HomeMy WebLinkAboutChamplin 3rd emailFrom:Aleya Champlin
To:Melanie Curtis
Cc:"Judson Champlin"
Subject:Re: 480 Big Island Dock Permit
Date:Sunday, March 14, 2021 11:38:43 PM
Attachments:MCWD Information.pdf
Dear Ms. Curtis,
Thank you for kindly adding our earlier-submitted updated comments in the public packet for this
application. Please find attached additional comments pertaining to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed
District (MCWD) and its wetland classification of various regions of Big Island, including the unimproved
right-of-way that is the subject of the 480 Big Island Dock Permit Request.
I sincerely apologize for the timing of these further additional comments, but I worked over the weekend
to learn a little about the MCWD and its rules pertaining to Lake Minnetonka. It is clear that in addition to
the City's ordinances, the MCWD rules need to be addressed, along with the rules of the LMCD and the
DNR as discussed previously.
I completely understand if this submission is too late to be included in the agenda materials for
tomorrow's meeting, but I do thank you for your consideration of the points made in this document. I look
forward to attending the meeting tomorrow.
Thank you very much,
Aleya Champlin
210 Big Island
On Friday, March 12, 2021, 07:09:45 AM CST, Melanie Curtis <mcurtis@ci.orono.mn.us> wrote:
Thank you. I will add these updated comments to your original and they will be included in the public
packet for this application.
Melanie Curtis
(952.249.4627 *mcurtis@ci.orono.mn.us
All permitting is now done through our new online portal - LINK!
From: Judson Champlin [mailto:jchamplin@wck.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2021 2:30 PM
To: Melanie Curtis <MCurtis@ci.orono.mn.us>
Cc: Aleya Champlin <aleya@champlins.us>
Subject: 480 Big Island Dock Permit
Hello Melanie. I know this is coming in late, but I figured it might be of some help to you.
I tried to figure out my own way through all of the LMCD rules, and decided I better talk to an expert. I
ended up speaking with Mathew over at the LMCD about the proposed dock, and he was able to rattle off
enough of their rules to get my head spinning.
One thing he mentioned was that docks need a 10 foot setback from any adjoining lots. I guess this
setback actually extends beyond the shoreline and into the lake. At least this is how I understood it!
Attached are a couple of sketches I made to try to show this. In the handmade one, I used a ruler to
determine where 10 foot setback is, and I calibrated my measurement based upon the 38.5 feet of
shoreline stated in one of the slides in the application. I also tried to illustrate it by overlaying a slide from
the application itself, but that is just me eyeballing it. If you figure a dock is maybe 3 feet wide, plus the
width of any boat tied to it, the dock might have to be pretty short to stay within the setbacks. I have no
idea how accurate any of this is, so It might be a good idea to get this all surveyed to figure where these
boarders actually lie.
Mathew said he would be very happy to help out with any questions you all might have. From my limited
understanding, there are a number of relevant LMCD rules that might have an impact here.
Hope that helps! Thank you again and take care. -Jud
--
Judson K. Champlin
Westman, Champlin and Koehler, P.A.
Suite 1100
121 South Eighth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
www.wck.com
612-334-3222
Intellectual Property Attorneys
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Addendum to Comments
Submitted by Jud and Aleya Champlin
210 Big Island
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
(MCWD)
Functional Assessment of Wetlands
(FAW)
MCWD’s Functional Assessment of Wetlands
● The MCWD’s goal regarding wetlands is to “(p)reserve, create and restore wetland
resources and maximize the benefits and functionality of wetlands to the watershed”
(Sec. 4.11, Goal 11)
● For Lake Minnetonka, Goal 11.1 is to “(m)aintain existing acreage of wetlands in the
subwatershed and achieve no net loss in their size, quality, type and biological
diversity.”
● Goal 11 states that a “key strategy of this plan is regulation of wetlands in accordance
with a management classification…” (emphasis added)
● The area of the proposed dock is assigned to a “Manage 3” wetland classification which
is allowed some impacts, considering their effects on stormwater management.
The 480 Big Island dock permit application for use of the unimproved
right-of-way should to take into account the MCWD’s wetland classification of the
area and the watershed impact on the shoreline.
The proposed dock location would be in the Minnehaha Creek
Corridor and the unimproved right-of-way is a designated MCWD
Priority as a Key Conservation Area
https://www.minnehahacreek.org/maps
Close-up of MCWD Map
Proposed Dock Area is Classified as a MCWD “Manage 3” Wetland
MCWD Water Resources Section 3.2.5: Wetlands
https://www.minnehahacreek.org/32-water-resources/325-wetlands
MCWD Functional Assessment of Wetlands Fig. 28
MCWD Resource Management Section 4.11
Goal 11: Wetlands
https://www.minnehahacreek.org/40-resource-management-goals-and-strategies/411-wetlands-2
MCWD Resource Management Section 4.11
Goal 11.1: Lake Minnetonka
https://www.minnehahacreek.org/40-resource-management-goals-and-strategies/411-wetlands-2