12-04-1974 Council Meeting Minutes with PC

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� . MINUTES OF A COUNCIL NIE�TING HII�D DEC.E�'1BER 4, 1974 Page 10 � in the marshes and Lake NLinnetonka. It was noted that the zoning must provide a large enough lot size area to allaw the property awners to continue with the uses which are presently enjoyed in the area. STORM WATER This amendm�nt looks to the present future needs of the RUN-OFF ' • village in that it will elminate the continuation of pol- lution to the water system and will allow the continuation � of life styles in that area. The Surface Water Management Plan and the Harza Reports of January, 1971 indicate that � such a rezoning is necessazy. These reports also indicate that the single largest source of pullutents to the water � shed and to the lakes is frcgn the nutrient load contained in the sewage treai�rn.nt plants. The second largest source � of pollutents is the storm water run-off. If these areas . and other areas of the city were allawed to be densely de- veloped, then the entire area would have to be sewered and � in addition would have to be supplied with adequate storm sewer facilities to drain all of the storm water run-off , into a treatrnQ_nt plant for chemical treatznent to remr�ve at least 900 of the nutrients, prior to discharge into the � 1_akes. Such a program would bankrupt the village and force an increase in taxes which would force all the wealthiest � peop�.e to move from the village. It was noted in these . reports the only effective and practical means of purifi- cation ofstorm water run-off is through the natural marshes � and open lands presently located in area B and in those areas along the lakeshore. It was clear fran prior meet- � ings and reports which have been presented to the village that � the increased urbanization in this area would result in poorer storm water run-off and would result in the destruction of Lake NLinnetonka. Searles noted that Lake Minnetonka has � no adequate source of water except for the storm water run- • off. The village cannot allaw developmexlt as 1 acre lots which would destroy the lake. The village can recogriize � that its previous land use policies have been inadquate and must work to solve the pollution problems created by dense � development in this area by rezoning these areas frcen 1 to 2 acres. M�oreover, to allaa the area to be developed as 1 � acre would force the extension of public sewer to the area and force the village to develop major storm water treatment r plants, the cost of which �uld be astronanical. Searles • noted that Lake Minnetonka requires 25 years in order to turn over the water in the system. The lake must rely upon the � stonn water runroff and if that-s��ntwater run-off is not pure, then the lake will never be able to survive. Unlike � other lakes, there is no opportunity for natural flush-out of pollutents once they are in the Lake. He noted that the � studies by the City of Minneapolis concerning Lake Calhoun • indicate that storm water run-off is the major source of pollution to the lake. Searles � � � � � �