sidewalks in adjacent developments where the sidewalks abut the proposed development? Just so, because I was concerned that we're going to see this at some point in time, you know in a proposal and we're going to go well, how do we interpret that? Feik: And then go back to shall. Drop the may and go back to shall. Papke: May is just. Generous: So something, and adjacent developments continuing those existing sidewalks? Feik: And trails. Papke: And in the next one, you know to kind of carry out of that, sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to schools, parks and neighborhood. Well where are these schools, parks and neighborhood areas? Are they again on adjacent properties? Is that what you're saying? Generous: That's the intent. If you're in the neighborhood and if this would bring you to that development. An example would be the Walnut Grove project. Had this been in place we would have had a sidewalk. Papke: It sounds like you need to put you know, at least adjacent property or something like that on each of these or maybe in the preface area there, so that it's clear that we're talking about a sidewalk in an adjacent development. Or a school or a park and a neighborhood commercial area that is ac[jacent to the proposed development, or an existing or proposed trail that you know terminates at the proposed development or something like that where we can have some criteria for looking at ...that does or doesn't meet the criteria. Generous: I think that adjacent development would work for all three of these. Papke: Right, except are we going to treat it, if adjacent development has sidewalks that are 200 feet away from where these two things butt up, how do we interpret that one? Okay. And then does that adjacent development that's ah'eady developed, do they have to bring their sidewalks in so they connect with this new development? I don't know, what's the intent? Lillehaug: If I can ask fellow commissioners to look at page 16. What staff had drafted up before, maybe we had discussed before was a, b, and c. Feik: Which was struck by council. I'm assuming that's where that. 44 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Generous: We wanted to show the progression of this. Lillehaug: That's really more on the lines of what I'm still thinking anyways. Generous: Well and maybe that's the recommendation. Slagle: If I may. Feik: Please. Slagle: Since I I think probably of all have been the most vocal. I'm not suggesting I'm the biggest supporter but at least the most vocal of this. And a bit of background. There is a staff member who shared with me in the last year that neighboring communities were enforcing and updating ordinances that required, it didn't matter, it didn't talk about neighborhoods. It was street. This kind of street got either two sidewalks or one sidewalk. Cul-de-sac got something, on and on and I remember asking staff to research that. And that's where I would like this to go, is to research communities and Maple Grove, Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Woodbury, you name it, but where are the communities out there today going on this because the more and more I read, which is not all that expansive on planning, is that there is a movement towards the community feel. More sidewalks. You know the porches out fi'ont. That whole whatever you want to call it, Americana if you will, but more importantly for me and why I've been such a proponent for this is just the safety and to me to think that we would have may instead of shall, when you look at some of the neighborhoods, and I'm talking within the last 10 years, that we don't have a sidewalk and it mystifies me when I see mothers pushing kids on strollers and if the issue according to Bob tonight was that there was some concern by some about upkeep over time of sidewalks. Repairs. That would cost money and who pays for it. I guess I would ask engineering to fm'ther research really what have we spent on an annual basis to fix sidewalks. And maybe it's a lot more than I think it is, but I would guess that the streets have been a major focus, not so much sidewalks. I haven't seen many sidewalks repaired in my running, and I run a fair amount throughout the cities. Heck the last time I remember I wanted Pillsbury to fix their sidewalk, if you remember the one off Galpin and it still hasn't been fixed. It's call cracked up so, and that was two years ago. So I'm just using that as a basis that I don't think there's a lot of sidewalks being fixed these days. Feik: You mean Audubon. Slagle: Audubon, I'm sorry. Audubon. Papke: Just to add to that, I think we've heard some pleas for trails in developments that don't have sidewalks. Slagle: Exactly. 