11-22-1999 Council Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

r r I I I i i • « One need only look to the ease example-of L-akc-Calhoun in Mmneapolis. There has neve r been a drop of sewage effluent-running into Calhoun. but the lake ia suffering aeve fe-poHution from high leve ls of nutrients eontained in the storm w ster runoff from the densety deve loped watewhed. Storm water nutrient pollution from the urban runoff ovenvhelms the natural life system of the lake and results-inaeeelerated emrophieation. The cost of solvin g this problem, either filtering or rerouting the storm water, has eenststcntly been judged too ex pensiv e'forCalhounrTheiwshefthc^amc solutions on the SO times large r Minnetonka lendation of many studies as already incorp'^'-ated in State PCA and DNR peHev oolrciesin the Jl970's is was that lakeshore density be limited and that the natural system of wetland'^andjpgfshes be forever protected and preserved as the only practical, economic method of filtering nutrients from storm water runoff. In response to the above concerns, Orono in the 1970 ’s became has become a nationally recognized leader in espousing environmental protection. Land use planning since the I950's has stressed the environmental advantages of low- density development. Shoreland- wetlands and natural drainage systems have been preserved by tradition and by ordinance. Compreiiensive Planning was underway by the mid 1960's. In 1974, the first published Plan, as approved by the Metropolitan Council, established as its foremost guiding principle the protection and preservation of Lake Minnetonka and its associated wetlands. Hard decisions have been were made bv the Citv' of Orono in the I970's to limit the extension of bii. densome urban services into rural areas. Enforcement of these policies as an interrelated package has been consistent and effective. These practices and policies were developed by Orono citizens and they have been consistently supported by Orono citizens and by environmental spokesmen nationwide. Development in Orono is continuing to provide new housing and employment opportunities as it has for over 100 years, but it is now managed better than ever to assure the health, safety and water quality preservation so important to ail Lake Minnetonka area residents. Recent changes in national priorities, population trends, metropolitan plans and metropolitan facilities reinforce the planning and development objectives of Orono. The I950's and 1960's were years of great expansion and reliance upon the powers of science and industry to solve all problems. Population graphs showed growth projections running off the paper. Suburbs boomed while core cities were fighting for their very surv ival. The I970's brought a new environmental awareness and an understanding that nature, not science was the key to our planet's survival. New social concerns revived the cities and showed how characterless the suburbs had become. Inflation and population stabilization brought unlimited expansion to a halt as roads, schools, and all public services began scrambling for maintenance dollars while overbuilt facilities quickly became terrible taxpayer burdens. The cost of energy-» dramatically refocusing dramatically refocused everjone's attention on conservation and careful planning of any new facility. f • CMP 6-11 E