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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-02 ENR Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, September 2, 2008 COUNCIL CHAMBERS - MAPLEWOOD CITY HALL 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST 1 CALL TO ORDER Chair Yingling called the meeting to order at 5: 17 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Commissioner Judith Johannessen Commissioner Carole Lynne Commissioner Bill Schreiner Chair Ginny Yingling Commissioner Carol Mason Sherrill Commissioner Dale Trippler Council Liaison Present: Councilmember Kathleen Juenemann Staff Present: DuWayne Konewko, Deputy Director of Public Works Virginia Gaynor, Open Space Naturalist Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA . Commissioner Trippler made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill. The motion carried by a vote of 6 to O. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Wetland Ordinance . Planner Finwall stated that the city council approved the first reading of the ordinance on March 24 and second reading on April 28 with some concerns voiced by residents who attended that meeting. Due to the concerns, the city council tabled the ordinance and sent it back to the ENR commission for additional review. The ENR commission reviewed it on June 24 and heard from the public. On July 15 the ENR commission reviewed some of those points and made further modifications. Tonight we will go over the points that the ENR 1 commission had agreed upon and continue discussions of what staff thinks are the remaining main points of concern by a few property owners. Discussion Points: 1. Non-conforming manufactured homes: Planner Finwall indicated that there is a Minnesota statute that allows protection to these non- conforming manufactured homes. Three of the manufactured homes are adjacent wetlands, with some of those homes within existing or proposed buffers. A manufactured home property owner had concerns that replacing those homes once removed would require a variance. The city attorney reviewed this statute and finds that this language would allow those manufactured homes to be replaced as long as they do not encroach further on that wetland setback. 2. Non-conforming single family homes: Minnesota statute allows non- conforming buildings that are destroyed by natural causes, greater than 50% of its fair market value to be rebuilt. There are existing homes within existing or proposed wetland buffers. Does the ENR commission feel that it would be appropriate for these homeowners to go through a variance process to rebuild, which is the case currently, or allow an exemption to allow these property owners to rebuild if they are within at least 50 feet from a wetland? 3. Concerns submitted by Bruce Olson, a Maplewood resident: In reference to his May 7 memo, minor language changes were made and are outlined on item 3 of the staff report. 4. Non-conforming use of property: Staff has expanded language within the exemption section of the ordinance specifying what can be done on nonconforming lots where the buffer is currently used as lawn. The ordinance would allow the homeowner to utilize the lawn as you would any lawn because it is a pre-existing nonconforming use. 5. Concerns submitted by Sharon Sandeen, a Maplewood resident: City staff met with Ms. Sandeen to discuss her concerns. The main points that staff and Ms. Sandeen agreed needed modification are A2, item 4 on page 5; item C on page 6; E2 on page 7. Summary of these changes include adding a description of activities that are allowed in the buffer zone when a property is currently using that buffer as lawn area, adding an exception for non-conforming structures, and allowing an exception for impacts in a buffer for permits issued to a homeowner from the DNR. Chair Yingling made a motion to adopt the changes outlined above to the draft wetland ordinance, Commissioner Mason Sherrill seconded. The motion carried by a vote of 6 to O. The commission requested that the changes be made and brought back to them for final review in October. 6. NEW BUSINESS 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS 2 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS Commissioner Lynne - Plastic Bag Presentation Commissioner Lynne showed a power point presentation on the environmental impacts of plastic bags. She voiced concern over the waste that results in the usage of plastic bags. The presentation went into various actions states or cities are taking to combat the problem including banning plastic bags or requiring a fee for the use of bags. The presentation specified that 50 billion to a trillion plastic bags are consumed every year and less than 1 percent of those bags are recycled. This is due to the fact that it is not cost effective to recycle the bags currently. Commissioner Lynne brings this to the ENR commission's and public's attention so that we can all be more aware as consumers by saying no to the offer of a plastic bag and also by using re-usable cloth bags. She also hopes the commission can review this further to see if the city can take some actions to curb the problem in our city in the future. 9. Staff Presentations Wetland Workshop: Planner finwall stated there is no need to schedule a Wetland Workshop. fall Clean Up: Planner finwall announced that the fall Clean Up is scheduled for Saturday, October 18, at Gethsemane Church. Eureka City Campus Recycling Assessment and Trash Sort Update: Planner finwall updated the commission on the proposed Eureka Recycling city hall recycling assessment and recycling/waste sort which is scheduled for September and October. The assessment includes Eureka and the Maplewood Green Team walking through city hall and taking notes of the city's current recycling practices. In addition, Eureka and the Green Team will conduct a recycling/waste sort after one week's worth of trash is collected from city hall. This will allow us to assess what is being thrown away, what could be recycled, and where the city needs to make improvements. Commissioner Sherrill asked whether anything has been done regarding getting recycling in our parks. Naturalist Gaynor responded that staff had that discussion with Eureka; they advised that we wait until their parks recycling pilot project is done in St. Paul. National Night Out Recycling Bin Distribution Review: Planner finwall announced that during National Night Out Eureka, Bill Priefer (recycling coordinator), and Chair Yingling visited various night out parties and distributed about 300 recycling bins and recycling literature. In addition, Planner finwall announced the city "caught recycling campaign" where one homeowner each month will win $50 if they are caught recycling. Maplewood Nature Center Programs: Naturalist Gaynor mentioned the South Maplewood Workshop, Nature in the Neighborhood, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 4. 10. MEETING ADJOURNED - 6:50 p.m. 3