45 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Feik: And now that brings me to a question, why did park and rec recommend deletion of the references to trails? Generous: They just wanted to be able to look at a project... Slagle: And do their own thing. Feik: But we're just saying access. If it has access to trails we want a sidewalk. We're not trying to tell park and rec where to put the trails. I'm in one of those neighborhoods, Bluff Creek Estates, top of the hill on Audubon. We have no sidewalks but we're hooked up to a trail. We have no sidewalk on Audubon. We've got, and it's gravel shoulder. We've got strollers on Audubon. We've got kids you know, we've got 5 year olds Rollerblading on Audubon to go around the block. Anyway, anything else on this item? Otherwise I want to move this to public comment period and then we can bring it back and we can deal with it as we choose. So if there's no other comments for staff at this point, I'd like to open this up for public comment. If you have a comment, now would be the time. Janet Paulsen: My name is Janet Paulsen. I live at 7305 Laredo Drive. I would like to comment first on streets. On page 5. I noticed this mentioning that a private street has a right-of-way, actually defined as right-of-way and as I recall, code have been changed about a year and a half ago, and I don't. Bob would know this. Where the definition is of right-of-way. It didn't include private street so I would like that to be covered. It's pretty important because it affects our shoreland rule which means you have to be set back 20 feet from the right-of-way of a private street. And then on page 13, where you're talking about the 60 by 60. 60 by 60 is such a practical way to figure out if there's enough room for a home on a lot. Just have this little square and you fit it on and you've got it. Or you don't have it. The buildable area, where is that defined'? Bob would know this too. What is replacing this? What is the buildable area required now? Generous: What's the buildable required'? Janet Paulsen: Yeah. And is there a certain width'? Generous: Well you have the lot dimensions in the subdivision. It's any area within the required setbacks. Buildable area. Janet Paulsen: Well as I recall I think Minnetonka and some other cities have more restrictive standards because they have to have a certain width before you can measure the buildable area, otherwise you could have a really narrow triangle. That you shouldn't really include that. Lillehaug: I support you there. Janet Paulsen: And then I was wondering, also on page 13. In the parenthesis 5. Minimizing tree loss. I have to disagree that that would be accomplished by having a 46 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 private street. Private street causes more intensive development because it doesn't require the same setbacks and the lot line is measured many times from the middle of the private street, enclosing a private street. So it becomes more intensive. I don't think this causes less tree loss. It causes more. And then ! have to agree, I think we should require sidewalks. It should say shall, not may. Why would want to go back to a lesser standard'? We should be improving things. Not lessening them. Okay, thanks. Feik: Thank you. Deb Lloyd: Good evening. Deb Lloyd, 7302 Laredo Drive. I almost missed the meeting tonight. I had to work late and I'm looking, oh my god. It's Tuesday. Hit the computer. The agenda. Oh my god, Chapter 18. So I'm not very well prepared. But I have to say, I don't think this report is very well cooked up either. I think there's a lot of improvements that need to be made. I think if we're going to change the code, let's make it better. Not make it more ambiguous. I really liked seeing that fight-of-way there for private streets. That was a pleasant surprise seeing that documented. Boy, I don't want to have to page through all this. Jan pretty much covered everything. The 60 by 60 is a real issue and staff in the past has tried to say, well you don't build a square house. But you know I've seen a lot of development plans come through and if you don't have adequate building area, you could have a lot that met requirements 15,000 square feet, but it might not have enough buildable area. It might have shoreland, wetlands, it might have too steep of an incline. A bluff. I think that stamp has proven to be really a valuable tool when you see the plats coming through. I'm not, this is not my area of expertise but I think it's really important. That number very much surprised