07-30-07 Item 7A, Planning Case 07-015 Preliminary Plat for Christensen Estates

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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - JULY 11, 2007 4 C. PLANNING CASE #07-015 - PRELIMINARY PLAT OF CHRISTENSEN ESTATES: RICHARD J. CHRISTENSEN Mr. Lehnhoff stated the applicant is requesting approval of a Preliminary Plat to subdivide one property into four conforming lots in the plat of Christensen Estates. Staff recommended approval subject to the following conditions: 1. The road access locations to Hamline Avenue shall be subject to approval from the Public Works Director. 2. Final grading and erosion control plans for each lot shall be subject to approval by the City Engineer prior to the issuance of building permits. 3. The utility plans for each lot shall be subject to approval by the City Engineer and Public Works Director prior to the issuance of any building permits. 4. The final plat shall provide a minimum twelve foot wide drainage and utility easement adjacent to the Hamline Avenue right-of-way. S. The applicant shall obtain all necessary permits from the Rice Creek Watershed District, Ramsey County, the Metropolitan Council, the State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and any other governing agencies where applicable before the final plat is executed. 6. The applicant shall submit updated title work prior to the City Council review of the fmal plat. 7. The applicant shall submit an official appraisal of the property prior to the City's review of the final plat that will be used for setting the park dedication fee. The park dedication fee shall not exceed eight percent of the appraised land value at the time the final plat is approved. 8. The applicant shall submit the required information and modify the applicable plans to fully conform to the City Engineer's June 28, 2007, memorandum prior to the final plat review. 9. The developer's agreement shall be prepared by the City Attorney and approved by the City Council before the City Council executes the fmal plat. He stated he had received an email dated July 9, 2007 from Douglas Hartford, 1292 Ingerson Road, stating: "I recently received a notice of the public hearing for the above noted project. My wife and I reside at 1292 Ingerson Rd. In reviewing the detailed materials and your report on this project as displayed on the city web site, I do have some questions and concerns about the proposal. Among other things, your report (section 2, Sub D) indicates the potential for significant tree removal particularly on lots 3 and 4. I am concerned about the issues of tree removal on the property and the subsequent impact on the noise levels of the traffic from Snelling Avenue, which we hear on our property. The traffic noise is noticeable currently when we are in our yard and the trees on the property proposed for development do serve as abate that noise to some degree. The removal of trees will most like exacerbate the noise levels on our property and likely even more son on those properties closer to Snelling. The end result could be a potential violation of City ordinance (Section 600.1 Subd. 6.), which prohibits any action, which "unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property...". I would like to see this issue addressed prior to any approval of this proposed development by the City. Perhaps the planning of some additional buffer trees along the Western boundary of the property could be done to ameliorate the situation. I also believe the high water levels on the property and the significant wetlands in the area make the