6.1. - 6.3. SR 06-21-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . Letters in support of staffs proposals from Ronald Black, dated May 19, 1999; Michael Leary, dated May 19, 1999; and Charlie Houle, dated May 25, 1999. Backe:round Currently, Section 906 of the City of Elk River Code of Ordinances entitled, "Wild and Scenic River Ordinance" is fairly incomplete and contains numerous references to State Statutes, but no details. This ordinance only affects the Mississippi River. In 1995, the DNR presented the city with a draft model Wild and Scenic River Ordinance. Staff reviewed the DNR ordinance, modified it to make it compatible with the city's Comprehensive Plan, and presented the modified version to the Planning Commission in July of 1996. The DNR rejected the city's proposed revisions. In March of 1997, city staff met with numerous DNR officials to discuss the logic of the city's proposed modifications to the ordinance. Staff also impressed upon the DNR that the timing of resolving the issues was critical because of inquiries for building permits from several businesses in the Wild and Scenic River District. The DNR officials at the meeting gave the impression that the city's issues would be resolved by the fall of 1997, and that they would not get tied up in the planning process the DNR was about to start regarding the Mississippi River. . When a resolution of the differences between the DNR's version of the Wild and Scenic River Ordinance and the city's Comprehensive Plan did not materialize by the fall of 1997, the city again contacted the DNR. The DNR gave a new estimated time frame for the resolution ofthese issues of fall 1998. Relying on this information, the city extended services to the East Highway 10 area. The city was then informed that a resolution of the outstanding issues between the city's Comprehensive Plan and the DNR's version of the Wild and Scenic River Ordinance would be directly tied to the DNR's Mississippi River planning effort and consequently delayed once more. Staff has tried to follow the DNR's planning effort with much frustration. The DNR is "Consensus Building". In other words, issues regarding lands adjacent, and lands not so adjacent, to the river will be decided by a majority of those present at the DNR meetings. Through the DNR's planning process, land use issues affecting a major corridor through the City of Elk River could be decided solely by people who do not live within the city and are not elected to do so. . By the time the DNR's planning process is over, legislative rule changes are accomplished, and specific changes in Elk River's ordinance are affected, two or possibly three more years will lapse. This time frame is unacceptable for businesses and other property owners who have been waiting for a resolution to these issues since 1996.