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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-18 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, December 18, 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 7:03 p.m. by Chair Palzer. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Present Mollie Miller, Commissioner Absent Candace Okeson, 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 Sinn moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Ries. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the November 20, 2017, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Ries. Ayes – Chair Palzer, Commissioners Buttleman, Redmond, Ries & Sinn Abstention – Commissioner Okeson The motion passed. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Urban Agriculture – Zoning Review i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the Urban Agriculture Zoning Review and answered questions of the commission. 1 December 18, 2017 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes  Proposed Community Garden Changes: Community gardens that are one acre in size or under are allowed as a permitted use in any zoning district with City staff site plan approval. Community gardens over one acre allow as a conditional use permit in any zoning district. ENR Commission Changes: Allow sales for up to 30 days per year, per site plan approval.  Proposed Front Yard Gardening Changes: Add a definition for home garden. Add home garden as a permitted use in residential zoning districts. Amend maintenance codes to distinguish between grass and nonnative turf grass. Require a five-foot mowed buffer for native plantings. ENR Commission Changes: Only require a five-foot mowed buffer for native plantings when a residential property is adjacent other residential properties with manicured lawns.  Proposed Urban Farms: Add a definition for urban farm. Allow in all Parks if permitted in the comprehensive plan. Allow in all other zoning districts with a conditional use permit. ENR Commission Changes: No comments.  Proposed Direct to Consumer Sales: Add a definition for direct to consumer sales. Allow temporary direct to consumer sales in all commercial zoning districts for up to six months pursuant to licensing and permitting requirements. ENR Commission Changes: No comments. Commissioner Sinn moved to approve the proposed Crop Agriculture and Direct to Consumer Sales ordinance amendments as discussed at the ENR Meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Okeson. Ayes – All The motion passed. City staff stated that the entire urban agriculture zoning amendments will now go to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation to the City Council. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. 2017 Sustainability Annual Report i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a brief report on the 2017 Sustainability Annual Report and answered questions of the board. Updating the public on the City’s sustainability initiatives is a requirement of the GreenStep Cities program. Staff presented a draft of the 2017 Sustainability Annual Report. The report will be included in an overall document that includes annual reports from a majority of the commissions and the Environmental and Economic Development Department. The report will be distributed at the State of the City lunch and will be formally presented to the City Council in February. Commissioner Ries moved to approve the 2017 Sustainability Annual Report with amendments. 2 December 18, 2017 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Seconded by Commissioner Redmond. Ayes – All The motion passed. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Reschedule January and February Environmental Commission Meetings (New Dates – Thursday, January 25, 2018 and Tuesday, February 27, 2018). These two meetings were rescheduled due to national holidays. b. 2018 Chair and Vice Chair Positions. Voting will take place at the January 25, 2018 ENR meeting for a new chair and vice chair. c. Nature Center Programs i. 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 8 p.m. 3 December 18, 2017 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes