Agenda - Council - 10/09/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE LOWER RUM RIVER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION PERMIT PROCEDURE By: Steven J. Jankowski, City Engineer Background: The Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (WMO) is comprised of four member communities having drainage areas within the Lower Rum River Basin. Legislation has required that a plan protecting the basin be developed and implemented. A draft plan has been developed and sent to the Board of Soil and Water Resources for review and approval. At the present time, final approval is being withheld until a procedure for implementing the plan guideline is adopted by the ~V[O. Initially two implementation methods had been discussed by the member cities within the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization. One method allowed the City to issue all permits while the second method placed the responsibility for this task with the WMO. The Cities of Ramsey and Anoka were in favor of the City controlled permitting procedures while Andover and Coon Rapids favored the Bassett Creek WMO permit procedure. As a compromise, an alternative procedure was proposed which would divide the review responsibilities between the cities and the WMO. Generally, the cities would review all residential and small commercial and industrial developments, while the WMO would review large industrial and commercial developments, municipal sponsored projects, and projects directly affecting Class A or ]3 water resources. The WMO would also handle review of all variances from WMO standards. This issue was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission on October 2, 1990 for their input. On a split decision, Planning and Zoning recommended the City controlled permitting process citing the desirability of maintaining greater local control. Enclosed for your review are the following: 1) City directed permitting procedure 2) Bassett Creek WMO permitting procedure 3) LRRWMO ahemative permitting procedure 4) Proposed resolution Recommendation: It is City Staffs feeling that the proposed alternative permitting procedure provides a &gee of local control which was expressed as being desirable by the Planning and Zoning Commission. It also ensures that larger developments having the greatest impacts on the watershed, would receive more even treatment in the review process. Review of larger projects by an outside agency would also reduce the demand on City Staff time. Staff recommends that the City support the alternative permitting procedure. Council Action: Motion to adopt Resolution ~q~90-10- to endorse/not endorse the alternative permitting procedure as the preferred implementation procedure for the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization. Review Checklist: City Administrator Zoning Administrator Consulting Engineer CC:10~9~0