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<br />Message Page 10[2
<br />James Lehnhoff
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<br />tlom: James Lehnhoff
<br />nt: Wednesday, November 01,200611:22 AM
<br />To: Roberta Thompson (robertathompson@comcastnet); (davemcclung@comcastnet); Clayton Larson
<br /> (Iarson@ci.coon-rapidsmn,us); Clayton Zimmerman (czimmer@netzero,com); David Sand
<br /> (djsand@comcastnet); Elizabeth Modesette (Imodesette@mcgoughcom); Ken Bezdicek
<br /> (mbezdicek@aol_com)
<br />Subject: Comments for Planning Commission Nov 1 meeting
<br />Good afternoon,
<br />Although some of you may not be able to read this before the Planning Commission tonight, I wanted to take a few
<br />moments to address some of the concerns in Mr. Gonzalez's letter. A paper copy of this email will be provided at the
<br />Planning Commission meeting,
<br />1_ Certification: I spoke with Rick Moeller, the person that did the final design for the landscaping plan, from Heins
<br />Nursery_ He stated that while he is not a landscape architect, he has been designing residential landscapes for thirty
<br />years and has a degree in horticulture, Although landscape architects are usually involved in commercial projects, it is not
<br />uncommon to have non-landscape architects design landscaping plans for residential properties,
<br />2 Drainage pipe: Although my original understanding was that the entire drainage pipe that drains storm water from
<br />Fairview Ave to Lake Johanna was replaced in 2004, that is incorrect Only the portion from the manhole on the hill to the
<br />lake was replaced, I spoke with Jim Perron, the O&M Supervisor, and he stated that replacing the pipe would entirely
<br />depend on the condition of the pipe when the need to replace/re-line arises He said the pipe is only about 4-5 feet deep,
<br />and ten feet of clearance on either side of the pipe should be more than enough to fully replace or re-line the pipe if
<br />needed, The revised landscaping plan does keep the trees approximately ten to twelve feet from the pipe, A condition
<br />Iring that distance will be recommended at tonight's meeting
<br />, rainage easement: A question has arisen over the size of the drainage easement along the northern side of the
<br />property, The survey's from the applicant indicate that there is a 30 foot wide easement, with twenty feet being on Mr.
<br />Ngo's property, Mr. Gonzalez has stated that he has documentation that the easement is only eight feet wide and does
<br />not extend onto this property, Mr. Perron thought that the easement was 16 feet wide For Mr. Ngo's building plans, he is
<br />assuming the easement extends 20 feet onto his property, Unfortunately, the City does not have an as-built survey for the
<br />pipe or any clear documentation of the size of the easement. I have requested that Mr, Gonzalez submit his document to
<br />the City showing the size of the easement While the City does need to determine the size of the easement, this issue
<br />does really impact the landscaping plan as long as the trees are at least ten feet from the edge of the pipe. A smaller
<br />drainage easement actually provides more flexibility for the property owners_ Please note that by the City accepting this
<br />survey and landscaping plan, that does not imply that the City has increased the size of the easement should the
<br />easement be shown to be less than thirty feet wide,
<br />4_ Drainage pipe capacity & rain garden: The City Engineer has submitted a memo addressing the capacity of the
<br />drainage pipe and the underdrain for the rain garden That document is attached to this email
<br />5, Cost of the landscaping plan: The revised cost estimate for the landscaping plan is attached, I will be recommending
<br />a couple amendments to the landscaping plan to increase the size of the trees wIlen they are planted, which will increase
<br />the cost of the plan,
<br />6 Removing trees in the City right-of-way: I spoke with the City Attorney about this issue prior to the last Planning
<br />Commission meeting, and it is not against City Ordinances to remove trees from the City right-of-way adjacent to one's
<br />property, In most, though certainly not all, cases, the City encourages people to not plant new trees in the right-of-way,
<br />7, Trees removed from the property: I spoke with Mr Perron about the vegetation that existed on the property prior to the
<br />c1earing_ He replied with the following email:
<br />. James, since I have been here the city has received a lot of complaints about having the owner cleanup the
<br />property, but nothing was ever done Public Works has picked lip tires and lumber from this site that was dumped
<br />The trees on this site were box elders and cottonwoods with brush and buckthorn mixed in
<br />JIll /2006
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