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H-1.a. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Discussion - Natural Resources CITY OF CHANHASSEN Chanhassen is Community for Life-Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow MEMORANDUM TO: Planning Commission FROM: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist DATE: August 1, 2017 SUBJ: 2040 Comprehensive Plan Discussion Draft Natural Resources Chapter Background This draft is a continuation of the study document the commission received at an earlier work session. Plan discussions are broken down by chapter in order to allow for more focus per chapter. (Please insert the draft Natural Resources Chapter in section 5 of your 3-ring binder.) Discussion The Natural Resources chapter has been organized as follows: 5.1 Introduction a. Existing conditions b. At a Glance 5.2 Urban Forest and Forestlands a. Species Diversity b. Tree Cover c. Management 5.3 Greenways/Natural areas a. Bluff Creek Corridor PH 952.227.1100• WWW.Ci.Chan hassen.mn.us• FX 952.227.1110 7700 MARKET BOULEVARD • PO BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN • MINNESOTA 55317 5.4 Soil a. Soil Conservation 5.5 Biological Diversity and Invasive Species a. Rare Species b. Pollinators c. Invasive Species control and management 5.6 Public Education 5.7 Resiliency 5.8 Solar Energy 5.9 Goals and Policies Recommendation Staff is requesting that the Planning Commission review the draft Natural Resources Chapter of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and provide direction and recommendations on revisions, additions or deletions in preparations of the Plan review and adoption. Wplan\2040 comp plan\pc memo comp planNR Chapter 5. Natural Resources Natural resources in the City of Chanhassen serve many purposes. They offer recreation on lakes, trails and parks,respite from busy lives, and remediation of development consequences. Collectively,the woods, wetlands, streams, rivers, and prairies contribute to a high quality of life for Chanhassen residents and visitors. The city of Chanhassen recognizes this important value and works to protect and enhance these natural features for the benefit of all. This chapter of the Comprehensive Plan outlines accomplishments, challenges and future goals for the city's natural resources. In conjunction with ongoing development, the city has continued to make preservation of natural resources a priority. While directly improving the quality of life for Chanhassen residents, the city's natural resources also indirecIliKinhance this community by offering environmental benefits. Collectively, `green infras e', such as trees, wetlands and open space,provides significant economic value by offe ' rmwater management, heat island reduction, erosion control, carbon sequestratio g .ngs and increased property values. Protecting and enhancing the city's green infra cture investment in the community's well-being as well as its future sustainability. 5.1 Introduction As time goes on and communities grow and change, so too do their goals and challenges. For Natural resources in Chanhassen, the emphasis has slightly shifted to resiliency and sustainability from protection and documentation. While there are still open spaces that could become public amenities,management of the existing public lands has taken center stage and requires not only current responses but also long term planning. As the few remaining large pieces of private property become determined by development, the tapestry and function of the city's natural resources is solidified. Management and protection strategies are being revised to reflect the need for high-functioning natural resources that not only provide aesthetics and recreation,but also stormwater management, energy conservation and diversity. Valuable natur esources muse also e functioning resources. Green infrastructure is now a necessary part of a -managed co nity that brings tangible and intangible benefits to every facet of the commu The natural res challeng er the next decade encompass a broad spectrum, from localized invasive es contr regional stormwater management. It will take vision and commitment to protec nd enhail e the natural resources in Chanhassen. The city's land use policies should recognize atat natural areas and open space are long term uses in our community. The city's ordinances should"reflect best management practices for water quality,trees and soil. The city's goals and policies should serve to protect and enhance our natural resources. At a Glance/Quick Facts • 140 acres currently managed for invasive species such as buckthorn,wild parsnip, garlic mustard and black locust. • The Chanhassen tree inventory has compiled over 6000 open grown, individual trees on public property. 9 A single mature tree can retain as much as the first 24"of rainfall • Home values can increase by as much as 12% if there are mature, healthy trees on the property • There are 504 public trees along W. 78th Street from downtown to west of Hwy 41 • Chanhassen has 50 different species of trees planted along its streets and in its parks. • Much of the soil within Chanhassen are loams and clay loams which have high water- holding capacity. 