2001-01-05 MNDNR Proposed Development
,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
'iOO Lafayette Road
St. Pau!. r-.linnesota 'i'il'i'i-401~
January 5, 2001
John A. Olson, Mayor
City of Albertville
POBox 9
Albertville, MN 55301-0009
Dear Mayor Olson:
Subject: Proposed Towne Lakes Residential Development on School and Mud Lakes
Representatives ofthe Department of Natural Resources have had a chance to meet with your city
staff and the project proposer for the above-noted project. As a result of that meeting the project
sponsor has made specific modifications to the proposed development plan, as follows:
. The average and minimum building setback distances from the ordinary high water level
have been increased by approximately 33 % and approximately 11 % respectively.
. The average width of the shoreland buffer area has been increased by approximately 41
%.
. More than 50% of the lakeside park areas will be left in their natural state, rather than
being sodded and developed as 100 % active park areas as originally proposed.
. The number of dock slips at each common dock facility will be limited to four or fewer
slips at each common dock facility.
A sample of the deed restrictions and development covenants that the developer will utilize
among the homeowners' association have been reviewed and found to be favorable to the
protection of natural open space and riparian area values through retention of natural vegetation,
limitation of mowing and vegetation removal and planting of native plant and tree species.
These outcomes have lessened the DNR's concerns over this shoreland project and we do not
object to the city's initial approval of the project provided the above modifications to the
development plan are included into the city's final approval for the project. The details for the
modifications to the development plan were communicated to me in a November 27,2000 letter
from Linda Fisher (copy attached). The city's use of the planned unit development (PUD)
provisions of its ordinance are still of concern to the Department, but those concerns should be
addressed among the DNR and the city separate from the approval of this project.
DNR Information: 651-296-6157 · 1-888-646-6367 · TIY: 651-296-5484 · 1-800-657-3929
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Mayor John Olson
January 5, 2001
page two
Weare separately reviewing the city's resolution to reclassify three basins from natural
environment to general development as communicated by city attorney Mike Couri's December 5,
2000 letter and the city's resolution (#2000-38). I anticipate completing our review ofthe city's
reclassification request by February 5, 2001.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please feel free to contact me at (651) 296-0440
or bye-mail atjohn.stine@dnr.state.mn.us.
Sincerely,
DNR Waters
~~~.
Water Management Section
attachment (Nov. 27, 2000 Letter from Linda Fisher)
cc: paaGOeb~C'J.ty'}\dministrator
Patty Peltier, Area Hydrologist
Dave Hills, Regional Hydrologist
Tom Balcom, DNR Environmental Review
Russ Schultz, Shoreland Program Coordinator
Linda Fisher, Larkin, Hoffman, Daly and Lindgren