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�eonestroo Mem o � �� �� Engineers 6 Archltects Project Name: Blair Residence - Robert Beissel Client: City of Orono Homes File No: 139-06-000 To: Evelyn Turner, City Planner Date: December 5, 2006 From: John Smyth, C.W.D. Re: Buffer Ordinance Compliance Remarks: The proposed project involves a new home on Block 8 Lots 1 - 15. Per Division 1. Sec. 78-1601 of the Wetland Protection Ordinance, the proposed construction on this lot trigger's the ordinance due to the following proposed work: o Disturbed property drains towards the wetland. o Grading exceeds 50 cubic yards. o Net increase in the square footage of impervious surface area. This wetland is classified as a "Preserve" basin by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District classification system. Under the City Wetland Ordinance wetlands classified as "Preserve" require a 50 foot buffer area of undisturbed native vegetation and a 20 foot setback from the upslope edge of the buffer for a total building set-back of 70 feet. Currently much of the 50 foot buffer required on lots 1, 2, 3 is vegetated with native vegetation such as maple, elm, and cottonwood however common buckthorn was also common in the understory. The buffer on Lot 5 appears to be predominately native vegetation and has minimal invasive species. Within the required buffer area (primarily Lot 4 and 5) there is existing turf grass that extends into the area of buffer. Turf grass and buckthorn does not meet the required vegetation of a buffer per section 78-1605 (b) of the City Wetland Ordinance. The area of turf grass within the required buffer will need to be converted to _ native vegetation or the applicant can request Buffer Flexibility as allowed under section 78-1608 (3) of the City Wetland Ordinance. If the applicant requests "Buffer Flexibility" the applicant could utilize buffer averaging. Buffer averaging would allow the reduction of the buffer width in the area of turf grass to maintain reasonable use of these areas if it is expanded beyond 50 feet in other areas to meet the overall surface area of the 50 foot buffer which is approximately 11,800 square feet. In order to preserve the filtering of nutrients prior to reaching the wetland and �ake the buffer width should not be less then 25 feet in these areas. A mowed path that is 8 feet or less can be allowed to maintain reasonable access to the existing dock. Bonestroo,Rosene,Anderlik and Associates,Inc. www.bonestroo.com ❑St Paul Offlce: ❑Milwaukee Office: ❑Rochester Office: ❑Willmar Office: 0 St.Cloud Office: ❑Grayslake Office: 2335 West Highway 36 1516 West Mequon Road 112 7t"Street NE 205 5th Street SW 3721 23rd Street S 888 East Belvidere Road St.Paul,MN 55113 Mequon,WI 53092 Rochester,MN 55906 Willmar,MN 56201 St.Cloud,MN 56301 Grayslake,IL 60030 Phone:651-636-4600 Phone:262-241-4466 Phone:507-282-2100 Phone:320-214-9557 Phone:320-251-4553 Phone:847-548-6774 Fax:651-636-1311 Fax:262-241-4901 Fax:507-282-3100 Fax:320-214-9458 Fax:320-251-6252 Faz:847-548-6979