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Conservation Commission -Minutes-20060412 Conservation Commission Approved City of Muskego Minutes of Meeting Held on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 Chairman Len Pilak called the meeting to order at 6:01 P.M. Present: Mr. Howard Schneider, Mr. Bill Miller, Ms. Sharon Roy and Conservation Coordinator Tom Zagar. Absent: Mr. Ted Decker, Alderman Patterson Guest: Mr. Eric Rusdahl, Mr. Wayne Borchardt, Mr. Bruce Angle, Mr. Bill Carity, Mr. Kalvin Klimeck, Mr. Dennis Fermenich Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was posted on April 10, 2006 in accordance with the open meeting law. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES - A motion was made by Mr. Schneider to approve the Conservation Commission minutes of March 13, 2006. Seconded by Mr. Miller and carried by all. OLD BUSINESS EROSION CONTROL PROJECT ON HOLZ ISLAND – LITTLE MUSKEGO LAKE – Last week Conservation Coordinator Zagar, Mr. Howard Schneider, Intern Marisa Pankowski and Ms. Faye Amerson met with Rick Bond of Crane Landscaping to review the proposal and a drawing of the shoreline remedies. Conservation Coordinator Zagar stated the proposal was quite a bit short of what he had expected; first of all, some items may not be approved by the Department of Natural Resources. They did not follow the work order of what we were seeking from them. The individuals that we consulted with in the beginning are no longer with the company, which is part of the problem. Crane Landscaping will have the opportunity to revise the proposal to meet our expectations. The city has a signed contract with Crane Landscaping and if they can’t fulfill their commitment, we may have to pay them for the work completed thus far and relieve them of their contract. Chairman Pilak asked the Commission to discuss items out of order to accommodate petitioners. Commissioners had no objection. REVIEW RUSDAHL RUSTIC STRUCTURE DESIGNATION –Chairman Pilak questioned Mr. Eric Rusdahl of what his plans are to repair the rustic structure. Mr. Rusdahl updated the Commissioners on the repairs for the rustic structure. He said repairs are being done such as repairing the door, window and painting parts of the barn. He told the Commissioners that with funds available, the roof maybe replaced this summer. Mr. Schneider expressed concerns that he doesn’t want this project to go on for years and would like to see it completed. Mr. Rusdahl said that missing bordering/trim around doors and windows would be replaced and painted to match and that the upper loft door facing Durham would be replaced. Mr. Schneider made a motion to continue the rustic structure designation based on the repair information that the owner provided the Commissioners; seconded by Ms. Roy and carried by all. Conservation Commission Meeting April 12, 2006 Page 2 CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR THE RIDGES CONSERVATION LANDS LOCATED IN THE SE ¼ of Section 6. – This item is deferred. Still waiting for a response from Muskego Lakes Land Conservancy. DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING TREE MITIGATION – Nothing new to report. This item is deferred. REVIEW AND RECOMMEND CONSERVATION SITE SIGNAGE AND EMBLEM – Chairman Pilak updated the Commissioners on this item. As discussed at a previous meeting, the Conservation Commissioners are offering students and residents the opportunity to design an emblem or logo signage to display at the conservation properties throughout the city. He will be distributing a flyer to the school district with the information. There are three categories (grade school, high school and adults) and the winner of each category will receive a $100.00 savings bond donated by an anonymous person. DEVELOPMENT OF ENGEL CONSERVATION AREA – Conservation Coordinator Zagar stated the parking lot was constructed this winter; driveway needs to be done, signage and trails need to be completed. All items should be completed before the grand opening on July 15, 2006. The grand opening will be advertised in the City of Muskego newsletter and Parks & Recreation summer program guide. Staff will conduct tours and interpretive nature hikes on the land and complimentary refreshments will be available NEW BUSINESS REVIEW BELLE CHASSE PRELIMINARY PLAT – Mr. Bill Carity and Mr. Kalvin Klimeck representing Belle Chasse subdivision appeared before the Commissioners to discuss the newly reconfigured preliminary plat based on the RS-2/OPD approved zoning. Mr. Carity hired a consulting arborist