Agenda - Council - 08/24/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Proposed Draft MRCCA Standards The following standards apply corridor -wide, unless specified otherwise. Sheet 4: Vegetation & Buffers Prepared by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, August 5, 2010 Standard Type Draft Standard Narrative Vegetative buffers consisting of trees, shrubs and ground cover in a natural state are required along shorelines (except Requirements on lots of record with structures), and on bluffs and very steep slopes for all uses and development as specified below.* Vegetative Buffers - LGUs shall implement an incentive, marketing, or education program to encourage property owners to protect or restore General natural vegetated buffers. The LGU program must include, at a minimum: (1) use of educational material; and (2) di LGU Program monitoring and evaluation. On a lot of record with an existing structure, the current level of vegetative screening of structures and parking areas from the river and OHWL of the opposite shore must be maintained. Intensive vegetation clearing is not allowed in this Standards area, and restoration of a vegetative buffer is encouraged.** Shoreline Buffers - Redevelopment or If redevelopment or expansion of a nonconforming structure results in an increase in the level of nonconformity, then Lots of Record with Expansion the standards for new development apply. Structures Remediation of violations requires planting comparable species of native vegetation in the same area. The LGU must require a restoration plan. A notice of restriction (for the plan and maintenance agreement) must be recorded against Violations the property, with a copy provided to the LGU and DNR. A vegetative buffer that extends 50' landward of the OHWL is required for new development on parcels without a structure prior to the effective date of these rules. Removal of trees, shrubs, and groundcover is not allowed within this area. Vegetation must be maintained to screen structures and parking areas so that they are at most%visible when Standards viewed from the river and OHWL of the opposite shore during summer, leaf -on conditions.** Notice of A notice of restriction must be recorded with the office of the county recorder or county registrar of titles for all Restriction restrictions in the buffer area. A copy must be provided to the LGU and DNR. Shoreline Buffers - Open areas or lawns resulting from violations must be left unmowed or uncut and planted with comparable species of New Development native vegetation in the same area. Natural ground layer and understory plants that have been removed must be reestablished within the buffer area. The LGU must require a restoration plan. At minimum, the plan shall provide for the planting of saplings and shrubs of comparable species, density and diversity of natural vegetation in the same area, and spaced so that there is at least one sapling and one shrub/100 square feet of buffer area. Saplings must >3' tall for coniferous species and >6' tall for deciduous species. All aspects of the plan must be maintained in perpetuity and loss of plantings must be replaced in kind. A notice of restriction (for the plan and maintenance agreement) must be recorded Violations against the property, with a copy provided to the LGU and DNR. Shoreline Buffers - A vegetative buffer that extends 50' landward of the OHWL is required for agricultural uses. This area must be Agriculture Standards maintained in perennial vegetation. A vegetative buffer is required on bluffs and within the SPZ. Removal of trees, shrubs and groundcover is not allowed in Bluff & Steep Slope Standards these areas. *** Buffers Violations Same violation requirements as for shoreline buffers for new development. Prepared by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, August 5, 2010