04-04-2012 Planning Commission Work Session

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protecting properties of vegetation.Vegetation also acts to visually screen shoreland development which maintains the natural values of shorelands. Subp.4 f see Repealer] Clearcuttinq: This definition is being repealed because a new definition, "Intensive Vegetation Clearing" is being substituted for "Clearcutting".The repeal of this definition is reasonable because the word'clearcutting'is a term used to describe a technical forest management practice.Private and County forest resource managers had indicated a need for the shoreland regulations to contain a different word and definition to describe and regulate the removal of shoreland vegetation,especially in non- forest management areas, since the regulations address a significant acreage of shoreland that is not being used for industrial or commercial forest management purposes. Item A is necessary to exclude agriculture and forestry from these provisions since the area is anaged in subse I uent subparts. In subitem 1,it is necessary to prohibit vegetation clearing within the bluff and shore impact zones and on steep slopes to protect the vegetation and soil resources of these areas.The existence of vegetation in these areas is important to reduce the erosive effects of falling precipitation on the soil. Vegetation can also reduce the velocities or disperse the flow of surface water runoff, which is important since high velocity or concentrated surface water runoff can readily erode soils. Vegetation in these areas will also consume and utilize nutrients that may be in runoff waters or in the soil profile which could degrade the shoreland water quality if not consumed. Additionally, vegetation root systems in these areas will assist in binding the soil column to prevent or reduce the likelihood of bank and slope failure,which further protects the fish and wildlife habitat values associated with shoreland areas. The existence of vegetation in these areas also acts to screen shoreland development activities which will protect and preserve the natural values of shoreland areas as directed by the shoreland statute. The statement of need for a "bluff impact zone" was introduced earlier during the discussion of bluff setbacks (pg. 28). The statements of need for the definitions of a "shore impact zone", and "steep slopes" are included here for completeness. Subp. 14e. Shore Impact Zone: This definition is needed to describe the area of land between the ordinary high water level and the structure setback which is proposed for managing riparian fringe vegetation, soils and to define the area appropriate for. the location of water oriented accessory structures, as defined later in this document. A shore impact zone width equivalent to 50% of the shoreland class structure setback is reasonable because sufficient land base will remain out of the zone and waterward of the structure(between the structure and the rear end of the zone) for the installation of on-site sewage treatment systems and the clearing of vegetation (if necessary or desired) around the principal structure site. For example,the shore impact zone width on lakes will range from 25 feet on sewered General Development Lake lots to 75 feet on unsewered Natural Environment Lake lots. For rivers,the zone will range from 25 feet on sewered Tributary, Urban or Agricultural segments to 100 feet on Remote river segments. These widths are reasonable since they provide a buffer strip between the waterbody and the respective structure setback line to accomplish the various management objectives for each shoreland class. For example,the zone provides a management framework for: the reduction of non-point source pollution problems (by managing vegetation and soil resources as discussed earlier); the regulation of the size, type and placement of near shore Z