05-22-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 8,2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 16. #17-3922 CITY OF ORONO, TEXT AMENDMENT: WETLANDS REGULATIONS — ORDINANCE NO. 196, Third Series. — continued incorporate into an ordinance because variances do not allow for that. Muldoon stated maybe allowances should be given for those types of situations. Muldoon stated he is concerned about the water quality and that there might be a solution here, which may be mitigation. Kinve stated he was proposing creating an incentive where a person actually creates a buffer. Kinve noted the information that was sent around talks about a buffer, which does not create an incentive to have a buffer. Kinve stated he would leave the regulations unchanged except for allowing accessory structures up to 10 feet from the wetland buffer. If there is no buffer, they have to be 35 feet back from the wetland. Kinve stated it is the buffer that filters the water, slows down the runoff, and absorbs chemicals and nitrates. Kinve stated the City could be a lot more lenient on variances but then there will probably be a bunch of variance requests. Muldoon commented the water quality needs to be preserved, and if the setbacks are cropped to the shortest level, there will be more creep. Muldoon stated it will be easier to go down than it is to come back up. Laurie Goodsell, 2206 Watertown Road, stated she is very much in support of not changing the setback and that little by little things are being chipped away. Goodsell stated she moved here for the rural character. Goodsell stated she is not a water expert but she knows the water quality in this area is terrible and that it needs to be protected more, not less. Cassie Ordway, 1145 County Road 6, stated she would like the City Council to totally understand the ramifications of the ordinance so there is a reasonable, thoughtful discussion on how homeowners should use their land. Ordway commented perhaps a compromise could be reached that way. Ordway stated if the City Council wants to look at data, they can go back to 2001 when the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District did an extensive study looking at 50 to I 00 -foot buffers from 2001 to 2007. At some point a number close to 35 feet was implemented. Ordway stated less than 15 years ago, the buffers and setbacks used to much greater than what they are now. Ordway encouraged the City Council to be very thoughtful about this and that perhaps they should table it given the lateness of the evening. Ordway stated she would also encourage Staff to look at other options that might provide a compromise while still preserving the wetlands and the water quality. Ordway noted wetlands ebb and flow and that if people are allowed to do things too close to the wetlands, they will eventually want to pump the water out of that area. There were no further public comments. Printup commented he is surprised there has not been a bigger push to make larger buffers around Long Lake given the water quality, but that he has a hard time connecting a small accessory structure or a fire pit with really creating bad water quality. Printup stated he does not know how close a fire pit should go to a buffer, but at the same time there are a number of residents that are going around their lawn with Page 31 of 34