to inspect and report on the general condition of the forest in the proposed development known as Belle Chasse subdivision located off of Durham Drive. Consulting arborist Dennis Fermenich gave an overall assessment of the forest on this subdivision to the Commissioners. He evaluated the general health and specie composition of major areas of the forest involved and recommended individual trees that should be preserved due to unusual size or value. He noted any precautions that should be taken to improve tree survival during this project. He supplied the Commissioners with a copy of the assessment report to review. He feels that this project can be constructed with minimum impact on the most valuable trees, while preserving the integrity and flavor of the most significant portions of the four-woodlot areas. The Commissioners agreed they need time to review the information and this item will be on the next agenda for discussion. Conservation Coordinator Zagar will contact Mr. Carity and notify him of the next meeting to discuss this item. REVIEW OAK RIDGE GLEN TREE SURVEY – Mr. Wayne Borchardt appeared before the Commissioners to discuss the preliminary plat of the Oak Ridge Glen subdivision and tree survey. This subdivision is located west of Janesville Road and northeast of Martin Drive. Conservation Coordinator Zagar noted the Commissioners reviewed and recommended that lots 32, 33, 34 be added to out lot 1 to protect the wooded area further at a prior meeting. After meeting with planning staff, it was determined that Mr. Borchardt would have to appear before the Conservation Commission before a final plat would be approved. The developer displayed a tree survey and is requesting to build lots 32, 33 and 34 as wooded lots with Conservation Commission Meeting April 12, 2006 Page 3 minimal tree removal. Conservation Coordinator Zagar showed the grading plan and explained that no trees would remain where a new grade was established. He explained that the tree survey showed 516 trees within the graded areas and these would all need to be mitigated. Mr. Borchardt contended that grades wouldn’t be changed outside of the building envelopes in the wooded lot areas – thus many of the trees would be preserved. Conservation Coordinator Zagar requested that his grading plan be changed to reflect this otherwise there was no assurance that trees would be preserved. He also recommended establishing a preservation area for lots 21, 22, and 23. A neighboring resident asked the Commissioners to consider their first recommendation that lots 32, 33, 34 be added to outlot 1 and wished that the Commissioners would have worked with Mr. Borchardt in the beginning and made this into a conservation subdivision. Chairman Pilak made a motion recommending the following three steps- (1) to establish preserved areas on lots 21, 22, 23; (2) revision of grading plan to show no general grade changes within wooded areas; (3) cooperation with developer to establish building pads for all the wooded lots 21-23 and 32-34. Seconded by Mr. Miller and carried by all. Chairman Pilak amended the motion to include lots 12 and 13 (which also have wooded areas) in step (3) above; Mr. Miller agreed with the amendment. AGREEMENT WITH LYLE FICKAU TO ACCESS PETERSON PROPERTY THROUGH ENGEL CONSERVATION AREA FOR FARMING PURPOSES – Conservation Coordinator explained that this is an access agreement between the City of Muskego and Lyle Fickau to provide access to and from the Engel Conservation Property. Chairman Pilak motioned to approve the Engel Conservation Access Agreement with Lyle Fickau; seconded by Mr. Schneider and carried by all. DISCUSS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CITY OF MUSKEGO CONSERVATION PLAN UPDATE – Conservation Coordinator Zagar asked Commissioners to think of recommendations for the Conservation Plan revision. REVIEW DISPOSAL OF COMPUTER MONITORS – Mr. Decker of the Conservation Commission contacted City Hall asking where a computer monitor can be disposed of. Conservation Coordinator Zagar explained that presently there is no local place to take monitors for disposal. He will contact Onyx Waste Service to ask if they can establish a Muskego drop off site for the monitors. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS- Nothing new to report. MEETING DATE- At this time, the Commission set April 24, 2006. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business to discuss, Mr. Miller moved to adjourn; seconded by Ms. Roy and carried by all. Meeting adjourned at 8:01 PM. Kim Chavie Recording Secretary