04-09-2018 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: Cassandra Ordway To: Denny Walsh; Richard Crosbv; Wendy Dankey; Victoria Seals; apintruoCd)ci.orono.mn.us Cc: Jeremy Barnhart Subject: Orono"s Buffer and Setback Regulations Date: Monday, April 09, 2018 4:13:42 PM Dear Mayor Walsh and Members of the Orono City Council, I am writing to encourage the Orono City Council to support the recommendation (#LA18-000023, City of Orono Text Amendment: Wetland Regulations Public Hearing) of the Orono Planning Commission to maintain the current buffer and setback rules in our community. Numerous studies have been done highlighting the importance and the size of wetland buffers and setbacks and therefore, it is critically important that Orono maintains the existing buffer and setback requirements. As Mr. Barnhart points out in his report - the wetland buffer setback provides advantages by increasing land area to allow for water infiltration and overland flow, adds areas to conduct housekeeping activities without impacting the buffer, promotes a rural character by moving the built environment away from the natural resource and buffers provide areas and corridors for wildlife. It is also important to reemphasize that the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is a regional agency, and looks to its City partners to protect the watershed on a more local scale which Orono has historically done very well. The current buffer regulations are consistent with Orono's long standing vision of protecting the natural resources, wetlands, creek and the lakes. We need to protect our wetlands for water quality, animal and fish habitat and our town's unique beauty. Changing the buffer and setback regulations that have been important to our community for many years will have dramatic long-lasting consequences. Currently, Long Lake and the surrounding sub -watershed have very poor water quality (state grade of D). Orono and Long Lake need to take a proactive partnership approach to do everything they can to improve the water quality and reduce the total maximum daily loads (TMDL's) through best land management practices. We need to develop strategies to reduce the storm water and the nutrient loads flowing into the wetlands, lakes and waterways - and one important step is to maintain the current wetland setback and buffers regulations. I want thank you for all that you do to for Orono and our community and I encourage the Orono City Council to support the recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote no to any proposed changes in the current wetland regulations. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Cassandra S. Ordway Cassandra S Ordway 1145 County Road 6 Orono, MN 55356 612-581-5651 casper&oheads.net