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Regular Planning CommissionMeeting Minutes –Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Page 8 Member Daire asked to address the question of the proposed bike path as proposed for 340 the east side of Victoria Street and referenced the staff report stating the bike path would 341 take a portion of the wetland and therefore mitigation would be required, part of which 342 was to be addressed through acquisition of this property. 343 Mr. Lloyd clarified that mitigation would be facilitated by an easement or land acquisition, 344 but also involved expanding the wetland area on the west side of Victoria Street to 345 compensate for that east side area. 346 Member Daire asked if mitigation of wetland was important enough to justify taking of that 347 property. 348 Mr. Lloyd advised that restoration or expansion was required as part of any damage or 349 removal of wetland areas; and this particular case was driven by the community’s desire 350 for bike path improvements on the east site.Mr. Lloyd further noted that, whether the bike 351 path or other street improvements justified the financial impacts thatwould come from 352 acquiring easements for the parcel and wetland improvements he could personally not 353 address. 354 Member Daireobserved that the proposed bike path extended out of the park to the east, 355 and as a former transportation and bikeway planner, suggested it may be prudent to 356 provide a crossing in that area based on the ample room available on the west side as 357 evidenced by the parking spaces there.Member Daire stated this would then not mess 358 with the wetlands on the east.Member Daire questioned if repair or mitigation for taking 359 property on the east side was essential for acquiring the property on the west side if the 360 bike path were brought across the road and continued up the west side, or if the 361 justification for purchase of this property would then fall apart. 362 Mr. Lloyd stated that he could not respond to that question as it was out of the realm of 363 his expertise, and he was not involved in the proposed planning for the bike path nor did 364 he know how much was invested in that location compared to this location.As a 365 counterpoint to Member Daire’s suggestion, Mr. Lloyd noted the parking places located 366 along that stretch, and from his commuting by bike along that route, it was very 367 challenging around the curve and would not be a simple or safe crossing from his 368 perspective for any cyclist that rerouting the trail for a crossing before the curve on 369 Victoria Street could achieve and still provide an adequate view for safety. 370 Member Daire stated his rationalein raising the question following his visit to the site was 371 based on his concern as to whether it was prudent for the City to have adequate wetland 372 areas.While not disagreeing with the proposal itself, Member Daire questioned if the 373 potential purchase price at $96,000 was justified if solely for a water quality purpose or if 374 the mitigation argument put that need over the top. 375 Chair Boguszewski reiterated the role of the Planning Commission on this issue in 376 specifically finding whether or not the proposed purchase was in alignment with the 377 Comprehensive Plan.Therefore, Chair Boguszewski opined it was not the Commission’s 378 role to determine whether or not the proposed purchase was prudent or overly expensive, 379 and further opined that the proposed bike path solution of Member Daire was more of a 380 City Council consideration for a better option.However, with the option being presented 381 at this time, Chair Boguszewski refocused discussion and consideration based solely on 382 that Commission function. 383 Mr. Lloyd concurred, noting the sections of the Comprehensive Plan that were 384 addressed, specifically the goal for expanding open space in the community through 385 acquisition and future use of a portion of the property, protection of natural resources, 386 and improving the quality of the wetland, and whether those goals of the Plan would be 387 advanced through this acquisition and be consistent with the Plan. 388 Chair Boguszewski noted Member Daire’s comment that he had no issues with the 389 acquisition related to the Comprehensive Plan goals, while also asking staff to relay a 390