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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/19/2001BOOK MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, November 19, 2001, 7:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers 1830 County Road B East 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes a. October 15, 2001 5. Unfinished Business None 6. New Business a. Saint Paul Regional Water Services McCarrons Plant Conditional Use Permit Revision (1900 Rice Street, south of Roselawn Avenue) b. ISTS (Individual Sewage Treatment Systems) (1) Code Amendment (2) Water Resources Management Plan c. Resolution of Appreciation - Jack Frost 7. Visitor Presentations 8. Commission Presentations a. October 22 Council Meeting: Mr. Ahlness b. November 13 (Tuesday) Council Meeting: Mr. Tdppler c. November 26 Council Meeting: ?? d. December 10 Council Meeting: ?? (was to be Mr. Mueller) 9. Staff Presentations 10. Adjournment WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION This outline has been prepared to help you understand the public meeting process. The review of an item usually takes the following form: The chairperson of the meeting will announce the item to be reviewed and ask for the staff report on the subject. Staff presents their report on the matter. The Commission will then ask City staff questions about the proposal. The chairperson will then ask the audience if there is anyone present who wishes to comment on the proposal. This is the time for the public to make comments or ask questions about the proposal. Please step up to the podium, speak clearly, first giving your name and address and then your comments. After everyone in the audience wishing to speak has given his or her comments, the chairperson will close the public discussion portion of the meeting. The Commission will then discuss the proposal. No further public comments are allowed. The Commission will then make its recommendation or decision. All decisions by the Planning Commission are recommendations to the City Council. The City Council makes the final decision. jw/pc\pcagd Revised: 01/95 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2001 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioner Eric Ahlness Commissioner Mary Dierich Commissioner Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Jack Frost Commissioner Matt Ledvina Commissioner Paul Mueller Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner William Rossbach Commissioner Dale Trippler Absent Present at 7:35 p.m. Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Staff Present: Ken Roberts, Associate Planner Recording Secretary: Lisa Kroll III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Roberts made a change to the agenda. Under 6. New Business, delete b. 1 the Revision and change Number 2 to Number 1. Commissioner Frost moved approval as amended with changes. Commissioner Rossbach seconded. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ayes-Fischer, Frost, Ledvina, Mueller, Pearson, Rossbach, Trippler Chairperson Fischer made a small correction to the minutes for September 17, 2001, on page 9 in the fourth paragraph from the bottom, change the wording from he rents to to "too" meaning also. Commissioner Pearson moved approval as amended with the change. Commissioner Mueller seconded. Ayes - Fischer, Mueller, Pearson, Rossbach Abstention-Frost, Ledvina, Trippler V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -2- VI. NEW BUSINESS a. Hill-Murray School Conditional Use Permit Revision (2625 Larpenteur Avenue East) Mr. Roberts said Hill-Murray School proposes to put an addition onto the west side of the school building for a chapel and a student entrance. This addition would have about 9,000 square feet of space and is to enhance and support the school's religious studies curriculum and to provide a student entrance to the school. In a future phase, they would add another entrance to the school property from Larpenteur Avenue and add 64 parking spaces near their east property line. (The city council approved these changes on June 28, 1999.) Hill-Murray School will do the improvements in stages as their funds allow. Mr. Roberts said staff feels the proposed chapel addition meets the findings for (CUP) approval and would be compatible with the existing school and the development in the area. None of the proposed changes or the addition should cause any problems for the city or the neighbors. Staff is asking the planning commission members to adopt the resolution to approve revisions for the conditional use permit for Hill-Murray School and the athletic fields at 2625 Larpenteur Avenue East. The city bases this approval on the findings required by ordinance. This approval is subject to conditions of approval adopted by the city council on June 28, 1998, subject to the revisions on pages 3 and 4 of the staff report. Mr. Roberts said staff has added a condition for item 1. c. for the chapel addition and have also made some corrections and updates to the other conditions on the school site. One condition staff has proposed to add is condition 11 on page 4 regarding the sweeping and restriping of the west parking lot before August 15, 2002. Item B. on page 4 in the staff report is for the community design review board to review. Commissioner Frost said where do the Fire Marshal's comments come from as noted on page 3 of the staff report? Mr. Roberts answered that some of it is covered in the state fire code, he does not believe any of the comments are in the city code. The Fire Marshal may have some latitude of what he can require and if he considers it to be a life-safety issue. Commissioner Trippler asked staff if they are asking planning commission members to approve item A. on pages 3 and 4 of the staff report? Mr. Roberts said yes. Commissioner Trippler asked if most of the conditions in part A. from item 6-10 on pages 3 and 4 are part of the 1999 changes? Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -3- Mr. Roberts said the conditions were actually from 1996 and were last updated and changed in 1999. Commissioner Trippler asked if that means Hill-Murray School has not done these conditions since 1999? Mr. Roberts answered no, some of those conditions have been done. The others are still important conditions and staff wants to keep them enforced. Hill-Murray School has not done the new item 7. regarding the bleachers. They have not changed their baseball field yet so that is still an important condition and when they choose to do that work, that condition is still in effect. On the new item 9. Hill-Murray School has done the turf management plan, and the last sentence was deleted because they submitted the new front-entry addition and it is completed, so that part of that condition is no longer needed Commissioner Trippler said for the most part planning commission members are just making sure Hill-Murray School understands these things still need to be maintained? Mr. Roberts said that is correct. Chairperson Fischer asked the applicant to come forward and address himself. Mr. Paul May, of Rafferty, Rafferty, Tollefson, Architects, the project architects, introduced himself. Commissioner Trippler asked Mr. May about the comments from the Fire Marshal on page 3 of the staff report. Mr. May answered that number 1, regarding the fire protection sprinkler system, is part of the uniform building code and the fire code. Number 2, regarding the visual alarm notification system, is part of the uniform building code for Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA) and Number 3, regarding the audible alarm notification system, is part of the fire code. Commissioner Trippler asked aren't those items already in place? Mr. May said the items are currently in place in the school and these would be extensions of the systems into the addition. Mr. Roberts said the Fire Marshal has asked staff to make sure the comments go in the staff report early. This is so an architect or an applicant will be aware of those conditions early on and so there would be no surprise later. Commissioner Rossbach said in looking at the plans on the second floor of the school in the existing building, are those rooms actually that strange shape as shown in the plans? Mr. May said in the staff report on page 15 those rooms are band practice rooms and are meant to have swayed walls for the acoustics. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 Commissioner Frost moved to adopt the resolution on pages 22-23 of the staff report. This resolution approves revisions for the conditional use permit for Hill-Murray School and athletic fields at 2625 Larpenteur Avenue East. The city bases this approval on the findings required by ordinance. This approval is subject to conditions of approval adopted by the city council on June 28, 1998, subject to the following revisions (The deletions are crossed out and the additions are underlined). 1. All construction shall follow the plans as noted below: a. For the athletic fields, follow the plans date-stamped March 6, 1998. b. For the school and parking lot addition, follow the plans date-stamped May 19, 1999. c_ For the chapel addition, follow the plans date-stamped October 1,2001. The director of community development may approve minor changes. Tho school sba!! mc';~ th9 The proposed construction for the chapel~ addition.~,,..o""~ ,~..,..,. .... ..,,~ ,~-;,,....,,... must be substantially started within one year of council approval or the permit revision shall end. The council may extend this deadline for one year. The city council shall review this permit annually to monitor the traffic and parking situations related to the use of the athletic fields. Any new lights shall be installed to meet the city code. This requires that they be screened or aimed so they do not cause any light-glare problems on streets or residential properties. ~;~ ~n~ r~r~ ~ ..... ~'~ .................. ' T ha thc ~.,.o~,~.;.~,~,, +h~ Post and maintain signs on the edge of the wetland-protection buffer prohibiting any building, mowing, cutting, filling or dumping within the buffer. Wetland buffer signs in the mowed area shall be placed at the edge of the lawn. That Portion of the proposed walking/running path that is within 50 feet of the wetland shall be built with a pervious material. 78. Ensure that all bleachers and dugouts are at least 30 feet from the Sterling Street and Larpenteur Avenue right-of-ways. 8@. The city may require the applicant to plant 30 native species of trees for screening between the playing fields and the homes on Knoll Circle, as may be determined at a future hearing on the conditional use permit. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -5- 910. --- The school shall prepare for city approval a turf management plan for the athletic fields. This plan shall include the mowing, watering and fertilizing practices that the school will follow in the care of their athletic fields and grounds. The school shall prepare for city approval a turf management plan for the athletic fields. The school shall prepare and follow the plan so the practices will minimize the impact of the storm water runoff on the nearby wetlands. T-~ 1_.~0 11. Submit a grading and drainage plan for watershed district approval to provide sedimentation control at the storm water discharge point before it dumps into the south wetland area. 11. The school shall sweep and restripe the west parking lot before Auqust 15, 2002. Commissioner Pearson seconded the motion. The motion carries. Ayes - Fischer, Frost, Ledvina, Mueller, Pearson, Rossbach, Trippler This item goes to the city council on November 13, 2001, and the community design review board will review it at their meeting October 23, 2001. Ramsey County Productive Day Golf Course (Century Avenue between Lower Aflon Road and Linwood Avenue) Mr. Roberts said Kevin Finley, of the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department, is requesting approval of plans for the Productive Day nine-hole golf course. The proposed golf course would be located on property owned by Ramsey County, part of which was previously used for farming and cattle raising by the Ramsey County Correctional Facility to the north. The proposed nine-hole golf course would have a 2,200-square-foot clubhouse, a practice range, golf-practice area, a teaching area and a parking lot. The applicant also proposes to build a 7,740-square-foot maintenance building north of Lower Afton Road on the correction facility's property near their existing maintenance buildings. The proposed golf course would be partially maintained by a staff of inmates. There would be about ten inmates at any one time working the course. The county would select Iow-risk inmates through a screening process. These persons would be those who are sentenced to the correctional facility for short terms. High-risk, long-term inmates would not be eligible to work in this program. A corrections officer would supervise the inmate workers. There will also be a grounds keeper to manage the grounds-keeping operations. Mr. Roberts said the applicant is requesting that the city council approve a conditional use permit (CUP) for a golf course. City code requires a (CUP) for golf courses in an F (farm residence) district. The community design review board will be reviewing the building, site and landscape plans. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -6- Mr. Roberts said the proposed golf course would be compatible with the surrounding development and was welcomed by most of the neighbors. A neighborhood survey was sent out and from that survey 52 replies came back with comments. 41 neighbors liked the proposal, 9 neighbors had no opinion but offered comments and 2 neighbors were opposed to this project. The county has had at least two neighborhood meetings and has invited neighbors to come and hear about the project and voice their concerns. There are 10 wetlands on the site. The RamseyNVashington Metro Watershed District Board conditionally approved the Productive Day Golf Course proposal pending submittal and final plans on October 3, 2001. Cliff ^ichinger, the district administrator for the watershed district had comments that were in the staff report. Mr. Roberts said the proposed maintenance building will be across LowerAfton Road. There is an entrance road at that location now where the maintenance building is proposed that serves as a back entrance into the correctional facility and to their greenhouses. The maintenance building would be next to that driveway so there would not be any additional curb cut onto Lower Afton Road. Mr. Roberts said to make a correction to the staff report on page 5 item A. the second sentence should say Lower Afton Road not Upper Afton Road. Commissioner Ledvina asked staff if there have been any incidents with the residents associated with the activities with the workhouse and the nursery? Mr. Roberts said he has never heard of any incidents but the county staff could answer that. Mr. Roberts said he lives 2 blocks from that area and he has never heard of any incidents and it is not a concern of his as a neighbor of the facility or in his position with the city. Commissioner Pearson asked staff if this is going to have any negative effect on the St. Paul Firing Range operation? Are they sufficiently below grade there that they can still continue to operate in that location? Mr. Roberts said he can't answer that. That may be a question for the architect to answer. He said he knows the county and the project designers were well aware of that facility. Commissioner Trippler asked staff if planning commission members shouldn't really look at the maintenance building because staff considers it to be a small item? Mr. Roberts said page 2 of the staff report talks about that item. A minor construction project is defined in the city code as less than $200,000 in value and can be reviewed and approved by city staff. The maintenance building is essentially an oversized garage with an office so it will be less than $200,000. It was not seen as a major item in this case. Commissioner Trippler said that even though it is three times larger than the clubhouse it is considered to be a garage? Mr. Roberts said yes. Chairperson Fischer asked the applicant to come forward and address himself. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -7- Kevin Finley, the Director of Administration and Golf Operations for the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department addressed himself. He said upon review of the staff report he supports the work that they have done. This project has been in the works since August 1998. It was an idea that the corrections department came up with and was pursued as a joint venture. The property is adjacent to the correctional facility and the parks and recreation department has the expertise in operating golf courses, so they thought it would be a good idea to explore. There has been tremendous support from the neighbors. Back in 1998 a letter was submitted with 115 signatures on it to the county board in support of the project. They have had several open meetings with the neighborhood. They have had two or three layers of design review including neighborhood representatives, and people from the watershed district have helped out through the wetland issues in identifying those buffer zones in the plan. Commissioner Pearson asked Mr. Finley about the St. Paul Firing Range and if it has been taken into account with the design of the plans? Is this something that once the golf course opens there will be complaints about the firing that is done on the range? Mr. Finley said they have been very upfront in all of the discussions with the public. When they went into this project there were no intentions of displacing the St. Paul Firing Range. The St. Paul Firing Range is aware that the golf course is going to be developed, if the plans get approved. In the plans themselves there will be some berming. The St. Paul Firing Range is quite a bit lower by an elevation than where this golf course will be sitting and the firing of guns will be a noise factor. Commissioner Pearson said he did not see anything on the citizen comments or that the St. Paul Police Department had been notified. Or did that they have an opportunity to respond in regard to their property? Mr. Roberts said he is sure the St. Paul Police Department was notified but he will check the file. Commissioner Trippler asked if there had been any other names thought of for the golf course other than the Productive Day Golf Course. There are a number of good professional Minnesota golfers, have you ever thought of naming a course after a Minnesota golfer like The Patti Berg Course or The Lehman Course? He is concerned about the maintenance building being on the other side of Lower Afton Road. He does not live in that area but whenever he has been in that neighborhood that road seems to be very busy. He asked if they anticipate that it will be difficult to get the equipment back and forth across that street particularly during rush hour traffic? Mr. Finley said the correctional facility workers will be getting ready and going out to work very early before the golfers are even there. They will be on the turf side before the rush hour begins in the morning and back on the other side before the rush hour in the evening. Mr. Finley also addressed the naming of the golf course. He said they had an opportunity to ask neighbors and others for a new name for the golf course. The ideas for a new name for the golf course were due Monday, October 15, at 4:30 p.m. He is happy to report there were 115 suggestions and only about 11 of those suggestions were already repeated. They will go through a process that involves the park and recreation commission, the correction advisory board, and the county board to come up with a new name. The issue of naming a Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -8- golf course after a famous golfer is that it costs a lot of money, when they lend their name to a golf course they take quite a stipend to do that. Commissioner Rossbach said his concern is about a letter that was sent in from one of the neighbors that talked about things that have allegedly happened over the last 15 years. The letter was regarding calling in and some activities that they said they witnessed. One of the incidences mentioned was with drug paraphernalia. What is your response to that? Mr. Finley referred that question to the Superintendent at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility. Art Cavara, the Superintendent at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility addressed the commission. He said members of the correctional facility spoke to the individual that wrote the letter expressing her feelings and the allegations regarding the inmates. She said she has seen contraband drops, cat calling etc. He said he has worked at the correctional facility for 8 years and he has never heard anything regarding these allegations nor has anybody else at the facility. He said if she did call the police department why hadn't anybody at the facility been notified of these allegations? Mr. Cavara gave the woman his name and telephone number, the assistant director of the corrections department's name and telephone number, and he said she was asked to come over to the facility to see how things are done and the process of the system. Mr. Cavara said the woman chose not to do that. He is not aware of any of the allegations that were made in the letter. He has gone to her address to see if in fact you can see things that take place from that location. He said it is almost impossible to see from her backyard with the fence and a grove of trees that are through that area. It is in an area that is further west from where inmates actually do any work, so he is not aware of what the woman is talking about. She talks about contacting the police department with complaints, when that does occur a complaint is logged on the lieutenant's logs and we found there were no such recordings of any complaints. The woman talks about late night activity, unless the inmates are on work release, and that is usually only one-or-two-inmates that work midnight shifts, they are in their rooms at 10:00 p.m. If they go to work during the day they have an hour to get back to work. Most of the inmates are in the facility by 6:00 p.m. if they are on work release. The other inmates that are on community crews are in the facility by 3:00 p.m. So he is not aware of any nighttime activity that she wrote about in her letter. Commissioner Rossbach asked Mr. Cavara if he would talk a little bit more about the process if someone did want to call to alert the correctional facility about something that happened? He asked Mr. Cavara if someone should call 9117 Also the information that members have says the correctional facility has crews that are going out into public situations, he asked if Mr. Cavara could talk about that too. Mr. Cavara said if a resident wishes to call about inmate