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Home My WebLink About2012-09-17 ENR Packet AGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION Monday, September 17, 2012 7 p.m. Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes: a. July 16, 2012 5. New Business a. Fish Creek Master Plan 6. Unfinished Business a. Shoreland/Wetland Ordinance Amendments 7. Visitor Presentations 8. Commission Presentations 9. Staff Presentations a. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Appointments b. Maplewood Nature Center Programs 10. Adjourn Agendaq Item 4.A. MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, July 16, 2012 Council Chambers, City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chair Edmundson. 2. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Chair Present Judith Johannessen, Vice Chair Present Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Present Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present Absent Bill Schreiner, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Yingling added 8.a. Update on Fish Creek Commissioner Trippler added 8 b. Plastic Bottles Staff added 9.c. Maplewood Mall Rainwater Management Extreme Makeover Grand Opening Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioners Trippler and Yingling recommended minor changes to the June 18, 2012, ENR Commission minutes. Staff took notes on the changes and will update the minutes for the record. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the June 18, 2012, ENR Commission Meeting Minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – Chair Edmundson, Commissioners Johannessen, Trippler & Yingling Abstentions – Commissioner Mason Sherrill & Palzer The motion passed. July 16, 2012 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Keller Golf Course Renovations – Approval of the Removal of Two Incidental Wetlands and Reclassification of One Wetland i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report and answered questions of the commission. ii. Ramsey County Representative, Kevin Finley, addressed and answered questions of the commission. iii. Ramsey County Consultant Chad Lockwood of Loucks Associates out of Maple Grove addressed and answered questions of the commission. Keller Golf Course Renovation Comments by Members of the Commission Included: - Why will the County spend $12 million on this project, and then threaten to close down its County Workhouse landscape operation? - Parking spaces at 9 feet wide are too narrow. The County should follow the City’s parking code of 9½ foot wide parking spaces. - The County could widen the parking spaces if they reduced the number of parking spaces. It appears that the County is constructing too many parking spaces in the new design. - There are two heritage trees that will be removed with the construction of the clubhouse. Why weren’t these trees considered when the County did the planning for the site? Can these trees be saved? - The landscape plan shows some of the replacement trees near the clubhouse to be nonnative to Minnesota. - There were concerns expressed about impervious surface area. The County explained that an old golf course road within the course is being removed entirely. This will offset any new impervious planned for the site. - Since the golf course is certified by the Audubon Society, is there a way that the County could install signage or use the site as an education source for people who golf the course or school groups? - The revegetation maps submitted are unclear. The County should explain where new native grasses are being planted around the wetlands. The County explained that native grasses will be planted around Wetland 5, creating a 75-foot buffer, and in areas of the golf course. Wetland 10, which has been determined to be an incidental wetland, will be deepened for irrigation purposes. Turf grass will continue to be located around that irrigation pond. Commissioner Yingling moved to approve staff recommendation to: 1. Add Wetlands 1 and 2 to the city’s wetland map as stormwater ponds. 2. Downgrade Wetland 3 from a Manage B wetland to a stormwater pond. 3. Remove wetlands 7 and 10 as they have been shown to be incidental wetlands. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – Chair Edmundson, Commissioner’s Johannessen, Palzer, Trippler & Yingling Nay – Commissioner Mason Sherrill The motion passed. This item goes to the City Council on August 13, 2012. July 16, 2012 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes b. Fish Creek Master Plan and Management Plan i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a brief report on the Fish Creek Master Plan and Management Plan which is required as part of the grant funding for the site. Staff and commissions will hold public meetings to gain feedback on the plan over the next few months. Staff is asking for volunteers from several commissions to attend each of the meeting dates. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Mike Bryan, 1928 Kennard, Swimming Pool Variance Mr. Bryan stated he will be presenting an application to the ENR Commission for a wetland buffer variance to construct a swimming pool at his residence in the next few weeks. He inquired what information the commission would like to see. The commission responded that it is important to have maps which reflect the location of the pool to the wetland, and any improvements that Mr. Bryan is doing to the buffer and to mitigate the variance. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Fish Creek Update Commissioner Yingling indicated that the Fish Creek group will be holding a barbeque, bingo, beer fundraiser at the Maplewood Community Center on July 26, 2012, from 6 – 9 p.m. For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center. b. Commissioner Trippler discussed plastic bottles Commissioner Trippler said he read an article dated June 20, 2012 from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that every minute 2,900 plastic bottles are sold in Minnesota and 75% of those plastic bottles are not recycled. The state needs a deposit law to help with this issue. He would like to see the commission address this issue on an upcoming agenda. th Staff indicated that during the July 4 celebration at Hazelwood Park the city used its existing park recycling bins and placed about 60 additional clear stream recycling containers out for us. The city collected 240 pounds of recycled materials – mostly beverage bottles. There has to be a place in public spaces for people to recycle bottles in order for it to happen. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. National Night Out – Tuesday, August 7, 2012. The ENR Commission will again be attending National Night Out parties and distributing recycling bins and other environmental literature. Tennis Recycling representatives will be joining the commission this year. Commissioners should let staff know if they are interested in participating. b. Maplewood Nature Center Programs – Staff listed upcoming programs at the Maplewood Nature Center. Contact 651-249-2170 for further information. July 16, 2012 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes c. Maplewood Mall Rainwater Management Extreme Makeover Grand Opening – The Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District is planning a grand opening for the stormwater improvements at the Maplewood Mall on September 15, 2012, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. They have asked the City and several commissions to participate in this event. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Edmundson adjourned the meeting at 8:48 p.m. July 16, 2012 4 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Agenda Item 5.a. MEMORANDUM TO : Environmental and Natural Resources Commission FROM : Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator DATE : September 12, 2012 RE : Fish Creek Master Plan INTRODUCTION Maplewood is developing a Master Plan for the 70-acre Fish Creek parcel south of Carver Avenue. Three public meetings were held to develop concepts for the Master Plan. At the September Commission meeting, commissioners will review the plan and make a recommendation. DISCUSSION Maplewood has an agreement to purchase 70 acres of land near Fish Creek in south Maplewood from The Conservation Fund by Fall 2013. Once the land is purchased, 50 acres will be owned by the city and 20 acres will be owned by Ramsey County. Grants received for site acquisition and restoration require that we prepare a management plan. Thus, the City and County will prepare a Master Plan and a Management Plan prior to owning the site. Development of the plans is a joint venture between Maplewood, Ramsey County, and Great River Greening. The attached documents make up the Master Plan: Master Plan Concepts (Attachment 1), Trail Concept Map (Attachment 2), and Target Vegetation Map (Attachment 3). Three public meetings were held to develop the plan, including a hike at the site. Residents from both Maplewood and St. Paul attended the meetings and everyone that attended the final meeting supported the Master Plan concepts. Once the Master Plan Concepts are adopted, staff and Great River Greening will develop the Management Plan for the site. At the September Commission meeting, staff will present the Fish Creek Master Plan. Commissioners will review the Master Plan and make their recommendation. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission recommend approval of the Master Plan for Fish Creek. Attachments: 1.Master Plan Narrative 2.Fish Creek Trail Concept 3.Target Vegetation Map Attachment 1 FishCreek MasterPlanConcepts 9/12/12 TheCityofMaplewoodandRamseyCountyhavepreparedthisMasterPlanforthe70acreparcelof landsouthofCarverAvenue.ThisMasterPlanwaspreparedjointlytoensureprotectionofnatural resources,toprovidepublicaccesstothesite,andtoensureconnectivityofhabitatsandtrails.The MasterPlanincludesamapshowingTrailConcept,amapshowingTargetVegetation,andthisnarrative. SiteUseandActivities Thissiteisanaturalareaforwildlifeandaplaceforpeopletoexperienceandenjoynature.Grants receivedforacquisitionofthe50acressouthofFishCreekrestrictthelandtopassiveuses.Hiking,bird watching,andnaturestudyareappropriateusesatthesite.Theareanorthofthecreekdoesnothave theserestrictions.However,muchofthenorthernsectionisprotectedwetlandandthisplanproposes thenorthsectionremainsnatural.The8acresadjacenttoCarverAvenuemaybedevelopedsomeday. Ifthatareaisnotdeveloped,itcouldremainnaturalorbeusedasactiveparklandorcommunitygarden. MasterPlanProcess Threepublicmeetingswereheldinsummer2012todevelopthesiteplan,whichwasthendraftedby tystaff.TheMasterPlanwillbereviewedbythreeMaplewoodcommissionsfortheir cityandcoun recommendation:ParksandRecreationCommission,EnvironmentalandNaturalResources Commission,andHeritagePreservationCommission.ThePlanwillthenbesubmittedtoMaplewood CityCouncil. Parking ParkingLotonHenryLane.Theplancallsforasmallparkinglotofapproximately20stallsonHenry Lane,sitednorthoftheFishCreek.Thislocationwillprovideadirectconnectiontotherustictrail alongthecreekandwillhelpconstrictillegalvehicalaccesstothesitesincethecreekisa͞ƉŝŶĐŚ ƉŽŝŶƚ͘͟ ParkingLotNearPointDouglasRoad.TheplanshowstrailaccessfromthewestatOakwood Church,1388PointDouglasRoad.Inthepast,thechurchindicatedawillingnesstoexplorebeinga trailheadfortherusticFishCreekHikingTrailandallowingpeopletousetheirparkinglot.Priorto traildevelopment,thecityandcountyshouldpursuediscussionsofthiswithOakwoodChurch.If thisoptiondoesnotcometofruition,thecountyownslandalongPointDouglasRoadnorthofthe churchandthetrailcouldcometothispoint.However,parkingonthisparcelofcountylandwould mitedtojustafewstalls,ratherthanaparkinglot. likelybeli 1 Trails PavedTrailLoop.Anϴ͛toϭϬ͛widebituminoustrailwilltakevisitorsfromtheHenryLaneparking lotonalooptotheblufftop.Someofthistrailtakesadvantageofolddrivewaysonthesite,to reducedisturbanceandneedforgrading.ThetrailwouldcomplywiththeAmericanwith DisabilitiesActstandards.TwoalternatetrailsectionsareshownontheMasterPlan,whichwould dependonfunding. FishCreekHikingTrail.ArustictrailwilltakevisitorsalongthecreekfromPointDouglasRoadto HenryLane.Thistrailwouldbegradedtominimizeerosionandwouldbemowedgrassinopen areasandsoilsurfaceinwoodedareas.Aportionofthetrailwouldbeonbothsidesofthecreek. AdditionalRusticTrailLoop.Arustictrail(graded,mowed)isplannedforthesouthernportionof thesiteandcontinuesonthecountyopenspace. AdditionalDiscussion.Duringthepublicmeetingsasuggestionwasmadetohaveasectionof pavedtrailfromOakwoodChurchgoingsouthtothemostscenicsectionofthecreekʹthecanyon. ThisisnotshownonthemapbutitisanideaworthfurtherdiscussionbythecountyandOakwood Church. OverlooksandBenches TheMasterPlanshowsthreevistalocations.Bencheswouldbelocatedatthesesites.Additional bencheswouldbeinstalledalongthetrailsasneeded. WaterandBathroomFacilities Nodrinkingwaterorbathroomfacilitiesareplannedforthesite.However,theparkinglotonHenry Laneshouldbeconstructedtoallowforaportapotty,incaseaportapottyisneededinthefuture. Signage Ataminimum,signageatthesiteshouldincludeanentrysignwiththenameofthepreserve,arule sign,amapofthetrailsystem,andboundarymarkerswherenecessarytodelineatepublicandprivate land.