08-23-00 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 23, 2000 allowed wetland areas to be farmed. However, once farming ceased, a farming use could not be re-established. The Administrator again indicated that the Watershed's position is that the wetland in the Arcade Street/LaBore Road area has not changed substantially since 1945, although there may be more water in the wetland area. The Administrator went on to explain the construction of a berm occurred on the eastern edge of this area in the late 1970's in Maplewood. This occurred without the necessary permits, but the Army Corps of Engineers and the Watershed did issue permits after the fact. A ditch along the west side of the berm was also constructed at the request of neighboring property owners. Ken Haider, Maplewood Director of Public Works, contends the ditch does not drain the area into Kohlman, but merely lets water seek its own level as it enters the standing water area north of Kohlman. The ditch is silted in at this time. If the ditch were cleaned out, it would just have standing water. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Watershed permitted all of this work in the late 1970's or early 1980's after the fact. The Administrator reported that the development that occurred in Maplewood received the proper permits from the Watershed. The Administrator again stated that Cliff Aichinger of the Watershed has indicated that while the area is wetter, the wetland itself has not changed much from what existed in 1945. The Administrator indicated that in addition to the run-off added from the Maplewood development, Little Canada and Vadnais Heights have run-off going into the area from the Maple Leaf Court storm sewer. Fahey asked the impact of this information on a thoroughfare plan for the area. The City Administrator reported in order to formalize a thoroughfare plan, a wetland delineation would have to be done. Once that is done, the area would have to be surveyed to designate the thoroughfare location. The Administrator indicated that this work would be costly. Fahey pointed out the potential thoroughfare plan put together by the City Planner. Morelan noted that the City surveyed the residents affected by the thoroughfare plan, and the majority was opposed to it. Morelan stated that he did not think the City should put a lot of effort into a thoroughfare plan when the vast majority of the property owners are opposed to it. Morelan asked what was wrong with property owners wanting to maintain their large lots.