misbehavior or suspicious behavior thinking it is an inmate, the telephone calls that they do get, which are few and far between, come directly to the workhouse and are directed to Mr. Cavara's office or his assistant. If Mr. Cavara or his assistant would not be present, they go to the shift lieutenant and are recorded in a log. Mr. Cavara gets information on all of the telephone calls recorded. When they had cattle on the property, and they did farming, any complaints that came in, members of the correctional facility would go directly to the neighbors who complained. He has gone to the locations himself personally and has sent crews out to investigate any complaints that were Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -9- received. Generally the residents that border the correctional facility will call directly. If they call 911 he is not positive what happens to the people's calls or where they would be routed. It may be routed to the Maplewood Police Department, but if the calls are being routed there, he would expect that the police office would contact the correctional facility with the complaint. The problems that occur with the inmates are with working the farm or the nursery. The inmates will be working and will leave the tractor right in the middle of the field and walk away. They go into town and are picked up two or three days later. Mr. Cavara said the correctional facility has never had any problem with any community crews they have. They have them working for the government center, at the libraries throughout the county, cleaning up garbage houses and bus stops, and a correctional officer is with the crew of 4 or 5 doing that. The nursery and the grounds-keeping crew generally have 10-to-12 inmates a day. They are usually in or around the greenhouses or in the trees or tree lots, and there are four people supervising them at all times. Mr. Cavara said in the eight years he has worked there they have never had any type of behavior that would be considered assaultive or disruptive. Basically they get lazy and they have to send the inmates back into the facility and they get locked down for refusing to work. This past year Mr. Cavara said three inmates have walked off community crews from the nursery which they believe were set up ahead of time when the inmates called a girlfriend or a loved one and had them meet the inmate outside of the woods. At that point they have guards and patrol cars chasing them down 5 minutes later to catch them. Mr. Cavara said the inmates are generally level-1 inmates. A good majority are traffic offenders of all kinds, drug users, minor-property offenders with a good percentage of the inmates going through that facility more than once, the staff know these people very well. Most of them do not have any incident reports that are written within the facility. So there are not the high-risk person offenders at that facility. As of Friday, October 12, they had 112 inmates that would make outside clearance and they are only taking 18 of them outside. Commissioner Pearson asked Mr. Cavara what the direct number you would want residents to call with complaints would be? Mr. Cavara answered that his direct number is 651-266-1440. Commissioner Mueller asked Mr. Cavara in his opinion, if cleaning that area up, would that increase the possibility of covert type activity, or would it decrease the possibilities? Mr. Cavara said he thinks it will remain the same. They have inmate crews that will be mowing the ditches and the correctional officer might be 50 yards away, but that is not to say they are not going to drop a pack of cigarettes or something. They are all strip-searched when the inmates come in, and the item is usually caught quickly on the inmates. It is probably easier to leave contraband on the workhouse property verses on a golf course because of the fences, trees, shrubs, buildings, etc. on the property where things can be hidden. It would be pretty visible on a golf course and the plan right now is to have at least 2 correctional officers on the golf course that will be within sight. They have to worry about the girlfriend or loved one waiting for the inmate to escape in their car on Century Avenue. We don't believe the inmates would get out of line with the public or the neighbors and they are very sensitive about that. If an inmate even looks suspicious they get pulled offthe crew and put back in the correctional facility and get replaced. Being assigned to the nursery and the Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -10- golf course will be the "jewel" the inmates are looking for. People want to get outside and work rather than being cooped up inside the facility with 40-to-50 people in one unit with a television blaring. Very few inmates are selected to go outside. Commissioner Frost asked Mr. Cavara if there would be other maintenance people in addition to the sentence-to-serve inmates working on the golf course? Mr. Cavara said the intention for the inmate laborer is to do the trimming, mowing, tree planting and the nursery and they intend to make full use of that. There will be a professional golf course superintendent that is going to be hired that will run the turf maintenance program. There will also be a fulltime maintenance person that will be part of the correctional facility staff and at least a half-time mechanic. They will probably supplement that with a few park and recreation aides that will be supplemental employees. Commissioner Frost asked Mr. Cavara would the correctional workers work in the clubhouse or for the food service? Mr. Cavara said there would be additional staff in the clubhouse. Commissioner Frost asked if the workers for the clubhouse would be coming from the correctional facility inmates? Mr. Cavara said no, the inmate labor is strictly for the grounds crew. Commissioner Mueller asked the length of the course, and is it an executive par, executive 9, or a par 3 course? Mr. Cavara said it is a par 35 course and there is a varying length from 3,000 yards down to 1,600 yards depending on the tee. Commissioner Mueller asked Mr. Cavara if anyone is helping to design the course to make it significant? He is assuming there will be somebody good designing the course but is it possible to get anybody with a big name to help design the course? Mr. Cavara said they do have a golf course architect that they have been working with who's name is Garrett Gill who is the principal of Gill Miller who is in the audience. He has designed some of the better courses in this area if anybody would like to address any questions to him. Commissioner Mueller asked what the cost will be to hit nine holes at this golf course? Mr. Finley said when they did the financial feasibility study they were looking at a rate of $15 for nine holes so it will be in that range. Commissioner Mueller asked Mr. Finley if it is possible to get a membership, or is this a public course? Mr. Finley said one of the things about this golf course is that it will be part of the golf course system that includes Keller, Goodrich, Manitou, and Island Lake. But it is going to be on it's Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 own and there will be a huge debt service to pay. It will have to be paid for out of the revenue generated from this golf course, so they probably won't lump in memberships with the other courses as it is done. He is sure there will be some type of a discount for residents at least. Commissioner Rossbach said golf courses use a lot of fertilizers, chemicals etc. and there is a lot of wetland area there. What if any provisions have been made to try and deal with that situation and safety. Mr. Finley said the biggest thing is to establish the buffer zones. They have worked very closely with the watershed district and establishing those zones and certainly the City of Maplewood has the opportunity to review the recommendations. They have had to actually change the design of the golf course a few times just to meet those standards. There will be those buffer zones that will include areas not only during construction, but during operation as well. They are hoping the quality of the water on the property will be better after the golf course is operating because of the quality of the plant material that is there. Some of the steep slopes that are there will be gently graded so there is not as much runoff into those ponds. In addition to that, as part of the hiring of the golf course architect, they have an expert that is part of their team that is working with his golf course superintendents in developing a maintenance plan for this property. It is very sensitive with all the water. All of the pesticide applicators are licensed by the State of Minnesota and he has full confidence that they are not harming the property when they are applying pesticides or fertilizers to the property. Commissioner Frost moved to adopt the resolution on pages 30-31 of the staff report approving a conditional use permit for a nine-hole golf course on the west side of Century Avenue between Lower Afton Road and Linwood Avenue. Approval is based on the findings required by the code and subject to the following conditions: 1. All construction shall follow the approved site plan. The director of community development may approve minor changes. 2. The proposed construction must be substantially started within one year of council approval or the permit shall become null and void. 3. The city council shall review this permit in one year. o If Ramsey County sells this golf course to a private individual or company, they must request an amendment to the Maplewood Comprehensive Plan to change the plan for this site from G (government) to P (park) or OS (open space). The applicant shall dedicate wetland-buffer easements around each wetland on the golf course property. These easements shall describe the boundaries of the buffers and prohibit any building, mowing, cutting, filling or dumping within the buffers. The applicant shall record the deeds for these easements before the city will issue grading and building permits. (code requirement) The applicant shall check with the city staff for the width of each buffer easement prior to drafting any easement documentation. 6. The applicant shall install wetland buffer signs that prohibit any building, mowing, cutting, VII. VII. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -12- filling or dumping within each wetland buffer. (code requirement) 7. The driving range lights shall not be on later than 10:30 p.m. Commissioner Rossbach seconded the motion. The motion carries. Ayes - Dierich, Fischer, Frost, Ledvina, Mueller, Pearson, Rossbach, Trippler This item goes to the Community Design Review Board meeting October 23, 2001, and goes to the City Council meeting November 13, 2001. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Mr. Rossbach was the representative at the September 24, 2001, city council meeting. Items discussed were the ally vacation next to 49 Kingston Avenue that was approved and was an ayes-all vote by city council. The 5-8 Club that is known as Beau's on Minnehaha Avenue was discussed and approved and it was an ayes-all vote by city council as well. Schlomka Landscaping conditional use permit and the oversized accessory structure was approved and voted ayes-all by city council. Walgreens on 1706 White Bear Avenue was discussed and with the changes that were made including the two entrances to the store, more windows, and the set back, Walgreens did not want two entrances or have the building set back and wanted all the parking in the front of the store. City Council approved the changes 4-to-1 if Walgreens built their building to staff's recommendation. Walgreens basically said if that was the case then Walgreens would not be building on that particular site. It was brought up that Walgreens is also looking at the Pawn store sight on Larpenteur Avenue and White Bear Avenue in St. Paul and that might be a better location for that store. They also discussed comments and findings of the Beaver Lake Town home Environmental Worksheet and there was no significant environmental impact by building the development. The cost for the environmental worksheet was $20,000 the developer paid for it. Mr. Rossbach believes council will end up with the original version and if another $20,000 was put into it he believes they will want their money back somehow. The council accepted the comments and responses and found no significant impact from the worksheet and approved it 5-to-0. b. Mr. Pearson was the representative at the October 8, 2001, city council meeting. Salvation Army church expansion was discussed and approved by the city council. The Sinclair Oil Corporation was discussed and approved by the city council. The third item discussed was the Toyota expansion and was approved by the city council. After the meeting Mr. Pearson heard there was a testimony about Toyota and other dealerships on Highway 61 still unloading cars on the highway. Mr. Roberts said this has been a problem not only with Toyota but also with other Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -13- dealerships on Highway 61, especially where there is a wide boulevard. The transport truck will pull up on the shoulder and unload the vehicles instead of pulling into their lots and maneuvering their trucks in the car lot. He has seen transport trucks doing this and stopped into the dealership one day and told them it was not a very safe thing to do. All the dealers know about the rules, but they say they get new drivers or different companies and they don't know these rules, then they start unloading vehicles onto Highway 61. c. Monday, October 22, 2001, no planning commission representative is needed for the city council meeting. d. Tuesday, November 13, 2001, the city council meeting will be held on Tuesday because of Veterans Day and will be represented by Dale Trippler. Chairperson Fischer asked staff in looking at the maps for the Hill-Murray addition across the street it has the sign on the open space and it looks like an R-3 on it? Is R-3 correct for an official city open space? Mr. Roberts said the city does not have an open space zoning. It is only in the land use plan. Frost and English is an example of this because it has 3 different zonings on it from the last development proposal that was never built. Commissioner Rossbach asked if it is required that the two be compatible with each other? Mr. Roberts said yes, but the calculations that are done are for the land use plan designations. Chairperson Fischer asked if that is being misleading on the map? Mr. Roberts said no. Chairperson Fischer read an article from the Minnesota Planning Newsletter about an issue Maplewood faced a while ago. This was regarding the deserting of "big-box stores" and referring to some communities that now have an ordinance that would prevent vacant premises from being prevented from occupation from another tenant. She asked staff if this is happening here or is this strictly from other parts of the country? Mr. Roberts said he read that article too and he has never read or heard that happening locally or statewide. Commissioner Rossbach asked chairperson Fischer to explain that a bit further. Chaiperson Fischer read the article and asked if staff could run a copy of the three-column article for the next agenda? IX, Planning Commission Minutes of 10-15-01 -14- STAFF PRESENTATIONS Mr. Roberts said Birch Glen Apartments on Ariel and Beam Avenue picked up the building permit and building has already started. Emma's Place on Van Dyke and East County Road B is waiting for the building permit that is currently being reviewed. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m. TO: FROM: SUBJECT: PROJECT: LOCATION: DATE: MEMORANDUM City Manager Tom Ekstrand-Assistant Community Development Director Conditional Use Permit Revision and Design Review Saint Paul Water Utility (McCarrons Water Treatment Plant) Building Expansion 1900 Rice Street North November 8, 2001 INTRODUCTION Project Description The Saint Paul Water Utility is proposing to make the following changes to their odginal plant building (Refer to the maps and narrative on pages 5-11): Build a 250-square-foot entrance vestibule. This vestibule would be above a below-grade maintenance shop also proposed in the applicant's planned improvements. This vestibule would be on the west side of the building. 2. Add a new facade on the west elevation. The pdmary matedal would be stucco. Refer to the elevations. 3. Provide four handicap-parking spaces in an existing parking lot. 4. Add landscaping to the site, pdmadly along the west side of the main building. Requests The applicant is requesting: 1. Approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) revision for the proposed addition and changes to the facility. City code requires a CUP for public utilities, public services or public buildings in the city. This request is to revise an existing CUP since the council previously approved a conditional use permit for the applicant. The proposed changes would be revisions to the site plan covered by the (::;UP. 2. Approval of project plans. BACKGROUND December 15, 1988: The city council approved a CUP to construct a clear-water pond south of the solids dewatedng facility west of Sylvan Street and north of Larpenteur Avenue. June 10, 1996: The city council approved a CUP and design plans for the expansion of the solids dewatering facility. August 11, 1997: The city council approved a CUP and design plans for the construction of two building additions and a new building at the water treatment plant. DISCUSSION Conditional Use Permit and Design The city council should approve this CUP revision. The proposed addition and changes meet the findings required for CUP approval in the city code. The proposed building renovations and landscaping would be attractive and would enhance the water utility's property. Handicap Parking Only one of the proposed four handicap parking spaces abuts a cross-hatched loading aisle. The ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) parking requirements state that each space must abut such an area. The applicant should revise the plans to show this change. RECOMMENDATIONS Adopt the resolution on pages pages 12-13. This resolution approves a conditional use permit revision to expand the Saint Paul Water Utility's Plant Building at 1900 Rice Street North. The city bases this approval on the findings required by the code and is subject to the following conditions: 1. All construction shall follow the approved site plan. The director of community development may approve minor changes. 2. The proposed construction must be substantially started within one year of council approval or the permit shall become null and void. 3. The city council shall review this permit in one year. Approve the plans (date-stamped November 2, 2001) for the proposed expansion and renovation of the St. Paul Water Utility's McCarrons Water Treatment Plant at 1900 Rice Street. Approval is based on findings required by the code. The property owner shall do the following: 1. Repeat this review in two years if the city has not issued a permit for this project. 2. Revise the site plan for staff approval showing handicap parking spaces that meet ADA requirements before obtaining a building permit. 3. Provide a detailed grading, drainage, utility and erosion control plan to the city engineer for approval before obtaining a building permit. 2 4. If any required work shown on the approved plans is not done by the time of a final inspection for this project, the city may allow temporary occupancy if: a. The city determines that the work is not essential to the public health, safety or welfare. b. The city receives cash escrow or an irrevocable letter of credit for the required work. The amount shall be 150 percent of the cost of the unfinished work. c. The city receives an agreement that will allow the city to complete any unfinished work. 5. All work shall follow the approved plans. The director of community development may approve minor changes. REFERENCE INFORMATION SITE DESCRIPTION Site size: 35.93 Acres Existing land use: Saint Paul Water Utility SURROUNDING LAND USES The proposed addition is in the center of the water utility property. the applicant's property. The building is surrounded by PLANNING Land Use Plan designation: Zoning: F (farm residential) OS (open space) and W (public water facility) ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS Section 36-437 of the city code requires a CUP for public utilities, public services or public buildings in the city. CRITERIA FOR CUP APPROVAL Section 36-442(a) states that the city council may approve a CUP, based on nine standards. See 1-9 in the resolution beginning on page 12. APPLICATION DATE We received these applications on November 2, 2001. State law requires that the city council act on requests within 60 days. The council must review these requests by January 2, 2002. p:sec18\watrutil.addn.2001 Attachments: 1. Location Map 2. Property Line / Zoning Map 3. Site Plan 4. Building Elevations 5. Building Elevations 6. Conditional Use Permit Statement date-stamped November 2, 2001 7. Project Description dated October 27, 2001 8. Conditional Use Permit Resolution 9. Plans date-stamped November 2, 2001 4 0 LITTLE CANADA AVE. LOCATION /- ST. PAUL MAP Attachment 1 Attachment 1 2400N , ,~; ~,:ROSELAWNAVENUE FORMER~ ,~.: AMUSEMENT CITY AMUSEMENT PARK I CROWN PLAZA ~ SHOPPING CENTER: ._~.¥..= LARPENTEU R AVENUE MER~ILL'~5..' - ,'~:".~"~' ~)1 A,~archm~ 2 ST. PAUL WATER UTILITY PROPERTY (~) , IIll C;ty of St.l~. ~(?) II PROPERTY LINE I ZONING MAP N LOCATION OF PROPOSED WORK Attachment 3 i' -I I I I ~ I I '"~ I I I I,_ ! uJ uJ SITE PLAN Attachment 4 Attachment 5 PROPOSED BUILDING ELEVATIONS 9 Attachment 6 STATEMENT CONDITIONAL USE APPLICATION SAINT PAUL REGIONAL WATER SERVICES McCARRONS WATER TREATMENT PLANT - MAINTENANCE ADDITION AND OFFICE REMODELING 1900 N. RICE ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN The Saint Paul Regional Water Services is planning an addition and remodeling project at its McCarron's Water Treatment Plant. The'Purpose of this project is for improved crew space, office space improvements, improvements to shop space, security and communications systems, and exterior appearance. Regarding the City of Maplewood's criteria for a conditional use permit: The project will improve A.D,A. accessibility and will conform to City code requirements. The project will not change the existing use of the building and will make improvements to the appearance of the building entry area. The improvements are consistent with the current use of the site. The use will not involve any activity, process, materials, equipment or methods of operation that would be dangerous, hazardous, detrimental, disturbing, or cause a nuisance to any person or property, because of excessive noise, glare, smoke, dust, odor, fumes, water or air pollution, drainage water run-off, vibration, general unsightliness, electrical interference or other nuisances. · The use will not change the vehicular traffic pattern. The use will be served by existing public facilities and services and will not create excessive additional costs for public facilities or services. The improvements are primarily "internal" to the site and will not effect the neighboring properties. Most of the proposed work is remodeling work of the existing treatment plant space. The use will cause minimal adverse environmental effects and follows the stringent sustainability requirements of the City of Saint Paul. Respectively submitted by: David Wagner Saint Paul Regional Water Services 651-266-6283 EECEIVED NOV 0 2 2001 10 N :\CLEPdCAL\DWAGNER\conditional_use_application.wpd PROJECT DESCRIPTION McCarrons Water Treatment Plant Maplewood, MN Date: 27 October 2001 Prepared by: Ellen Luken, Luken Architecture, PA Attachment 7 NOV 0 2 20m 322 Description of Proiect Areas: The project scope is for improvements to employee, maintenance, administrative and public education areas in the original Plant building on the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant campus. Them are two additions to the building's west side exterior: The largest is a below grade 3,921 sf maintenance shop addition. Only the new loading dock is and exposed surface replacing the original. The second addition is a 250sf entrance vestibule located on top of the maintenance addition. This has been designed in the original architectural character/features of the Plant building. The interior renovation work is for the public education, administrative and employee service areas. These are located in abandoned chemical feed areas of the Plant found in the old Train Bay and Head House (Tower 1). ADA Compliance: ADA compliance is achieved in the areas of remodeling. On site, existing parking has been converted to accessible parking and an accessible route has been created connecting this parking to the new entrance addition. In the building interior, all areas of the remodeling meet ADA compliance standards. In areas outside the remodeling, accessibility has been improved throughout the Plant along routes where public tours are conducted. This work includes the replacement of non-compliant ramps and handrails. Rooftop Screening-of MeChanical Equipment-- The MWTP Plant building cannot be seen from adjacent residential properties. However, rooftop equipment is inherently screened by both the existing 3-4' high parapets and by locating the equipment away frOm the front edges of the building west elevation. Storm Water Run-Off: The existing storm water run-off catch basins and related grades remain the same. With the underground maintenance addition, impervious surfaces have been somewhat reduced to the project site thus reducing the quantity of water run-off. Landscape Plantings: At this time, the project landscaping includes sod/seed only. Included in the Contractor's bid for the work is an allowance of $12,000 for landscape plantings and exterior building 'accent' lighting to be located at the new entrance addition and employee lunchroom patio. The St. Paul Regional Water Services have future plans to relocate their downtown administrative and engineering offices to the McCarrons campus sometime in 2003-2004. This relocation will require a new office building and formal public entrance on site. At that time, it is also intended to add a landscaped educational plaza connecting the public entrance to the Plant entrance under this project. It is intended that this landscaped feature will be designed to educate the public about water in the natural environment. And it is hoped that the character will be representative of Minnesota's many water features: ponds, lakes, streams, wetlands, etc. kuken Architecture, P.A. First Avenue North · Suite 303 ° Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 · Phone (612) 630-0074 · Fax (612) 630-0075 11 Attachment 8 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REVISION RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Water Utility has requested a conditional use permit to expand the odginal plant building at the St. Paul Water Utility McCarrons Water Treatment Plant. WHEREAS, this permit applies to 1900 Rice Street North. The legal description is: SECTION 18, TOWNSHIP 29, RANGE 22 IN THE VILLAGE OF MAPLEWOOD REVISED DESCRIPTION NUMBER 175 A SPECIFIC PART OF SEC 18, TN 29, R 22. (PIN 18-29-22- 31-0042) WHEREAS, the history of this conditional use permit is as follows: 1. On November 19, 2001, the planning commission recommended that the city council approve this permit. 2. On December 10, 2001, the city council held a public headng. The city staff published a notice in the paper and sent notices to the surrounding property owners. The council gave everyone at the hearing a chance to speak and present written statements. The council also considered reports and recommendations of the city staff and planning commission. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the city council approve the above-described conditional use permit based on the building and site plans. The city approves this permit because: 1. The use would be located, designed, maintained, constructed and operated to be in conformity with the city's comprehensive plan and code of ordinances. 2. The use would not change the existing or planned character of the surrounding area. 3. The use would not depreciate property values. 4. The use would not involve any activity, process, materials, equipment or methods of operation that would be dangerous, hazardous, detrimental, disturbing or cause a nuisance to any person or property, because of excessive noise, glare, smoke, dust, odor, fumes, water or air pollution, drainage, water run-off, vibration, general unsightliness, electrical interference or other nuisances. 5. The use would generate only minimal vehicular traffic on local streets and would not create traffic congestion or unsafe access on existing or proposed streets. 6. The use would be served by adequate public facilities and services, including streets, police and fire protection, drainage structures, water and sewer systems, schools and parks. 7. The use would not create excessive additional costs for public facilities or services. 8. The use would maximize the preservation of and incorporate the site's natural and scenic features into the development design. 12 9. The use would cause minimal adverse environmental effects. Approval is subject to the following conditions: 1. All construction shall follow the site plan approved by the city. The director of community development may approve minor changes. 2. The proposed construction must be substantially started within one year of council approval or the permit shall become null and void. The council may extend this deadline for one year. 3. The city council shall review this permit in one year. Passed by the Maplewood City Council on ,2001. TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: MEMORANDUM City Manager Ken Roberts, Associate Planner Ordinance Amendment Resolution - ISTS Standards November 14, 2001 INTRODUCTION The Metropolitan Council is requiring the City to amend the comprehensive plan and the city code to add standards about individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS). BACKGROUND City staff has been working with the staff of the Metropolitan Council to complete the required update of the Comprehensive Plan. This plan update is to include policies in the plan about ISTS and is to have the city add code standards about ISTS. As such, city staff has updated the Water Resources Management Plan chapter of the comprehensive plan to include policies about ISTS. This proposed update starts on page two. There are about 150 ISTS in Maplewood. Therefore, the proposed ordinance would only apply to a small percentage of the households in the city. A major concern with ISTS is ensuring that they receive regular maintenance and inspection. The Metropolitan Council and the State of Minnesota require the owners of ISTS to have the systems inspected at least once every three years. City staff, in order to simplify and speed up the ordinance wdting process, is recommending that Maplewood adopt by reference Washington County Ordinance #103, Chapter 4 (Individual Sewage Treatment System Ordinance). (I have attached this ordinance starting on page eight.) Washington County recently updated this ordinance making it very thorough and comprehensive about ISTS. Rather than writing our own ordinance, the city may use the Washington County ordinance (by reference) to meet the needs of Maplewood and to satisfy the requirements of the Metropolitan Council and the State of Minnesota. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Approve the revised Water Resources Management Plan starting on page two. 2. Adopt the resolution on page seven. This resolution adopts, by reference, Washington County Ordinance #103, Chapter 4, Individual Sewage Treatment System Ordinance, as a part of the Maplewood City Code. p:compplan/ists.doc Attachments: 1. Proposed Water Resources Management Plan 2. Reference Resolution 3. Washington County Ordinance #103 Attachment 1 WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN The goals and policies in this plan for the management of water resources in Maplewood are consistent with the goals of Ramsey-Washington Metro, Valley Branch, Capital Region and East Mississippi Watershed Districts, while meeting the more specific and changing needs of the City. A map showing the four watershed districts is on page 12. Maplewood recognizes the sensitivity of surface water and groundwater and has established environmental protection policies and standards (as noted below) that enhance protection of the environment, including surface water and groundwater resources, in the city and in the region. The goals and policies in this plan provide for future development and redevelopment in Maplewood while minimizing surface water problems and enhancing and protecting the environment. The City has adopted ordinances about flood plains, shorelands, wetland protection and erosion control to address the specific problems and concerns that these special conditions present. In addition, an important part of the water resources management plan is the management (including maintenance and enforcement programs) of individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS). The city will ensure protection of the public health and local surface water and groundwater through implementation of the Water Resources Management Plan, the ordinances and standards for ISTS and will continue to use and enforce the other city ordinances noted above. WATER QUALITY Goal Maintain or enhance the water quality of Maplewood's surface waters. Policies o Cooperate and collaborate with the four watershed districts to maintain and improve water quality. Cooperate and collaborate with the watershed districts in their efforts to maintain and/or to improve the water quality of specific water resources in the City. Provide an appropriate level of storm water treatment upstream of lakes and wetlands, depending on the wetland's functions, values and management classification. Use regional storm water detention facilities to enhance water quality by removing sediment and nutrients from runoff. Pond designs will meet the national urban run-off program (NURP) removal standards. All construction plans related to water quality shall include a detailed City-approved maintenance plan that meets City and watershed district standards and criteria. Design storm water facility inlets to prevent debris from entering the conveyance system and impeding the flow path. Encourage using the City's "rainwater garden" inlet system on all improvement and reconstruction projects, whenever practical. 2 Design outlet control structures, wherever practical, that restrict both high and Iow flows, to maximize sedimentation and nutrient removal. o Continue implementation of the City's education program that includes items about preserving and improving water quality. Solve intercommunity water-quality issues through cooperation with the adjoining cities and appropriate watershed district. RUNOFF MANAGEMENT AND FLOOD CONTROL Goal Preserve, maintain, utilize and where practical, enhance the storm water storage and detention systems to control excessive volumes and rates of runoff, control flooding, protect public health and safety and to minimize necessary public capital expenditures. Note: The map on page 12 shows the general areas in Maplewood that have the potential for flooding. The City adopted a floodplain ordinance in 1991. Policies The City recognizes that runoff volumes typically increase with development; however, the City will require builders and developers to keep peak runoff rates below the post development 100-year (1 percent) recurrence event by using regional detention facilities, rain water gardens and encouraging the use of infiltration. All hydrologic modeling shall be based on ultimate development of the affected watershed. The City encourages the pretreatment of storm water where it would effect high-quality wetlands. In addition, the City encourages the use of treatment ponds and infiltration methods for stodng storm water runoff to reduce rates of flow and to improve the water quality of area lakes and wetlands. Storm water management improvements shall be designed based on the critical storm event for, and the ultimate development of, the drainage area. Projects that affect the storm water system shall have a protected emergency overflow structure (i.e., swale, spillway) into pond outlet structures to safely convey excess flows from storms larger than the 100-year (1 percent) event. Maplewood will require minimum building floor elevations to be above the 100-year floodplain, in accordance with City and watershed district standards. At a minimum, the lowest opening of any building shall be 2.0 feet above the 100-year floodplain and/or 1.0 foot above the spillway overflow elevation, whichever is greater. Maintain existing intercommunity flow rates and solve any intercommunity flow issues through cooperation and collaboration with the adjoining city and the appropriate watershed district. Promote storm water infiltration practices where soil conditions allow and where not detrimental to groundwater supplies. 3 WETLANDS Goal Achieve no net loss of wetlands, including acreage, functions and values. Where practicable, improve the functions, values, biodiversity and acreage of wetlands and their buffer areas. Note: The map on page 12 shows the wetlands in Maplewood. The City adopted a wetland protection ordinance in 1996. Policies The City discourages wetland alterations. Proof that applicants or designers have given consideration to designs that do not require wetland alteration shall be reviewed before the City will consider any proposal that includes wetland alteration. Wetland alterations must be mitigated by meeting the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) requirements, as administered by the local government units (LGUs) (currently the watershed districts). 2. Cooperate with the watershed districts in their administration of the WCA. Cooperate with Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed Distdct (RWMWD) in the administration of its wetland management plan. 4.' Seek to restore previously existing wetlands and enhance existing wetlands. Provide buffer zones of native vegetation around ponds and wetlands to provide wildlife habitats, in accordance with guidelines provided by the Maplewood Wetland Buffer Ordinance. Where feasible, minimize water level fluctuations (bounce) in wetlands or detention basins to prevent adverse habitat changes. EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL Goals Protect capacity of storm water system, prevent flooding and maintain water quality by preventing erosion and sedimentation from occurring, and correct existing erosion and sedimentation problems. Consider implementing a maintenance plan for the inspection of all ponds, outlet structures and inlet facilities and consider beginning a pond delta removal program. Such a program should consider improvements to reduce sediment loads to ponds, wetlands and lakes to help prioritize critical improvement areas. Policies Require erosion control plans for all land disturbance activities as defined by city ordinance. The erosion control plans shall be consistent with the standards and criteria of the watershed districts' plans, the Ramsey Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook and general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction storm water permit requirements. 2. Preserve and enhance natural vegetation to the greatest practical extent. GROUNDWATER Goals 1. Protect the quality and quantity of groundwater resources. Consider a cooperative program with the watershed district to identify infiltration sensitive areas and develop a monitoring and testing program to monitor the impact of improvements. Policies Provide increased green space, native vegetation and pond "dead" storage wherever possible and appropriate to allow for the infiltration of storm water runoff and to promote groundwater recharging. Encourage use of grassed waterways to maximize infiltration where not detrimental to groundwater supplies. Promote awareness of groundwater resource issues through public education and information programs. INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (ISTS) Goals 1. Protect the public health, safety and welfare through a comprehensive ISTS ordinance. Protect the quality and quantity of Maplewood's surface and groundwater resources through the use of properly designed and maintained ISTS. Policies Maintain an updated record of all known on-site septic systems, and continue to prohibit the installation of new individual sewer systems or the alteration, repair or extension of existing systems when the builder or owner can make connection to the City's sanitary sewer. Enforce individual water and septic system ordinances that are in conformance with MPCA Rules 7080 and Metropolitan Council requirements. Maplewood will establish a management program that includes maintenance, tracking and enforcement programs to insure that residents properly maintain their individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS). Maplewood will require property owners to meet or exceed state rules and local ordinances for the design, installation, maintenance, expansion and repair of private on-site sewage treatment systems. Specifically, the city will adopt, by reference, Washington County's ISTS ordinance, for a basis for the use of these systems. 5 EDUCATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Goal Increase public awareness, understanding and involvement in water and natural resource management issues. Policies Continue to develop and distribute educational materials to the public and targeted groups about the City's ordinances, policies and programs about water resources, groundwater, ISTS, wetlands, native vegetation, alternative landscaping methods, litter control, pet wastes, recycling, trash disposal, leaf collection, public area maintenance, grass clippings, lawn chemicals and hazardous materials. Information will be distributed via the City's monthly newsletter, local newspapers, cable television and any other appropriate media. The City will consider alternative funding sources for storm water and surface water management, including starting a storm water utility and/or imposing additional development fees. This could be part of the Phase II NPDES storm water permit consideration process. Attachment 2 INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM (ISTS) ORDINANCE AMENDMENT RESOLUTION WHEREAS, State Law and the Metropolitan Council have required Maplewood to update its Comprehensive Plan. WHEREAS, the State and the Metropolitan Council are requiring Maplewood to adopt an ordinance about the regulation of and the standards for the individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS) as part of the required Comprehensive Plan update. WHEREAS, the research and preparation of such an ordinance can by a lengthy process. WHEREAS, Washington County, Minnesota has a comprehensive and applicable ordinance about the regulation of and the standards for individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS). NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Maplewood City Council adopts, by reference, Washington County (Minnesota) Ordinance #103, Individual Sewage Treatment System Ordinance, as part of the Maplewood City Code. The Maplewood City Council approved this resolution on ,2001. A Attachment 3 DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA CHAm'ER 4. INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM ORDINANCE WASHINGTON COUNTY ORDINANCE #103 APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DATE? CHAPTER 4. WASHINGTON COUNTY INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM ORDINANCE TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 TITLE ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Short Title ........................................................................................... 1 SECTION 2 INTENT AND PURPOSE ...................................................................... 1 2.1 Purpose ............................................................................................... 1 SECTION 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 DEFINITIONS Rules ................................................................................................... 2 Conflicting Provisions ........................................................................ 2 Measurement of Distances ................................................................. 2 Certain Terms ..................................................................................... 2 Definitions .......................................................................................... 2 SECTION 4 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 GENERAL PROVISIONS .................................................................... 13 Applicability ...................................................................................... 13 Administration by Federal Agencies ................................................. 13 Administration By State Agencies .................................................... 13 Administration of This Ordinance ..................................................... 13 General Requirements ....................................................................... 14 Surface Discharge ............................................................................. 14 Treatment Required ........................................................................... 14 System Components .......................................................................... 14 Prohibited Installations ...................................................................... 