(AlsoseeSiteInterpretationbelow.) TargetVegetation TheMasterPlanshowsthetargetvegetationplannedforthesite.Thissitewashistoricallywoodland, andwaslaterclearedforfarming.Anaerialphotofrom1940showsonlytwosmallareasoftreesonthe site.Todaythesiteisamixofpasturegrasslands,degradedwoodlands,andapineplantation.The restorationplanforthesiteistotransitiontheopengrasslandstoprairieandoaksavannaandto 2 enhancetheexistingwoodedareasbyremovingnonnativetreesandbrushandplantingspeciesthat arenativetooakwoodland. HistoryandArcheology In2005,SummitEnvirosolutions,Inc.conductedaPhaseIArchaeologicalSurveyofthe70acresitefor CoParDevelopment.SummitrecommendedonearcheologicalsiteforPhaseIIarchaeologicaltestingto determineeligibilityintheNationalRegistryofHistoricPlaces(NRHP).Thisarcheologicalsite(shownon MasterPlan)consistsoffragmentsofceramics,lithics,andonefaunalremain.Theslopesinthisarea makeitthepreferredlocationfortherustictrailfromHenryLanedowntothecreek.APhaseII Archaeologicalinvestigationshouldbedonepriortodevelopingatrailinthisareaandshouldberouted toensurenodamageorimpactstoartifacts. ThecityandcountyshallsupporteffortsofMaplewoodAreaHistoricalSocietyandDĂƉůĞǁŽŽĚ͛Ɛ HeritagePreservationCommissiontodocumentandbetterunderstandthehistoryofthissite.Ideally, grantswouldbesubmittedtoconductadditionalarcheologicalworkandtoresearchanddocumentthe sitehistory. SiteInterpretation Oncethehistoryofthissiteisbetterdocumented,aninterpretiveplanshouldbedevelopedtohighlight sitehistory,naturalresourcesandrestorationactivities.DiscussionsattheMasterPlanpublicmeetings favoredaninterpretivetrailwithnumberedpoststhatwouldcorrespondtoprintedmaterialandweb informationaboutthesite,ratherthanhavingextensiveinterpretivesignageatthesite. 3 Attachment 2 Fish Creek Trail Concept rustic trail Archaelogical site Need further study Proposed parking Paved Trail Alternate Paved Trail Paved Trail Alternate ` ^ ` ` ^^ rustic trail ^ ` Vista locations ± 0 275550 Feet Agenda Item 6.a. MEMORANDUM TO:Environmental and Natural Resources Commission FROM:Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner SUBJECT: Shoreland/Wetland Ordinance DATE:September 12, 2012 for the September 17 ENR Commission Meeting INTRODUCTION The City Council adopted a wetland ordinance in December 2009. Because wetlands adjacent lakes are used by residents differently than freestanding wetlands, the City Council included reduced buffer requirements for these wetlands. The ordinance included a sunset clause which has the reduced buffers expiring at the end of 2012, or when the city revises the shoreland ordinance to include regulations for these wetlands, whichever comes first. DISCUSSION Wetland Ordinance Section 4.d. on page 8 of the wetland ordinance states the following: Buffers for wetlands adjacent to lakes. In light of the fact that lakes perform different functions than wetlands and streams and are used for different recreational purposes, wetlands adjacent to lakes and their designated buffers shall have alternative buffers. The following alternative buffers for wetlands adjacent to lakes will apply until Dec. 31, 2012, or until the city adopts a new shoreland ordinance that includes the regulation of these wetlands, whichever comes first. Buffer Wetland Classes (for Wetlands Adjacent to Lakes) Manage A Manage B Manage C Minimum Buffer Width 75 ft. 50 ft. 50 ft. The ordinance specifies buffers for freestanding wetlands as follows: Buffer Wetland Classes (for Freestanding Wetlands) Manage A Manage B Manage C Minimum Buffer Width 100 ft. 75 ft. 50 ft. To view the full ordinance, visit the City’s wetland webpage at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/wetlands. Shoreland Ordinance The City of Maplewood adopted its shoreland ordinance in 1996. The ordinance was drafted to meet the state shoreland rules currently in place. The ordinance creates a shoreland overlay district which regulates lands located within 1,000 feet of a DNR protected water. The shoreland district overlays existing zoning districts, so that any parcel of land lying in an overlay district also lies in one or more of the underlying zoning districts. The objectives of the ordinance are to protect, preserve, and enhance the quality of surface waters; protect the natural environment and visual appeal of shorelands; and protect the general health, safety and welfare of City residents. The ordinance