Agenda Packets - 2004/09/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 10F Meeting Date: September 27, 2004 Type of Business: CB Administrator Review: ____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: James Ericson, Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: Accept the Spring Creek Basin Wetland Delineation Report and Hydrology Analysis and Authorize the Field Verification and Digital Conversion of the City’s Official Wetland Zoning Maps Introduction: On February 9, 2004, the City Council authorized staff to proceed with the creation and distribution of an RFP for services associated with the Spring Creek Wetland Basin west of Silver Lake Road and north of County Road H. The purpose for the RFP stemmed from the fact that the Wetland Zoning Maps do not accurately reflect actual conditions which means that some residents are potentially being unnecessarily subjected to heightened requirements and regulations pertaining to wetlands and wetland buffers. On July 26, 2004, the City Council authorized the firm of SEH, Inc. to perform a wetland delineation and hydrology analysis of the Spring Creek basin in part to obtain a true delineation of the wetland as well as to review and comment on the City’s wetland regulations in general. On August 31, 2004, SEH delivered their completed findings to city staff. Results: The delineation performed by SEH indicates that the wetland boundaries are in fact different than what is identified on the official Wetland Zoning Maps. (Exhibit A represents the existing wetland boundaries; Exhibit B illustrates the SEH delineation.) The changes may have resulted from gradual hydrological shifts over time or are simply the representative differences between a precise field verified delineation and a non-field verified boundary based on aerial photographs and assumed elevations. Regardless of the cause, the boundaries of the wetland are different than what are currently shown on the City’s official Wetland Zoning Map and the maps should be revised accordingly. SEH was asked to review and comment on the City’s wetlands regulations as codified under Chapter 1010 of the Municipal Code. They report that the 100-foot buffer is NOT excessive and they would not recommend decreasing the buffer width. The following language is taken directly from the Spring Creek Report: In general, the basin has relatively steep topography and most homes and existing structures are well above any elevation or buffer width that would affect the wetland, buffer, or hydraulic characteristics of the basin. Not all portions of the basin are equal, however, in many portions, mostly on the north side, the buffer area is much more gradual and is currently being used for backyards. Some of these are just wooded and left natural, but a few have maintained turf up to, and even within, the wetland. Because the topography is not equal throughout the basin, and existing homes already have a variety of setbacks, it would be difficult to justify changing the rules specifically for this basin.