14 Location ............................................................................................. 14 Clear Water Waste ............................................................................ 15 System Sizing .................................................................................... 15 Site Evaluation .................................................................................. 15 Soil Testing ....................................................................................... 16 Conduct of Tests ................................................................................ 16 Soil Borings ....................................................................................... 16 Percolation Tests ............................................................................... 18 Construction and Materials ............................................................... 20 Capacity of Septic Tanks ................................................................... 25 Location of Septic Tanks ................................................................... 26 Abandoned Tanks .............................................................................. 27 Aerobic Tanks ................................................................................... 27 4.23 4.24 4.25 Distribution of Effluent ..................................................................... 27 Lift Station ......................................................................................... 32 Final Treatment and Disposal ........................................................... 34 SECTION 5 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS ................................................................. 52 General ............................................................................................. 52 Floodplain Systems ........................................................................... 53 Greywater System ............................................................................. 54 Privies ............................................................................................... 55 Other Toilet Waste Treatment Devices ............................................. 55 Collector Systems .............................................................................. 56 Sewage Holding Tanks ...................................................................... 59 Experimental Systems ....................................................................... 60 SECTION 6 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ................................................ 61 General Requirements ....................................................................... 61 Maintenance of Septic Tanks ............................................................ 61 Maintenance of System Components ................................................ 62 Activities on the Soil Treatment Area .............................................. 62 Disposal of Septage ........................................................................... 62 SECTION 7 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 ADMINISTRATION ............................................................................. 63 Applicability ...................................................................................... 63 Enforcement ...................................................................................... 63 Board of Adjustment and Appeals .................................................... 63 Permits Required ............................................................................... 63 Inspections Required ......................................................................... 64 SECTION 8 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 LICENSING AND PERMITS .............................................................. 66 Licensing ........................................................................................... 66 Permits ............................................................................................... 66 Permit Applications ........................................................................... 66 Term of Permit .................................................................................. 67 Permit Revocation ............................................................................. 67 SECTION 9 ENFORCEMENT .................................................................................. 67 9.1 Violations and Penalties .................................................................... 67 9.2 Enforcement ...................................................................................... 67 9.3 Public Health Act .............................................................................. 67 SECTION 10 EFFECTUATION ................................................................................ 68 10.1 Separability ........................................................................................ 68 10.2 Effective Date .................................................................................... 68 10 CHAFFER 4. WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE LOCATION, DESIGN, INSTALLATION, USE AND MAINTENANCE OF INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY. PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED IN MINNESOTA STATUTES, CHAFFER 145A AND MINNESOTA STATUE SECTIONS 115.55 AND 115.56 THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY DOES ORDAIN: SECTION 1 TITLE 1.1 Short Title. This Ordinance shall be known, cited and referred to as the Individual Sewage Treatment System Ordinance, except as referred to herein, where it shall be known as, "this Ordinance". SECTION 2 INTENT AND PURPOSEc 2.1 Purpose. This Ordinance is adopted to provide minimum standards and I criteria to individual sewage treatment systems for the purpose of: (1) Protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the community, present and future. (2) Regulating the location, design, installation, use and maintenance of individual sewage treatment systems so as to prevent contamination of the surface and ground waters within the community. (3) Protecting the individual water supply wells of the community from contamination by inadequate, improperly designed, located, installed or maintained individual sewage treatment systems. (4) Providing for the orderly development of areas of the community which are not served by central public systems. Also to help (5) preclude the need to install central public systems in areas not currently planned for central public waste systems. These standards are not intended to cover systems treating industrial or animal waste or other waste water that may contain hazardous materials. SECTION 3 DEFINITIONS 3.1 Rules. 3.2 Conflicting Provisions. In the event of conflicting provisions in the text of this Ordinance, and/or other ordinances, the more restrictive provisions shall apply. The Department shall determine which is more "restrictive" and appeals from such determination shall be made in the manner provided herein. 3.3 Measurement of Distances. Unless otherwise specified all distances shall be measured horizontally. 3.4 Certain Terms. For the purposes of these standards, certain terms or words used herein shall be interpreted as follows: the words "shall" and "must" are mandatory, the words "should" and "may" are permissive. 3.5 Definitions. O) Absorption Area. "Absorption area" means the area below a mound that is designed to absorb sewage tank effluent. I (2) Additive, Individual Sewage Treatment System. "Additive, individual sewage treatment system" means a product which is added to the waste water or to the system to improve the performance of an individual sewage treatment system. These are not recommended and some are illegal and harmful to the system. (3) Aerobic Tank. "Aerobic tank" means any sewage tank which uses the principle of oxidation in the decomposition of sewage by the introduction of air into the sewage. (4) Alternate System. "Alternate Site" means that portion of real property that is designated by a licensed ISTS Professional and approved by the Department to be protected from all vehicular traffic, construction and other disturbances. The site must be maintained in its original, natural soil condition so a future individual sewage treatment system or device max/be constructed which meets all Ordinance requirements when the original ISTS (5) (6) (8) (9) (10) (11) malfunctions, becomes non-repairable or when it fails to comply with the Ordinance. Alternative System. "Alternative system" means an individual sewage treatment system employing such methods and devices as presented in Section 5. As-builts. "As-builts" means drawings and documentation specifying the final in-place location, size, and type of all system components. These records identify the results of materials testing and describe conditions during construction. As-builts also contain a certified statement. At-grade System. "At-grade system" means a pressurized soil treatment system where sewage tank effluent is dosed to a drainfield rock bed which is constructed on original soil at the ground surface and covered by loamy soil materials. Baffle. "Baffle" means a device installed in a septic tank for proper operation of the tank and to provide maximum retention of solids, and includes vented sanitary tees and submerged pipes in addition to those devices that are normally called baffles. Bedrock. "Bedrock" means that layer of parent material which is consolidated and unweathered. Bedroom. "Bedroom" means any room within a dwelling that might reasonably be used as a sleeping room. Building Drain. "Building drain" means that part of the lowest piping of the drainage system which receives the sewage discharge inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer beginning at least one foot outside the building footings. 13 (12) (13) Building Sewer. "Building sewer" means that part of the drainage system which extends from the end of the building drain and conveys its discharge to an individual sewage treatment system. Capaci~. "Capacity" means the liquid volume of a sewage tank using inside dimensions below the outlet. [14) Certified Statement. "Certified statement" means a statement signed by a licensed installer or qualified employee certifying that work was completed in accordance with applicable requirements. (15) Cesspool. "Cesspool" means an underground pit or seepage pit into which raw household sewage or other untreated liquid waste is discharged and from which the liquid seeps into the surrounding soil. See Section 4.9. [16) Chambered System. "Chambered system" means a soil treatment system where sewage tank effluent is discharged to a buried structure creating an enclosed open space with the original soil surface to act as a surface for the infiltration of sewage tank effluent. [17) Clean Sand. "Clean sand" means a soil texture composed by weight of at least 25 percent very coarse, coarse, and medium sand varying in size from 2.00 millimeters (sieve size 10) to -.25 millimeters (sieve size 60), less than 40 percent fine or very fine sand ranging in size between 0.25 millimeters and 0.05 millimeters (sieve size 270), and no more than ten percent smaller than 0.05 millimeters and no larger than 2.00 millimeters. Clean sand also means a soil texture which meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification C-33 (fine aggregate for concrete) or Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) specification 3126 (fine aggregate for Portland cement concrete). The ASTM specification is found in the 1994 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, volume 4.02., which is incorporated by reference. This document is provided by the American Society for Testing and Materials located at 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1187. The MNDOT specification is found in the MNDOT Standard Specifications for Construction., 1988 Edition, and the May 2, 1994, Supplemental Specifications, which are incorporated by reference. These documents are provided by MNDOT located at 395 John Ireland Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55155. All references can be found at the Minnesota State Law 5 (18) (19) ~20) (21) t22) (23) (24) (25) (26) Library, Judicial Center, 25 Constitution Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55155, and are not subject to frequent change. Department. "Department" means the Washington County Health, Environment & Land Management Department. DNR. "DNR" means the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Distribution Box. "Distribution box" means a device designed to concurrently and equally distribute sewage tank effluent by gravity to a soil treatment system. Distribution Device. "Distribution device" means a device used to receive and transfer effluent from a supply pipe to distribution pipes or downslope supply pipes, or both. These devices are commonly known as drop boxes, valve boxes, distribution boxes, or manifolds. Distribution Medium. "Distribution medium" means the material used to distribute the sewage tank effluent within a soil treatment system. This medium includes drainfield rock, gravel-less drainfield pipe in a geotextile wrap. or a chambered system. Distribution Pipes. "Distribution pipes" means perforated pipes that are used to distribute sewage tank effluent in a soil treatment system. Dosing Chamber, or Pump Pit, or Wet Well. "Dosing chamber, or pump pit, or wet well" means a tank or separate compartment following the sewage tank which serves as a reservoir for the dosing device. Dosing Device. "Dosing device" means a pump, siphon, or other device that discharges sewage tank effluent from the dosing chamber to the soil treatment system. Drainfield Rock. "Drainfield rock" means crushed igneous rock, or similar insoluble, durable, and decay-resistant material with no more than five percent by weight passing a 3/4 inch sieve and no more than one percent by weight passing a number 200 sieve. The size shall range from three-fourths inch to 21/2 inches. 6 (27) (28) ~29) Drop Box. "Drop box" means a distribution device used for the serial gravity application of sewage tank effluent to a soil treatmenl system. Dwelling. "Dwelling" means any building or place used or intended to be used by human occupants as a single family or two family unit. Failing System. "Failing system" means any system that discharges sewage to a seepage pit, cesspool, drywell, or leaching pit and any system with less than three feet of soil or sand between the bottom of the distribution medium and the saturated soil level or bedrock. (30) (31) (32) (33) (34) ~35) (36) Gas Deflecting Baffle. "Gas deflecting baffle" means an obstructing device on the septic tank outlet that limits the escape of solids that are carded by septic tank gases. Gravel-less Drainfield Pipe. "Gravel-less drainfield pipe" means a distribution medium consisting of a corrugated distribution pipe encased in a geotextile wrap installed in a trench. Greywater. "Greywater" means liquid waste from a dwelling or other establishment produced by bathing, laundry, culinary operation, and from floor drains associated with these sources, and specifically excluding toilet waste. Hazardous Materials. "Hazardous materials" means any substance which, when discarded, meets the definition of hazardous waste in MN Rules Chapter 7045. Holding Tank. "Holding tank" means a watertight tank for storage of sewage until it can be transported to a point of approved treatment and disposal. Imminent Threat to Public Health or Safety. "Imminent threat to public health or safety" means situations with the potential to immediately and adversely impact or threaten public health or safety. At a minimum, ground surface or surface water discharges, and any system causing sewage backup into a dwelling or other establishment, shall constitute an imminent threat. Impermeable. "Impermeable" with regard to bedrock, means a bedrock having no cracks or crevices and having a vertical 7 (37) (38) (39) (40) (41) (42) (43) (44) (45) permeability slower than one inch in 24 hours. With regard to soils, a soil horizon or layer having a vertical permeability slower than 0.025 inch in 24 hours shall be considered impermeable. Individual Sewage Treatment System. "Individual sewage treatment system" means a sewage treatment system, or part thereof, serving a dwelling, or other establishment, or group thereof, which uses subsurface soil treatment and disposal. Invert. "Invert" means the lowest point of a channel inside a pipe. Maximum Monthly Average Daily Flow. "Maximum monthly average daily flow" means the 30-day average daily flow for the highest consecutive 30-day period during the year. Mottline. "Mottling" means a zone of chemical oxidation and reduction activity, appearing as splotchy patches of red, brown, orange, and gray in the soil, that are less than 2 chroma. Mound System. "Mound system" means a system where soil treatment area is built above the ground to overcome limits imposed by proximity to water table or bedrock, or by slow permeable soils. Ordinary High Water Level. "Ordinary high water level" means the boundary of public waters and wetlands, that is an elevation delineating the highest water level maintained for a sufficient period of time to leave evidence upon the landscape, commonly that point where the natural vegetation changes from predominantly aquatic to predominantly terrestrial. For watercourses, the ordinary high water level is the elevation of the top of the bank of a channel. For reservoirs and flowages the ordinary high water level must be the operating elevation of the normal summer pool. Original Soil. "Original soil" means naturally occurring inorganic soil that has not been moved, smeared, compacted, nor manipulated with construction equipment. Other Establishment. "Other establishment" means any public or private structure other than a dwelling which generates sewage. Owner. "Owner" means all persons having possession of, control over, or title to an individual sewage treatment system. 8 (46) Percolation Rate. "Percolation rate" means the time rate of drop of a water surface in a test hole as specified in Section 4.17. (47) Permitting Authority. "Permitting authority" means any county, municipality or state agency which administers the provisions of these standards. (48) Plastic Limit. "Plastic limit" means a soil moisture content below which the soil may be manipulated for purposes of installing a soil treatment system, and above which manipulation will cause compaction and puddling. The soil moisture content at the plastic limit can be measured by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) test number D4318-84. (49) Previously Developed Site. Land already containing a dwelling or other establishment. (50) Public Health Nuisance. Public health nuisance means any activity or failure to act that adversely affects the public health. (51) Public Waters. "Public waters" means any public waters or wetlands as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivisions 15 and 16 or identified as public waters or wetlands by the inventory prepared pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.201. ~52) Replacement. "Replacement" means the replacement of an existing individual sewage treatment system. (53) Required Absorption Width. "Required absorption width" means that width, measured in the direction of the original land slope and perpendicular to the original contours, which is required for the sewage tank effluent to infiltrate into the original soil according to the allowable loading rates in Section 4.25, Table V. (54) Restaurants. "Restaurants" shall mean any place where food is prepared and intended for individual portion service regardless of whether consumption is on or off the premises or whether there is a charge for the food although this does not include private homes. 9 ~55) Saturated Soil. "Saturated soil" means the highest elevation in the soil where periodically depleted oxygen levels occur because of soil voids being filled with water. Saturated soil is evidenced by the presence of soil mottling or other information. ~56) (57) (58) (59) (60) (61) (62) (63) Seepage Bed. "Seepage bed" means an excavated area larger than 36 inches in width which contains drainfield rock and has more than one distribution pipe. Seepage Pit, or Leaching Pit, or Dry Well. "Seepage pit, or leaching pit, or dry well" means an underground pit into which a sewage tank discharges effluent or other liquid waste and from which the liquid seeps into the surrounding soil through the bottom and openings in the side of the pit. Septaee. "Septage" means those solids and liquids removed during periodic maintenance of a septic or aerobic tank, or those solids and liquids which are removed from a toilet, waste treatment device, or a holding tank. Setback. "Setback" means a separation distance measured horizontally. Sewage. "Sewage" means any water carried domestic waste, exclusive of footing and roof drainage, from any industrial, agricultural, or commercial establishment, or any dwelling or any other structure. Domestic waste includes liquid waste produced by toilets, bathing, laundry, culinary operations, and the floor drains associated with these sources, and specifically excludes animal waste and commercial or industrial waste water. Sewage Flow. "Sewage flow" means flow as determined by measurement of actual water use or, if actual measurements are unavailable, as estimated by the best available data provided by the agency. Sewage Tank. "Sewage tank" means a watertight tank used in the treatment of sewage and includes, but is not limited to, septic tanks and aerobic tanks. SewaRe Tank Effluent. "Sewage tank effluent" means that liquid which flows from a septic or aerobic tank under normal operation. 10 (64) (65) Septic Tank. "Septic tank" means any watertight, covered receptacle designed and constructed to receive the discharge of sewage from a building sewer, separate solids from liquid, digest organic matter, and store liquids through a period of detention, and allow the clarified liquids to discharge to a soil treatment system. Shoreland. "Shoreland" means land located within the following distances from public waters: 1,000 feet from the ordinary high water mark of a lake, pond or towage; and 300 feet from a river or stream or the landward extent of a floodplain designated by ordinance on such a river or stream, whichever is greater. Site. "Site" means the area bounded by the dimensions required for the proper location of the soil treatment system. Slope. "Slope" means the ratio of vertical rise or fall to horizontal distance. (68) Soil Characteristics, Limiting. "Soil characteristics, limiting" means those soil characteristics which preclude the installation of a standard system, including evidence of water table or bedrock and percolation rates faster than one-tenth or slower than 60 minutes per inch. (69) (7O) (71) Soil Textural Classification. "Soil textural classification," where soil particle sizes or textures are specified in this chapter, they refer to the soil textural classification in the Soil Survey Manual, Handbook No. 18, United States Department of Agriculture, 1993. Soil Treatment Area. "Soil treatment area" means that area of trench or bed bottom which is in direct contact with the drainfield rock of the soil treatment system, and for mounds, that area to the edges of the required absorption width and extending five feet beyond the ends of the rock layer. Soil Treatment System. "Soil treatment system" means a system where sewage tank effluent is treated and disposed of below the ground surface by filtration and percolation through the soil, and includes those systems commonly known as seepage bed, trench, drairdield, disposal field, and mounds. 