Press Release: The fight to save the rookery continues
Rochester, MN The fight to Save the Rookery continues!
UPDATE: The newly formed non-profit, Save the Rookery, along with a group of Rochester Township residents and concerned Minnesota citizens, have appealed the Rochester Township board’s decision NOT to order an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Pavilion Estates development of a parcel of hardwood forest where a Great Blue Heron rookery has persisted for decades. On Tuesday the Minnesota Court of Appeals accepted the appeal.
The Township approved an incomplete Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) on September 9th, 2021, clearing the path for the approvals process to continue towards the development of 10 large lot luxury homes. The EAW, prepared by developer International Properties LLC, Aderonke Mordi, president, ignored recommendations from the State Historic Preservation Office for a Phase I archaeological survey to be completed before approving the EAW. The Township also ignored this comment from the DNR’s Division of Ecological and Water Resources:
“This property is a remnant hardwood forest that has never been developed. It is currently mapped as a Minnesota Biological Survey (MBS) Site Below the threshold for Biodiversity Significance. Contrary to what was stated in Section 12 and in the Great Blue Heron Rookery Report, even sites that do not meet the higher MBS ranking standards may include areas of conservation value at the local level, such as habitat for native plants and animals, corridors for animal movement, buffers surrounding higher-quality natural areas, areas with high potential for restoration of native habitat, or open space. With so few forest remnants remaining, sites such as this should be prioritized for conservation whenever possible. The removal of over 17 acres of remnant forest would be a loss of habitat and a significant impact to local wildlife.”
In their signed decision to approve the EAW, the Rochester Township stated, “The anticipated environmental effects of this project are found to be the same as those experienced with any development.“ This, despite continued efforts by a growing number of local and regional elected officials, conservation groups, imminent scientific experts, former DNR officials and laypeople to persuade both Olmsted County Commissioners and the Rochester Township to take a longer view of land use and conservation in our region where development has overtaken biodiversity and impacted regional climate resilience.
Despite the pending appeal, the Township Planning Commission is proceeding with a public hearing on Monday October 11th to make recommendations to the board on the following decisions:
Changing the zoning of the rookery land from “Agricultural District” to “Low Density Residential”, and
to approve the General Development Plan.
These recommendations could embolden the developer to clear trees for the construction of a new road and the luxury houses, cutting directly through the midst of an estimated 40-50 nesting trees that the Great Blue Herons have been returning to for decades. No protections currently remain in place for this rookery.
Despite this loss of protections, it would be very unwise for the developer to begin any clearing or construction, because if the appeal wins, then the developer would have to retrofit the project to lessen environmental impacts. Costs for this could be much more than the initial construction of the 10 luxury homes, and worse still, damage from clearing the rookery trees would be an irreversible loss of secure breeding habitat for the herons - and for the city of Rochester.
The hope of Save the Rookery is that the court of appeals will order an Environmental Impact Study(EIS). This is the only method to carefully consider the environmental concerns and for all parties to have the appropriate information to make this important land use decision.
Save the Rookery urges anyone concerned about the destruction of this forest to please send a message TODAY to the Planning Commission Members by calling or emailing Randy Staver, the Township Clerk:
(507) 288-9034
rochestertownshipclerk@gmail.com
Ask them to table the decision on changes to the zoning or approving the general development plan until after the appeal is heard and decided upon by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Photo by William Welke