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Planning Commission Report to the Council, April 2008 Page 2 <br /> 14. Stormwater retention ponds are indicated on the survey. A complete stormwater management <br /> plan is to be reviewed as part of the Planned Unit Development process. <br /> 15. An erosion control plan is to be reviewed as part of the Planned Unit Development process. <br /> 16. The proposal includes no increase in City road maintenance costs, yet will increase city tax <br /> revenue. A cost-benefit analysis indicates no long-term cost for the Pequot Lakes taxpayer from <br /> this development. In fact, this development will produce more taxes than the existing <br /> development. <br /> 17. A park dedication fee was paid during the initial platting. The City of Pequot Lakes will not <br /> require additional park dedication fee for the replatting of this property as the units are simply <br /> being realigned and there will therefore be no increase in park demand due to this development. <br /> 2. Ordinance Amendment, Conservation Design Ordinance. Over the past year, the City of <br /> Pequot Lakes has considered a number of subdivisions which utilized some form of open space or <br /> conservation design. Through those experiences, much has been learned about what worked well with <br /> our current ordinance and what some of the shortcomings of that approach was. The Planning <br /> Commission directed Staff to prepare amendments to the Ordinance that would strengthen the <br /> conservation design requirements and make those requirements the preferred method of land subdivision <br /> within most of the City. The Planning Commission has looked at this language over the past two months <br /> and is forwarding the following recommended changes to the City Council. <br /> The following definitions would be added to Section 3.2: <br /> 1. Common Open Space. Undeveloped land within a conservation subdivision that has been <br /> designated, dedicated, reserved, or restricted in perpetuity from further development and <br /> is set aside for the use and enjoyment by the residents of the development. Common <br /> Open Space shall not be included as parts of individual residential lots. The Common <br /> Open Space shall be substantially free of structures, but may contain historic structures <br /> and archaeological sites including Native American mounds and/or such recreational <br /> facilities for residents as indicated on the approved development plan. <br /> 2. Conservation Easement. A Conservation Easement is a legally binding agreement that <br /> imposes any limitation or affirmative obligation on any holder's interest in real property. <br /> The easement is typically held by a party other than the property owner. The purpose of <br /> such an easement can include retaining or protecting natural, scenic, or open space <br /> values of real property, assuring the availability of real property for agricultural, forest, <br /> recreational, or open space use, protecting natural resources, maintaining or enhancing <br /> air or water quality, preserving a burial site, or preserving the historical, architectural, <br /> archaeological, or cultural aspects of real property. <br /> 3. Conservation Subdivision. A residential development that is characterized by compact <br /> lots and the retention of common open space, where the natural features of the land are <br /> maintained to the greatest extent possible. <br /> 4. Conventional Subdivision. A residential development that contains more than two lots <br /> not done by Conservation Design. <br /> 5. Development Envelope. Designated area in which grading, lawns, pavement, and <br /> buildings are planned to be located. <br /> 6. Drainageway_A watercourse, gully, dry stream, creek or ditch which concentrates and <br /> carries storm/rain water runoff from the land in a manner which creates the potential for <br /> significant erosion, siltation, flooding or ponding. A drainageway may be fed by natural <br /> overland flow or by constructed means, such as culverts, road ditches, outlets of storm <br /> water treatment ponds, or other similar facilities. <br /> 7. Gross Acreage. The total area of a parcel. <br /> 8. Homeowners Association (HOA). A community association, incorporated or not <br /> incorporated, combining individual home ownership with shared use or ownership of <br /> common property and/or facilities. <br /> 14084 Baxter Drive, Suite 7 I Baxter, Minnesota 56425 1 218.828.3064 I www.communitygrowth.com <br />