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City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for February 7, 2018 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2017\PC 17-029 - 3685 New Brighton Road Preliminary and Final Plat and Easement Vacation\Memos_Reports_17-029 Page 9 of 15 The Zoning Code states that replacement trees are required to be planted on the same site from which the significant trees are removed, unless the City determines that the number of replacement trees required exceeds the number of trees that can practically fit on the site. The City may require that the 101 caliper inches of additional trees be planted off-site, or a fee in lieu of the off-site plantings may be collected. The fee amount is set as the cost of materials and installation, plus 10 percent. The applicant submitted a letter requesting that all Cottonwood trees on the site not be counted as significant trees because they are a nuisance tree (Attachment G). Seven Cottonwood trees are proposed to be removed on Lot 1. If Cottonwood trees were removed from the Tree Preservation Plan, the required replacement tree amount would be 140 caliper inches and the deficiency would be 47.5 caliper inches. The Zoning Code includes the following definition for a significant tree: A tree that is important to the site and the neighborhood character, that is structurally sound and healthy, and that meets at least one of the following standards: • A deciduous hardwood tree that is at least ten (10) caliper inches, including but not limited to, ironwood, catalpa, oak, hard maple, walnut, hickory, birch, black cherry, hackberry, locust and basswood. • A deciduous softwood tree that is at least twelve (12) caliper inches, including but not limited to, cottonwood, poplars/aspen, box elder, willow, silver maple and elm. • A coniferous evergreen tree having foliage on the outermost portion of the branches year-round and which is at least fifteen (15) feet or more in height. • A group of deciduous trees that are at least eight (8) caliper inches or coniferous trees that are at least fifteen (15) feet in height, that provide a buffer or screening along an adjacent public street or between differing land uses. Cottonwood trees that are at least 12 caliper inches in size and are structurally sound and healthy are defined as significant trees under the Zoning Code. Staff would recommend that the Cottonwood trees on the site continue to be counted as significant trees. Additional Review City Building Official The City’s Building Official has reviewed the plans and has no comments at this time. Public Works Director/City Engineer The Public Works Director/City Engineer and WSB & Associates have reviewed the plans. WSB provided a memo dated December 7, 2017 with items to be addressed (Attachment F). The applicant has since revised the development plans and the Public Works Director/City Engineer has reviewed the plans and provided a memo (Attachment I). A City Grading and Erosion Control permit will be required for the project.