Plan Commission approves grading plan for Indian Spring Drive lots but conditions approval on DNR wetland review and tree mitigation

The Plan Commission on Aug. 27 approved grading and site-restoration work on two adjacent parcels at 940 and 1050 Indian Spring Drive owned by Sean Kelly, but the approval is conditional on several environmental and technical steps, including a DNR review for wetlands. City planner Amy Barrows reported the applicant had previously obtained an erosion-control permit and had disturbed roughly a half-acre of land while moving clean fill onto the site; engineering staff advised the plan as presented would retain drainage storage in an on-site kettle and outlet via a pipe to a south swale. Barrows said staff must determine whether a wetland exists in the red-hatched area shown on older plans and noted a 2016 plan for a different applicant (Hope Church) showed a wetland in roughly the same area. Resident and Plan Commissioner Laura Schult described the area as a natural spring and said the site has historically contained cattails and standing water; she said the neighborhood’s shallow wells and hydrology made her especially concerned about contamination or disturbance to groundwater and wetlands. The applicant, Sean Kelly, said he had previously obtained DNR permitting as a matter of due diligence and that clean fill from known sources was being used; he said his intent is to stabilize and vegetate the site and to improve its marketability for future development. Barrows and engineering staff said the applicant proposes to remove ~40 trees (some dead or diseased) and to plant 84 trees totaling roughly 172.5 inches of diameter replacement, which would exceed mitigation requirements if staff verification concurs with the applicant’s tree health assessment. Barrows asked the commission to require DNR assessment of wetland status and to have the city arborist verify tree health, to confirm mitigation or in-lieu fees if additional healthy trees are removed, and to require site stabilization by Oct. 15 unless otherwise extended by staff. Commissioners discussed the time constraints, DNR response times, and the need for public-works review of stormwater. The commission motioned to approve the project “pursuant to the points 1, 2, and 3, as listed by the city planner,” and added DNR review and staff review conditions. The recorded vote included an abstention by Commissioner Laura Schult; the motion carried. Staff and the applicant will coordinate DNR wetland determination, arborist verification of tree health, erosion-control completion and public works/engineering reviews before further grading is permitted.