09-27-1983 PC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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05. o o Planning Commission Minutes September 27, 1983 Page Two Consider Lot Area Definition Chairman Tracy indicated to the Commission that at the last Planning Commission meet- ing, they discussed what a minimum requirement for a lot should be with respect to building foundations, septic system installation, and open lot areas. Chairman Tracy further indicated that the Planning Commission recommended to the City Council that the area utilized for drainage run-off courses and areas that have water fre- quently on it, such as marshes, swamps, and wet lands, be part of the area lot definition. The City Administrator, Robert Middaugh, indicated that the problem first came up with the Deerfield Preliminary Plat Review. The City Administrator further indi- cated that the present definition of the lot area in the City Code states that no area used as water run-off courses, areas frequently under w~ter and areas tbat have public water such as lakes and rivers cannot be used as areas being computed for the minimum requirements for lots. The City Administrator indicated that in the Deer- field Plat, this would exclude a number of lots. The City Planner, Zack Johnson, indicated that density was the issue and the keeping of green spaces. Mr. Johnson questioned whether there was a concern of housing being too close together if a lot of land was under water and there was only a small amount of buildable land in certain areas. Mr. John Oliver, John Oliver and Associates, was present and indicated that he was representing Mr. Gerry Smith, the developer of Deerfield plat. Mr. Oliver stated that he felt the City should set some sort of minimum of high and dry contiguous land for a housing site. Mr. Oliver further indicated that he thought temporary water should be excluded from the lot area and further indicated that he thought it would be better to name a specific lot size for a building area. Mr. Bill Harju of the Sherburne County Conservation District Office was present at the meeting. Mr. Harju presented the Commission the definition of wetlands put out be the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. There are nine definitions and they are as follows: 1. Seasonally flooded basins or flats 2. In-land fresh meadows 3. In-land shallow fresh marshes 4. In-land deep fresh marshes 5. In-land open fresh water 6. Shrub swamps 7. Wooded swamps 8. Bogs 9. In-land saline flats Much discussion was held regarding these'definitions of wetlands and:what lot areas would be excluded. The concern of potholes in some of the land and these potholes would fi,t one of these 'definitions and therefore, not be eliminated in the lot area size. After much further discussion, it was felt that Number, 3, 4, and 5 would be used for the definition of lot area.