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y of <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> TO: <br />iver <br /> <br />CITY COUNCIL <br /> <br />STEPHEN ROHLF, BUILDING' AND <br />ZONING ADMINISTRATOR <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />APRIL 20, 1998 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: UPDATE ON WILD AND SCENIC <br /> RIVER ORDINANCE <br /> <br />Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provided the city with an updated <br />draft of the Wild and Scenic River Ordinance in 1996. This updated draft was tabled by <br />the Planning Commission in July of 1996 and the Council in August of 1996 because it <br />conflicted with the city's comprehensive plan in several locations. <br /> <br />For example, the draft ordinance makes the historic portion of downtown south of Main <br />Street non-conforming. In addition, the draft ordinance conflicts with the city's plans to <br />extend urban services to eastern Elk River. <br /> <br />The Specht property could be developed with urban residential lots, however, lots that are <br />within the Wild and Scenic River District would have to be a minimum of two acres. <br />This impractical size for urban lots affects a major portion of this property. Further, a <br />large portion of the eastern area with existing commercial uses is affected. Commercial <br />uses are not allowed in the Wild and Scenic River District. <br /> <br />City staff has been diligently working with the DNR on these issue and feels that we will <br />eventually be successful in resolving them. We are trying to have the boundary of the <br />Wild and Scenic River District redrawn to exclude the commercial areas discussed and <br />have the residential areas affected be allowed to develop with urban lot sizes. <br /> <br />What the Council needs to consider is that until these issues with the DNR are <br />resolved, it may be difficult to justify an assessment on these properties for urban <br />services. How this issue affects the expansion of urban services to eastern Elk River <br />should be discussed. <br /> <br />Mayor Hank Duitsman and city staffmet with appropriate DNR officials regarding this <br />issue on March 17, 1997. At that meeting the DNR lead us to believe that they would <br />complete the planning process and public hearings necessary to make the changes to the <br />Wild and Scenic River Ordinance the city requested by this construction season. <br /> <br />Staff is doubtful that this issue will be resolved this year. We will be attending a meeting <br />on this subject on April 30th and can give the Council a further update on the timing of <br />the DNR process. <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 <br /> <br /> <br />