Resolution No. 4780 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The redesignated wetland areas are illustrated on the map adopted as Exhibit A to the Ordinances. That map shows that the most western part of the Parkway corridor redesignated by the WEWP amendments runs just north of the railroad tracks and terminates at a point east of the intersection of the railroad tracks and Highway 126 and further east of the WEWP boundary. The eastern terminus of the affected wetlands is more precisely shown on Map 3 of the WEWP, the Wetlands Designations Map. Both parts of the Oak Hills Significant Vegetation and Wildlife site are located further north of the railroad tracks, north and west of the Planned Transportation Corridor wetland area. The redesigned wetlands are not on/do not overlap the Oaks Hills Significant Vegetation and Wildlife site. The Oak Hills site is described in the 1982 Goal 5 inventory documents as "[p ]rominent oak-covered hills. . . containing the largest expanse of oak habitat type." Metro Plan Update Vegetation/Wildlife/Wildlife Habitats Working Paper, April 12, 1978, page D-13. Though "Wetlands" was one often criteria considered in selecting Significant Vegetation and Wildlife sites for the 1982 Goal 5 inventory, the Oak Hills site was identified under Goal 5 only due to its attributes as a "Limited habitat type within region or metro area" and as a "Corridor." The "Wetlands" criterion was not met for the Oak Hills site. Metro Plan Update Vegetation/WildlifelWildlife Habitats Working Paper, April 12, 1978, pages D-11, 12. Even if the geographic area of the Oak Hills Significant Vegetation and Wildlife site did include wetlands that were protected by the WEWP, the removal of WEWP protection of that wetland would not have removed the Goal 5 protections of the site. The WEWP designates wetlands either for protection, restoration or development. Amendments to these designations can only change the status of a wetland - allowing greater or less protection of the wetland. The WEWP does not provide any protection for resource types other than wetlands. Changing the level of protection for a wetland through a WEWP amendment does not effect the level of Goal 5 protection provided to the site due to other natural attributes. Perhaps the clearest reason for the conclusion that the Oak Hills Significant Vegetation and Wildlife site was not redesignated as part of the WEWP amendments is that the Oak Hills site, as identified in the Goal 5 inventory, is not even within the plan boundaries of the WEWP. Therefore, the Oak Hills Significant Vegetation and Wildlife site could not have been redesignated under the WEWP. 10