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Mounds View City Council December 10, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 14 N:\DATA\GROUPS\COMDEV\Development Cases\VR01-010 (Harstad Variance)\Harstad Appeal Report -Dec 10, 2001.doc The Staff report was added as presented and no changes were made. Acting Mayor Stigney closed the public hearing 8:18 p.m. Council Member Marty indicated he felt the letter submitted by Michael and Helen Grant was excellent. He indicated that the City developed the wetland zoning ordinance to protect and preserve the wetlands in the City. He then indicated that, if wetlands are filled in and a hole is dug for a pond the City would not have wetlands anymore. He further indicated that the wetland cleans the water before it flows into Rice Creek and it also cleans the water before it seeps into the water table and enters the ground water supply. Council Member Marty indicated that it was brought to his attention a number of times in the past that there is a dip in that part of Silver Lake Road. He then commented that the area is a peat bog and that is why they have to continue to fix Silver Lake Road in that area. He further commented that there would be a need to go down hundreds of feet to completely remove all the peat. Council Member Marty indicated that a newly constructed neighborhood of very nice homes in New Brighton was constructed on a wetland and the homes are settling and cracking. Council Member Marty indicated the City had discussed the possibility of having a trailway along the west side of Silver Lake Road in that area because the east side is a designated wetland and the remainder of it is wetland buffer. He then commented that whether it is wetland or wetland buffer the first word is wetland and if you start building in wetlands it could, and has in some cases, cause wetlands to receed. Council Member Marty commented that he did not see how anybody could really build in that area without altering the natural habitat and the wetland conditions there. Council Member Thomas clarified that the variance is not to allow construction but to allow for 11 houses versus the eight that would be allowed by City Code. Director Ericson indicated she was correct. Council Member Thomas asked whether Rice Creek Watershed District had given any comments with its approval to indicate why it felt that allowing this development was acceptable. Director Ericson indicated that he did not receive any other information other than the report which indicated that the development met all the criteria. Council Member Thomas asked whether the City's requirements were taken into consideration.