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Zisla asked Montague what she thought the City should do about the trees. Montague suggested the property be divided into fewer lots. Zisla asked for a specific statement about the number of lots and a specific statement about the trees, other than we all like to look at the trees on that lot. Benahrio said it should be a park, but that is not what the City has planned. The City has invested heavily in this asset over the years. Every tree should be saved. Whoever develops the site should know this is a special place. The number of lots should be reduced. Any decision is irreversible. We would like to work together to understand the impact of developing the site, how to develop it, or if the property should be developed. Zisla said the applicant had a timeline decision to make. The argument is this is a community resource. Are the trees on the properties of the present residents also a commission resource? Benahrio said the City Forester should be included in this conversation. Zisla asked if anyone in this room thought they should go through this process when they want to cut down a tree on their property. Benahrio said no, this development is unique. This is probably an old growth forest and this is the last piece of property that has those characteristics. Zisla said this site was not a community asset. The City has no mechanism, except the cooperation of the developer, to preserve trees. The people who spoke tonight seem to be asking for a tree plan. There has been wonderful rhetoric and wonderful thoughts expressed this evening. However, the Planning Commission must make a decision under the rules that are currently in place. Livingston said, speaking as a real estate appraiser, it is to the developer’s advantage to preserve as many trees as possible. The City should ask for a plan showing the trees and the location of the proposed houses. That has already been considered. Livingston stated Lot 9 shows 23,000 square feet and could really hold two houses. Lot 8 has 36,000 square feet; Lot 7 has 30,000 square feet; Lot 6 has 32,000 square feet; Lot 5 has 16,000 square feet; Lot 4 has 17,000 square feet; Lots 1, 2 and 3 have between 11,000 and 12,000 square feet. By using the Comprehensive Plan, more than the nine houses requested could be put on the site. A developer could come to the City asking to treat a site as a PRD and put fifty or more townhouses on the site. We must consider all the possibilities. Donovan asked the Planning Commission to consider putting the entrance to the development on Silver Lake Road. John Rengo, the developer’s surveyor, said he would represent Mr. Beach this evening. The entrance on Silver Lake Road has been considered. This would be a bad place for the entrance because of the dip coming down from the north. Silver Lake Road is a Ramsey County road and they require entrances to be a specified number of feet from other intersections. The entrance onto 23rd is the most likely entrance because there is a street that is already platted. The utilities are there and stubbed. If the intersection were on Silver Lake Road, the utilities would be coming from 23rd Avenue in any case. Rengo said some trees would have to be cut. There was an issue about the depth of the sewer raised. Rengo said he recalled that Beach’s engineer said the sewer was about 20 feet deep and the sewer would not be that deep coming from the project. They would construct a drop. Larry Beach, the developer, said he wanted to preserve as many trees as possible. Beach said he appreciated trees. We narrowed the proposed street so the front yards would be deeper to accommodate more plantings. Beach said he wanted to plant as many trees as possible. Beach said he understood Ron Meilahn’s concern about the view from the back of his house. If we can, we will shift the house behind Meilahn to the west as far as possible. Beach said he would plant evergreens on the site. Beach said his project on Silver Lake Road shows his concern for a good-looking development. I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1998\06-16-98.WPD 5