Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-20 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 7:00 P.M. 1.CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Palzer. 2. ROLL CALL Rebecca Bryan, Commissioner Present Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Absent Kayla Dosser, Vice Chairperson Present Mollie Miller, Commissioner Absent Ann Palzer, Chairperson Present Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Vice Chairperson Bryan. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Dosser moved to approve the August 16, 2021, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Redmond. Ayes – All The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Wetland Buffer Variance for a New Single Family House - 1091 County Road C Environmental Planner Finwall presented the details of the variance. The applicants are proposing to build a new single-family house on the lot at 1091 County Road C. There is a Manage A wetland on the north side of the lot, adjacent Kohlman Lake. 1 Grading for the house will come to within 30 feet of the edge of the wetland, which requires a 45-foot wetland buffer variance. Katie Schurrer and Justin Haynes, owners of the lot, and their architect, Will Spencer, addressed the Commission. The ENR Commission reviewed the wetland buffer mitigation strategies outlined in the staff report including adding 1,000 square feet of native plantings adjacent the wetland. Discussion on the following items: Native plantings to be located along the edge of the reed canary grass, within 1,000 square feet of previously mowed lawn. Rain gardens would not be effective at capturing stormwater due to the grade of the lot. Future dock options including sharing a dock with the neighbor and limited impacts to the wetland buffer with a floating dock or dock built on piers. There are many benefits to adding native plants including acting as a filter to the stormwater and creating habitat and food for pollinators. Commissioner Dosser moved to approve the wetland buffer variance and wetland buffer mitigation strategies for a new house at 1091 County Road C. Seconded by Commissioner Bryan. Ayes – Dosser, Bryan, Palzer. Nay – Redmond The motion passed. 6. NEW BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. 8. COMMISSIONER PRESENTATIONS None. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Fall Clean Up Campaign 1) Reduced Price Bulky Item Collection – Throughout October 2) Free Mattress Collection – Throughout October 3) Free Shredding Event – October 9 Environmental Planner Finwall gave details on the Fall Clean Up Campaign. More information can be found at www.maplewoodmn.gov/cleanups. 2 b. Harvest Park Native Seed Garden Open House – October 7 Environmental Planner Finwall said that an Urban Roots Youth Group would be present at the Harvest Park Native Seed Garden on October 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. They will give a history of the garden, seed gathering demonstration, offer tips on caring for a native plant garden, and identify the native plants on site. c. Solar Power Hours – October 8 and 26 Environmental Planner Finwall said Maplewood is collaborating with Midwest Renewable Energy Association to offer two Solar Power Hours. A virtual event on October 8 and an in-person event at the Nature Center on October 26. d. ENR Commission Vacancies Environmental Planner Finwall said Commissioner Buttleman’s term ends September 30, 2021. He has chosen not to seek reappointment. That leaves two Commission vacancies on the ENR Commission. The City Council will be interviewing Commission applicants soon. e. Update on the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area and Slopes and Bluffs Ordinances Environmental Planner Finwall said the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the MRCCA and Slopes and Bluffs Ordinances on September 21, 2021. The City Council will review the ordinance on September 27, 2021. Once approved, the ordinance will be forwarded to the Department of Natural Resources by the deadline of October 1, 2021. 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Dosser made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Vice Chairperson Bryan. Ayes – All The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Palzer at 7:53 p.m. 3