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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,May 8,2017 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> 16. #17-3922 CITY OF ORONO,TEXT AMENDMENT: WETLANDS REGULATIONS— <br /> ORDINANCE NO. 196,Third Series.—continued <br /> incorporate into an ordinance because variances do not allow for that. Muldoon stated maybe allowances <br /> should be given for those types of situations. <br /> Muldoon stated he is concerned about the water quality and that there might be a solution here,which <br /> may be mitigation. <br /> Kinve stated he was proposing creating an incentive where a person actually creates a buffer. Kinve <br /> noted the information that was sent around talks about a buffer,which does not create an incentive to <br /> have a buffer. Kinve stated he would leave the regulations�}nchanged except for allowing accessory <br /> structures up to 10 feet from the wetland buffer. If there is no buffer,they have to be 35 feet back from <br /> the wetland. Kinve stated it is the buffer that filters the water, slows down the runoff,and absorbs <br /> chemicals and nitrates. Kinve stated the City could be a lot more lenient on variances but then there will <br /> probably be a bunch of variance requests. <br /> Muldoon commented the water quality needs to be preserved, and if the setbacks are cropped to the <br /> shortest level,there will be more creep. Muldoon stated it will be easier to go down than it is to come <br /> back up. <br /> Laurie Goodsell, 2206 Watertown Road, stated she is very much in support of not changing the setback <br /> and that little by little things are being chipped away. Goodsell stated she moved here for the rural <br /> character. Goodsell stated she is not a water expert but she knows the water quality in this area is terrible <br /> and that it needs to be protected more,not less. <br /> Cassie Ordway, 1145 County Road 6, stated she would like the City Council to totally understand the <br /> ramifications of the ordinance so there is a reasonable,thoughtful discussion on how homeowners should <br /> use their land. Ordway commented perhaps a compromise could be reached that way. <br /> Ordway stated if the City Council wants to look at data,they can go back to 2001 when the Minnehaha <br /> Creek Watershed District did an extensive study looking at 50 to 100-foot buffers from 2001 to 2007. At <br /> some point a number close to 35 feet was implemented. Ordway stated less than 15 years ago,the buffers <br /> and setbacks used to much greater than what they are now. <br /> Ordway encouraged the City Council to be very thoughtful about this and that perhaps they should table it <br /> given the lateness of the evening. Ordway stated she would also encourage Staff to look at other options <br /> that might provide a compromise while still preserving the wetlands and the water quality. Ordway noted <br /> wetlands ebb and flow and that if people are allowed to do things too close to the wetlands,they will <br /> eventually want to pump the water out of that area. <br /> There were no further public comments. <br /> Printup commented he is surprised there has not been a bigger push to make larger buffers around Long <br /> Lake given the water quality,but that he has a hard time connecting a small accessory structure or a fire <br /> pit with really creating bad water quality. Printup stated he does not know how close a fire pit should go <br /> to a buffer,but at the same time there are a number of residents that are going around their lawn with <br /> Page 31 of 34 <br />