5.2 Urban Forests and Forestlands Chanhassen: meaning `tree of sweet sap' in the Dakota language. The Minnesota Land Survey of 1830 documented that Chanhassen was located in the Big Woods, one of three major ecosystems in the state. The Big Woods was a massive area of forests dominated by sugar maple and basswood trees that stretched from the Minnesota River northwest to the Red River Valley. The trees were punctuated by wooded wetlands and open marshes around the many lakes. In time, the rich soil and plentiful timber gave rise to culture and development in the area. Much of Chanhassen,perhaps nearly all,was cl f forests to create agricultural fields and homesteads. Along bluffs and in scattered re s, the remains of the Big Woods existed. Today,pockets of mature woods with sugar m nd basswood trees allow visitors to envision the historical Big Woods. Ownership of these re woods is today a mix of private and public. Camp Tanadoona and private property to the of Lake Ann, comprise the ownership of large tracts of high quality woods. Park land belongin to the City of Chanhassen and Caver County encompass numerous acres of Big Woods and all munity members to be immersed in a wooded environment. While no one would consider Chanhassen to be `urban', it does co in an `urban forest' —the many trees that line our city streets, shade our.playgrounds and parks, and dot the yards of every neighborhood. These trees make up a significant portion of the overall tree cover in the city. They provide multiple and important benefits to the health and economic viability of Chanhassen. Trees increase home values, decrease energy costs, reduce stormwater runoff, provide clean air, sequester carbon, keep people healthy,provide wildlife habitat and enhance community aesthetics. These benefits rise along with the percentage of canopy cover in a community. Currently,the city averages about 30%tree cover. Optimal tree cover depends on the intersecting aspects of costs, community desires and services provided by trees. Chanhassen has not yet reached optimal canopy cover and should maintain the overall 30% cover and strive to increase it in specific areas that fall short. Currently the city benefits from City ordiances that require tree planting in new developments to assist in replacing lost canopy as well as adding new trees to the community through the annual tree planting program for Arbor Day and tree coupons given to residents. Programs such as these work to maintain tree cover,but more can be done. Planting trees to increase canopy cover must be a well-intentioned and well-throughout process. "The right tree in the right place"is not only a catchy phrase but advice that provides a long term return on the investment. Planting with the intention of seeing that tree grow to maturity and beyond is a cost-effective process that places trees suited to the specific environmental in the right places. Along with consideration of height and size, the type of tree is also important. Species diversity will be the key to a sustainable urban forest. At a minimum,the city follows the 30-20-10 rule. No more than 30% of trees from any one family, no more than 20%of tree 1 ' . . 1 • • .11 • . 1 lf� s� ''�k f y�� �Ir::�hs�}'`Af��F�. �--� •,Na��' �rs� �a '— •��� �3 "f-2 . r rt ` I moi. ��+ •,.�.,' •c• .F � „�� ^ .�,7� a�i� Public Tree Diversity 1400 0.2 0.16 1200 0.16 1000 0.14 0.12 600 0.1 600 0.06 400 0.06 0.04 200 0.02 0 0 vgR �'' O O g a a LQ u _ O as a d 3 ' q > O - � � � 4 '� cast cs aaO °° E u c .8g ,a � r u3 a 5 w o m © m a > m '8 - 1 a 3 .o ; s Q m m m m o i� c W c7 a u L a- o ac 9 b ; 4 x 3 3 a V � C O Q [C N N N }' E d m 2 z �i u, c a Y Quantity —%oftotal Management of the community's urban forest includes pruning,removals, plantings, disease and insect control and planning. These activities need to be completed efficiently and effectively. They also can be activities that are proactive, such as culling unhealthy ash now before the arrival of emerald ash borer. The green infrastructure provided by our public trees in parks and along streets are a valuable resource that needs management and attention just like our roads and pipes. Ensuring that our investments bring more returns than costs requires ongoing management and planning. Chanhassen's public trees are currently managed through pruning and planting schedules as well as a continuously updated tree inventory. 5.3 Greenways/Natural Areas The Bluff Creek Corridor runs diagonally through the city connecting Lake Minnewashta with the Minnesota River. The entire watershed of Bluff Creek lies within city boundary lines and because of this,the city had the opportunity to shape the development and protection of the creek. The creation of a green way along the creek has presented opportunities for valuable development and recreational activities. Trail users benefit greatly from the connected web of corridors following Bluff Creek and its tributaries. There remains opportunities to connect areas in the watershed. These preserved pieces vary in quality but not in value. The city should maintain these greenways and natural areas for native plant and animal habitats. The city should also set a goal to limit fragmentation of natural areas and maintain green corridors that connect open space. w 1 C .n ®®® IL i Areas of potential greenway connections _ I 5.4 Soil Soil is one of the most important and complicated assets on any site. And yet, soil is treated at times as an easy thing to manipulate,replace or remove. Construction activities prepare soil for the addition of a road,house or other non-living, artificial surfaces. Sod and trees are placed into these sites and expected to perform as though the activities never happened. Rarely, does this work out well. Visit most new neighborhoods and you'll find struggling young trees and overwatered turf. The city has recognized this negative quality and now requires the replacement of 6 inches of topsoil in every new development. With this soil,water retention improves, roots grow better,runoff takes longer and money is saved through reduced water use and landscape replacement. To gain even better results, soil reconstruction should be done in areas of heavy compaction. Breaking up the soil and rebuilding it with compost and tree planting will provide optimal benefits to any site. The city should reassess what measures could be taken during development to protect soils from compaction in the first place and rebuilding it when the protection isn't enough. 