me to see 3,600 square feet because I've defended that time and time again. In fact I wish I had everything I've said about it, but I've seen that number go up to like 8,000 some. I mean what does that really mean, that you can demonstrate that you can clear cut that much land or something? I don't quite get what you're trying to do with using a number that that's big. That's like half of a RSF lot. And our residential lot is like 15,000 square feet minimum. It's more than half of a lot. I just don't get the logic there. I'd like to see some meat in this and I did do some real quick research before I came and that's, I've been watching Dream House and Portland, Oregon has some really strict codes about tree preservation because these builders on this show were really concerned. We have to make sm'e that we do everything correctly. So I pulled up something here. Construction fencing in their code. The fence must be 6 foot high, orange plastic and must be secured to the ground with an 8 foot metal post. Or the fence must be 6 foot high steel on concrete blocks. Well, I saw a project in our neighborhood, you know the orange fence goes up, and then it just slides. And no one cares about where they drive, what they do. What they move over this area. I think when you put meat in it like they did, it prevents that fence fi'om moving. Development limitations. It says here, within the root protection zone o1' each tree, the following development is not allowed. New buildings. Grade change or cut and fill during or after construction. I have to say I observed fill, just huge tons of fill over areas that should have been protected. No meat in our code for that. New impervious surfaces so they can't create an impervious surface around the root zone. Utility or drainage fill placement. Staging or storage of materials and equipment during construction. Huge issue. Particularly when you're building like in our neighborhood, building, making and 47 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 creating a new lot because where would those construction materials go'? You know they're not supposed to go in the street. If the lot is the minimum size, where do they go? 90 foot wide lot. 60 foot wide house basically. You know, and then you're supposed to have some trees on this site. Where do they put these materials? And vehicle maneuvering areas during construction. You know, someone brought up the contractor's responsibility and the subcontractor's you know just kind of going and do what they want. Well there has to be some controls. Someone has to be responsible. Enforcement is not here. I mean I wish we had enforcement to protect the trees from being clear cut. I'm all for steeper fines. It seems the pocketbook is the only place that hurts people. And maybe yeah, you take down a tree and it adds up. Well maybe it's going to add up to a number that they can't afford and they'll think twice about cutting out trees that they shouldn't be cutting out. But you know, I think with the budget that we've just gone through, the budget process, the one large gap that we could fill in the revenue stream would be doing some enforcement. And I hope that you will table this tonight and give serious consideration to doing things to really improve what we have, because our resources for building are limited and your right about the AUAR. It's coming. There's sensitive land down there. Sidewalks, huge thing. Let's plan. Let's do things right. Not make things easier to get through but let's try to make what little we have left the best it can be. Thanks. Feik: Thank you. Alright. More comments from commission. I did hear, I did like the idea of a different sort of tree preservation ban'ier that would, most people just see the yellow, or the orange fence. Think it's a silt fence and that's as far as they go with it so they don't know it's really necessarily protecting the trees. If there's no other comment then, Rich you had to make some statements regarding you might want to table this or something. You want to continue on your...from earlier. Slagle: I'd like to table this and ask staff and get a firm commitment Bob, if I may, from you that we will actually receive a written, for lack of a better term, research paper that would address what different locales are doing. I mean I noticed as an example on the tree removal at $100, there's use of reference to the City of Plymouth. That's what they use so we suggest we adopt that. I mean I wonder if I called 7 other communities, I mean I might have a listing of $200, $50, $400. Generous: Zero. Slagle: Yeah, zero. Yeah exactly so I mean I'm not advocating that it comes out one way or the other. Just what's out there. And then I would ask for you to do the same thing with the sidewalks and specifically what do communities, and those communities I'll leave up to you, but what do they require for sidewalk criteria. For you know collector streets, main arterial, you know, you give me the listings or give tls the listings. Because it might turn out that 80 percent of the communities are where we are today and suggest may. You know who knows. Lillehaug: What does tabling really get us here'? You know the council's reviewed this already. Is tabling going to help tls make them more aware that we have more concerns 48 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 with this? Is that our goal of tabling it'? Because I mean I have real distinct recommendations how I would like to change this and recommend. Feik: Well I don't think there's a hurry. I think what we want to do is we want to do it right in concert with all the parties and we've only got 4 of the commission up here as well to comment on this. Papke: Uli often has a comment or two on trees. Feik: Yes, yes. Slagle: Just it adds to fact finding. I mean 1 think the council, if I may be bold enough to say, similar to what we've been operating a little bit of a vacuum. I mean council says boy you say shall and it's punitive. Well. Papke: They may be coming to the conclusion it's punitive because they don't have data... There's no justification for what we've proposed or what we think we should do. Slagle: And vice versa. We feel, we operate in that same vacuum. Feik: Does that answer your question? Lillehaug: Yep. Feik: With that I guess we need a motion. Lillehaug: Can I make a couple comments? Feik: Absolutely. Lillehaug: As I see where our motion is heading, I would definitely like staff to look at what Debbie brought to the table for item 6 there, about tree preservation during construction. I think she had some very valid points and every one of them I think we could include as I think they're all legitimate. That's it. Feik: Anything else? Papke: As a Planning Commission, do we ever look at other communities you know guidelines and code books and so on? The example of Portland was brought up. Now they are known to be extremely protective obviously. They're kind of on the outside of the bell curve, but I think that provides an interesting data point to use as a reference. And maybe some good ideas as to how you might be able to structure some of these things, put some teeth into it. I don't know. As a group you know l'm fairly new to the group, I don't know if periodically do we look at other community standards and codes and guidelines and try to learn something from that? 49 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Feik: Bob, can you answer that? Generous: We do and yes we can. Papke: City staff does but does the Planning Commission do that? Feik: Well I think what I hear is a desire to have some of that research that you do on a regular basis, or in the process, brought back up here so that we can be made aware of that. And everyone else so, versus just the recommendation based upon research. Give us a little background of how you're making that recommendation. Generous: Kind of the matrix that we showed you? Feik: Yeah, or comment or whatever. Something. Slagle: Summary, like there'd be a spreadsheet or something. Generous: It's easy to do. It's, all it takes is a little staff time. Once you have it you can keep it in our update. Feik: Well if we deny enough permits you'll have lots of time. Just kidding. Lillehaug: I have one more comment. Also | would like to really look at the 60 by 60 foot lot. I guess I didn't realize that this was the only place that we referred to a 60 by 60 foot building pad. Generous: Under the PUD, they talk about a 60 by 40 pad. Lillehaug: But that is strictly for tree removal. Generous: Under this section. Lillehaug: Under this section, but that's what I was getting at earlier. Is it under other sections'? Generous: The only other place that it's mentioned is in the PUD. Lillehaug: Okay. Because I also have concerns regardless of trees, and a minimum and maybe this isn't the chapter to be, I think it is the chapter to be addressing it in. We do need to specify a minimum width because I have concerns with that obviously, and I think it's a valid point that we should be establishing a minimum of a 60 by 60 foot pad. Now I'm done. Feik: Very good. Now you're done, alright. Slagle: Well then make a motion'? 