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Environmental Assessment of Dicken Woods
The following report was prepared by J & L Consulting Services of
Ypsilanti, MI. This environmental consulting company was commissioned
by the Friends of Dicken Woods to provide an independent, objective
environmental analysis of Dicken Woods.
EVALUATION OF 10.14-ACRE PARCEL
AT 1381 MAPLE ROAD, CITY OF ANN ARBOR, MI
26 March 2003
PDF version of report also available.
Prepared by:
J & L Consulting Services
32 N. Clubview Drive
Ypsilanti, MI 48197-3753
Evaluation of 10.14-Acre Parcel (1381 Maple Road)
A. Background of Parcel
This 10.14-acre land parcel, which is currently situated within Ann
Arbor Township and located at 1381 Maple Road, will pass to the City of
Ann Arbor once a site plan is accepted by the City of Ann Arbor. See
Figure 1 for Zoning and Area Map. At present this property is covered
by a young woodland that covers about 60 percent of the land area. In
addition, brush covers about 40% of the parcel, and three wetlands which
amount to 1.52 acres, occur within the wooded and brushy areas. An old
house foundation, and what appears to be an abandoned residential water
well, occur on a high spot located directly east of Maple Road. No
other structures are present on this vacant, wooded property.
On 2-4-03 the Planning Commission of the City of Ann Arbor rejected
an area plan that was submitted by Atwell-Hicks, Inc. on behalf of the
developer, i.e., the Archdiocese of Lansing, Michigan. The development
proposal included a rezoning of the residential parcel from R1 to R3.
The rezoning would allow an increase in the residential density from 2
units per acre to approximately 10 units/acre, as well as provide for
clustered single family units. Because of the relatively high "density
by right" associated with the R3 (Townhouse) zoning district, the
Planning Commission of the City of Ann Arbor recommended denial of the
area plans submitted by Atwell-Hicks, Inc.
B. Concerns of the Neighbors near Dicken School
Single-family homes on individual lots currently exist on the east and
south sides of the subject 10.14-acre property. Pauline Street occurs
to the north, and Maple Road is present on the west margin. Given the
wooded nature of the site, and the proximity to Dicken Elementary
School, the residential neighbors that border the subject parcel would
prefer that the site be maintained as a park. As proposed, a clustered
development with 60 or so residential units would not only lead to a
loss of most of the woodlands, but would create considerable runoff
along with the potential for flooding of home sites near the northeast
corner of the site. Whereas a site plan has yet to be prepared for the
subject 10.14-acre parcel, including a stormwater management plan, the
neighbors wish to go on record opposing the proposed rezoning from the
R1 to R3 district.
C. Drainage of the 10.14-Acre Property
Because the elevational differences on site range from a high of 988
feet near Maple Road to a low of 955 feet near the northeast corner of
the property, the subject wooded parcel has 33 feet of vertical relief
and contains slopes that vary from 2 to 12 percent. Wetland B drains
the central part of the parcel as elevations range from 978 to 979 feet
near Maple Road to 949 feet near Pauline Street (offsite to the
immediate north). See enclosed site plan drawing by Atwell-Hicks
(Topographic Survey & Site Analysis). This area plan drawing has
been modified by J & L Consulting as part of this report.
The area plan by Atwell-Hicks, which was submitted along with the
rezoning proposal, contains the probable site plan. See Sheet 123-172-3
(by Atwell-Hicks, dated 5-28-02).
Given a probable runoff coefficient of the developed portion of the site
at about 0.5 (C-Value), and a need to maintain the hydrology of the
wetlands in the plans, considerable sheet flow from the clustered
single-family units will likely be shunted to the wetlands. Not only
does Wetland B drain to the northeast, a ditch on the east edge of the
property drains northward to the northeast corner of the property.
Because it is also likely that the stormwater from the two proposed
stormwater detention basins will be discharged to the adjacent wetlands
as well, increased wetness and possible flooding will occur in the
extreme northeast corner of the subject 10.14-acre parcel when
development takes place.
The current drainage of much of the undeveloped parcel already drains
offsite to the northeast, i.e., across Lot # 33. This runoff water
then drains to the northeast onto the adjacent multi-family development.