5.5 Biological Diversity and Invasive Species The importance of conservation areas to plants and animals provides people, too, with valuable recreational and quality of life assets. Ideally, the City of Chanhassen should conduct a natural resource inventory. Currently,the Minnesota County Biological Survey Inventory done in 2000 is the only resources available to assist in documenting what species may be present. The city should commit to protecting and managing any rare species noted in the survey. For instance, a map of habitat areas of high potential for the rusty patched bumble bee includes Chanhassen. Not only is this an endangered species but also a pollinator, a group of insects that provide vital services to our landscapes and food production. Chanhassen has the opportunity to address and commit to pollinator friendly practices. Most neighboring communities have already adopted city policies that benefit pollinators while carrying no additional costs or labor. Chanhassen can help make an impact on protecting this crucial group of insects. All of our natural resources are under threat from invasive species. Whether aquatic or terrestrial,these invaders wreak havoc on local natural areas and community budgets. The City of Chanhassen should continue to work to manage terrestrial and aquatic invasive species to the best of its ability. Protecting our natural resources from these threats may come at a cost but the benefit of healthy, sustainable natural areas translates into higher real estate values,reduced long term costs. POOr j Carver County " r y Low potential zone High potential zone Endangered Species - Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Habitat Area ff- r Areas of Biological Significance in Carver County Map legend: MBS Sites of Blodersity Significance' Outstanding Biodiversity Significance3 High Biodiversity Significance' Moderate Biodiversity Significance` Areas Where MCBS Sites of Biodiversity Significance Data Are Preliminary or Are Not Currently Available" Large Lakes Ecological Classification System(ECS) Subsection Boundaries' Ecological Classification System(ECS) Section Boundaries' 1 t Minnesota County Boundaries 5.6 Education The City of Chanhassen acknowledges the importance of educational outreach in the implementation of its natural resources goals and policies and desires to have the public engaged in the overall discussion. To help facilitate this goal, the city's 7-member Environmental Commission is charged by the city council to promote and educate Chanhassen residents on the importance of natural resources. The volunteer commission works each year to provide opportunities for Chanhassen residents to learn more about the environment and become involved in the stewardship of it. City staff also endeavors to provide current, factual natural resources-related information in the Chanhassen Connection and on the City's website. The City of Chanhassen plans to maintain its current educational activities, as well as continuing to expand its natural resources education program into the future. i Organics for ComPost �H4 Recyclin&�Tush) pverthen thistree i Payuseha $823 t aterinteicep Ins ak,Shtd�aMr IiBMer VfOP°1� Arbor Day Tree Tags July 4 recycling BEE Pollinator s ; Friendly �GanxouDo�- - bokmw x iBlltil M July 3 Business Expo—Environmental Commission table—Focus on Pollinators 5.7 Resiliency As our weather continues to change and intense patterns are experienced more and more, the city is challenged to respond to extreme weather events that threaten public infrastructure, water and energy supplies, and public health and safety. Making a community more resilient to these threats is a process of adaptation and planning. Resiliency is an approach to how well a community can responds to, and ultimately emerge from, climate change effects. One way for a community to increase its resiliency is by joining the GreenStep Cities program. Minnesota GreenStep Cities is "a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals." The city of Chanhassen endeavors to become a GreenStep City and adopt best management practice throughout the organization that strive to plan for climate change impacts. 5.8 Solar Energy Solar energy production dovetails into a community's resiliency goals. In Chanhassen, certain areas have high potential as solar generation sites as shown in the figure below. Areas that have low potential have inadequate access to sunlight. Factors such as tree cover and slope direction play a significant role in solar potential of a site. To accommodate private interests,the city does have provisions that allow solar panels on businesses and residences. Chanhassen's Solar Resource Calculations I Gross Potential Rooftop •,K�'" . . - •, •a • 1 • TjjjF]m 1,MIZEMIZIUM i Chanhassen 28A56,1,30 1,663,2952,845,613 i 166,329 Gross Solar Potential City of Chanhassen, Carver & Hennepin Counties =; u I .t s r f �y I Chanhassen j I { J � 3 4 Extent of Main Map —_ { ANOKA I j Gross Solar Potential (Watt4hoursper Year) J� I---^VJASHING�ON High:1279920 _ _1 HENryEPIN � PAtASE'{ -t Low:900001 F Solar Potential under 900,000 watt-tours per year CARVER ECounty Boundaries DAKOTA SCOTT City and Township Boundaries ( { Wetlands and Open Water Features Source:University of Minnesota USpatial Statewide Solar Raster. 