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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF THE LESTER-AMITY-HAWK RIDGE NATURAL AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN AND FINAL DESIGNATION AS A NATURAL AREA.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Management Plan for the Lester-Amity-Hawk-Ridge Natural Area, attached hereto as Exhibit 1, is hereby approved by the Duluth City Council and the appropriate city officials are authorized to take all necessary action to implement the management plan.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that, having approved the Management Plan, the Duluth City Council confirms approval of the Lester-Amity-Hawk-Ridge Natural Area for inclusion into the Duluth Designated Natural Areas Program.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that pursuant to Section 2-255(b) of the Code, the following protections and controls are hereby imposed on those properties designated as part of the Lester-Amity-Hawk Ridge Designated Natural Area pursuant to the resolution: a.) shall be held in perpetuity as a permanently protected natural properties for the benefit of the city’s residents, and b.) any development or use of such lands shall be consistent with the approved Management Plan.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes City officials to approve the inclusion of the Lester-Amity-Hawk Ridge Natural Area into the Duluth Natural Areas Program. The Duluth Natural Areas Program was established in City Code to preserve Duluth’s natural heritage for the public good by protecting lands of special environmental significance. City code outlines a two-step process to designate a specific place as a Duluth Natural Area. Step one was approval of the nomination, which was completed in June of 2025 and established a new Duluth Natural Area on a provisional basis. Step two is the development and approval of the Management Plan, which includes a list of prioritized actions to restore and protect the terrestrial and aquatic values of the area. This Management Plan was developed by four of the City’s natural resource partners: the Minnesota Land Trust, the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory and Minnesota Trout Unlimited. It was unanimously approved by the Natural Resource Commission and Planning Commission at their June 2026 meetings. Following approval of a Management Plan, and final approval of the area as a City of Duluth Designated Natural Area, an 8-to-1 City Council super-majority is necessary to the approve Natural Area designation.