05-03-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View Planning Commission May 3, 2000 Regular Meeting Page 3 Ms. Peterson reviewed the requirements of the four bodies of government that set forth the requirements of the contents of the Local Water Management Plan. These include State Statute 103B, Minnesota Rule 8410, the Metropolitan Council’s requirement for a Local Water Management Plan, and the Watershed District requirement. She noted that the Rice Creek Watershed District and Metropolitan Council’s requirements for the Local Water Management Plan were the same. Ms. Peterson indicated the requirements set forth by the Metropolitan Council are the most detailed of the requirements for the Local Water Management Plan. She discussed each of these requirements and explained that each of these requirements have been specifically listed and addressed in the plan. Mr. Keehn indicated that during the current review process, they had focused primarily upon the Rice Creek Watershed District permitting rules. He advised that the permits relate to rate controls for any residential and development plan greater than 5 acres, and industrial and commercial areas greater than 2.5 acres. He stated the Watershed District continues to permit water quality or wetland impact based upon the lot, which is a much smaller requirement, therefore, with the plan as proposed, Rice Creek Watershed District would continue to permit these activities based upon these acreage requirements. Mr. Keehn advised that the Rice Creek Watershed District has the opportunity to comment upon all proposals that come into the community, which relate to these issues. He indicated that if the Watershed District does not comment upon a proposal, the City’s Planning Department would typically forward a copy of the plan to SEH for their review. He explained that when SEH reviews a proposal, they examine the overall impact to the site, and whether or not the proposal presents a detriment to the larger wetland or area adjacent to it. He noted that the Watershed District considers this as well, and even if they permit a project, SEH does not tend to become involved in the examination of the design specifics, but rather, in terms of the overall impact to the City. He explained that for the most part, the Watershed District does not comment, because they only have regulatory authority over the property that is being developed. Mr. Keehn stated SEH also reviews buffer related issues, and the typical recommendation is that any residential development within the buffer be set back 10 to 15-foot from the wetland, and this review relates primarily to the wetland’s impact to the system. He explained that if this is a wetland at the top of the watershed, which will run through several wetlands before it reaches Rice Creek, the concern is more of a local issue, and providing a smaller buffer. He stated there are wetlands that they consider a bit more sensitive, and in these cases, they have recommended to the City that a larger buffer be provided. He added that in situations where an individual has constructed a driveway or increased the impervious surface directly adjacent to a wetland, they recommend an increase in the buffer. He pointed out that these projects are reviewed on a case- by-case basis, which provides some flexibility in situations that might otherwise require variances.