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Sec 1675.08, Sub. 8 : This entire subdivision of specifications presents the risk of being in <br /> conflict with the NURP design standards of Rice Creek Watershed District. We recommend that <br /> the City Engineer review these standards and rectify them with Rice Creek Watershed standards. <br /> Sec 1675.08, Sub. 12 : Replace "previous'with "pervious". <br /> Sec 1675.08, Sub. 13 : Replace "interests.t allow'with 'interests to allow . , <br /> GENERAL <br /> 1. Scope: In general, current state (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) and local (Rice Creek <br /> Watershed District) storm water management ordinances have disturbed acreage thresholds <br /> below which the regulations do not apply(10 acres and 3 acres, respectively). As currently <br /> written, any citizen wishing to obtain a building permit for almost any purpose must submit a <br /> surveyed site map (to two foot contours), a wetland delineation analysis, and a final site contour <br /> map, all of which would require the applicant to hire out for professional services. For a <br /> commercial or industrial development or redevelopment projects, these are appropriate requests; <br /> for a homeowner building a deck, the subcontracted professional services costs may exceed the <br /> cost of the deck. We also can foresee that Public Works staff could spend much of their time <br /> reviewing (likely inadequate) submittals by homeowners, and that sticking to the letter of the <br /> ordinance as proposed would create an adversarial relationship between the City and its citizens. <br /> As a solution, we propose that there be two classes of requirements, one (not yet written) that <br /> would apply to any permits issued to an individual homeowner in the City's R-1, R-1A, and R-2 <br /> zoning districts, and another(the current draft ordinance) for permits issued for all other(larger) . <br /> residential projects and in all.other zoning districts. We recognize that surface water.quality in <br /> the.City is everyone's responsibility(homeowner and business alike), but wish to recognize the <br /> difference in scale and potential water quality impacts between small residential <br /> repair/improvement projects and those of a larger construction project. The proposed residential <br /> housing storm water management requirements would be appropriate in scale and complexity, <br /> be able to be completed by the homeowner, be easily reviewable by City staff, and not pose <br /> significant financial barriers to homeowners who wish to maintain or improve the City's housing <br /> stock. We recommend that City staff contact the League of Minnesota Cities, and contact other <br /> city governments to see what other such ordinances currently exist to serve as a model <br /> residential storm water management ordinance. If none can be found, the Planning Commission <br /> or the City Engineer can be utilized to draft such an ordinance. <br /> 2. Section 1675.08. Sec. 9- Lawn Fertilizer Restrictions. While this restriction on phosphorus is <br /> desirable, as a practical matter it is virtually unenforceable. We recommend that the City. <br /> continue its efforts of educating.its citizens about this issue, and continue to cooperate with other <br /> local governments, conservation organizations, and concerned citizens. <br /> Should the Council have any questions or concerns regarding our comments, please let them be <br /> known to the Planning Commission and we will do whatever we can to support implementation of <br /> the new ordinances. We appreciate the opportunity to comment on these draft ordinances, and <br /> look forward to continue to work with the Council on this issue. <br />