01-11-2006 Special City Council Minutes

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City Council Meeting January 11, 2006 Page 7 --------------------------- L.. and indicates that they should be protected and linked during the subdivision process. The proposed development would destroy the forest core and provide no opportunity to link it to other forest core areas. f. The Comprehensive Plan identifies the proposed site as having sand over sand soil geology (page 52), which creates sensitivities for groundwater contamination not found in parts of the city, particularly the northeastern corner, which are more conducive to extractive uses. The proposed development would excavate to within two feet of the groundwater, thus minimizing the geologic buffer identified in the plan as being sensitive. g. The Comprehensive Plan identifies the proposed site as having a high potential for groundwater contamination (page 55). The northeastern corner of the city does not have as high a potential. The high potential for contamination is accentuated by the fact that the development would excavate to within two feet of the groundwater table. h. The Comprehensive Plan indicates that future development should be directed away from significant and/or sensitive natural resources and towards suitable areas with existing �. infrastructure and proper soil and slope characteristics (page 56). Instead of excavating in areas where the soil conditions are more favorable (the northeastern corner of the city), the proposed extractive use would be in areas identified as having high potential for groundwater contamination. L The Comprehensive Plan identifies the site as a recreational amenity with a future trail corridor traversing the property (page 63). The proposed development would cause the site to lose all of its recreational benefit. Additionally, the proposed development would eliminate the possibility, and the desire- ability, of a north/south trail connection as identified in the Plan. 2. The use is not compatible with the existing neighborhood. The existing neighborhood consists of residential properties and other undeveloped lands. Adjacent undeveloped lands are in the process of being developed for residential/recreational use. The proposed development, with the externalities common to such operations, is not compatible with the residential/recreational character of the neighborhood. The proposed development would be compatible with other areas of the city where there is not the degree of residential development that there is in the vicinity of the proposed site.