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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-15 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2017 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 Palzer. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Present Mollie Miller, Commissioner Present Ann Palzer, Chair Present Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present Ryan Ries, Vice Chair Present Tom Sinn, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Ries moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Buttleman. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Sinn moved to approve the April 17, 2017, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – Chair Palzer, Commissioner’s Buttleman, Miller, Redmond & Sinn Abstention – Commissioner Ries The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. 2224 Woodlynn Avenue, Wetland Buffer Variance i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the wetland buffer variance at 2224 Woodlynn Avenue and answered questions of the commission. ii. Applicant, Mark Gergen, addressed and answered questions of the commission about the wetland buffer variance. May 15, 2017 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Commissioner Redmond moved to approve a 35-foot wetland buffer variance, as opposed to a 30-foot wetland buffer variance, for 2224 Woodlynn Avenue East for the construction of a new single family house. Seconded by Commissioner Sinn. The Commission discussed the 50-foot wetland buffer requirements for a Manage C wetland. Grading and building is prohibited in the buffer. The proposed house will be setback 30 feet from the wetland edge, but grading for the house will be conducted an additional 10 feet toward the wetland, to within 20 feet of the wetland edge. Therefore, a 30-foot wetland buffer variance is required. If the Commission is recommending a 35-foot wetland buffer variance, the house will have to be shifted closer to the road or the house plans will have to be reduced in size. The Commission could add a mitigation strategy to increase the re-established native planted buffer to 35 feet. This would bring the new re- established buffer to within 5 feet of the southwest corner of the building. Based on this information, Commissioner Sinn removed his second to the original motion. Commissioner Miller moved to approve the resolution authorizing a 30 foot wetland buffer variance for 2224 Woodlynn Avenue East for the construction of a new single family house. Approval is based on the following reasons: 1. Strict enforcement of the ordinance would cause the applicant practical difficulties because complying with the wetland buffer requirement stipulated by the ordinance would prohibit the building of any permanent structures, substantially diminishing the potential of this lot. 2. Approval of the wetland buffer variance will include the restoration of the remaining wetland buffer, which will improve the water quality of the wetland. 3. Approval would meet the spirit and intent of the ordinance with the construction of a new single family house on vacant lot that is zoned and guided in the City’s comprehensive plan as residential. Approval of the wetland buffer variance shall be subject to the following: 1. Approval of the wetland buffer variance shall be subject to the following: a. Prior to issuance of a grading permit for the new single family house the applicants must submit: b. A tree plan which shows the location, size, and species of all significant trees located on the lot, and the trees that will be removed with the construction of the new single family house. Removal of significant trees with the construction of the single family house must comply with the City’s tree preservation ordinance and tree replacement requirements. c. A grading plan which shows the location of a retaining wall to be constructed on the southwest corner of the house, adjacent the wetland buffer. The retaining wall should extend approximately 40 feet along the wetland buffer edge, stopping near the middle of the lot where the slopes begin to level off. May 15, 2017 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes d. A wetland buffer restoration plan to be approved by City staff. The restoration plan will reflect native plantings within a 25- to 50-foot area adjacent the wetland. e. An escrow to cover up to 150 percent of the cost of the wetland buffer restoration. 2. Prior to release of the escrow, the wetland buffer plantings must be established. Seconded by Commissioner Redmond Ayes – Chair Palzer, Commissioner’s Buttleman, Miller, Redmond Nays – Commissioner’s Sinn and Ries The motion passed. This item goes to the planning commission on May 16, 2017 for the public hearing and to the city council on May 22, 2017. b. Wakefield Park Improvements i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced Audra Robbins. ii. Maplewood Recreation Manager, Audra Robbins gave a presentation on Wakefield Park Improvements. iii. Kimley-Horn & Associates, Todd Halunen, PLA, CLARB, 2550 University Avenue West, Suite 238N, St. Paul, addressed and answered questions of the commission. The Parks System Master Plan envisions Wakefield Park as one of the City’s signature parks. The new multi-purpose facility at Wakefield Park will embrace Maplewood’s diverse population and serve as a local hub for programming, special events, and a gathering place for residents. The Commission offered comments and feedback on the proposed facility as follows:  The Commission was very supportive of the stormwater improvements and designing the building to the City’s Green Building standards.  The Commission recommends that the building be run by a renewable energy source, or at a minimum be constructed so it is solar ready. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Oak Leaf Community Solar Garden Subscription Agreement i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report Oak Leaf Energy has a 25-year community solar garden subscription agreement available for the City of Maplewood. The community solar garden will be constructed in Washington County. Eighteen percent of the garden is available, for a total of 1,600,000 kWh per year. This represents just under 50 percent of the City’s overall electricity use. The attached cost savings analysis outlines the cumulative 25-year agreement saving the City $603,300.51. The City would not retain the Renewable Energy Credits with this subscription agreement. With the additional 1,600,000 kWh provided by the Oak Leaf Energy community solar garden, just under 75 percent of the city’s electricity will come from renewable solar generation capacity from community solar gardens. May 15, 2017 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes The Environmental Commission discussed community solar gardens and renewable energy credits and recommended that the City not sign onto additional subscription agreements until the following policy questions are addressed through the comprehensive planning process and approved by the City Council: 1. How much capacity does the City want to cover with renewables? 2. What are the City’s goals for renewable energy credits? 3. Should some or all of the savings received through the community solar garden subscription agreement be used to further the City’s sustainability goals? Commissioner Miller moved to deny approval of the Oak Leaf Community Solar Garden Subscription Agreement. Seconded by Commissioner Sinn. Ayes – All The motion to deny passed. Commissioner Miller moved to not entertain any other solar subscription agreements until the Environmental Commission has direction from the City Council on the above- mentioned environmental policy questions. Seconded by Commissioner Ries. Ayes – All The motion passed. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Waterfest – June 3, 2017, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Phalen Lake Ramsey Washington Watershed District is holding their annual Waterfest celebration at Phalen Lake in St. Paul on Saturday, June 3, 2017 from 11 am to 4 p.m. The Commission will be hosting a booth at the event. The Environmental Education Subcommittee organized the booth with the theme of “Only Grass in Your Lawn, Yawn.” Volunteers are needed to help staff the booth. b. Nature Center Programs Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Palzer adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m. May 15, 2017 4 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes