6.5. SR 06-19-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Elk River REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Agenda Section Meeting Date Communi Develo ment une 19,2006 Item Description Recommendation to Approve Wedand Buffer Ordinance Item Number 6.5. Prepared by Rebecca Hau , Environmental Admin Reviewed by Scott Clark, Community Development Director Introduction This ordinance was brought before you at the May workshop meeting. From that meeting a few changes to the ordinance were requested. These changes are highlighted in the attached ordinance. As a reminder, as part of the City's Natural Resource Inventory, the recommendation to adopt a wedand buffer ordinance was initiated. Staff, along with the City's Wedand Technical Evaluation Panel, which is made of individuals from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Sherburne County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), Terry Maurer, City Engineer and John Norgren, Sherburne County Ditch Inspector and the City's Natural Resource Inventory Task Force drafted a wedand buffer ordinance. Discussion Information was collected from other communities and there was considerable discussion between the groups on the language in the ordinance. The proposed ordinance is much less restrictive than several of the communities that were researched. Most of the communities determine setbacks from wedands based upon the quality of the wedand. The purpose of this ordinance is to protect the remaining wedands in the City of Elk River. Wedands serve several functions and are very important to water quality. The ordinance would require a 25 foot buffer strip from the delineated wedand boundary or the ordinary high water level of a stormwater pond. In this area, no mowing, clearing or removal of vegetation would be allowed. A minimum of 20 feet from the wedand buffer setback would also be required. No structures would be allowed in this setback area. Fences and nature trails, at the City's approval, would be allowed. This ordinance is intended for new construction of plats so any existing lots that abut a wedand would not be affected. The City has made it a policy to require a 20' setback from wedands and steep slopes. However, the City has been informing developers of this proposed ordinance and requesting they adhere to these rules. Two of the plats that are incorporating this proposed ordinance are Heritage Maples and River Park. Financial Impact N/A Attachments Proposed wedand buffer ordinance and diagram depicting what lot would look like. C: \Documents and Settings \ tallard\Local Settings \ Temporary Internet Files \ OLKF\REQUEST COUNCIL ACTION -buffer2.doc