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ITEM ~ 5.1. <br />ver <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Planning Commission <br />FROM: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator <br />DATE: June 13, 2006 <br />SUBJECT: Case No. OA 06-01 Regarding Wetland Buffer Setbacks <br />Request: This ordinance was presented to you on April. However, when the City Council <br />reviewed it, they had some additional comments. A brief history of why this ordinance is <br />being brought before you is as follows: As part of the City's Natural Resource Inventory, <br />the recommendation to adopt a wetland buffer ordinance was initiated. Staff along with the <br />City's Wetland Technical Evaluation Panel, which is made of individuals from the <br />Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Board of <br />Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Sherburne County Soil & Water Conservation District <br />(SWCD), Terry Maurer, City Engineer and John Norgren, Sherburne County Ditch <br />Inspector and the City's Natural Resource Inventory Task Force drafted a wetland buffer <br />ordinance. Information was collected from other communities and there was considerable <br />discussion between the groups on the language in the ordinance. The proposed ordinance is <br />much less restrictive than several of the communities that were researched. Most of the <br />communities determine setbacks from wetlands based upon the quality of the wetland. The <br />purpose of this ordinance is to protect the remaining wetlands in the City of Elk River. <br />Wetlands serve several functions and are very important to water quality. The ordinance <br />would require a 25 foot buffer strip from the delineated wetland boundary or the ordinary <br />high water level of a stormwater pond. A minimum of 20 feet from the wetland buffer <br />setback would also be required and limitations on what can be placed in this area are defined <br />in the ordinance language. This ordinance is intended for new construction of plats so any <br />existing lots that abut a wetland would not be affected. <br />Recommendation: Staff is recommending approval of the attached wetland buffer <br />ordinance. Please see the attached ordinance. I will be present at the meeting to address any <br />questions or concerns. <br />S:\PLANNING\Case Files\2006\OA\OA 06-04 City of ERWeiland\PC-buffer ord2.doc <br />