5.9 GOALS &POLICIES Goal: 1. The City recognizes the importance of its natural environment to the quality of life for its citizens and the need to protect and enhance these resources. Policies: • Preserve natural slopes wherever possible • Seek to connect natural areas whenever possible. Goal: 2. Provide information and educational resources to improve knowledge and promote an i active public role in management of natural resources. Policies: • Identify and provide information on invasive species on public and private lands. Revise City ordinance to include non-herbaceous and/or4no -terrestrial invasive species as identified by the State. • Establish and implement ongoing programs d sto educate land owners in sensitive water quality management practices and devepp and maintain a public education program to promote reduction of nutrient and sediment loading into water bodies. • Encourage residents and landowners to practice environmentally friendly lawn care and housekeeping practices, and to use native plantings o v�atural landscapes rather than turf lawns,where appropriate. • Continue to provide opportunities for public involveme t( .g., neighborhood meetings, public hearings, mailed notices, etc.) for significant water and atural resource decisions or projects. • Coordinate and consult with the City Council and appropriate City commissions and committees on surface water and forestry issues. • Communicate with lake associations and other appropriate civic and citizen groups. • Actively implement the current educational programs and work to develop and implement new education programs and activities related to natural resources. These programs will use a variety of media including use of notices,mailings, local cable television,newsletters, articles, websites, social media,workshops and/or presentations to inform and educate the public. • Cooperate with the other agencies and encourage establishment of model interpretative sites for public education like the storm water practices at the Landscape Arboretum. Goal: 3. Minimize soil erosion and sedimentation. Policies: • Continue to implement the erosion and sediment control policies and the construction site inspection program to ensure reduction of water quality impacts from lack of erosion and sediment control. • Disturbances to existing vegetation(trees,turf grass,native vegetation, etc.) should be minimized. Goal: 4. Preserve and protect a variety of natural environments. Policies: • Continue to work with the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District in implementing the Bluff Creek Natural Resource Plan. Use the plan to guide future development in protecting natural resources in the Creek corridor. • Seek to connect greenways throughout the city. Identify possible connections that can be made at time of development. Goal: 5. Increase overall tree cover in Chanhassen. Policies: • Promote tree planting throughout the community through education,boulevard plantings, and subsidized purchases for residents. Increase canopy cover on private and public lands to meet a minimum standard of 50 percent overall canopy coverage. Encourage plantings of overstory trees. • Adopt a public improvement landscaping policy which stat trees and landscaping will be incorporated in all public improvement projects and bo d trees will be included in all street improvement projects, where appropriate. • Implement a tree cover analysis for the City to defin e co eds and strengths. Goal: 6. Maintain a healthy and diverse urban forest. Policies: • Maintain a public tree inventory data in City's GIS database. Update as ava with all planting and management acitivities. • Develop a Forestry Management Plan by identifying strategies or means to achieve the objectives of a safe,healthy, diverse and functional urban forest. The plan will be written to serve the City as a tool to protect, preserve and enhance its forest resources. • Maintain current ordinances designed to protect trees. • Continue to maintain a diversity of species in all public tree planting projects. At a minimum, use the 30-20-10 rule to select trees for projects. Goal: 7. Restor d improve natural communities through proper management techniques. Polici • Ident ificant wob areas to protect. Preserve areas by means of development restriction ensity transfeeservation easements,purchase, or other methods. • Develop Na Resources tewardship Plan that would identify,prioritize and recommend restorationand gement str tegies for all public natural areas. • Creative and inn ative Best Management Practices, including infiltration systems will be encouraged considerinthe site limitations such as soil conditions, depth to groundwater, safety, snow removal, a maintenance issues. Goal: 8. Make Chanhassen a resilient community Policies: • Develop Best Management Strategies to help plan for weather-related impacts to our community. • Strive to increase energy and water efficiency in all public buildings. • Become certified as a GreenStep City.