11 (72) (73) (74) (75) ~76) (77) (78) (79) Standard System. "Standard system" means an individual sewage treatment system employing a building sewer, sewage tank, and the soil treatment system consisting of trenches, seepage beds, or mounds which are constructed on original soil which has a percolation rate equal to or faster than 60 minutes per inch. Surface Water Flooding. "Surface water flooding" means the 100- year floodplain along fivers and streams as defined by the Department of Natural Resources, or in the absence of such data, as defined by the largest flood of record; on lakes, high water levels as determined or recorded by the Department of Natural Resources or, in the case of no Department of Natural Resources record, by local records or experience. Other surface water flooding or high water areas should be determined by local information. Ten-year Flood. "Ten-year flood" means that flood which can be expected to occur, on an average, of once in ten years; or the level to which flood waters have a ten percent chance of rising in any given year. Toilet Waste. "Toilet waste" means fecal matter, urine, toilet paper, and any water used for flushing. Toilet Waste Treatment Devices. "Toilet waste treatment devices" means privies and other devices including incinerating, composting, biological, chemical, recirculating, or holding tanks. Water Table. "Water table" means the highest elevation in the soil where all voids are filled with water, as evidenced by presence of water or soil mottling or other information. Watertight. "Watertight" means a sewage tank constructed so that no water can get into or out of the sewage tank except through the inlet and outlet pipes. Wild and Scenic River Land Use District. "Wild and scenic fiver land use district" means those lands designated by the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources as the protected land corridor along those rivers or fiver segments designated as wild, scenic, or recreational rivers. 12 SECTION 4 GENERAL PROVISIONS 4.1 Applicability. 4.2 Administration by Federal Agencies. Industrial wastewater systems and individual sewage treatment systems serving more than 20 persons (1200 gallons per day) are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as Class V injection wells under Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Part 144. 4.3 Administration By State Agencies. For an individual sewage treatment system, or group of individual sewage treatment systems, that are located on adjacent properties and under single ownership, the owner or owners shall make application for and obtain a state disposal system permit from the agency if the individual sewage treatment system or systems are designed to treat an average daily flow greater than 10,000 gallons per day. The systems must, at a minimum, conform to the requirements of these standards. For dwellings such as rental apartments, town houses, resort units, rental cabins, and condominiums, the sum of the flows from all existing and proposed sources under single management or ownership will be used to determine the need for a state disposal system permit. Individual sewage treatment systems serving establishments or facilities licensed or other wise regulated by the State of Minnesota shall conform to the requirements of these standards. Any individual sewage treatment system requiring approval by the State of Minnesota shall also comply with this ordinance and all local codes and ordinances. 4.4 Administration of This Ordinance. All individual sewage treatment systems installed subsequent to the adoption of this ordinance and all alterations, extensions, modifications or repairs to existing systems irrespective of the date of original installation shall be regulated in accordance with all requirements of this ordinance. Any individual sewage treatment system or component thereof, irrespective of the date or original installation, which is not located, constructed, installed or maintained in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance shall be replaced or otherwise brought into compliance within ninety (90) days of notice and order to comply by the department. Existing systems which show evidence of sewage tank effluent discharge to the ground surface, ground or surface waters or otherwise represent an imminent threat to public health or safety shall be replaced within thirty (30) days of notice and order to comply by the department. Any further surface 13 discharge of effluent must be stopped immediately (by such methods as reducing or stopping all water use, or pumping the tank as necessary) until such time as the system is replaced. All tanks taken out of service must be properly abandoned. See Section 4.21. 4.5 General Requirements. 4.6 Surface Discharge. Unless specifically permitted by the MPCA, sewage, sewage tank effluent, or seepage from a soil treatment system shall not be discharged to the ground surface, abandoned wells, or bodies of surface water, or into any rock or soil formation the structure of which is not conducive to purification of water by filtration, or into any well or other excavation in the ground. All new or existing systems which discharge to surface waters or the ground surface must obtain either a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or State Disposal System Permit from the MPCA and shall comply with all requirements pertaining thereto. 4.7 Treatment Required. The system, or systems, shall be designed to receive all sewage from the dwelling, building, or other establishment served. Chemically treated hot tub or pool water, footing, roof drainage, or garage floor drains shall not enter any part of the system. Products containing hazardous materials must not be discharged to the system other than a normal amount of household products and cleaners designed for household use. Substances not used for household cleaning, including motor oil, solvents, pesticides, flammables, photo finishing chemicals, or dry cleaning chemicals, must not be discharged to the system. 4.8 System Components. The system shall consist of a building sewer, sewage tank, and soil treatment system. All sewage shall be treated in a sewage tank or toilet waste treatment device, and the sewage tank effluent shall be discharged to the soil treatment system. 4.9 Prohibited Installations. Cesspools, seepage pits, dry wells, and leaching pits shall not be installed and shall not remain in operation. 4.10 Location. Sewage treatment systems and each component thereof shall be located and installed to insure that, with proper maintenance, it will function in a sanitary manner, will not create a nuisance nor contaminate any domestic water supply well. Location shall consider lot size and configuration, proposed structures and other improvements, topography, surface drainage, soil conditions, depth to ground water, geology, existing and proposed water supply wells, accessibility for maintenance, and expansion or replacement of the system. Installation of systems in low swampy areas, drainage swales or area subject to recurrent flooding is prohibited. Systems shall not be located within utility or 14 drainage easements nor within dedicated public or private rights-of-way without proper approvals. 4.11 Clear Water Waste. Uncontaminated clear water waste from geothermal heat pump installations shall not be introduced into individual sewage treatment systems. Such waste may be discharged to the ground surface or to a body of water, however in no case shall surface discharge be permitted where such discharge encroaches on an adjoining property or public way. Where subsurface disposal is provided, such installation shall be separated from the required sewage treatment site and shall be designed and sized as prescribed for a standard soil treatment system. 4.12 System Sizing. Where the construction of additional bedrooms, the installation of mechanical equipment, or other factors likely to affect the operation of the system can be reasonably anticipated, the installation of a system for such anticipated need shall be required. 4.13 Site Evaluation. Prior to the issuance of a building permit for new construction or to add bedrooms to existing homes, or a permit to install an individual sewage treatment system, or approval in the case of subdivision of land, a field investigation shall be conducted by the department of all proposed sites for sewage treatment systems, at which time they shall be evaluated as to: (1) depth to the highest known or calculated ground water table or bedrock; (2) soil conditions, properties, and permeability; O) slope; (4) the existence of lowlands, local surface depressions, and rock outcrops; (s) all legal setback requirements from: existing and proposed buildings; property lines; sewage tanks; soil treatment systems; water supply wells; buffed water pipes and utility lines; the ordinary high water level of public waters; and the location of all soil treatment systems and water supply wells on adjoining lots within 100 feet of the proposed soil treatment system, sewage tank, and water supply well; and (6) surface water flooding probability. 15 4.14 Soil Testing. Applicants for sewage treatment system permits, site or subdivision approvals will be required to submit soil test data derived from soil borings and percolation tests for each proposed site or installation. The minimum testing shall be that necessary to verify suitable conditions for two complete soil treatment systems including detailed site plan and design. No permit will be issued until a detailed system design is submitted for the current proposed construction, including site plan and at least one current boring if there is any reason to believe soil conditions have been altered since the original soil testing. Large systems designed for 1,200 gallon per day or more shall require a hydrogeologic investigation in accordance with Section 5.6 (3). 4.15 Conduct of Tests. All testing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance and shall be done by qualified personnel, certified under the MPCA training and certification program and licensed by the MPCA. All proposed sites for sewage treatment systems shall be protected by fence or other methods as necessary to avoid excavations, construction equipment or other traffic that could affect the soil conditions. 4.16 Soil Borings. (1) Subdivision Testing. Enough borings must be done to assure that suitable soils exist for each lot for long-term sewage treatment. Percolation tests are not required unless the permeability cannot be estimated, or there is any reason to believe the soil is not original or has been compacted. (2) Permit Requirements. Complete testing on each individual lot will be required prior to permit issuance independent of any subdivision testing. A minimum of four (4) satisfactory soil borings outlining an area of 5,000 square feet are required. Larger areas may be required where conditions of use, soils, topography, or vegetation require. Where soil tests require a mound, testing and design must clearly show suitable area for installation of two (2) complete mounds. (Where site conditions are such that the only backup mound will likely be disturbed, the Department, at its discretion, may require both mounds to be constructed at once.) (3) Soil borings shall be made as follows: (4) Borings shall be by auger or excavation and shall be staked and protected until notification that field evaluation has been completed. Flite augers, which are non-continuous or disturb extracted soil samples, are not allowed. Borings shall be made to a depth at least four (4) feet deeper than the bottom 16 17) of the proposed system or until bedrock or a water table is encountered, whichever is less. (5) Any evidence of disturbed or compacted soil must be disclosed and may result in the prohibition of utilizing that test area. (6) Particular effort shall be made to determine the highest known water table by recording the fn'st occurrence of mottling observed in the hole, or if mottling is not encountered, the open holes in clay or loam soils shall be observed after standing undisturbed a minimum of 16 hours, and depth to standing water, if present, shall be measured. A soil description shall be written for each soil observation at the proposed site. Soils should only be evaluated under adequate light conditions with the soil in a moist state and including the following: (8) the depth of each soil horizon measured from the ground surface. Soil horizons are differentiated by changes in soil structure, soil texture, soil color, mottling, bech'ock, or any other characteristic which may affect water percolation or treatment of effluenti (9) the soil matrix and mottled color described per horizon by the Munsell Soil Color Charts, 1992 Revised Edition, which is incorporated by reference. This document is available from Macbeth Division, Kollmorgen Instruments Corporation, Munsell Color, PO Box 230, Newburgh, New York 12551- 0230. It can be found at the Minnesota State Law Library, (10) Judicial Center, 25 Constitution Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155, and is not subject to frequent change; the soil texture described using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) soil classification system as modified below: Minnesota USDA Clay = Clay, sand clay, silty clay Clay Loam = Clay loam, sandy clay loam, silty clay loam Loam = Loam Sandy loam = Sandy Loam 17 Silt loam = Silt loam, silt Loamy sand = Loamy sand Coarse sand = Coarse sand (Medium) sand = (Medium) sand Fine sand = Fine and very fine sand 4.17 Percolation Tests. After soil borings have outlined the minimum area of I suitable soils, percolation tests shall be made as follows: I EXCEPTION: For sandy soils clearly in the 5 mpi range percolation tests will not be required, however, the design rate for sizing shall be 1.27 square feet per gallon. (1) Test hole dimensions and locations: (2) Each test hole shall be six to eight inches in diameter, have vertical sides, and be bored or dug to the depth of the bottom of the proposed individual sewage treatment system. (3) Soil texture descriptions shall be recorded noting depths where texture changes occur. (4) Preparation of the test hole: The bottom and sides of the hole shall be carefully scratched to remove any smearing and to provide a natural soil surface into which water may penetrate. (6) All loose material shall be removed from the bottom of the test hole and two inches of one-fourth to three-fourths inch gravel shall be added to protect the bottom from scouring. (7) Soil saturation and swelling: (8) The hole shall be carefully filled with clear water to a minimum depth of 12 inches over the soil at the bottom of the test hold and maintained for no less than four hours. Failure to adequately saturate the test hole may result in rejection of the test. (9) The soil shall then be allowed to swell for at least 16, but no more than 30 hours. In sandy soils, the saturation and 18 swelling procedure shall not be required and the test may proceed if one filling of the hole has seeped away in less than ten minutes. (10) Percolation rate measurement: In sandy soils adjust the water depth to eight inches over the soil at the bottom of the test hole. From a fixed reference point, the drop in water level shall be measured in inches to the nearest one-eighth inch at approximately ten minute intervals. A measurement can also be made by determining the time it takes for the water level to drop one inch from an eight inch reference point. If eight inches of water seeps away in less than ten minutes, a shorter interval between measurements shall be used, but in no case shall the water depth exceed eight inches. The test shall continue until three consecutive percolation rate measurements vary by a range of no more than ten percent. In other soils, adjust the water depth to eight inches over the soil at the bottom of the test hole. From a fixed reference point, the drop in water level shall be measured in inches to the nearest one-eighth inch at approximately 30 minute intervals, refilling between measurements to maintain an eight inch starting head. The test shall continue until three consecutive percolation rate measurements vary by a range of no more than ten percent. The percolation rate can also be made by observing the time it takes the water level to drop one inch from an eight inch reference point if a constant water depth of at least eight inches has been maintained for at least four hours prior to the measurement. (11) Calculating the percolation rate. Divide the lime interval by the drop in water level to obtain the percolation rate in minutes per inch. The slowest final percolation rate for all holes within the soil U'eatment area shall be used for design. (12) Frost. A percolation test shall not be run where frost exists below the depth of the proposed soil treatment system. 4.18 Construction and Materials. (1) Building Sewers. (2) Plumbing and Well Codes. The design, construction, and location of, and the materials for use in building sewers are 19 (3) governed by the Minnesota State Building Code, chapter 1300, which incorporates by reference portions of the Minnesota Plumbing Code, chapter 4715, and by specific provisions of the Minnesota Water Well Construction Code, Minn. Rules Chapter 4725. Water meter. All new individual sewage treatment systems defined as mounds, alternative systems, or systems intended to serve other establishments as defined in Section 3.5 (44) must not be installed unless a water meter is provided to measure the flow to the treatment system. For metered systems that have septic tank effluent pumped to a soil treatment area, an electrical event counter must also be installed. (4) Sewage Tanks. (5) In general. All tanks, regardless of material or method of construction, must: (6) be watertight; (7) be designed and constructed to withstand all lateral earth pressures under saturated soil conditions with the tank empty, including proper ballasting (to avoid possible flotation) where the severity of conditions require it; (8) be designed and constructed with adequate tensile and compressive strength to withstand a minimum of seven feet of saturated earth cover above the tank top and manhole cover; (9) not be subject to corrosion or decay; and (10) have the manufacturer's name, model number, and tank capacity in gallons permanently displayed on the tank above the outlet pipe. have a written and graphic label affixed to the maintenance hole cover warning of the hazardous conditions inside the tank. 20 (12) Any tank not having an integrally cast bottom shall not be installed when the water table is closer than three inches to the bottom of the excavation at the time of construction. Design of septic tanks. All tanks, regardless of material or method of construction, shall conform to the following criteria: (13) The liquid depth of any septic tank or compartment thereof shall be not less than 30 inches. A liquid depth greater than six and one-half feet shall not be considered in determining tank capacity. (14) No tank or compartment thereof shall have an inside horizontal dimension less than 24 inches. (15) Inlet and outlet connections of the tank shall be submerged by means of baffles. (16) The space in the tank between the liquid surface and the top of the inlet and outlet baffles shall be not less than 20 percent of the total required liquid capacity, except that in horizontal cylindrical tanks this space shall be not less than 15 percent of the total required liquid capacity. (17) Inlet and outlet baffles shall be constructed of acid resistant concrete, acid resistant fiberglass, or plastic. (18) Baffles must be integrally cast with the tank, affixed with a permanent waterproof adhesive, or affixed with stainless steel connectors, top and bottom. Sanitary tees, which are used as baffles, shall be affixed to the inlet or outlet pipes with a permanent waterproof adhesive. (19) The inlet baffle shall extend at least six inches but not more than 20 percent of the total liquid depth below the liquid surface and at least one inch above the crown of the inlet sewer. 21 (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25) The outlet baffle and the baffles between compartments shall extend below the liquid surface a distance equal to 40 percent of the liquid depth except that the penetration of the indicated baffle or sanitary tees for horizontal cylindrical tanks shall be 35 percent of the total liquid depth. They also shall extend above the liquid surface as required in item 4. In no case shall they extend less than six inches above the liquid surface. Gas deflecting baffles shall be installed on the outlet of the final septic tank servicing other establishments. There shall be at least one inch between the underside of the top of the tank and the highest point of the inlet and outlet devices. The inlet invert shall be not less than two inches above the outlet invert. The inlet and outlet shall be located opposite each other along the axis of maximum dimension. The horizontal distance between the nearest points of the inlet and outlet devices shall be at least four feet. Sanitary tees, used as baffles, shall be at least four (4) inches in diameter. Inlet baffles shall be no less than six (6) inches or no more than 12 inches measured from the end of the inlet pipe to the nearest point on the baffle. Outlet baffles shall be six inches measured from beginning of the outlet pipe to the nearest point on the baffle. Access to the septic tank shall be as follows: (26) There shall be one or more manholes, at a minimum of 20 inches least dimension, and located within six feet of all walls of the tank. Access to tanks will be by manhole covers with no more than 6 inches of cover. If the cover is exposed it must be secured to prevent unauthorized entry if it is exposed. 22 (27) There shall be an inspection pipe of at least four inches diameter over both the inlet and outlet devices. The inspection pipe shall extend through the tank cover or the manhole cover and be capped flush or above finished grade. A downward projection of the center line of the inspection pipe shall be directly in line with the center line of the inlet or outlet device. (28) An inspection pipe at least four inches in diameter must be located between the inlet and outlet baffles for the purpose of evaluating scum and sludge accumulations. The inspection pipe must extend through either the tank cover or manhole cover and must be capped flush with or above finished grade. (29) Compartmentation of single tanks. (30) Septic tanks larger than 3,000 gallons and fabricated as a single unit shall be divided into two or more compartments. (31) When a septic tank is divided into two compartments, not less than one-half nor more than two-thirds of the total volume shall be in the first compartment. (32) When a septic tank is divided into three or more compartments, one-half of the total volume shall be in the first compartment and the other half equally divided in the other compartments. (aa) Connections between compartments shall be baffled so as to obtain effective retention of scum and sludge. The submergence of the inlet and outlet baffles of each compartment shall be as specified in item (2) (B) 4, 7 & 8. (34) Adequate venting shall be provided between compartments by baffles or by an opening of at 23 (36) least 50 square inches near the top of the compartment wall. (35) Adequate access to each compartment shall be provided by one or more manholes, at least 20 inches least dimension, and located within six feet of all walls of the tank. The manhole shall extend through the tank cover to a point within six (6) inches of f'mished grade. If the manhole is covered with less than six inches of earth, the cover must be secured to prevent unauthorized access. Multiple tanks. (37) Where more than one tank is used to obtain the required liquid volume, the tanks shall be connected in series. (41) (38) Each tank shall comply with all other provisions of Section 4.18 (2). (39) No more than four tanks in series can be used to obtain the required liquid volume. (40) The fa'st tank shall be no smaller than any subsequent tanks in series. Outlet pipe from septic tank. (42) The outlet pipe from the septic tank must not be cast iron. (43) The outlet pipe extending from the septic tank must be of sound and durable construction, not subject to corrosion or decay. (44) The outlet pipe extending from the septic tank to the undisturbed soil beyond the tank must meet the strength requirements of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), schedule 40 plastic pipe and must be supported in a manner that there is no deflection during the backfilling and subsequent settling of the soil between the edge of the septic tank and the edge of the excavation. (45) The soil around the pipe extending from the septic tank must be compacted to original density for a length of three feet beyond the edge of the tank excavation. 4.19 Capacity of Septic Tanks. Capacity of septic tanks: (1) Dwellings. There shall be two septic tanks in series with the liquid capacity based on the number of bedrooms contemplated in the dwelling served and shall be at least as large as the capacities given below. EXCEPTION: Upgrade of existing conforming systems need not consist of two (2) tanks in series assuming the primary tank capacity is met, and there is no garbage disposal or sewage pump. System replacement shall require two tanks in series. Tank Liquid Number of Capacities Bedrooms (Gallons) 2 or less 1,000 and 500 3 or 4 1,000 and 1,000 5 or 6 1,500 and 1,000 7, 8 or 9 2,000 and 1,000 For ten or more bedrooms, the septic tank shall be sized as another establishment with the second tank in series being at least 50 percent capacity of the first tank. For multiple family dwellings containing two (2) or more dwelling units, 25 the size shall be the sum of the individual dwelling unit requirements. (2) Other establishments. The liquid capacity of a septic tank serving an establishment other than a dwelling shall be sufficient to provide a sewage detention period of not less than 36 hours in the tank for sewage flows less than 1,500 gallons per day, but in no instance shall the liquid capacity be less than 750 gallons. For sewage flows greater than 1,500 gallons per day the minimum liquid capacity shall equal 1,125 gallons plus 75 percent of the daily sewage flow. For restaurants and laundromats, twice the liquid capacity shown above must be provided. For laundromats the outlet baffle of the septic tank must be submerged to a depth of 50 percent. Pumping of raw sewage. A sewage pump must not deliver sewage to a one tank system if the pump cycle delivers more than one percent of the liquid capacity of the tank. For systems with multiple tanks, at least two tanks in series must be used, each having at least the liquid capacity specified in this subpart. The volume of sewage delivered in each pump cycle must not exceed five percent of the liquid capacity of the first tank. 4.20 Location of Septic Tanks. The sewage tank shall be placed so that it is accessible for the removal of liquids and accumulated solids. The soil cover over a tank shall not exceed five (5) feet. The sewage tank shall be placed on fh'm and settled soil capable of bearing the weight of the tank and its contents. Sewage tanks shall be set back as specified in Section 4.25 (B), Table IV. Sewage tanks shall not be placed in areas subject to flooding or in floodplains delineated by local ordinances adopted in compliance with the "Statewide Standards for Management of Flood Areas of Minnesota" (chapter 6120), or in areas for which regional flood information is available from the DNR, except that in areas where ten year flood information is available from and/or approved by the DNR, sewage tanks may be installed in accordance with all provisions of Section 5.2. 4.21 Abandoned Tanks. At any time tanks are taken out of service they shall be removed from the ground or abandoned in place by properly removing all contents, disconnecting all lines, and filling the tank completely with soil. Access for future discharge to the system shall be permanently denied. 26 4.22 Aerobic Tank.q. Aerobic tank treatment systems shall comply with the general requirements for sewage tanks set forth in this ordinance, and with the following: (1) The treatment system including each individual unit or compartment shall be easily accessible for inspection and maintenance and shall be provided with secured covers. (2) Aerobic tanks shall comply with National Sanitation Foundation Standard (NSF) No. 40 (November, 1990). Effluent quality shall meet or exceed NSF Class II Standards. (3) (4) An effective maintenance service contract shall be maintained for the life of the unit and shall include inspections and effluent quality checks at least semi-annually. No additional reduction in soil treatment area shall be allowed with the use of an aerobic treatment tank. 4.23 Distribution of Effluent. (1) (2) All supply pipes must be protected from freezing when they pass under driveways, sidewalks, roadways or other areas where deep frost penetration is expected. Gravity distribution. (3) Serial distribution must be used to distribute effluent to individual trenches in a soil treatment system unless the necessary elevation differences between trenches for drop boxes cannot be achieved by natural topography or by varying the excavation depths, in which case parallel distribution shall be used. If drop boxes are used, they must meet the following standards. (4) The drop box shall be watertight and constructed of durable materials not subject to corrosion or decay. (5) The invert of the inlet pipe shall be at least one inch higher than the invert of the outlet pipe to the next trench. 27 (6) The invert of the outlet pipe to the next trench shall be no greater than two inches higher than the invert of the outlet pipe of the trench in which the box is located. (7) When sewage tank effluent is delivered to the drop box by a pump, the pump discharge shall be directed against a wall or side of the box on which there is no outlet. (8) The drop box shall have a removable cover either flush or above finished grade or covered by no more than six inches of soil and must have a vertical inspection pipe, capped flush with or above finished grade. (9) The distribution boxes must meet the following standards: (10) The box must be watertight with either a removable cover or a clean out pipe extending to finished grade and must be constructed of durable materials not subject to corrosion or decay. (11) The inverts of all outlets must be at the same elevation. (12) The inlet invert must be either at least one inch above the outlet inverts or be sloped such that an equivalent elevation above the outlet invert is obtained within the last eight feet of the inlet pipe. (13) Each drainfield trench line must be connected separately to the distribution box and must not be subdivided. (14) When sewage tank effluent is delivered to the distribution box by pump, either a baffle wall must be installed in the distribution box or the pump discharge must be directed against a wall or side of the box on which there is no outlet. The baffle must be secured to the box and must extend at least one inch above the crown of the inlet flow line. (20) (15) Distribution pipes. (16) Distribution pipes used in trenches or beds for gravity distribution must be at least four inches in diameter and must be constructed of sound and durable material not subject to corrosion or decay or to loss of strength under continuously wet conditions. (17) Perforated pipe used for sewage distribution pipes must have one or more rows of holes of no less than one-half inch in diameter spaced no more than 40 inches apart. Holes must be spaced to prevent failure due to loads. Distribution pipes must have a load bearing capacity of not less than 1,000 pounds per lineal foot. (18) The distribution pipes for gravity distribution must be laid level or on a uniform slope away from the distribution device of no more than four inches per 100 feet. (19) Other devices such as corrugated tubing wrapped with a permeable synthetic material or a chambered trench or bed may be used to distribute sewage tank effluent over the soil treatment area upon approval of the department. Pressure distribution. (21) Pressure distribution must be used for the following soil treatment systems: (22) all mound systems; (23) all at-grade systems; and (24) systems where the soil percolation rate is O. 1 to five minutes per inch if the effluent is pumped to a seepage bed or to trenches that are all at the same elevation. 29 (25) Distribution pipes used for pressure distribution must be constructed of sound and durable material not subject to corrosion or decay or to loss of strength under continuously wet conditions. (26) (27) All pipes and associated fittings used for pressure distribution must be properly joined together. The pipe and connections must be able to withstand a pressure of at least 40 pounds per square inch. Perforations must be no smaller than 3/16 inch diameter and no larger than one-quarter inch diameter. The number of perforations, perforation spacing, and pipe size for pressure distribution laterals must be as shown in table I. The friction loss in any individual perforated lateral must not exceed 20 percent of the average pressure head on the perforations. Maximum Allowable Number of One-Fourth Inch Diameter, or Smaller, Perforations Per Lateral. TABLE I Pipe Diameter, Normal and Inside Perforation 1" 1 ¼" 11/2" 2" Spacing in feet 1.049 1.380 1.610 2.067 2.5 8 14 18 28 3 8 13 17 26 3.3 7 12 16 25 4 7 11 15 23 5 6 10 14 22 (28) Perforation holes must be drilled straight into the pipe and not at an angle. The perforated pipe laterals must be installed 3O (29) (30) (31) level with the perforations downward. Perforation holes must be free of burrs. Laterals must be spaced no further than 60 inches apart and must be spaced no further than a horizontal distance of 30 inches from the bottom edge of a drainfield rock layer. Laterals must be connected to a header or manifold pipe that is of a diameter such that the friction loss in the header or manifold will be no greater than five percent of the average head at the perforations. The header or manifold pipe must be connected to the supply pipe from the pump. Perforated laterals must be designed and installed in such a way that no perforations are located closer than 12 inches from the edge of the drainfield rock. Lift Station. (1) Lift Station. A lift station, where used, shall comply with the following requkements: (2) The lift station shall be watertight and constructed of sound and durable materials not subject to excessive corrosion or decay, vented, and must be designed and constructed to withstand lateral pressures when the tank is empty. (3) There shall be one or more maintenance holes, at least 20 ~4) (5) (6) inches least dimension and located directly above the pump. The maintenance hole shall extend through the lift station cover to final grade and shall be so constructed as to prevent unauthorized entry. The lift station shall either include an alternating two-pump system or have a minimum total capacity of 500 gallons or 100 percent of the average design flow, whichever is greater. A lift station must employ an alarm device to warn of failure. Pumps shall be elevated from the bottom of the lift station to protect the pump from settled solids. The pump, pump 31 (8) (16) controls, and pump discharge line shall be installed so as to be accessible for servicing without entering the lift station. ~7) Electrical installations shall comply with applicable laws and ordinances including the latest codes, rules, and regulations of public authorities having jurisdiction and with part 1315.0200, incorporating the National Electrical Code. Lift stations for gravity distribution: (9) Where a lift station is employed, a pump or siphon shall deliver the dose to the soil treatment unit for gravity distribution over the soil treatment area. (10) For dwellings, the dosing device shall discharge at least 600 gallons per hour but no more than 2,700 gallons per hour. (11) For other establishments, the dosing device should discharge at a rate at least ten percent greater than the water supply flow rate but no faster than the rate at which effluent will flow out of the distribution device. (12) If the dosing device is a siphon, a maintenance inspection shall be made every six months by the owner or the owner's agent. The siphon shall be maintained in proper operating condition. (13) If the dosing device is a pump, it shall be cast iron or bronze fitted and with stainless steel screws or constructed of other sound, durable, and corrosion-resistant materials. (14) Where the soil treatment area is at a higher elevation than the pump, sufficient dynamic head shall be provided for both the elevation difference and friction loss. (15) Where the dosing device is a pump, an alarm device shall be installed to warn of pump failure. Dosing devices for pressure distribution; 32 (17) (18) The dosing device shall be a pump which is cast iron or bronze fitted and with stainless steel screws or constructed of sound, durable, and corrosion-resistant materials. The pump discharge capacity shall be based upon the perforation discharges for an average head of 1.0 foot for residential systems and 2.0 feet for other establishments. Perforation discharge will be determined by the following formula: 4.25 (19) (20) q = 19.65 cd2 ~/h where: q = discharge in gallons per minute c = 0.60 coefficient of discharge d = perforation diameter in inches h = head in feet The pump discharge head shall be at least five feet greater than the head required to overcome pipe friction losses and the elevation difference between the pump and the distribution device. The quantity of effluent delivered for each pump cycle shall be no greater than 25 percent of one day's sewage flow. (21) An alarm device shall be installed to warn of pump failure. (22) A siphon will not be allowed as a lift station to deliver I effluent to a pressure distribution system. Final Treatment and Disposal. (1) Final treatment and disposal of all sewage tank effluent shall be by discharge into a soil treatment system. I (2) Standard system. (3) Sizing: 33 (4) The required soil treatment area shah be determined by the daily sewage flow, and the measured percolation rate of the soil. (5) Acceptable methods for estimating sewage flow for dwellings are given in Table II. The minimum daily sewage flow estimated for any dwelling shall provide for at least two bedrooms. For multiple residential units, the estimated daily sewage flow shall consist of the sum of the flows of each individual unit. TABLE H Number of Gallons per Bedrooms day 2 300 3 450 4 600 5 750 6 900 If a grey water system is employed, estimated sewage flow shall equal 60 percent of the amount provided in Table II. (6) For other establishments, average design flow shall be used to size soil treatment systems. Maximum design flow shall be used to size sewage tanks. Design flows shall be calculated using estimated or measured values for other establishments according to items a and b. (7) Estimated average and maximum design flows: the best available data as provided by the agency shall be used if estimating the average and maximum design flows. (8) Measured average and maximum design flows: (9) the average design flow shall be determined by averaging the measured daily flows for a consecutive seven-day period in which the establishment is at maximum capacity or use; and; !:10)the maximum design flow shall be the anticipated peak daily flow. (11) Table III (next page) gives the required trench bottom area assuming 12 inches of drainfield rock below the distribution pipe. The required bottom area may be reduced, for trenches only, by the following percentages: 20 percent for 18 inches of drainfield rock below the distribution pipe; and 34 percent for 24 inches. Unless pressure distribution is used, all seepage bed bottom area must be 1.7 times the soil treatment areas required in Table HI. With pressure distribution, the bottom area must be 1.2 times the soil treatment area required in Table III. 35 TABLE IH Percolation Rate (minutes per inch) 0.1-5 6-15 16-30 31-45 46-60 NUMBER GAl ~1 iONS OF BEDROOMS TANK SIZE PER DAY SQUARE FEET 2 1000 + 500 300 250 380 500 600 660 3 1000 + 1000 450 380 570 750 900 990 4 1000 + 1000 600 500 760 1000 1200 1320 5 1500 + 1000 750 630 950 1250 1500 1650 6 1500 + 1000 900 750 1140 1500 1800 1980 7 2000 + 1000 1050 870 1330 1750 2100 2310 8 2000 + 1000 1200 990 1520 2000 2400 2640 SQUARE FEET PER GALLON .83 1.27 1.67 2 2.20 Percolation Rate in Minutes Per Inch Square Feet Per Gallons Per Day 0VIPI) Soil Texture Gallon Per Day Per Square Foot Faster than 0.1' Coarse Sand .......... 0.1 to 5** Sand 0.83 1.20 0.1 to 5 Fine Sand*** 1.67 0.60 6 to 15 Sandy Loam 1.27 0.79 16 to 30 Loam 1.67 0.60 31 to 45 Silt Loam 2.00 0.50 46 to 60 Clay Loam 2.20 0.45 Slower than 60**** Clay .......... See next page for explanation of asterisks (*). 36 * Soil too coarse for sewage treatment. Distribution of sewage effluent shall be by pressure flow over the treatment area or by dividing treatment area into a minimum of four (4) equal parts connected serially, by means of drop boxes. For soils having more than 50 percent of very fine sand by weight, plus fine sand having a particle size range of 0.05 millimeters (sieve size 270) to 0.25 millimeters (sieve size 60), the required soil treatment area is 1.67 square feet per gallon of sewage flow per day. **** Soil with too high a percentage of clay for installation of an in ground standard system. (12) Location: (13) On slopes in excess of 12 percent, the soil profile shall be carefully evaluated in the location of the proposed soil treatment system and downslope to identify the presence of layers with different permeabilities that may cause sidehill seepage. In no case shall a trench be located within 15 feet of where such a layer surfaces on the downslope. (14) Bed construction shall be limited to areas having natural slopes of less than six percent. (15) Soil treatment systems shall be located as specified on Table IV. 37 TABLE IV. MINIMUM SETBACK DISTANCES (FEET) SOIL SEWAGE TREATMENT FEATURE TANK AREA Water Supply well less than 50 feet deep and not encountering at least ten feet of impervious 50 100 material Any other water supply well or buried water suction pipe 50 50 Buried pipe distributing water under pressure 10 10 Occupied buildings & buildings with basements or crawl spaces 10 20 Non-occupied structures 5 5 Property lines 10' 10' Above ground swimming pools 10 10 In ground swimming pools 10 20 THE ORDINARY HIGH WATER MARK OF: LS-1 Natural Environment Lakes & Streams 150'* 150'* LS-2 Recreation Development Lakes & Streams 75** 75** LS-3 General Development Lakes & Streams 75** 75** All unclassified waters 75** 75** Wild & Scenic Rivers Rural Districts 150'** 150'** Wild & Scenic Rivers Urban Districts 100'** 100'** BLUFFLINES: Wild & Scenic River Blufflines (12% Slope) 40*** 40*** Shoreland Blufflines (18 % Slope) 20'* 20'* * May be altered only through normal variance process. ** May be varied through Shoreland Management Ordinance. *** May be varied through Wild and Scenic River Ordinance. 38 (17) (16) Soil treatment areas shall not be placed in areas subject to flooding or in floodplains delineated by local ordinances adopted in compliance with the "Statewide Standards and Criteria for Management of Floodplain Areas of Minnesota" (chapter 6120), or in areas for which regional flood information is available from the DNR, except that in areas where ten year flood information is available from and/or approved by the DNR, soil treatment systems may be installed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2 Floodplain Systems. Design and construction: (18) The bottom of trenches and beds shall be at least three feet above the water table or bedrock. (19) The trenches shall be not less than 18 inches nor more than 36 inches wide. Any excavation wider than 36 inches shall be considered a bed. No bed may be wider than 25 feet and parallel beds must not be located closer than ten feet apart. (20) The bottom of the trench or bed excavation shall be level. (21) The bottom and sides of the soil treatment system to the top of the drainfield rock shall be excavated in such a manner as to leave the soil in a natural, unsmeared, and uncompacted condition. Excavation shall be made only when the soil moisture content is at or less than the plastic limit. (22) When the percolation rate is slower than 15 minutes per inch, excavation shall be by backhoe or other means that allow the equipment wheels or tracks to remain on the surface soil. Excavation equipment or other vehicles shall not be driven on the soil treatment area. 39 (23) There shall be a layer of at least 12 but no more than 24 inches of drainfield rock in the bottom of the trenches. (24) The drainfield rock shall completely encase the top and sides of the distribution pipes to a depth of at least two inches. The top of the drainfield rock in trenches, beds, and mounds must be level in all directions. 