50 Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2003 Lillehaug: I wasn't 100 percent behind tabling. Slagle: I can do it if you don't want to. I just have made most of them tonight. Feik: Then you're on a roll, go ahead. Slagle: You want to do it? Feik: I can't make one so. It's up to you three. Slagle: Here we go, alright. 1 recommend that the PLanning Commission table the approval of the ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Chanhassen City Code as shown through the attachments presented tonight, and ask that staff research per our prior direction and report back within 60 days. Is that enough Bob? Generous: Yes. We want to move, keep moving things forward. Slagle: 30 days? Feik: Well, do we need a time limit? Slagle: No. Generous: No, I don't know that we need a time limit because my boss is going to push me. Slagle: Oh, and I would add to that, if I may, in my request is that we consider for future work session that if we still end up having some differences of opinion between council and commission that, because I just think that's helpful face to face... Feik: Or maybe our council liaison could be here. Do we still have liaisons? Oh we don't. Never mind then. Alright, so did you make a motion? Generous: Yes. Feik: I'm sorry, do we have a second on that'? Any amendments to that motion'? Slagle moved, Papke seconded to table the amendments to Chapter 18 of the City Code, Subdivisions per Planning Commission discussion. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Feik: Would someone please note the minutes? 51 Tree Removal Calculations Using total diameter inches Sample 1 Burlwood Maple Grove: Total Diameter inches of trees 8" and larger: Need to retain 70% of total: 846" Inches lost: 342" Inches saved: 866" No replacement required 1208" Existing Chanhassen ordinance: Total upland area (excluding wetlands) 5.27 ac. or 229,583 SF Baseline canopy coverage 35% or 80,941 SF Minimum canopy coverage allowed 30% or 68,875 SF Proposed tree preservation 13% or 30,142 SF Developer does not meet minimum canopy coverage allowed, therefore the difference between the baseline and proposed tree preservation is multiplied by 1.2 to calculate the required replacement plantings. Difference in canopy coverage (68,875 - 30,142) 38,733 SF Multiplier 1.2 Total replacement 46,480 SF Total number of trees to be planted 43 trees (46,480 + 1089) Eden Prairie: ((A/B)x C) x A = D Significant trees: 12" and greater deciduous, 8" and larger coniferous A=Total inches of significant trees lost as a result of land alteration B= Total inches of significant trees existing on site C=Tree replacement constant (1.33) D=Replacement trees (number of caliper inches) A= 198 B= 902 ((198/902) x 1.33) x 198 = 58 (29 two-inch trees) Sample 2 Ashling Meadows Maple Grove: Total Diameter inches of trees 8" and larger: Need to retain 70% of total: 967 Inches lost: 123 Inches saved: 1258 No replacements required 1381 Existing Chanhassen ordinance: Total upland area (excluding wetlands) 35.2 ac. Baseline canopy coverage .03% or 1.22 ac. Minimum canopy coverage allowed 25% or 8.8 ac. Proposed tree preservation .02% or 0.82 ac. Developer does not meet minimum canopy coverage allowed, therefore the difference between the baseline and proposed tree preservation is multiplied by 1.2 to calculate the required replacement plantings. Difference in canopy coverage 17,424 SF or .4 ac. Multiplier 1.2 Total replacement 20,909 SF Total number of trees to be planted 19 trees In addition, the applicant must increase canopy coverage to meet the minimum twenty-five percent required. The calculations are follows: Total reforestation area (8.8 - 1.22 ac.) 7.6 ac. or 331,056 SF Required canopy coverage 304 trees Eden Prairie: ((A/B)x C) x A = D Significant trees: 12" and greater deciduous, 8" and larger coniferous A=Total inches of significant trees lost as a result of land alteration B= Total inches of significant trees existing on site C=Tree replacement constant (1.33) D=Replacement trees (number of caliper inches) A= 98 B= 1356 ((98/1356)x 1.33) x 98 = 5 (Two 2 1/2" trees required) Survey Results City Tree Removal Calculations City Policy Notes Plymouth Residential developments may Significant trees: at least 8" remove or disturb up to 50% of the DBH decidous, total inches of significant trees. Removal beyond 50% requires replacement plantings at a rate of 1.25" for every 1" removed. Chaska Wooded areas with slopes <18% can be developed. Retention of substantial tree stands encouraged. Minnetonka Developer not responsible for Significant trees: at least 8" replacing trees removed within ROW, DBH deciduous, at least 15' within and 20' around building pad, coniferous within and 10' around driveway. Developers do