regulates development standards within the overlay such as setbacks from the ordinary high water mark to a structure, etc. There are no regulations for wetlands in the shoreland ordinance. To view the full ordinance, refer to the full . City Code located on the City’s website at http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=85 Scroll to Article XI, Section 44-1236 through 44-1334. UMUC Capstone Project In April 2011 Jana Haedtke, a student from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), presented her group’s Capstone paper titled Maplewood Wetland and Shoreland Regulations for Wetlands Adjacent Lakes. The paper compares wetlands adjacent lakes to freestanding wetlands to determine if they are used or valued differently by the public and study whether the functions of water quality, ecology, and wildlife habitat are different. The students’ research found that based upon ecological, wildlife, and water quality aspects, wetlands adjacent lakes should be regulated just as strictly as freestanding wetlands, as all the positive benefits of having a healthy ecological and wildlife system and good water quality are the same for both types of wetlands, even though their functions may differ. But based solely on social and economic aspects, particularly recreational uses and value, less stringent buffer requirements would be justified. To view the UMUC Maplewood Wetland/Shoreland Capstone paper, visit the City’s wetland webpage at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/wetlands. Minnesota Shoreland Rules The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted a rulemaking process in 2009 to update the statewide shoreland rules. The draft rules were sent to state agencies for final review and adoption in 2010. On August 11, 2010, Governor Tim Pawlenty returned the draft shoreland rules to the DNR for further engagement and discussion. No action on the draft rules has been taken by the Legislature or the state since that time. Molly Shodeen, Area Hydrologist for the DNR, reports that the DNR will be forwarding the draft rules to the Legislature for their review in 2013. If the draft rules are adopted by the state, municipalities will be required to review their shoreland ordinances to ensure they address the new regulations. Because the rules are still in draft form, the City is not required to modify our shoreland ordinance to comply with the new requirements, but the state does encourage it. To view the DNR’s draft shoreland rules documents, visit the DNR’s shoreland rules webpage at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_section/shoreland/shoreland_rules_update_proje ct.html Special Protection Shoreland Overlay District The DNR 2010 draft shoreland rules allows local governments to create special protection overlay districts intended to be used for three basic purposes: limit development due to sensitive shoreland areas; manage areas with special historical, natural, or biological characteristics; or protect sources of drinking water for public water supply wells and surface water intakes. These districts can be regulated with controls that meet or exceed the natural environment class standard in the regular shoreland district. To address the protection of wetlands adjacent lakes, the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission should consider establishing a special protection shoreland overlay district for portions of our protected lake shorelands that include wetland fringes. 2 Staff recommends that the varying buffer requirements currently in place in the wetland ordinance for wetlands adjacent lakes be stricken from the wetland ordinance and added to the new special protection overlay district section in the shoreland ordinance. The ENR Commission should consider keeping the buffers the same, modifying the buffers, or adding additional protections to the district. Additional protections could include mitigation requirements found in the DNR 2010 draft shoreland rule’s (attached) or other wetland buffer/shoreland best practices. Recommendation Review the Shoreland/Wetland Ordinance revisions proposed. Be prepared to begin discussions on the required ordinance amendments. Attachment: Department of Natural Resources Draft Shoreland Rules, Subdivision 6 (Mitigation) 3 Attachment 1 DNR 2012 Draft Shoreland Rules (26(6%*8 Attachment 1 DNR 2012 Draft Shoreland Rules (26(6%*8