25) Drainfield rock must be covered with a durable non- woven geotextile cover specific to this purpose. The cover must be of sufficient strength to undergo installation without rupture. In addition, the cover must permit passage of water without allowing the passage of overlying soil material into drainfield rock. (26) The trenches or beds shall be backfilled and crowned above finished grade to allow for settling. The top six inches of soil shall have the same texture and density as the adjacent soil. (27) The minimum depth of cover over the distribution pipes shall be at least six inches. The maximum depth of cover over the distribution pipes shall be no more than 24 inches. r28) A vegetative cover shall be established over the soil treatment system. The soil treatment system shall be protected until a vegetative cover is established. The vegetative cover established shall not interfere with the hydraulic performance of the system and shall provide adequate frost and erosion protection. (29) A vertical inspection pipe at least 1-1/2 inches in diameter must be installed in each drainfield rock layer of every trench or seepage bed. The inspection pipe must be located at an end opposite from where the sewage tank effluent enters the rock layer. The inspection pipe must have 3/8 inch or larger perforations spaced vertically no more than six inches apart in the rock layer, and must be solid pipe above. The inspection pipe must extend to the bottom of the 4O 0o) 01) rock layer and must be capped flush with or above finished grade. All joints for gravel-less drainfield pipes or chambered systems must be secured as recommended by the manufacturer. Backfilling for graveMess drainfield pipe and chambered systems shall not crush or damage the medium. (32) Gravel-less drainfield pipe. Gravel-less drainfield pipe, including appurtenances, shall be: of commercially fabricated corrugated pipe completely encased by the manufacturer in a geotextile wrap specific to this purpose; (34) an eight-inch or a ten-inch nominal ID pipe that meets the requirements of American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) F667, which is incorporated by reference. The annual book of ASTM standards F667 "Standard Specification for Large Diameter Corrugated Polyethylene Tubing and Fittings" was issued in 1985 and is available at ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. The standards can be .found at the Minnesota Law Library, Judicial Center, 25 Constitution Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55155, and are not subject to frequent change. 35) The pipes must be marked with an alignment stripe visible through the geotextile wrap and installed with this stripe at top center. (36) The pipes shall contain a row or rows of cleanly cut three-eighths inch to one-half inch diameter holes located in such a manner to provide storage of solids. Each row shall contain a hole in every other corrugation valley, staggered such that every corrugation valley contains one hole. 41 ~40) (48) (37) (38) Geotextile wraps specifically designed and tested for use with gravel-less pipe and for installation and use in individual sewage treatment systems. The sizing shall be 1.2 times the soil treatment area required in Table III. (39) Protected from heat and ultraviolet rays prior to installation. Chambered systems. Chamber media including all piping and appurtenances shall be constructed: (41) ~42) (43) ~44) (45) ~46) ~47) of commercially fabricated materials specific to this purpose; of materials resistant to sewage tank effluent; with an open bottom; to support the load of overburden and sidewall soil; with slotted or perforated sides to allow sewage to move laterally into the soil and prevent soil penetration into the chamber; no greater than three (3) feet in width; and with vertical outside dimensions less than 30 inches. Dual field systems: (49) Dual field systems shall be used only where the percolation rate is slower than five minutes per inch. (5O) Dual field systems shall be sized, designed, and constructed as set forth above for standard systems except as follows: (51) The soil treatment area shall be divided into two or more parts. 42 (53) (52) Alternating soil treatment areas shall each be connected to a valve box outlet. A part of the soil treatment area shall be used no more than one year unless inspection of the effluent level indicates that a longer duration can be used. (54) Mounds. (55) Mound Requirements (56) Mounds must be constructed on original soils so that there is at least 36 inches of separation between the bottom of the drainfield rock layer and limiting soil characteristics as defined in Section 3.5, subpart 68. (57) There must be at least 18 inches of original soil with a percolation rate faster than 60 minutes per inch above the limiting soil charactersfics as defined in Section 3.5, subpart 68. EXCEPTIONS For Previously Developed Sites: (58) (59) A depth of 12 to 18 inches of original suitable soil may be used. A 61 to 120 minutes per inch rate may be used. (60) If original soil conditions do not exist on a site proposed for a mound, as defined in Section 3.5, subpart 43, the site is unsuitable for a mound. Absorption areas shall not be placed in areas subject to flooding as described in Section 5.2 (4). (62) On slopes of one percent or greater, and where the percolation rate in the top foot of original soil is in the 61 to 120 minutes per inch range, mounds must not be located where the ground surface contour lines directly below the long axis of the rock bed represent 43 63) a swale or draw. unless the contour lines have a radius of curvature greater than 100 feet. Mounds must never be located in swales or draws where the radius of curvature of the contour lines is less than 50 feet. In no case shall mounds be placed on slopes greater than 12 percent. Design of mounds. Drainfield rock must be used as the distribution medium in mounds. ![64) The bottom area of the rock bed shall be calculated by (65) (66) multiplying the average design flow by 1.0 square feet per gallon per day. The width of a single rock bed must not exceed ten feet. A minimum of 12 inches of clean sand must be placed (67) where the rock bed is to be located. The required absorption width is calculated by multiplying the rock bed width by the absorption ratio. The absorption ratio shall be determined according to Table V, using percolation rate of the upper 12 inches of soil in the proposed absorption area. 68) A maximum of two (2) mounds may be placed with side-by-side rock beds. The required absorption width shall be increased by four (4) feet. TABLE V Percolation Rate of Original Soil Under Sand Layer, Minutes Per Inch Faster than 5 6to 15 Absorption Rati, 1.00 1.50 16 to 30 2.00 31 to 45 46 to 60 61 to 120 2.40 2.67 5.00 (69) The required absorption width for mounds constructed on slopes from zero to one percent shall be centered under the rock bed width. The required absorption width for mounds constructed on slopes greater than one percent shall be measured downslope from the downslope edge of the rock bed width and measured in the direction of the original land slope and perpendicular to the original contours. (70) The side slopes on the mound must not be steeper than three (3) horizontal units to one (1) vertical unit and shall extend beyond the required absorption area, if necessary_. (71) On slopes of one ('1) percent or greater, the upslope edge of the level drainfield rock bed must be placed on the contour. ~72) Whenever mounds are located on slopes greater than one (1) percent, a diversion must be constructed immediately upslope from the mound to intercept and direct runoff. !~73) Distribution of effluent over the rock bed must be by level perforated pipe under pressure as specified in Section 4.23 (3). (74) The rock bed shall completely encase the top and sides of the distribution pipes to a depth of at least two (2) inches above the pipe. The rock shall extend nine (9) inches below the pipe. ~75) A vertical inspection pipe at least 11/2 inches in diameter shall be installed and secured at each rock 45 (79) (76) bed/sand interface of every mound. The inspection pipe must have % inch or larger perforations spaced vertically no more than six (6) inches apart. At least two (2) perforations must be located in the rock bed. No perforations shall be located above the permeable synthetic fabric. The inspection pipe must extend to the bottom of the rock bed and must be capped flush with or above finished grade. The rock bed must be covered with durable non- woven geotexfile cover specific to this purpose. The cover must be of sufficient strength to undergo installation without rupture. In addition, the cover must permit passage of water without passage of overlying soil material into the drainfield rock. (77) Sandy to loamy soil material must be placed on the rock bed to a depth of one (1) foot in the center of the mound and to a depth of six (6) inches at the sides. When two (2) rock beds are installed side by side, the soil material must be 18 inches deep at the center of the mound and six (6) inches deep at the sides. ~78) Six (6) inches of top soil must be placed over the entire mound. Topsoil does not include peat soil textures. Surface preparation for mounds. ~80) The supply pipe from the pump to the mound area must be installed before mound soil surface ~81) ~82) preparation. The trench excavated for the supply pipe must be carefully backfilled and compacted to prevent seepage of effluent. All vegetation in excess of two (2) inches in length and dead organic debris must be removed from the absorption area. Trees must be cut nearly flush with the ground and stumps should not be removed. All surface preparation must take place when the upper 12 inches of soil has a moisture content of less 46 than the plastic limit and soil conditions allow field testing of soil properties and these properties are maintained throughout installation. (83) The absorption area must be roughened by backhoe teeth or moldboard, or chisel plowed to a depth of eight (8) inches. Discing is allowed if the upper eight (8) inches of soil has a texture of sandy loam or coarser. If plowed, furrows must be thrown uphill and there must not be a dead furrow in the absorption area. A rubber-tired tractor may be used for plowing or discing. Rototilling or pulverizing the soil is not allowed. The original soil must not be excavated or moved more than one foot from its original location during soil surface preparation. r84) Prior to placement of six (6) inches of clean sand, no vehicle shall be driven on the absorption area after the surface preparation is completed. If rainfall occurs on the prepared surface, the site must be allowed to dry below the plastic limit and roughened as specific in subitem (4). !~85) Mound construction. ~86) The clean sand must be placed by using a construction technique that minimizes compaction. If the clean sand is driven on for construction, a crawler or track- type tractor must be used for mound construction. At least six (6) inches of sand must be kept beneath equipment to minimize compaction of the prepared surface. ~87) The sand layer upon which the rock bed is placed must be level in all directions. (88) The top of the rock bed must be level in all directions. 47 ..... ~89) Construction vehicles must not be allowed on the rock £91) bed until backfill is placed. A vegetative cover must be established over the entire area of the mound. The soil treatment system mound shall be protected until a vegetative cover is established. The vegetative cover established shall not interfere with the hydraulic performance of the system and shall provide adequate frost and erosion protection. Shrubs must not be planted on the top of the mound. Shrubs may be placed at the foot and side slopes of the mound. (92) At-grade systems. £93) Location of at-~ade systems. (94) At-grade systems must be constructed on original soils so that there is at least 36 inches of separation between the bottom of the rock bed and saturated soil or bedrock. £97) £95) Percolation tests shall be conducted in the upper 12 inches of original soil. At-grade systems are only allowed if constructed on soils with percolation rates faster than 61 minutes per inch. £96) At-grade systems shall not be installed in areas with slopes greater than 12 percent. Design of at-grade systems. £98) Rock bed absorption width shall be calculated by multiplying the linear loading rate by the soil sizing factor as identified in 4.25 Table III, using the percolation rate of the upper 12 inches of soil in the proposed absorption area. The linear loading rate shall be between two (2) and eight (8) gpd/ft as determined by the relationship between vertical and horizontal water movement in the soil. Total rock bed width for sloping ground shall consist of the rock bed absorption width plus enough rock on the upslope side to provide stability ~99) Rock bed length shall be calculated by multiplying the soil sizing factor by the average design flow and dividing by the rock bed width. £100) At-grade systems shall be pressurized in accordance with Section 4.23 (3). Distribution pipe shall be installed in the center of the rock bed on slopes less than one (1) percent and on the upslope edge of the rock bed absorption width on slopes one (1) percent or greater. O01) Construction of at-grade systems. (102) Surface preparation for at-grade systems shall be the same as mound construction. £103) Drainfield rock must be used as the distribution medium in at-grade systems. (104) The upslope edge of an at-grade system shall be installed along the natural contour. (105') The rock bed shall completely encase the top and sides of the distribution pipe to a depth of at least two (2) inches above the pipe. There shall be at least nine (9) inches of rock below the distribution pipe. (106) The entire rock bed shall be covered with a durable non-woven geotextile cover specific to this purpose. The cover must be of sufficient strength to undergo installation without rupture. In addition, the cover must permit passage of water without allowing the passage of overlying soil material into the drainfield rock. 49 £107) ~.108) £109) One foot of loamy' or sandy cover material shall be installed over the rock bed. Cover shall extend at least five (5) feet from the ends of the rock bed and be sloped to divert surface water. Side slopes shall not be steeper than four (4) horizontal units to one (1) vertical unit. The upper six (6) inches of the loamy soil cover must be topsoil. Topsoil must be of a quality that provides a good vegetative cover on the at-grade system and must exclude peaty material. Three (3) vertical inspection pipes of at least 1.5 inches in diameter shall be installed and secured along the downslope portion of the rock bed. These pipes shall be located within three (3) feet of the downslope edge of the rock bed at the middle and one-sixth of the total rock bed length and placed as measured from the ends of the rock bed. The inspection pipes shall have % inch or larger perforations spaced vertically no more than six (6') inches apart. No perforations shall exist above the permeable synthetic fabric. The inspection pipes must extend to the rock bed/soil interface and must be stabilized and capped flush with or above finished grade. A vegetative cover must be established over the entire area of the at-grade system. The soil treatment at- grade system shall be protected until a vegetative cover is established. The vegetative cover shall not interfere with the hydraulic performance of the system and shall provide adequate frost and erosion protection. SECTION 5 ALTERNATIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEMS 5.1 Subpart 1. General. The intent of this part is to provide standards for the location, design, installation, use, and maintenance of alternative and experimental sewage treatment systems. Alternative systems must meet the requirements listed below and can only be used when a standard system cannot be installed or is not the most suitable treatment. They may be employed provided: 5O O) reasonable assurance of performance of the system is presented to the permitting authority; (2) the engineering design of the system is fn'st approved by the permitting authority; (3) there is no discharge to the ground surface or to surface waters. Systems designed with a ground surface or surface water discharge are not covered under this chapter and must obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit or state disposal system permit from the Pollution Control Agency. (4) a three-foot minimum separation is provided between the bottom of the distribution medium and the saturated soil or bedrock. treatment and disposal of wastes is completed in a manner that protects the public health and general welfare; (6) the system complies with all local codes and ordinances and is subject to periodic inspections by the permitting authority to assure adherence to specifications; (7) provide mitigative plan to the permitting authority, indicating what will be done if the system fails to provide treatment and disposal; and (8) provide a water meter (located downflow of any outside sillcocks) to verify water use. 5.2 Floodplain Areas. (1) There shall be no pipe or other installed opening between the distribution medium and the soil surface. (2) Trench systems shall be located on the highest feasible area of the lot and shall have location preference over all other improvements except the water supply well. The bottom of the distribution medium shall be at least as high as the elevation of the ten-year flood. The sewage tank may be located so as to provide gravity flow to the trenches. 51 (3) If a lift station is used to move effluent from the sewage tank to the trenches, provisions shall be made to prevent the pump from operating when inundated with flood waters. (4) When it is necessary to raise the elevation of the soil treatment area, a mound system as specified in Section 4.25, Subpart 3, may be used with the following additional requirement: In no case shall the sand base fill for the mound exceed 48 inches below the rock bed. The elevation of the mound shall be such that the elevation of the bottom of the rock bed shall be at least one-half foot above the ten-year flood elevation. Inspection pipes shall not be installed unless the top of the mound is above the elevation of the regional flood. (5) When the top of a sewage tank is inundated, the dwelling must cease discharging sewage into it. This may be accomplished by either temporarily evacuating the structure until the system again becomes functional, or by diverting the sewage into a holding tank as follows: If a holding tank is used for a dwelling, its liquid capacity shall equal 100 gallons times the number of bedrooms times the number of days between the ten-year stage on the rising limb of the regional flood hydrograph and the ten-year stage on the falling limb of the hydrograph, or 1,000 gallons, whichever is greater. For other establishments, storage equal to at least five times the average design flow must be provided. The holding tank must be accessible for removal of tank contents under flooded conditions. (6) The building sewer shall be designed to prevent backflow of liquid into the building when the system is inundated. If a holding tank is used, the building sewer shall be designed to permit rapid diversion of sewage into the holding tank when the system is inundated. (7) Whenever the water level has reached a stage above the top of a sewage tank, the tank shall be pumped to remove all solids and liquids after the flood has receded before use of the system is resumed. 5.3 Greywater system. A toilet waste treatment device shall be used in conjunction with a greywater system. In all cases, only toilet wastes shall be discharged to toilet waste treatment devices. Greywater or garbage shall not be discharged to the device except as specifically recommended by a manufacturer. 52 (1) Plumbing. The drainage system in new dwellings or other establishments shall be based on a pipe diameter of two inches to prevent installation of a water flush toilet. There shall be no openings or connections to the drainage system, including floor drains, larger than two inches in diameter. For repair or replacement of an existing system, the existing drainage system may be used. (2) Building sewer. The building sewer shall meet all requirements of Section 4.18 (1) except that the building sewer for a greywater system shall be no greater than two inches in diameter. (3) Sewage tank. Greywater septic tanks shall meet all requirements of Section 4.18 (2). The soil treatment area shall be 60 percent of the amount calculated in Table III on page 37. The septic tank for a greywater system shall be a single tank in accordance with the first tank shown in Section 4.19 (A). (4) Final treatment of greywater shall meet all requirements of Section 4.25. 5.4 Privies. Privies shall only be considered when there is no water supplied to the dwelling Pit privies shall not be installed where the bottom of the pit is less than three feet above saturated soil or bedrock. A vault privy shall be used in areas not meeting the three-foot separation. The vault of a vault privy shall be constructed in the same manner as a sewage tank. Privies shall be set back from surface waters, buildings, and property lines as shown in Table IV on page 39. Pits or vaults shall be of sufficient capacity for the dwelling they serve, but shall have at least 50 cubic feet of capacity. The sides of the pit shall be constructed so as to be easily maintained, and it shall be insect proof. The door and seat shall be self-closing. All exterior openings, including vent openings, shall be screened. Privies shall be adequately vented. When the privy is filled to within one foot of the top of the pit, the solids shall be removed. 53 Abandoned pits shall have the solids removed by a MPCA licensed pumper, and be filled with clean earth and slightly mounded to allow for settling. 5.5 Other toilet waste treatment devices. Other toilet waste treatment devices may be used where reasonable assurance of performance is provided. All devices shall be vented. All electric, gas, and water connections shall conform to all local ordinances and codes. Operation and maintenance recommendations. shall follow the manufacturer's 5.6 Collector Systems. (1) Where site and soil conditions do not provide suitable conditions for final treatment and disposal on an individual lot, a soil treatment system located on another lot or lots may be employed where approved by the governing body. (2) Collector systems shall be designed by a registered Professional Engineer, licensed in the State of Minnesota, and certified by the MPCA as competent in the field of on-site system design. (3) Hydrogeologic Study - due to the effect large flows have on groundwater quality and groundwater mounding, a hydrologist shall determine site suitability based on the following issues: (4) Identify the depth to the static groundwater level and any perched water or areas likely to be seasonally saturated. (5) Identify depth to bedrock (6) Identify the proposed depth of the distribution medium. (7) Determine the direction of groundwater flow (both horizontally and vertically). 