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#04-2997 <br />March 12, 2004 <br />Page3 <br />The driveway will constitute filling of25 cubic yards of gravel in the 0-75' zone, requiring a CUP, and will <br />constitute approximately 750 s.f. or 12% impervious surface in the o-75' zone. These impacts are <br />unavoidable in order to provide suitable access, and have been minimized by limiting the width of the <br />driveway to 10'. <br />With passage of the WCA, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District was designated by the City as the <br />responsible Local Government Unit (LGU) for administering the WCA regulations. These regulations <br />provide degrees of flexibility for certain types of wetland alteration activities which are seen as positive <br />rather than detrimental, and they provide for mitigation of negative impacts when they are unavoidable. <br />MCWD Approval Required <br />The appropriate applications are being made to the MCWD. MCWD approval shall be required befiore <br />the project may commence. <br />City Consultant Review <br />This application was prepared by Public Services Director Greg Gappa with the assistance ofJohn Smyth, <br />Water Resource Specialist with Bonestroo & Associates, the City's engineering and environmental <br />consultants. <br />Hardship Statement <br />Because wetland alterations are not allowed by Orono Code except by variance, the activity is required <br />to be justified via the demonstration of a hardship. Please review the hardship statements within the <br />application packet. The need for access to inland properties is a valid hardship that supports this variance <br />request. The locations of the few access points to the island were platted a century ago, before motorized <br />vehicles were common. The access points generally were platted at low points in the topography, for <br />obvious reasons. This is one of the only potential access points for the north half of the island, and the <br />proposed work is necessary from a public a safety standpoint, as well as to provide access to inland lot <br />owners. Access cannot be provided without work in the 0-75' zone. <br />Issues for Consideration <br />1. Are there any aspects of this project that will be detrimental to the neighborhood? <br />2. Is Planning Commission satisfied that the project is appropriate? <br />3. Does Planning Commission have any other issues or concerns with this application?