not have to plant more than 25 trees/acre. Signficant trees removed outside of the areas listed above are replace at a rate of tree-to- tree. Significant trees removed on site within two years prior to a development application must be replaced tree-for-tree. Eden Prairie Replacements required for any Significant trees: 12" and significant trees lost due to grading or greater deciduous, 8" and land alteration. Replacement are larger coniferous calculated by ((A/B)x C) x A = D A=Total inches of significant trees lost as a result of land alteration B= Total inches of significant trees existing on site C--Tree replacement constant (1.33) D=Replacement trees (number of caliper inches) Maple Grove Subdivisions: 70% of the total tree inches for trees 8" and larger must be protected. If more than 30% are removed, the excess shall be replaced at a ratio of 1.5" for every inch removed. R-l, R-2, R-3: Builder shall replace trees removed in building pad area, measured by calculating the area from the lot line to a line 85' behind the front lot line and extending across the width of the lot. The builder is required to replace trees removed in that area at a rate of ¥2" replacement for every inch removed <8", 1.5" replacement for trees 8"- 11", 2" replacement for trees >11". Trees protected within the area may count towards replacement at a rate of 2" of replacement for every inch preserved. Attached single-family and apartments: 40% of the total DBH inches must be retained after construction. If more than 60% are removed, the excess shall be replaced at a rate of 1.5" for every 1" removed. PUD: 70% of the total tree inches for trees 8" and larger must be protected. If more than 30% are removed, the excess shall be replaced at a ratio of 2" for every inch removed. Industrial: 40% of the total tree inches for trees 8" and larger must be protected. If more than 60% are removed, the excess shall be replaced at a ratio of 1.5" for every inch removed. Commercial: 30% of the total tree inches for trees 8" and larger must be protected. If more than 70% are removed, the excess shall be replaced at a ratio of 1.5" for every inch removed. Commercial and Industrial PUDs: 40% of the total tree inches for trees 8" and larger must be protected. If more than 60% are removed, the excess shall be replaced at a ratio of 2" for every inch removed. AVERAGE BUILDING ENVELOPES ADDRESS SQUARE FEET BUILDING PAD Bent Bow Trail 2019.28 62x51 Hallgren Lane 2013.91 56x46 Highover Drive 2055 70x42 Hunter Drive 2463.33 71x51 Majestic Way 1959.25 66x40.5 Point Lake Lucy 2970.66 79.5x50 Red Oak Lane 2018.5 66x51.5 Saphire Lane 2536.5 69x55 Springfield Drive 1848.46 60x45 Stone Creek Lane 1833.0 70x31 Topaz Drive 2803.98 79x53 White Oak Lane 2190.11 66x47 Average Size 2226.00 Average Length x Width 68x47 SURV~ FOR: LUNDGREN BROS. · SCHOELL & MADSON, INC. This drawing has bejen checked and reviewed this 9-9-"~a day of ~F'c-~,~-,~c~-~ , 200 1 , Top of / ",qoo DRAINA~;E & UTID3¥ EASEMENT~ PER P~.AT' APPROVED 60120-792 569/59 0 08-100) 0 30 60 DESCRIPTION: Lot 8, Block `5, THE MEADOWS AT LONGACRES 4TH ADD1TION BENCHMARK:· Top of iron monument ,as shown Elevation = 989.57 (NGVD-1929 Datum) GENERAL NOTES: 1. Orientation of the bearings used for this survey is based, on an assumed datum 2. I - Denotes iron monument. 3. 7890.0 -Denotes existing 'spot elevation. 4-. x(890.0) - Denotes proposed spot elevation. 5.,,~,,~-- - Denotes direction of surface drainage. 6.. Rroposed gora§e :floor = 990.5 7. Proposed ±Dp of foundation = 991.5 8. Propased basement floor = 98,5.5 I hereby certify that this survey, was prepared under my supervision and that I am e ·Licensed Land .Surveyor. under the lows of the St(:te of Minnesota. ~ms Jr. Dote:~. 2.2~, 2.oc~. License No. 19840 985.2 CERTIFICATE OF SURVEY LEE L YN · . BUILDERS i Drainage Easement ..~1 ~0~ 976.1 LE,G4L D.E. SCRIP ~]ON Lot. 7, Block OAK RIDGE OF LAKE MINNEWASHTA ...... CITY OF 973.3 x 97,3.4 x 976.7 xI 0 O. 984.9 984 6 (3 R=60. O0 L = 1 t. O0 R= JO. O0 (984.2) ,Cl, 986.0 tt~, LLG P,~N /~ ~ % Proposed garage ,oar .l~v.= 986.0 ~ O00.OO~oteS ox~sttng olay. *S/rT/~ * ~~~'~-~t,rft~= Pro;osea ~= 986.3J (O00.O) D~otes proposed cloy; rep of f~,,-det?~ e~.= 978.33 ' D~otes surface drainage Utilities ~ Services per Plan BENCHMARK~ Top of iron marked 'BM' on this survey, Elev.=977.65. ' DEMARS-GABRIEL SURVEYORS, INC. 3030 Harbor Lone No. PI)mouth, MN 55447 Phone: (612) 559-0908 Re~ed~ ~--2~-97 Rev/eed: ~12-97 I hereby certify thut this is c~ true cLIdicorr~0t representotion of o survey of the boundaries of' th~ dbovc~ <d~c_:~bod land und of th~ location of oll buildings, If any, ther¢on, end o!I ,,'i~iblu ~r)crooch/n~¢d,% if any, hem or on said lend. surveyed b)' me this ............ day of David E. Crook ~ Minn. '~b9? No.~ 22414 File No. 9551 Book-Page J57/?o Scale 1"=$0' HY-LAND Proposed Top of ~31ock Proposed Gor0ge Floor Proposed Lowest Floor T)~pe of Building - -.~ COLSON CONSTRUCTION SURVEYING, LAND SURVEYORS g700 Jefferson Highway Osseo. Minnesota 55369 (763) 493-5761 ~,nrur~lors _ INSTALL TYPE-L-EROSION cONTROl' ' -FENCING' AS sHOWN ON THE pLAN AND/O~ CERTIFICATE OF SURVEY pRIOR TO EXCAVATIOIq AND MAINTAIN UN?IL LOT. IS. FULLY VEGETAIED; DURING WINTER coNSTRUCTION STAKED HAY_ BALES BE USED IN LIEU OF FEI'ICING INVOICE NO. 19,067-186 ¢.B. NO. SCALE I"= 30' O Denotes Iron Monument [] Denotes Wood Hub S;et For Excavation Only xO00.O Denotes Existing Elevoti6n 0 Denotes Pr~,posed Elevation ~ Denotes Surface Droinbge jAPPROVED Olo/ q$c/ / b X, 40 'Z-I, . LOT 14. BLOCK 4. HIGHOVER I hereby certify Ihol Ihis survey was prepored by me or undes- rny direct superv~slon, or, d thol I om o duly Registered Lond Surveyor under the lows of the Stole of Minnesota. Surveyed by us this 21ST day of FEBRUARY , 20 O0 , REVISED; 3-6-00 ' Signed 60120-207 SURVEY FOR: LUNDGREN BROS. CONST. ('7~.~7) . '/ \ '00 ~'~ ~' . ~ '~. TREE: PRE:SER~A~ON E~k~£MENT ,~,- / .- / \ · 988 PROTECTION +'?~',., 18.5.00 ~ ~ ~ TO EXCAVATION. NO~C~U?.';i?;! ' --.-- .~ .~, 1.4 ~ "~ O~'R STOP, AGE'~)F'MATERIALS ~!~L~ S09' 12'54" W SCHOELL & MADSON, INC. (612) §46-760! FAX:546 9/~65 ~ UTILITY. HOOKUP ELEVATIONS ,PJI~IO.R ][0 BA~F.J~ENT EXCAVATION DUE D~ATION F~OM GRADING PLAN 40 0 i' £~:') FULLY CITY OF CHANHASSEN FEB:g d lggG ENGIHEE~I~ DEPT' 40 §O'- 120 Feet I I t JMS COMPANIES Esloblished in 1962 LOT SURVEYS COMPANY, INC. LiND SuRlr~YOIkq REGISTERED UNDER L~AWS OF ~TATE OF MINNESOTA 3601 - 73rd Avenue North 560-3093 Minneai~li~0~ l~inn~o t~ 55428 Property located in Sec.tion~ 10, Township 116, Range 23, Carver County, Minnesota INVOICE NO. 38971 F. B. NO. 657-6I SCALE I": 0 Denotes Iron Monument 13 E)enoles 'Wood Hub For Ex¢ovalion O~ly xO00. O Denotes E~l~lln~ Elevation (~) .Denoles Proposed £1evallon ~ Denoles Surfac~ Drolnege ./~-~ Proposed Top ~t Block ~,~ ~opo~ed ~orage Floor . Proposed Lo~e~t- Floor Type of Building - - ~/1 ~~/ · '. ~ ~~,.. ~. ;. P.rc, p~s~d ~.~ ~ ~,, Lot 4, Block 1, ROYAL O~ ESTATES Proposed building Information must be checked with approved building plo~ before excovotion ond con3truction. ~ffil~ 9TH ~of Nove~er lg 94 / . X B~ \ Iron ' Z APPROVED 145.00 NO1°44'50"W ~0 OO '~o 0 u~ 0 'SCRIPTION: PIONEER enginee~,.g Certificate of SurVey for: WESLEY 2422 Enterprise Drive Mendota Heights, MN 55120 (651) 681-1914 FAX:681-9488 E-moil: PIONEER~PRESSENTER.COM J 625 Highway 10 N.E. Blaine, MN 55454 (612) 78.T-1880-FAX:783-1883 E-moil: PIONEER2~PRESSENTER.COM CONSTRUCIION 4137 RED OAK LANE 9854. S88'23'11"E 73.93 ~ ~ ~".~ ,'~ ~.. [~ ' I ~ DRAINAGE & UTI Y []--- ~ ~ ~o~x ...... ~ 0 ~l ~ I 13,00~ 'o~.00 M . 0 ~ ~ ~ ~. ~ ~ TOP OF PIPE --' ~15[ ~ I ~ I I J S89'27'51 "E 100.00  RED OAK LANE NOTE: PROPOSED GRADES ~IOWN PER GRADING PLAN BY: LOUCKS NOTE: BUILDING DIMENSIONS SHOWN ARE FOR HOf~IZONTAL AND VERTICAL LOCA~)ON Of- STRUC]URES ONL~ SEE ARCHITECTUAL PLANS FO~ BUILDING AND RECEIVED APR16 PROPOSED HOUSE ELEVATION LOWEST FLOOR ELEVATION: TOP OF BLOCK ELEVATION: ~>'E- ~'~ GARAGE SLAB ELEVATION: TOD.- 0 .LOOKOUT ELEVATION: WE HEREBY CERTIFY TO WESLEY CONSTRUCTION THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT REPRESENTATION OF A SURVEY OF THE BOUNDARIES OF: LOT 20, BLOCK ,3, OAKS OF MINNEWASHTA- CARVER COUNTY. MINNESOTA IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO SHOW IMPROVEMENTS OR ENCHROACHMENTS, EXCEPT AS SHOWN, AS SU~RVEYED BY ME OR UNDER MY DIRECT SUPERVISION THIS1ST DAY OF APRIL,1999. ' · SIGN NEER ENGI P.A. SCALE : 1 INCH = 30. FEET' BY: t .a" _ t'- ~ ~ 99149.00 NJK ~hn C~ Lorson, L.S. Reg. No. 19828 SURVEY FOR: LUNDGREN BROS... f / /Z A 0 ~0 60 BM iRON / / ~",,, Thls drawing has ,been checked and reviewel¢ this ~'~'~ day of 60120-951 /  / x EGRESS ~DRA " ~. : ".'L<;~I ,7 // / ' o~ ~... / / ~ : ...,.:. ,., ~.-'. x , /// ~ x ~//i~' :.."' · ......' / GARAGE: 3 STALL, RIGHT 62o/5 (1 ~7-~6) ADDRESS: 6875 Sapphire Lone DESCRIPTION: Lot 3, Block 2, ASHUNG MEADOWS, Carver County, Minnesota. CITY OF CHANHASSEN OCT 3 0 ZOOZ ENGINEERING DEPT, BENCHMARK: Top of iron monument os shown Elevation = 1013.43 (NGVD-1929) SPECIAL NOTE: Only easements shown on the recorded plat of ASHLING MEADOWS ore shown' on this survey mop, unless otherwise noted. The survey uoon which this moo is based was performed without benefit of either an attorney's title oplnlon or o title commitment. GENERAL NOTES: 1. Orientation of the bearings used for this survey is based on on assumed datum 2. · -- Denotes 'on monument. 3. x890.0 - Denotes existing spot elevation. 4. x(890.0) - Denotes proposed spot elevation. 5.~...---- - Denotes direction of surface draindge. 6. Garage floor ~, 1016,05 7. Top of foundation = 1016.97 8, Basement floor = 1008.20 9. House is o riot lot unit, 10. X 1015.5- Denotes As-built elevations on Oct. 25, 2002. I hereoy certify that this survey was prepared under my supervision and that I om o Licensed Land Surveyor under the lows of the State of Minneso~.¢.. Ri~rd J. ~lliams. ~ Date:~. E~[oo~ Ucense No. 19840 434 Certificote of Survey for: 7~1880 F~7~I~ _ ~at~ t~D DRIVE ~ 914.0 916.0 t ) / t PLAT( N88'24'I3"E 71.58 2 - NOTE: LOWEST ~'LOOR ELEVATION: TOP OF' BLOCK ELi/vA TION: GARAGE SLAB ELEVATION: No~: ~ ~0~ ~i B~D ~ ~ ASS~O DAVY ~ HEREBy CER~Fy TO LUNDGREN BROS. CONST. ~ ~ND~ M~M~T' ~w Ol~c~ CAR~RLOTS""VEY3,C N ,°F~E~LOc~BOUNDARiESMINNESOTA~ OF:sPRiNGFiELD. ~A2ND,~,~ ,SADDi~oNATRUE AND C~RECT REPRESENTA~ OF A iT O~S NO~ ~RPORT TO SHOW tMPRO~MENTS oR ENCHROAc CO/~TA~ DEVELOPER FOR UNDER MY DIRECT SUPER~ ~IS 7~ DAY OF ~- ..... HMfN~ EXCEp~ SANITARYsERVicESEWERLOCATioNAND WATER SCA[~ : 1 INCH = 30 FEET -,~u~. HANS HAGEN HOMES FOR: PROPOSED ELEVATIONS: ~ ~ *.1'2, ~ / :""-'"" GARAGE FLOOR TOP OF BLOCK LOWEST FLOOR TOP OF FOOTING 125.83 $88'34'20"W ·" .... 34.67 ~ ,1q6.~' ~'~A DIAG: 92.00X31.30=97.,18 ~'/,F ' ~ DENOTES PROPOSED /ATION. x989.6 DENOTES EXISTING ELEVATION. DENOTES DIRECTION OF DRAINAGE. [] DENOTES WOOD HUB AT 11 FOOT OFFSET. Lot 6, Block 1, STONE CREEK SIXTH ADDITION, Carver Caunty; B nnesota " ' ,J I I~,p. LMonument. Found- Job No. 8606;l'-:4L Scale ~ = 50' 0 Denotes Iron Monument Set · Denotes Bearings shown are on on assumed datum. J Drawn By: SJL We hereby certify that this is a true and correct repres.entation of a survey of the boundaries of the above described land and 'of the location of all buildings, if any, thereon, and all visible encroachments, if any, from or on said ,and. E.G.~U~~C. Dated this ~/%"~ay of ,/'~', 19g--~By:' ~ Minnesota License No. ,e~p~, J Book __ Page I I Disk _ I UlD IKl _.. LAND ~I,~:~ I.E×IN~TON 6-1 SURVEY FOR: LUNDGREN BROS. DESCRIPTION Lot 1, 'Block 5, ASHUNG MEADOWS 2ND ADDITION, Carver County, Minnesota. ADDRESS 1920 Topaz Drive CITY OF CNANHASSEN NOV ?~ 5 Z003 ENGINEERING DEPT, SETBACK MiN. FRONT YARD SETBACK = 3OFT MIN, SIDE YARD SETBACK = lOFT MIN. REAR YARD SETBACK = 3OFT 30 0 15 3o (sc~z~ m ~ ) IT hie drawing has been checked and reviewed this 2_.~'~ day of L)oU6~T~ , 20 o~, by ~ ~ DRAINAGE & UTILITY '~: ~ ~ EASEMENT PER PLAT ~\~ / / o~~' ~ / ~ / / ~ 1022.5 v 1022.Bi (102~.2) 20.00 ~023.7 l~1027. HYDRANT 60 1026/ x / 0- 20.00 -.L i ~2 7.$8~06 '02 ' 54 APPROVEd"! ' - ~ I Jl L.E]T VA CA IV T RISER ~ CONCR£T£ J 64000-116 BENCHMARK Tap of iron monument as shown Elevation = 1030.98 (NGVD-1929) 620/64. (129-16) C TY COPY GENERAL NOTES 1. Orientation of the bearings used for this survey is based on an assumed datum 2. · -- Denotes iron monument. ;3. x890.0 - Denotes existing spot elevation. 4. x(890.0) - Denotes proposed spot elevation. 5..~-~-- Denotes direction of surface drainage, 6. Proposed garage floor = 1032.0 (Drop garage 1 course) 7. Proposed top of ¢oundatlon = 1033.0 8. Proposed basement floor = 1024.0 9. House is ~ walkout. 10. Date of lost field surve~ November 19, 2003 11. x(890.O)CP - Denotes critical point elevotion. 12. Revised October 24, 2003 per city comments. 15. Revised November 20, 2003 house moved SPECIAL NOTE Only easements shown on the recorded plat of ASHUNG MEADOWS 2ND ADDIDON are shown on this survey map, un/ess otherwise noted. The survey upon ~,hlch ~hls map Is based was performed without boner/t: of either an attorney'~ title opinion or a t/tie commitment. The proposed grades shown are /n conformance with the gradlng plan for ASHLING MEADOWS 2ND ADD/DON approved by the City of Chanhassen. NOTE Denotes rear of Building Pad per grading plan. Prepared by Sothre-Bergqulst. Inc. dated 01/24-/03 m I - AS BUILT SURVEY REQUIRED BEFORE CIO WILL BE ISSUED I hereby certify that this survey was prepared under my supervision and that am o Licensed Land Surveyor under the laws of the State of Minnesota. Daniel G, c o s Dote: J~ t~!0~ License No. 19839 Inv~971.05 ~o I Mev=9$3. 7! as required . [ NBO~6'P6'W I07.~.~ of bit x .988. 55 988, 84 gBB. 18 found hole Building Permit Survey on Lot 10, Block 5, OAKS OF MINNEWASHTA, Carver Countz Minnesota Requested Ely: Jan Haue Date: Drawn By: Scale: 4/16/0~ D.N.M. I"=20' .REOEIV6D JuL 2 2 2003 OHAIVHA$SEN tNSPEOTJO&