The runoff from the wooded 10.14-acre parcel is joined by runoff from
curbside catch basins on Stephen Terrace (street) that is being
discharged into a mixed forested/wet meadow wetland on the adjacent
multi-family property located to the northeast. This wetland on the
multi-family site is currently being inundated by these two drainage
sources, as evidenced by standing water (ice) within the wetland.
Development of the 10.14-acre property will certainly exacerbate the
flooding of the offsite wetland, and will probably cause die-back of
some of the trees within this wetland on the multi-family parcel.
D. Soils and Runoff from the Subject Parcel
The groundwater recharge map of Washtenaw County, which is quite
general, reveals that the groundwater recharge potential of the
10.14-acre parcel is low. That low recharge occurs because the soils
on site are not sandy or gravelly, but are somewhat fine grained which
partly inhibits surface infiltration of water. According to the Sheet #
26 of the Soil Survey of Washtenaw County, Michigan, the soils on site
consist of the Miami Loam. See enclosed Figure 2 (Soils Map). Soil
Types MmC and MmB correspond to the Miami Loam soil type, with slopes
ranging from 2 to 12 percent. Silt and clay, i.e., fine soil fractions,
comprise 20 to 50% of the Miami Loam soil constituents.
What is significant in regard to the soil types on site is that the
infiltration rate of these soils ranges only between 0.6 to 2.0
inches/hr (Table 7, Soil Survey of Washtenaw County). Thus, during
intense precipitation events, or during sudden snow melt periods, water
will largely runoff off the surface, rather than infiltrate into the
ground. This runoff potential will of course be increased when fairly
intensive development occurs, i.e., the possible clustered development
of the R3 zoning of the medium density Townhouse Dwelling District. In
order to maintain the hydrology of the wetlands, and by providing the
usual outlets for the two proposed stormwater detention basins, the
probable Townhouse development on the 10.14-acre parcel will create
excessive runoff through the existing wetlands on the subject parcel
which, in turn, will exceed the storage capacity of the offsite wetland
on the adjacent multi-family site.
E. Quality of the Woodlands
In an attempt to justify the change in zoning from R1 (Single Family) to
R3 (Townhouse Dwelling with cluster option), the developer has
characterized the woodlands on site as being of "low quality with
invasive species". Moreover, the extent of the woodlands has been
minimized, and the brush on site over-emphasized. This characterization
of the woodlands on the 10.14-acre property is not accurate.
By walking the perimeter of the property, the undersigned has
determined that the woodlands on the 10.14-acre parcel have been
undermapped. Approximately 60 percent of the subject parcel is wooded,
and these woodlands contain young to medium-aged trees. Whereas a
shrubby strip of brush is present on site as a diagonal area, not all of
the woodlands consist of invasive tree and shrub species. Only the
shrubby brush contains an invasive shrub, which in this case is thorny
buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). Grey dogwood, small American elm, and
some hawthorn also occur within the areas of brush. In contrast, within
the wooded area, there is a diversity of tree species, including white
oak, red oak, American elm, silver maple, red maple, hop hornbeam, and
white ash. Some old and dead apple trees also occur in the northwestern
portion of the property.
Both the woodlands and the areas of brush support a variety of small
mammals as well as considerable bird life. While walking the perimeter,
the undersigned observed tracks of squirrels, cottontail rabbits, red
fox, and even one track of white-tailed deer. In addition, the birds
that were observed on site included blue jays, cardinals, black-capped
chickadees, and mourning doves. Hence, even the areas of brush support
considerable animal life, and provides important habitat for small
mammals and birds. Thus, the characterization of the woodlands and/or
brush areas as being of "low quality" is not supported by the field
observations.
F. Quality of the Wetlands
Although the wetlands on site are not real wet, and have developed over
time on former farmland, these wetlands do not appear to be of low
quality. The vegetation is not homogeneous, and these wetlands appear
to support considerable animal and bird life. However, the main
function of these wetlands may well be to store and slowly release
runoff water from the nearby higher ground and sloping hills. Given the
moderate rates of runoff currently on site, even within the woodlands
and brush-covered areas, the wetlands receive water from the higher
elevations. This water is slowly transported down slope in the
wetlands, and much of it ends up in the northeast corner of the
property, or in the ditches along Pauline Street. Hence, to
characterize the wetlands on the subject property as low quality is
simply not accurate.