54 (8) Determine background groundwater quality at the location. (9) Estimate the height of groundwater mounding from the proposed system to confirm adequate vertical separation. (10) Determine whether drinking water standards can be met at the property boundary. (11) Estimate the impact of water quality on existing or furore downstream wells. Depending on this estimate, piezometer and or monitor wells may be required. EXCEPTION: Systems designed for 1,200 gallons per day or less do not require a hydrogeologic study, nor a design by a registered professional engineer. (12) Application to the department shall be accompanied by the hydrogeologic study and engineering drawings and specifications and shall demonstrate compliance with the Zoning Ordinance, Plumbing Code and issues relating to joint ownership of land, joint system maintenance responsibilities, homeowners associations, easements, covenants and such other items as may apply to the specific proposal. (13) Design. (14) The sum of a common soil treatment system shall be based on the sum of the areas required for each dwelling unit or establishment being served. (15) The system shall be designed with each residence having a sewage tank or with a common sewage tank. The tank shall be sized according to Section 4.18 (2). (16) Sewer systems shall be designed on an estimated average daily flow for dwellings based on Table II, set forth in part 4.25 (A), plus estimated flows from other establishments. 55 (17) The sewer for systems with common sewage tanks shall be so constructed to give mean velocities, when flowing full, of not less than two feet per second. The sewer for systems with individual sewage tanks shall be so constructed and designed to hydraulically conduct the flow for which they were designed. In no case shall a gravity sewer be less than four inches in diameter. The diameter and grade line should be based on a flow equal to 50 percent of the average design flow occurring in a one-hour period. (18) Flows shall be increased to allow for 200 gallons of infiltration per inch of pipe diameter per mile per day. (19) Cleanouts, brought flush with or above finished grade, shall be provided wherever a common sewer joins an individual building sewer or piping from an individual sewer tank, or every 100 feet, whichever is less, unless manhole access is provided. (20) There shall be no physical connection between sewers and water supply systems. Sewers shall be set back from water supply systems and piping as required for building sewers. Where it is not possible to obtain proper separation distances, the sewer connections shall be watertight and pressure tested. (21) Pipes, pipe points and pump stations shall be watertight. (22) Pump stations shall have manholes flush with or above finished grade for cleaning and maintenance. (23) Manhole covers shall be so constructed as to prevent unauthorized entry. (24) Pumps and lift stations shall be sized to handle 50 percent of the average design flow in a one-hour period. Common pump tanks shall have a pumpout capacity of ten percent of average design flow and two alternating pumps. (25) An alarm system shall be provided for all pumping stations to warn of pump failure, overflow, or other malfunction. 56 (26) For systems with individual septic tanks, a stilling tank of at least 1,500 gallons liquid capacity or ten percent of the average design flow, whichever is greater, should be provided before the soil treatment system. (27) Maintenance. All persons using a common drainfield system shall assure, by contract with maintenance personnel or other equivalent means, that the system will be adequately maintained throughout its useful life. The system so maintained includes, but is not limited to, common drainfields, common sewage tanks, common pumps, common pump stations, common sewers, and all individual tanks connected to the common system. 5.7 Sewage Holding Tanks. Sewage holding tanks may be considered for installation on previously developed sites, as a temporary method for periods of up to one (1) year, during which time measures are being taken to provide municipal sewer service or the installation of an approved system as provided in this ordinance. Holding tanks may be considered on a permanent basis for nonresidential, low water use establishments generating less than one hundred fifty (150) gallons per day of waste, subject to approval by the department and the issuance of a certificate of compliance. Holding tanks may also be considered for floor drains for vehicle parking areas, and existing facilities potentially generating a hazardous waste. (1) Design and installation. (2) A sewage holding tank shall be constructed and installed as specified in this Ordinance for sewage tanks. (3) Holding tanks shall be located as required for sewage tanks, Table IV, and at locations readily accessible by normal pumping equipment under all weather conditions. (4) Holding tanks shall be provided with a clean-out pipe of six (6) inch minimum diameter extending to or above the ground surface, capped or sealed to prevent odors and inflow of surface water. (5) Holding tanks shall be provided with a manhole of twenty (20) inch minimum least dimension to within a minimum of 57 six (6) inches below finished grade. Covers shall be secured to prevent unauthorized entry. (7) (6) When installed in areas of high ground water, within six (6) feet of the ground surface, holding tanks shall be installed entirely above the ground water level or shall be installed according to an engineer's design to prevent flotation. Capacity. (8) Sewage holding tanks shall have a minimum capacity of one thousand two hundred (1,200) gallons or four hundred (400) gallons times the number of bedrooms for a dwelling unit, whichever is greater. (9) For other establishments, capacity shall be based on measured or estimated flow rates. Minimum capacity shall be equal to at least eight (8) times the daily flow rate. (10) Water use metering shall be required for each dwelling unit or other establishment served by a holding tank. (11) Service and maintenance. (12) (13) Where holding tanks are installed, the owner shall provide and maintain a contract with a licensed pumper, providing for regular pumping of the tank. Records of pumping data, to include dates, quantities and septage disposal location, shall be maintained by the pumping contractor and reported quarterly to the permitting authority. (14) Holding tanks shall be provided with alarm or warning devices which will activate a signal when the tank reaches seventy-five (75) percent of its capacity. (15) The permitting authority shall be provided right of access to perform periodic maintenance and operational inspections of the system. 58 5.8 Experimental Systems. Systems utilizing innovative techniques or methods may be considered for new or existing development under the following conditions: Reasonable assurance of performance of the system is presented to the permitting authority. (2) System being proposed is substantiated by engineering data and approved by the permitting authority. (3) System is in compliance with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency rules. (4) Adequate area for long term sewage treatment by suitable soils as required for standard systems is identified and reserved on the site. (5) Performance monitoring of the system, including but not limited to water use metering, effluent quality and system maintenance are provided. (6) Failure of experimental system to function or to properly treat sewage to a standard equivalent to a standard drainfield system will require discontinuation of use until reasonable modifications can be made or the system is replaced with a standard system. (7) A mitigative plan must be provided to deal with possible system failure. It must include the planned corrections and/or replacement, as well as a clear agreement signed by all parties clarifying who will pay for the mitigation. (8) Proposed experimental systems, which do not provide the three (3) foot minimum separation, must obtain a variance from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as specified in 7080.0305 subp. 3. (9) Proposed experimental systems, which do not provide the three (3) foot minimum separation, must obtain a variance from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as specified in 7080.0305 subp. 3. SECTION 6 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 59 6.1 General Requirements. Each individual on-site sewage treatment system currently existing as well as those installed under this ordinance shall be operated and maintained according to the provisions of this section. 6.2 Maintenance of Septic Tanks. (1) The owner of any septic tank or the owner's agent shall regularly, but in no case less frequently than every three years, have the tank or tanks pumped. As an alternative, the owner may inspect and measure the accumulations of sludge, which includes the settled materials at the bottom of the tank, and the accumulations of scum, which includes grease and other floating materials at the top of the tank. The owner of any septic tank or the owner's agent must arrange for the removal and sanitary disposal of septage from the tank whenever the top of the sludge layer is less than 12 inches below the bottom of the outlet baffle or whenever the bottom of the scum layer is less than three inches above the bottom of the outlet baffle. Removal of septage shall include complete removal of scum and sludge. (2) The owner or the owner's agent shall install access to the septic tanks in accordance with Section 4.18 B (13) to allow for proper maintenance. (3) Individual sewage treatment system additives which contain hazardous materials must not be used in individual sewage treatment systems in Minnesota. (4) Individual sewage treatment system additives must not be used as a means to reduce the frequency of proper maintenance and removal of septage from the septic tank as specified in item (1). 6.3 Maintenance of System Components. Whenever inspection of pump stations, dislribution devices, valve or drop boxes indicates the accumulation of solids, such device shall be promptly cleaned. 6.4 Activities on the Soil Treatment Area. Activities on the soil treatment area or the alternate soil treatment area which may impair the treatment abilities or hydraulic performance of the soil treatment system are prohibited. 6O (1) Any maintenance activity used to increase the acceptance of effluent to a soil treatment system must: (2) not be used on failing systems; (3) not decrease the separation to the saturated soil or bedrock; (4) not cause preferential flow from the system bottom to the saturated soil or bedrock; and (5) be conducted by a qualified employee or under an installer license. 6.5 as follows: Disposal of Septage. Septage shall be disposed of only by approved means (1) Septage shall be disposed in accordance with all state and federal requirement 5. (2) Septage must be disposed into a municipal treatment system. SECTION 7 ADMINISTRATION 7.1 Applicability. The ordinance shall apply and be in effect for the stated purposes within the unincorporated areas of Washington County. 7.2 Enforcement. (1) The Washington County Public Health Department shall be responsible for administration and enforcement of this ordinance. (2) The department or its agent shall be qualified and certified by the MPCA as competent in the design, evaluation and inspection of individual on-site sewage treatment systems. O) If the Department finds that by reason of exceptional circumstances the strict enforcement of any provisions of this ordinance would cause undue hardship or that strict conformity with the standards would be unreasonable, impractical, or not feasible under the circumstances, the Department in its discretion may permit modifications in individual cases upon conditions as it may prescribe for prevention, control, or abatement of pollution in harmony with 61 the general purpose of these standards and the intent of applicable state and federal laws. In no case will the 36 inch separation requirement be compromised. 7.3 Board of Adjustment and Appeals. (1) The Washington County Board of Adjustment and Appeals shall hear and decide appeals and review any order, decision or determination made by the department regarding the enforcement of this ordinance. (2) An appeal of an administrative decision or determination may be filed by any person, department, bureau, town, city, county, or state. 7.4 as follows: Permits Required. Permits shall be required for sewage treatment system (1) All new installations of sewage tanks, treatment systems and components thereof. (2) All repair, extension, replacement or modification of existing systems and components. (3) Any change in use of a facility served by an existing sewage treatment system. (4) Permits shall not be required for normal routine inspection and maintenance of systems. (5) No building permit shall be issued for any new construction until the permit required for the treatment system has first been issued. (6) No building permit shall be issued for remodeling involving 50 percent or more of the structure, or alterations that would affect the ware3 use, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, or additions to living space (excluding such things as screen porches, entry ways, decks, attics, patios, nonhabitable storage space, etc.) until the treatment system has been determined to be both adequate and conforming, or a permit required for a new treatment system has first been issued. (7) Where work requiring a permit under this ordinance has been commenced without tn'st having obtained a permit, work shall be ordered to stop until the permit requirement has been satisfied. 7.5 Inspections Required. Inspection as required to determine compliance with this ordinance shall be performed by the department or its authorized agent under the following circumstances: (1) Site inspections to verify and evaluate soil and site conditions and to determine suitability of soils and system design. (2) Necessary investigation to determine compliance of existing systems at the time of remodeling, alteration, or additions. (3) Installation inspections shall be made at each installation, prior to any work having been covered by backfill. (4) The licensed installer shall be responsible to notify the department a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time work is ready for inspection or reinspection. (5) Work which is backfilled prior to required inspection may be ordered to be uncovered whenever necessary to determine compliance. (6) When, upon inspection, any part of the system is determined not to be in compliance with this ordinance, written notice shall be provided by the department indicating the deficiency and the required corrections. (7) Noted deficiencies shall be properly corrected and reinspected before any other work on the project is continued. (8) No system shall be placed or replaced in service until final inspection and approval of the installation. (9) Contractor, upon completion of installation, shall file with the department, as-built drawings indicating the location of system components dimensioned from a permanent reference point. (10) Mounds - A minimum of three construction inspections are required: 63 (14) (15) (16) (11) When the original soil under the mound has been roughened, but prior to placement of the sand fill. Enough of the proposed sand fill must be present to be viewed. (12) After placement of rock and piping but prior to cover. (13) Final inspection, when job is completed. The owner or occupant of a property shall be responsible to provide access at reasonable times, to the department or its agent, for the purpose of performing inspections required under this ordinance. To enforce this ordinance the department may enter a building, property, or a place where there is reason to suspect a system is failing to properly treat or dispose of sewage. Fees for inspections, reinspections, or other services rendered under this ordinance shall be as set by resolution of the Washington County Board of Commissioners from time to time. SECTION 8 LICENSING AND PERMITS 8.1 Licensing. All persons, fu-rns, or corporations proposing to engage in the business of installation, constructing, pumping, soil testing, designing, or providing private inspection or maintenance services for on-site sewage treatment systems shall be registered and licensed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 8.2 Permits. No person, fu'm, or corporation shall install, alter, repair or extend any individual sewage treatment system in the unincorporated areas of Washington County without first having obtained a permit, therefore, from the department for the specific work, and having paid the fee prescribed for such permit as determined from time to time by resolution of the Washington County Board of Commissioners. 8.3 Permit Application. Permit application shall be made in writing upon forms provided by the department and shall contain data including, but not limited to the following: (1) Correct legal description of the property on which the proposed work is to take place. (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Site plan, drawn to scale showing the location of all proposed and existing structures, property lines, water supply wells within 100 feet, terrain features such as bluff lines, water bodies or water ways, buffed utilities, easements and other unique features of the site. Soil test data, including soil boring logs, percolation test data with field notes, where required location and identification of test area. Plans and details of the proposed installation of work, including engineering data and final design. In certain cases, a survey may be required showing all the above information and including such things as elevations, contour lines~ normal high water marks, and ten (10) year and one hundred (100) yem' flood elevations. Building plans showing existing and proposed room arrangement and uses. (7) For other than dwellings, calculated or measured water use rates occupancy and occupant load. (8) Evidence of compliance with state or other jurisdiction regulations where applicable. 8.4 Term of Permit. Permits shall be valid upon issuance, for a period of one (1) year and may be renewed, when no changes are proposed, upon application for renewal and payment of the fee prescribed. 8.5 Permit Revocation. Permits issued under this ordinance may be revoked upon written notice of the department when such permit has been issued based upon erroneous or inaccurate application data. SECTION 9 ENFORCEMENT 9.1 Violations and Penalties. It is hereby declared unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to violate any term or provision of this ordinance. Violation thereof shall 65 be a misdemeanor. Each day that a violation is allowed to continue shall constitute a separate offense. 9.2 Enforcement. In the event of a violation or a threatened violation of this ordinance, the department, in addition to other remedies, may request appropriate actions or proceedings to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate such violations or threatened violations. In addition, written notice in the form of a license complaint may be made to the Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). 9.3 Public Health Act. In cases where a public health nuisance has been determined to exist the Department may institute enforcement action under the Public Health Act Section 145A. SECTION 10 EFFECTUATION 10.1 Separability. It is hereby declared to be the intent that the several provisions of this ordinance are separable in accordance with the following: (1) If any court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge any provision of this ordinance to be invalid, such judgement shall not affect any other provisions of this ordinance not specifically included in said judgement. (2) If any court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge invalid the application of any portion of this ordinance to a particular property, building or other structure, such judgement shall not affect the application of said provision to any other property, building, or structure not specifically included in said judgement. 66 10.2 Effective Date. Passed by the Washington County Board of Commissioners on ,199 This Ordinance shall become effective January 1, 199 . An official copy of this ordinance is on file in the office of the Washington County Auditor, 14900 61st Street North, Stillwater, Minnesota. ATTEST: Chairman County Board of Commissioners County Administrator APPROVED AS TO FORM: Assistant County Attorney 67 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: City Manager Ken Roberts, Associate Planner Planning Commission Resignation October 23, 2001 INTRODUCTION Jack Frost has resigned from the planning commission. I have attached his letter of resignation and a resolution of appreciation for him. Mr. Frost has agreed to stay on the commission through the end of the year to allow us time to find a replacement for him. RECOMMENDATION Approve the attached resolution of appreciation. kr/p:miscell/pcresig.mem Attachments: 1. September 4, 2001 letter 2. Resolution Attachment 1 September 4, 2001 Dear Mayor Cardinal, It is with regret that I resign my position on the Maplewood Planning Commission. Due to personal and business conflicts I am no longer able to serve the city in this capacity. I have enjoyed my tenure on the Planning Commission and I am sure the city will find an able candidate and carry on the good works that have been started in the city. Sincerely, xx,,,~ Jack Frost Cc: Loraine Fischer, Chair Plamfing Commission Attachment 2 JOINT RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION WHEREAS, Jack Frost has been a member of the Maplewood Planning Commission since December 10, 1990 and has served faithfully in that capacity to the present time; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has appreciated his experience, insights and good judgment and WHEREAS, he has freely given of his time and energy, without compensation, for the benefit of the City. WHEREAS, he has shown sincere dedication to his duties and has consistently contributed his leadership, time and effort for the benefit of the City. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED for and on behalf of the City of Maplewood, Minnesota and its citizens, that Jack Frost is hereby extended our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for his dedicated service, and we wish him continued success in the future. Passed by the MapIewood City Council on Passed by the Maplewood Planning Commission on November ,2001 Attest: Robert Cardinal, Mayor Lorraine Fischer, Chairperson Karen Guilfoile, City Clerk