Workshop Item: - Robert Therres, Public Service Manger
Title
BLAINE WETLAND SANCTUARY
Background
During open forum at the January 19, 2017 City Council meeting, residents expressed concern over the wetland sanctuary project and removal of trees. A neighborhood meeting was held on February 8, 2017 for residents to raise their concerns to the City Council and Natural Resource Conservation Board.
The following is a list of resident concerns presented at the February 8th neighborhood meeting and the responding information that can be provided at the March 29th neighborhood meeting:
No more tree cutting and removal of the pink ribbons - No tree cutting has occurred since the City Council directed the cutting be stopped. All pink ribbons adjacent to the residential lots were removed on February 9th.
Preserve the grove of trees circled by the existing path - No tree removal is scheduled inside the existing looped path.
Select an alternate maintenance access - The access from Naples Circle is the only portion of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary to touch a public street. The entire north and east edge of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary is surrounded by a ditch system. The maintenance access will only be used infrequently by small all-terrain vehicles during wetland restoration work. The City is proposing to install a decorative wrought iron gate in the center of the opening off of Naples Circle and plantings the entire width of the opening adjacent to the gate.
Replace trees on Naples Circle facing, beside and behind the homes on Naples Circle and 117th that were clear cut to create the access area - As listed in the last item, the City is proposing to install a decorative gate and plantings the width of the opening adjacent to Naples Circle.
Potential of water intrusion into homes that back up to the conservation area - The groundwater elevation of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary is controlled by the ditch that runs along the north and east sides of the project area. The wetland restoration project does not alter the ditch elevation or change the existing groundwater hydrology of the area.
All homes adjacent to the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary have been constructed with a lowest floor walkout elevation at least three feet above the flood elevation for the adjacent wetland area. This requirement for each new house was based on a 2001 study prepared by the consulting engineer WSB & Associates prior to the start of the development of The Lakes of Radisson area. Builders were required to submit a survey to verify that each house was built at the proper elevation to prevent flooding. The entire area continues to drain to the adjacent existing ditch system as it did prior to the construction of houses. The Blaine Wetland Sanctuary improvements will not increase flood risk.
Plantings needed to prevent water intrusion and reestablish some privacy and some level of beauty we purchased - The plant life in the wetland and upland areas of the open space will continue to take up water and transpire. Native wetland plant species will flourish with the removal of the invasive species. The southern wetland restoration area completed six years ago has been very successful and has had no adverse impact to the surrounding houses.
Commitment from the Blaine City Council that cost of consultants and plantings will be paid by the City - The cost of the proposed gate and plantings adjacent to Naples Circle will be paid for by the City. Any additional plantings approved by the City Council will be paid for by the City.
The clear cutting will always compromise our property values - The property adjacent to The Lakes of Radisson was preserved by the City Council by designating the 500 acres in the City’s ordinance as open space and placing a conservation easement over the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. The City has committed to restoring and preserving the ecologically significant wetland features contained in this open space area. The goal of restoring and preserving this open space is for the educational opportunities to view upland treed areas as well as restored wetlands featuring rare and endangered plant species.
Set a date for the next meeting - A mailing has been sent to the houses adjacent to the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary to announce a neighborhood meeting on March 29, 2017 at 6:30 PM. This notice will also be posted on the City website and sent out through social media.
Additional information to provide the residents at the March 29th neighborhood meeting:
• In November of 2016, a registered land surveyor, EG Rud and Sons, placed wetland conservation signs every 300 feet on the open space property line to delineate the boundary between the open space and private property. Work completed in January was on the open space side of the wetland conservation signs. Staff has field verified this.
• The trail plan is posted on the front page of the City website with a description of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. More detailed information about the open space can be found on the Engineering page of the website.
• The board walk is under construction going east of the existing paved loop trail to Lexington Avenue. Tree removal will be required adjacent to Lexington Avenue for construction of the parking lot for the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary trails and future nature center.