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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-02 ENR Minutes Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Minutes Tuesday, October 2, 2007 Call to Order: 4: 50 Members Present: Carol Mason Sherrill Jim Beardsley Federica Musgrave Ginny Yingling Staff Present: Dewey Konewko Ginny Gaynor Ann Hutchinson Shann Finwall Members Absent: Margaret Behrens Carole Lynne Approval of Minutes: Tabled as Carole and Margaret were not at the meeting. Unfinished Business: 1. South Maplewood Moratorium - Rose Lorsung, Schoell Madsen (See Sept. 24 memo from Rose) . Reviewed Natural Resources in study area. . Reviewed concepts for residential cluster development (RCD) properties near or adjacent to corridor, more stringent process or incentives to develop w/preservations in mind. . May want to look at wetland, tree and shoreland ordinances to make sure are clear for developers in this area. . Moratorium ends soon, RS recommends extending moratorium to work on NR issues with commission and others if approved would have until mid-March to develop this. . Commissioners requested a tour of site. Tour will be planned in conjunction with Open Space, Parks, and Trail planning process. . Discussion on natural resources data available for area. I. Area is mapped around the natural resources. 2. Development comes second to natural resources; we see what is on the ground first before development is considered. 3. Want protected areas where wildlife is and for migratory wildlife. 4. Corridor has water, wetlands, steep slopes and maple basswood foreest. 5. Discussion about providing a solution to animals crossing around the Interstate as the parcel is dissected by the Interstate. . Proposing to extend the Moratorium another 120 days. 2. Enviromuental Corridors Comments from Jennifer, who will be working on the Open Space, Parks and Trail Plan with Shoe\l Madsen. . Jennifer would like to get us out into the community - take a look at it and do walking tours. Take a look at Handicap Accessibility. . Need to formulate how we can integrate looking at these greenway corridors in conjunction with the trail component. To make sure we are not only looking at the trail component but also the multi-purpose greenway concept and what they can provide in terms oftrails, wildlife migration, open space protection and integratino with neighborhoods. . Will create a task force to work on open-space and trail component which will get started in the next month or two. Will need two or three members from the commission. Minimum 2 meetings walking - Saturday plus evening meetings. Frederica Musgrave, Ginny Yingling, Carol Mason Sherrill will be our reps. 3. Visitors: Ron Cockriel 943 Century Ave representing the Historic Preservation Commission. . Invited public to Saturday event at Farm 4. Wetland Ordinance . Averaging 1. Studied developments within the city since 2003 - II developments were constructed next to wetlands and ofthose developments 5 used the averaging that the current wetland ordinance provides,S mitigated wetlands and one met the setback requirement. 2. Question posed by staff- if we allow averaging do we restrict it to a certain percentage, require best management practices, and restrict it to specific wetland classes? 3. Summary of suggestions: . We might be interested in doing averaging on a certain percentage of a wetland. Would like staff to get back to the Commission and give insight as to what kind ofBMP's could be required whether that be fees, green roof and so on. . Discussed whether we would only allow averaging on the class A and B since 50' is minimum buffer width to adequately filter pollutants. . We don't degrade what is already there so averaging would be attached to something that maintains the status of that wetland from a class A or a class B or improves it from a class B to a class A and if we can't do that then we do not average. . Look at encouraging language and incentives. . Discussed Green Building Ordinance in Austin, Texas. . Exemptions I. The increased set-back requirements are affecting some current single family homes. There was a study at a Priory neighborhood where 80 parcels will be affected by the buffer. Should we consider exemptions to those single family homes? . Any existing structure that is affected by the new wetland set-back requirement if it encroaches on that or falls in the wetland buffer that would be considered grandfathered in and can remain until the structure is destroyed. . Commissioners agreed that it would be reasonable to allow resident to construct addition that would encroach no more into the buffer that currently. For example, if home is 25 feet from wetland, addition could be 25' from wetland. . Encourage or require BMP's ifthey build into the buffer/ . Need to put something in the ordinance so the staff and council have some guidelines, to simplify it for the developer. 2. Is it fair to allow these exceptions on just single family homes and not commercial? 5. Items staff should follow-up on . Environmental Utility Fund - should there be a flag in the ordinance that refers to the EUF. People can get a credit on that ifthey are using BMP's. . Wetland Ordinance - staff will draft language on averaging, exemptions, and BMP's for commissioners to review. Commission Presentations: none Staff Presentations: I. Ann Hutchinson . Buckthorn Removal Days... looking for energetic helpers to pull and cut Buckthorn at Flicek Park, call the Nature Center to register 249-2170. . Global Warming Seminar on October 10 at the Gladstone Firestation. . October Newsletter handed out. 2. Upcoming meetings . October 9, Gladstone Streetscape meeting, with Design Review Board, 6:00-8:00 p.rn., Council Chambers . October 16, Planning commission Meeting, includes public hearing on South Maplewood and Gladstone Streetscape (repeat of October 9 meeting for Planning Commission, Parks Commission, Historical Commission), time TBD . Tuesday, October 30 - Wetland Ordinance . November 6 ENR Commission meeting - to be rescheduled due to election . Next meeting 5:00-7:00 p.rn. November 7 New Business: none Adjourn 6:45 p.rn.