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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 94-140 - Findings, Conclusions & Decision Re: Preliminary Plat of Purgatory Creek Estates - 09/06/1994 PURGATORY CRFXX ESTATES CITY OF XDBN PRAIRIE HENNEPIN COUNTY, KINNESOTA RLSOLUTION No. 9 4 - z 4 0 FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND DECISION RE: PRELIMINARY PLAT OF PURGATORY CREEK ESTATES The Council of the City of Eden Prairie makes the following findings, conclusions and reasons in.support of its decision in the matter of the Preliminary Plat of Purgatory Creek Estates : BACKGROUND Post Construction ( "Post") is the owner of property located at 12381 Sunnybrook Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, legally described as follows : Tract G, RLS #751, on file and of record in the office of the Registrar of Title, Hennepin County, Minnesota, hereafter referred to as (the "land" ) _ The land consists of 4 . 98 acres . Post applied to the City for •a Comprehensive Guide Plan change from Open Space to Low Density Residential of two (2) acres, rezoning from Rural to R-1-13 .5 of the land and approval of a preliminary plat of the land into seven (7) lots for single-family dwellings and one (1) outlot (the "Preliminary Plat" ) . The Planning Commission considered the matter on March 14, 1994 and recommended to the City Council denial of the request for zoning district change and for Preliminary Plat approval . The project was reviewed by the Park, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission on March 21, 1994, which also recommended denial of the project because of the wetland impacts . FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS Flood Plain Alteration 1 . 2 . 9 acres of the land are situated within the Purgatory Creek Flood Plain ( "Flood Plain" ) . 2 . The Preliminary Plat would require filling .36 acres of the Flood Plain with 1560 cubic yards of soil, which would result in raising the elevation of that part of the land filled from two (2) to ten (10) feet above the Flood Plain_ 3 . Alteration of the land pursuant to the Preliminary Plat would require a storm water facility designed and constructed based upon National Urban Runoff Program design criteria pursuant to City Code Section 11.55, Subd, 7 . A. 10, which includes a permanent pond having a surface area equal to two percent (2%) of the impervious area draining to the pond or one percent (1%) of the entire area draining to the pond, whichever amount is greater, an average permanent pool depth of 4 to 10 feet, a pool length to width ratio of 3 to 1 or greater, and a minimum protective shelf extending 10 feet into the permanent pool with a slope of 10 to 1 beyond which slopes should not exceed 3 to 1 ( "NURP pond' ) . 4. The Preliminary Plat provides for construction of the NURP pond within the Flood Plain which would require excavation in the Flood Plain. 5 . City Code Section 11 .45, Subd. 4. B. and Subd_ 5. A_ provide that no land may be filled or excavated within a flood plain without a permit from the City_ A permit authorizing such activity by the City may be given only pursuant to a valid permit issued by the managers of a Watershed District or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to fill or excavate a Flood Plain. No permit to authorize the filling of any part of the Flood Plain has been issued by the managers of a Watershed District or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources . Wetland Alteration 6 . 2 .85 acres of the land are situated within a wetland "Wetland" ) . 7.. The Wetland is located within the Flood Plain- B . The Preliminary Plat provides for filling .31 acre of the Wetland and encroaching into an additional .06 acre of Wetland. 9 . While a permit was given to Post by the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers for filling .17 acres of the Wetland, Post requested the Corps of Engineers to review a new plan (encompassed within the Preliminary Plat) that involves an additional .14 acre fill, and .06 acre encroachment of the Wetland. Post was advised that the new plan requires the Corps to issue another public notice and to conduct a second public interest review. Further, that the new proposal requires the Corps to look again at the question of alternatives to the Wetland encroachment . Previous approval relating to the .17 acres was predicated upon, among other things, minimal -2- fill and no additional Wetland impacts. The Corps went on to advise that the original proposal revealed concerns about adverse impacts and it seems likely that the greater wetland encroachment of the new proposal will generate similar but greater concerns_ " (See letter, Corps of Engineers, dated February 28, 1994 to John Brian post) There is no evidence that the Corps of Engineers has issued a permit for filling the additional Wetland. 