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Council gives nonbinding feedback on Birchwood Estates plan, flags wetlands and private-road issues
Summary
Planner Abby presented a 99-unit Birchwood Estates concept — 86 single-family lots and 13 detached townhome lots — but council raised concerns about wetlands impacts, private streets, snow removal and emergency access; developer said he would work with staff and the county on access and road alignment.
City planner Abby presented the Birchwood Estates concept plan for property near County Road 50 and Rice Creek, describing a proposed planned-unit development with about 99 units — 86 single-family lots and 13 detached townhome lots — that would yield roughly 3.3 units per acre and would require watershed and technical-evaluation permits because of wetlands.
Abby told council the site has "just under 40 acres, 6.25 are wet for sure" and that staff and planning and parks commissions want public-benefit tradeoffs for any reduced zoning. Council members repeatedly questioned private streets proposed for the detached townhome area, citing long‑term maintenance and snow-storage concerns; one council member asked, "Where does all that snow go?" Developer Warren Israelson said private streets allowed fitting lots around constrained wetland areas and indicated the design could be revised if the city’s code requires public streets. The planner and council agreed staff should continue working with the developer and the county on access and wetland permits before the applicant files for preliminary plat.
