HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.h. Schwartz Pond Park - Wetland and Trail Improvement Project (SKB Wetland Mitigation)4ROSEMOUNTEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Special Meeting: November 1, 2010
AGENDA ITEM: Schwarz Pond Park — Wetland and Trail
AGENDA SECTION:
Improvement Project (SKB Wetland
Consent
Mitigation)
PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks & Recreation Director
AGENDA NO. b.h.
ATTACHMENTS: Concept/Grading Plan and Aerial Photo
APPROVED BY:
(new trail from the parking)
CAL
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to recommend approval of the Schwarz Pond Park —
Wetland and Trail Improvement Project.
ISSUE
The Parks and Recreation Commission recently reviewed the updated plans for the Schwarz Pond Park
wetland and trail improvements. The Commission supported the updated plan that includes creation of
one new wetland area, rainwater garden, native landscaping, fishing /observation pier, and the addition of a
trail near the wetland and also a trail connecting the Schwarz Pond Park parking lot to an area just north of
the Rosemount High School baseball field.
BACKGROUND
At the City Council's June 9, 2010 work session, staff updated the City Council on the proposed plan for
SKB Environmental (SKB) to mitigate wetlands at Schwarz Pond Park. SKB had approached the City to
conduct offsite mitigation in a location that would provide public benefit and educational opportunities.
The idea of providing public benefit and educational opportunities is greatly diminished at the SKB site.
Following their initial request, SKB requested that they be allowed to satisfy their wetland mitigation
requirements by purchasing wetland credits from a certified wetland bank and still move forward with
making the wetland improvements at Schwarz Pond Park. Using wetland credits from a certified wetland
bank allows SKB to move forward on their expansion plans without having to fulfill the five year
monitoring period for newly created wetlands. On July 20, 2010, the City Council approved the
application for SKB to use a wetland bank to meet their wetland mitigation requirements.
During the October 13, 2010 City Council work session, staff updated the City Council about continuing
to work with SKB on the wetland improvements at Schwarz Pond Park. Staff shared with the City Council
that we had recently received a new concept plan that reduces the amount of open water that will be
created with the wetland improvement project. Because the new amount of open water is reduced, there
will be less disruption to the park and surrounding property. The original two -cell plan called for the
excavation of 12,000 cubic yards (cy) cut and 700 cy of fill and would have required 11,300 cy of material
to be exported from the site. There was concern from both the Parks and Recreation staff and staff at
Rosemount High School about the damage that could result from the truck and equipment traffic. The
school representatives also voiced concern about bringing the wetlands closer to the athletic fields because
of soccer balls rolling into the water and kids going after them.
The new single -cell plan results in a more balanced site, including 6,168 cy of cut and 6,290 cy of fill (using
20% shrinkage). The bridges from the original plan have also been removed. The original bridge cost was
estimated at $2,400 /ft for a 10' wide prefabricated steel truss bridge with abutments (the old plan called for
2 -40' bridges). The DNR also had concerns about the amount of concrete that would be needed to install
the structures for such a small area. The fishing dock /observation pier that was identified in the original
concept plan will still be installed even though it is not shown on the new concept /grading plan.
Another component that has been added to the project is a new trail from the parking lot at Schwarz Pond
Park to an area just north of the Rosemount High School baseball field. The trail (located on City
property) is a much needed connection that will replace a dirt footpath that the City closed earlier in the
year due to safety concerns. The City had received many complaints regarding how steep the footpath was
and that it was often washed out after heavy rains.
Staff also informed the City Council that we had met with representatives from Rosemount High School
regarding the latest plan and they did not have any objections. They did have questions regarding the
potential smell after digging near the pond, site restoration and what the future landscaping might look
like. Staff offered high school representatives an opportunity to be involved in the final planting design
and suggested that we should talk more about the idea of an outdoor classroom. School staff also
mentioned there is an interest from the mother of fallen soldier Ben Kopp for a memorial in the area.
SUMMARY
Staff is recommending the City Council approve the proposed plans for the Schwarz Pond Park Wetland
and Trail Improvements.
If approved, staff expects the work on this project to begin sometime in early November.
VlOMNIW '1NnoMSON n.,. ,..,..o.,,.,.
ONOd Z2JVMHOS ON
NVId ONIOVUE) AIIVNIW113Nd v
f
o a I
u o o
XS w a a� �• � �� 1 I I I I I I I I
o o o o \� pl 1111 "I I
R cD o 0 0 11111 II
I / t~ '�/)11111111j1 /
Ij
/ �: ♦ s..��� Ii 111 1 5 1 I
� i I
i I
I
i
J r I
I I I �� l i � �� 1 �'�' � r ♦ I
III �,� ♦� - \ i I
IIII `; � � `' � a, � ♦` J I
I
I III ti I II I I �v ap
I
'1`'11111 Iiv !` I � — � =��___ —�� ♦ / I
111 I,F : •` - -_ �__ � o � � r � � /
a
s�
H
'd
v
O
O
I
s�
c�
O
N
tr
C�
.s;
U
r.-' All