With regard to the diversity of the wetland vegetation within Wetland
B, the following plant species were noted from the parcel margins:
Carex sedge, slender rush, reed canary grass, tall goldenrod, wild
grape, silky dogwood, honey suckle, small American elm, a few highbush
cranberry shrubs, glossy buckthorn, grey dogwood, and small silver maple
trees. In Wetlands A and C, I observed forested wetlands which
contained eastern
cottonwood, red (green) ash, black willow, silver maple, and red maple
trees. Therefore, if wetland function and vegetation diversity are part
of the rating of wetland quality on site, then it appears as though the
wetlands on site are of moderate quality, and generally not of low
quality.
Summary and Recommendations
Based on the limited field investigation, and study of the area plans
submitted by Atwell-Hicks, Inc., it appears as though the proposed
rezoning from R1 (Single Family) to R3 (Townhouse Dwelling) with
clustered units is not compatible with the slopes and soils on
the subject 10.14-acre property.
Whereas one might conclude that by clustering the proposed
residential units, that would be a feasible mechanism to protect the
wetlands and some of the woodlands on site. However, since much of the
upland areas or non-wetland areas on site are wooded, essentially the
proposed development is largely displacing the woodlands. Furthermore,
though the proposed area plan protects the wetlands from development,
the sheet flow drainage into the wetlands from the developed areas, and
with discharge from the two proposed stormwater detention basins, the
wetlands on site will probably receive too much stormwater, including in
the northeast corner of the property.
Clustering of units is generally an appropriate density measure when
the soils are rather permeable and when there is not much slope on site.
In the case of the 10.14-acre parcel, the soils are somewhat loamy and
fine grained, which results in relatively low infiltration rates.
Moreover, the slopes on site range from 2 to 12 percent, which means
that runoff will be considerable, especially where the clustered
residential development is planned. In addition, given the need for
on-site detention, the real problem occurs when the outlets are provided
for the stormwater basins. At present, the two options are to: 1)
discharge to the wetlands in the northeast corner of the property, and
2) to discharge some of the stormwater to the roadside ditches along
Pauline Street.
Discharging stormwater to the wetlands in the northeast corner of the
parcel may not be prudent because water problems already exist at homes
near that part of the parcel. Wetland B drains to the northeast
corner, and a ditch along the east margin of the 10.14-acre parcel
currently drains northward to the northeast corner of the subject
property as well. These two sources of runoff water cause considerable
wetness and some flooding on the offsite lot closest to the northeast
corner of the property. Hence, water management is currently a problem
near the northeast corner of the subject property.
In addition, the forested/wet meadow wetland located offsite to the
northeast, i.e., on the adjacent multi-family property, is presently
receiving considerable runoff from the parcel under investigation as
well as from drainage from the roadbed of Stephen Terrace. Adding more
runoff, even at a controlled rate, may well exceed the capacity of the
offsite wetland to store and transport the additional water without
ecological damage.
Finally, as regards the stormwater management, discharging stormwater
into the ditches of Pauline Street may not receive approval from the
Drain Office of Washtenaw County. The culverts under Pauline Street are
of relatively small diameters (orifices), and there are no debris
guards to prevent blockage. Also, this additional stormwater discharge
may exacerbate the existing stream problems of Mallett's Creek and
Allen Creek. Hence, the developer may wish to employ stormwater
retention measures instead of the usual stormwater detention basins.
Therefore, the future development of the 10.14-acre wooded property,
i.e., site plan preparation, should take place only after careful study
and planning. The neighbors, particularly those near the northeast
corner of the subject property, do not want offsite impacts resulting
from excessive runoff and stormwater discharges. Thus, it is the wish
of the neighbors that the property in question remain in its current
natural state. If, on the other hand, the property is developed for
some limited residential purposes, a single-family development at about 2
units per acre, as shown on Alternate Plan B (by Atwell-Hicks, Inc) may
be acceptable if the stormwater management plan does not cause adverse
offsite impacts such as increased flooding. Alternative Plan A is very
unrealistic in terms of number of units, wetland fill, and connections
with Dicken Drive.
Eugene Jaworski, PhD
Principal, J & L Consulting
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