10_ The Preliminary Plat is in conflict with City Code in the following respects ! A. The Preliminary Plat is in conflict with the City`s zoning regulations (City Code Section 12 .04, Subd. 5. C. 1 . ) - These include: (i) The proposed filling and excavation of the Flood Plain would be contrary to City Code Section 11.45, Subd. 4. No permit to fill or excavate the Flood Plain has been issued by managers of the appropriate Watershed District or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources . (ii) The proposed filling and excavation in the Flood Plain would be incompatible with preservation of vegetation, marshes and wet areas of the Flood Plain contiguous to Purgatory Creek which are principal factors in the maintenance of constant rates of water flow and is prohibited by City Code Section 11 .45, Subd. 6. F. 3 . (iii) Filling and excavating the Flood Plain and Wetland (land alteration) is contrary to City Code Section 11.55, Subd. 5. C. because (a) The physical characteristics of the Flood Plain and Wetland with respect to flooding, water storage and retention are such that they are not suitable for alteration or the use contemplated. (b) The land alteration is likely to cause substantial environmental damage. (c) The land alteration will be detrimental to the health and general welfare of the public. B. The Preliminary Plat is in conflict with other provisions of City Code Section 12 .04, Subd. 5. C. -3- in the following respects: (i) The Flood Plain and the Wetland are susceptible to flooding, and the needs for water storage and retention are such that it is not suitable for the type of development or use contemplated, i .e. , filling and excavating. (ii) The Flood Plain and the Wetland are not physically suitable for the proposed density of development_ (iii) insofar as it includes the need to alter portions of the Flood Plain and Wetland it is likely to cause substantial environmental damage , (iv) The filling of portions of the Flood Plain and the Wetland would be detrimental to the health and general welfare of the public. 11 , Minnesota Statutes, §103G.222 expresses the policy of the State of Minnesota with respect to the filling of wetlands . That statute states that the first order of priority is avoiding the direct or indirect impact of an activity that may destroy or diminish a wetland, i.e. , a no-fill alternative. The proposed filling of the wetland would violate that public policy. The fifth order of priority is that of replacing wetlands. Replacement must be in the same watershed district and must be at the rate of two (2) units of replacement for each unit of wetlands lost . Post has not obtained a permit for, own, acquired, or specifically identified replacement wetlands. 12 . A subdivision providing for five (5) lots on which dwellings could be built would not require excavation in the Flood Plain for the construction of a NURP pond. 13 . A subdivision which provides for five (5) lots on which dwellings could be built, rather then the seven (7) proposed, would avoid the need to fill the Wetland or the Flood Plain and would be in accordance, and not conflict, with City Code. A revised preliminary plat in the form of Exhibit A, attached hereto and made a part hereof, providing for five (5) lots on which dwellings could be built, and one (1.) outlot would avoid the need to fill the Wetland or the Flood Plain and would be in accordance, and not conflict, with City Code. -4- DECISION BE IT RESOLVED, by the Eden Prairie City Council as follows: Based upon the foregoing findings and reasons the City Council hereby denies approval of the Preliminary Plat, but approves a preliminary plat as revised in accordance with Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof ( "Revised Preliminary Plat" ) , subject to receipt of, and approval by, the City Engineer of grading and utility plans, provided however, the configuration of the Revised Preliminary Plat and lot lines may be modified as necessary or appropriate so long as such modification (a) does not result in a plat containing more than five (5) lots on which dwellings could be constructed, together with one (1) outlot, (b) would not require any filling or excavation of the Flood Plain or the Wetland, and (c) would not otherwise cause the Revised Preliminary Plat to be in violation of any provision of the City Code. ADOPTED by the City Counc' the G h day of e 1994. R fiA 1� 4 B� W* Douglas npas, Mayor (Seal) ATTEST: Joh Frane, Clerk -5- 1 -� IMMI 8*411II i t , �,. as�al ro • ".35 FLAT ' SUNNYBROOK S881.17 Sg=E ROAD �\ t•J63'OD z J25.Os .A . 1 ,.Ti-1 n,..<e.•x sa h�4S 5H7 3s�s4�-� .„ ,a do.o K^.oxnao� •tT+ p f�'cl'oo� ' iID11[it ft FOIE w , —2. 9MELOE r•• 'T'��'��.� •r 7 WIE _a_ r '-tt- 174.05,J - - '-2 39 _atr -End r nsa.x / e" —rY2"<c/xtaAEn < ' POLE •1 o<ELOEn/— • /.62fs tl St. I '��•• - i r so to i i COTTON- 42-1 womNo o -SO�wi U \ ' wile .I i"o -�: : o ' < W I s w" •g[n \ w1A slat.A City r.quit, F«/ 0 t t:x 1 Ynl L'` w7•. ,_—7"UAM F En. ( P at OD3 i�J n71a rat ♦: I ` •: r l:. Ah MT4w' C L rHC Y / 1 Y .S L � . hour•to be mmavwd-/ _ 'f' -7.' 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EXHIBIT A PUR64 TORY CREEK ESU MS REVISED PREZIM/NOY PLAT