02/08/1995 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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considered under the wetland rules reveal the wetland impacts within the City are greater than originally believed, further reducing the supply of buildable land below the aforementioned 1995 estimate. 1991 Wetland Conservation Act The 1991 Wetlands Conservation Act significantly changed the rules for development. This act's primary purpose is to regulate development in a manner that results in no net loss in wetland acreage. This requires urban development to design subdivisions that: 1) avoid wetlands; 2) minimize impact if some intrusion on the wetland is necessary; and 3) mitigate wetlands that are impacted. Due to the extent of wetlands in Lino Lakes, the Conservation Act has significantly impacted the supply of buildable land, development densities, and development patterns in the City. The City survey of nine subdivision designs in accordance with the Wetland Conservation Act reveals that actual delineated wetlands exceeded NWI wetlands.by approximately 50 percent. Past Development Patterns Prior to the 1990 Comprehensive Plan amendment and the 1992 Zoning Ordinance amendment that repealed the SR, Suburban Residential and SRX, Suburban Residential Executive Zoning Districts, the City allowed unsewered subdivisions with a minimum lot size of 2.5 acres. The 1990 and 1992 amendments served to implement a rural service policy of one unit per 10 acres consistent with Metropolitan Council guidelines. Review of Lino Lakes reveals a scattered pattern of unsewered subdivision impact on community growth in the following ways: 1. The subdivision established a suburban density that raises concern with regard to compatibility with urban densities. 2. The subdivisions are often resistant to the extension of utilities due to the cost of assessment to the larger lots. This resistance complicates the future planning and construction of local infrastructure. 3. The sensitive environmental features (i.e., wetlands/soils, high water table, lakes) inherent in Lino Lakes presents concern with regard to the proper functioning of on-site septic systems and the potential for their failure. The concentration of unsewered small lots present utility and environmental concerns if large scale failure would occur. 20