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<br />The City could identify such performance standards to this ordinance, and therefore <br />require that at least a portion of the woodland area be protected. (Ordinances typically <br />do not require that 100 percent of an area be protected because this may allow for no <br />use of the property, and would be termed a "taking".) <br /> <br />Inventory staff noted that oak wilt is a problem the affects woodlands in Elk River. The <br />tree/woodland ordinance could include requirements to protect woodlands during <br />development, to avoid the spread of oak wilt. <br /> <br />The City could also protect woodlands, prairies, and other natural areas identified in <br />the NRI by using an overlay zone in its ordinances. These are typically called <br />Environmental Protection Zones or Environmental Conservation Zones, and this <br />approach is described in #3, below. <br /> <br />Section 30-417. Drainaqe <br />The City's Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) should be reviewed in light of the <br />NRI results, to determine whether any changes are needed to identify wetlands, <br />creeks or other areas to be protected from storm water impacts, or other policies that <br />could be included in the plan to support the findings of the NRI. If a SWMP is not <br />currently available for developing areas within the City, the City may choose to require <br />developers to conduct SWMPs prior to approval of development plans, with review of <br />study results by a qualified water resources engineer (with experience in natural <br />resources planning). <br /> <br />Section 30-417(2) should be updated to reflect current MPCA requirements for <br />pretreatment of stormwater before discharge to wetlands. <br /> <br />Based on a review of the plan, the City could decide whether a more comprehensive <br />Stormwater Ordinance is needed. <br /> <br />Subdivision II. Open Space Preservation Plats <br />This subdivision of the City Code is a powerful tool for protecting and restoring natural <br />areas identified in the City's Natural Resource Inventory. Some suggestions to <br />specifically incorporate the NRI in this section include the following: <br /> <br />. 30-514 (2) and (3)-the sketch plan could be required to show all natural areas <br />identified in the NRI <br /> <br />City of Elk River, MN - Natural Resouce Inventory <br />Bonestroo Natural Resources, September 2004 <br /> <br />44 <br />