2005-06-05 Ltr to residents re: flags in yards
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~ I?.~r.!.'!.tll€ 5975 Main Avenue N.E,. '.O. 'ox 9. Alba""'''e, M~ 55301 · (763) 497.33'4 · fa" 1763) 497.3210
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June 8, 2005
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Re: Albert Villas (Edina Development,. Inc)
Dear Resident:
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As many of you have recently noticed, stakes have been put up in many of the back yards
in the Albeit Villas subdivisions. These stakes are part of an ongoing enforcement
process related,to certain failures ,of Edina Development Corporation ("Edina'), the
developer ~ the Albert Villas subdivisions. When the various Albert Villas subdivisions
were originally developed, Edina was supposed to mark the wetland boundaries on all
lots which abutted wetlands and was supposed to create replacement wetlands in specific
locations throaghout the development. Edina failed to install these markers, and also
faile.d to properly create some of the wetland areas as required by State law.
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The City has been working with Edina for over a year on these wetland issues in an
attempt to get Edina to comply with the requirements of State law, and lias also been
working with Edina for over a year to have Edina pay the City approximately $259,000 in
development-related fees diat Edina owes the City. Because Edina has not complied with
the States wetland requirements, the DNR has recently cited Edina for its wetland '
violations and has begun taking enforcement action which will ultiinately result in Edina
. having to establish or re-establish some of the we.landsit should have constructed when
,II the subdivisions were originally developed. Likewise, the City notified Edina in April,
2005 that Edina was in violation of its developer's agreement with the City and as of
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early May, the City stopped issuing building permits on vacant lots in the Albert Villas
subdivisions, The City does not know how long building permits will be withheld as this
is largely dependent on how quickly Edina performs its obligations under the State's
wGtland laws a1].d the City's developer's agreement.. . v
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,In ~ atteml?t to determine w~a~ wetland work has ?~en properly completed, ~e City has
reqUIred Ed!na to stake all ongmal wetlands, all mItIgated wetlands and all CIty
easements r~ted to the wetlands (the stakes are color-coded: green for wetland
boundaries, red for mitigation boundaries, and blue for easement boundaries).. City
personnel have been inspectil1g these stakes over the past few weeks to determine the
degree of Edina's compliance with tlwrState's wetland requirements, to determine if any
"existing or mitigated wetlands have been filled (the filling.of wetlands is prohibited by
State la\y without a permit) and to determine what, if any, additional wetland-related
work needs to be. completed by Edina.
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C:\Documents and Settings\1kruse\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK123\Edina Development June Wetlarid Info Meeting (2}.doc
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The City understands that the staking is an inconvenience for you and"your neighbors,
and that Edina's failure to complete its'wetland obligations has resulted in confusion
alOOng some of the property owners as to where wetlands actually begin and what
property owners mayor may not be able to do in and around the wetlands. In an effort to
clarify these issues, the City has scheduled an.jnformational meeting for all residents of
the Albert Villas subdivisions on Wepnesday, June 15,2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the
Albertville City Hall.v City staff will be on hand to explain the status of the wetland
issues in YOu,r neighborhood, give residents some idea of the location and type of wetland
work which may occur in the next several weeks, and answer any questions you may
have.regarding these issues. For those of you contemplating any work in rear of your
yard in or near wetland, or wetland buffer areas, do not proceed unless you sure of the
required setbacks.
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If you are not able to attend this open house and have questions r~arding wetland issues
in the Alber:! Villas neighborhood, please call City Engineer Bob Moberg at 651-490-
.2147 for more information, o,r call Larry Kruse, City Administrator at 763-497-3384.
Sincerely,
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City Administrator
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C:\Documents and S,ittingsllkruseILocal SeuingslTemporary IntemetFileslOLK I 23\Edina Developm~nt June Wetland Info Meeting (2).doc
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