ERMUSR MISC 12-11-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~/ Elk River Municipal Utilities 13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430 Elk River, MN 55330-0430 Variance Narrative: Electric Plant Grading Activities Phone: 763.441.2020 Fax: 763.441.8099 Elk River Municipal Utilities is requesting a variance to allow grading within the 25-foot wetland buffer strip on their site located at 1643 Main Street NW. Section 30-1852 of the City Code does allow for the City to grant approval for impacts. The variance is requested to allow for grading within the wetland buffer area along the west side of the wetland for approximately 35- feet. No grading or impacts would occur within the wetland or on the remaining three sides of the wetland. The drainage area to the wetland basin would remain unchanged. The existing topography consisted of a slope of approximately 3.5:1 from an existing storage area on the site. The Utility would like to install a 4-foot high retaining wall near the edge of the wetland and grade a 2:1 slope up to an expanded storage area.. All area within the 25=foot wetland buffer strip would remain as a vegetated surface with the exception of the retaining wal-. The enforcement of the ordinance would cause the Utility unnecessary hardship by not allowing for any additional storage space within their fenced area. Additional space is necessary for securing valuable electrical equipment due to a series of thefts in the recent past. Due to increased material delivery time, more inventory is required which increases our secured area space needs. The site contains floodplain area adjacent to the north and south of the wetland in question. In order to limit fill in this area, which would be outside of the wetland buffer, the Utility is requesting to be allowed to encroach on one side of the wetland. The variance will not have any adverse affect on the neighborhood where the property is situated because the drainage patterns will remain similar to existing and the adjacent topography to the wetland will not be greatly altered. An existing wooded area buffer of approximately 65-feet will remain between the grading site and the property to the east.