CC_Minutes_2007_0813 - Laserfiche WebLink

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This project would destroy at least fifty mature trees and increase the noise, light, and air pollution in the neighborhood, one of the things that the University of Minnesota is studying. The buffering effect of trees with regard to air noise, and light pollution are widely accepted. The University of Minnesota study hopes to provide measurable values to this effect to guide future development and redevelopment. Acorn Road one of its study sites, should provide very useful information, but only if we do not allow the removal of over 54 mature trees and greatly increase our impervious surface right in the center of the study area. Neighbors and the neighborhood will be affected by the project. 3ust as the wildlife requires protection from noise, light, and air pollution, so do the residents. In a road-locked neighborhood, Acorn Road provides the green space and park like setting that is required and necessary. A stroll down this road, with its gentle curves, hidden houses, and wonderful habitat provides peace and serenity to alI travelers-whether they come on foot, on wing, or on bicycle. The addition of a large (lazger than the main road) private road and 84 foot paved cuI du sac not only brings much more impervious surface, it puts more traffic on a very quiet and curved street and open across from a pond that is home to geese and wood ducks. Headlights, air and water pollution, and noise will disrupt the habitat for the waterfowl, and the lights will shine across the water into the homes nestled beyond the pond. A photo of the pond shows it proximity to the existing road, and the mouth of the gaping cul du sac would be directly across the road. The road is currently smaller than the "standard" road in Roseville. The ~. additional traffic may cause serious problems for the daily walkers and bikers using the road as their "pathway." Widening or straightening the road would create more environmental impact by further reducing the vegetation and providing more invitation to speed. It is also clear that although impervious surface cannot exceed 30% of a residential lot, the addition of the large road and cul du sac leading into "Oak Acres" adds much impervious surface. In addition, with the addition of the four homes an the newly created lots, impervious surface will actually reach the fui134% mark whereas even if Mr. Mueller's lot were divided in half, the amount of impervious surface would be greatly reduced over the over the current proposal. As it stands, this plan will allow for the increase of the total amount of land covered by impervious surface by the addition of a large road and cuI du sac and reduce the amount of the currently vegetative land by more than the 34% allowed. The runoff is inadequately accounted for, easements for the runoff have not been obtained, and there is no doubt that a portion of it will flow into the pond directly across from the entrance to the proposed subdivision. If Mr. Mueller would have chosen to divide his Iot into two parcels that could. share adriveway-as do other homes in the area-it would have made reasonable environmental sense. However, working with city staff a much more environmentally damaging scenario was devised. With the City's poor record of environmental review and environmental stewardship, its failure to enact a tree preservation ordinance, and its unwillingness to protect lazge Iot neighborhoods that provide safe haven for indigenous