HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-11-10 Letter, Alteration to WetlandCITY of ORONO
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On the North Shore of Lake Minnetonka
November 10, 1986
Mary Anderson
4185 Bayside Road
Maple Plain, MN 55359
RE: Changes to Designated Wetland
Dear Ms. Anderson,
This letter is to follow up our inspection and conversation of
October 29, 1986 regarding potential changes to the wetland on
your property. You noted that there is some concern by your
neighbors of the relatively high water level in the wetland and
you wished to know the procedure necessary to obtain a permit to
lower the water elevation in the wetland. I would make the
following response to that request.
1. The wetland on your property and on your neighbor's
property is a "designated wetland" as indicated by the
attached copy of the City's official we, -lands mhps. The
boundaries of such wetland are shown approximately on those
maps.
2. Your culvert on 10/29/86 was discharging a slight amount
of runoff, hence without doing any actual elevation shots,
it appears that the water level in the pond is at its
probable maximum and any additional water going into the
wetland will be discharged through the culvert.
3. You noted that a few years ago you re -set your driveway
culvert in the drainageway east of the wetland. It would
appear that if you were to lower the culvert more than 3" or
so, you would have to regrade a good length of the natural
channel east of the driveway also. This in itself would
require a grading permit.
4. It is my opinion that the wetland is wetter than usual
because we have received unusually high levels of
precipitation the last few years, and the water level in the
wetland is a natural result of that precipitation and the
generally high water tables in the area.
BUILDING & IONING - 473 7357 • AIMMISTRATION A FINANCE - 473 7 338 • PURLIC WORKS - 473.7339
ASSESSING
Mary Anderson
November 10, 1986
Page 2 of 2
5. Because any appreciable work you do to the channel and to
the culvert could have a profound effect on the wetland, I
will reiterate that the City will allow you to replace the
culvert under the driveway as you see fit, but any work more
than 10' either side of the driveway will require a grading
permit and review by the City staff. Any work proposed that
involves grading or filling in excess of 100 cubic yards, or
any work within the wetland or less than 26' from the
boundaries of the wetland would require a more detailed
conditional use permit application and review.
It is highly unlikely that the City would allow you to do any
changes to your property that would result in an appreciable
change to the wetland. However, I have enclosed the required
application form for the conditional use permit should you wish
to apply. With that application you would have to provide a
survey with existing and proposed contours with calculations of
original and proposed storage, availability, etc.
Please contact me if you wish to proceed. Again, I would say
your chances of getting any major changes approved are slim
because this is a designated wetland providing nutrient retention
and runoff storage in the upper watershed.
Sincerely,
Michael P. Gaf f
Assistant Zonifig Administrator
MPG/pp