Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 08/04/2014

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Environmental Policy Board (EPB) 5. 2. Meeting Date: 08/04/2014 By: Tim Gladhill, Community Development Title: Receive Update on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) Rulemaking Project and Consider Official Response Information Purpose /Background: The purpose of this case is to consider an official response related to the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Rulemaking Project. The attached document is a proposed response to the DNR containing a number of technical recommendations. The comments are intended to aide in the final form of the draft rules. The number of comments included is not intended to measure the level of support or lack thereof. When considering as a matter of land use policy if the draft rules fit within Ramsey's land use vision, Staff desires policy feedback on the following broad topics: 1. Are the proposed land use districts appropriate for existing development patterns and future land use goals? 2. Do we feel the proposed dimensional standards (lot size, setbacks, structure sizes, etc.) are the minimum standards necessary to achieve the stated objective of the MRCCA and the 2013 Legislative Direction, or do we feel these minimum standards are too aggressive? 3. Do we feel the standards for public uses are appropriate for the goals of our public spaces, most notably the future Mississippi West Regional Park and future river crossing? 4. Should additional vegetative management and land alteration standards (including rock riprap and retaining walls) exist within this corridor than in other areas of the community in order to protect the resource as stated? 5. Should the City require permits for activities such as bank stabilization, erosion control, and vegetation management? 6. Should developers be required to set aside protected conservation areas as part of a subdivision approval? The purpose of the rulemaking as directed by the legislature is to ensure that the MRCCA is managed as a multi - purpose resource in a way that: 1. Conserves the scenic, environmental, recreational, mineral, economic, cultural, and historic functions of the river corridor. 2. Maintains the river channel for transportation by providing and maintaining barging and fleeting areas in appropriate locations consistent with the character of the Mississippi River and riverfront. 3. Provides for the continuation, development, and redevelopment of a variety of urban uses, including industrial and commercial uses, and recreational and residential uses, where appropriate, within the Mississippi River corridor. 4. Utilizes certain reaches of the river as a source of water supply and as a receiving water for properly treated sewage, storm water, and industrial waste effluents. 5. Protects and preserves the biological and ecological functions of the corridor. b. The Metropolitan Council shall incorporate the standards developed under this section into its planning and shall work with local units of government and the commissioner to ensure the standards are being adopted and implemented appropriately. c. The rules must be consistent with residential nonconformity provisions under sections 394.36 and 462.357. Notification: