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Presentation <br /> <br />City Engineer Steve Jankowski stated that John Enstrom has a grading permit to excavate soils <br />and create a pond on his property. Ramsey City Code establishes a maximum slope grade of <br />12%. This standard was established with the creation of new neighborhoods in mind. It does not <br />take into account creating ponds for which a steeper slope is desirable. Mr. Enstrom applied for <br />a variance from the 12% maximum slope grade for his pond. The U. S. Army Corps of <br />Engineers (USACOE) had established standards associated with the construction of ponds, which <br />require maximum slopes entering such water bodies to be no steeper than 5 feet horizontal to 1 <br />foot vertical. The applicant is requesting that City standards for maximum slope leading into the <br />pond be consistent with USACOE standard for this same criterion. Staff is recommending <br />approval of the variance request that the restored slope of the grade entering the constructed pond <br />be no steeper than 5 feet horizontal to 1 foot vertical consistent with (USACOE) guidelines for <br />slopes entering water bodies. <br /> <br />Citizen Input <br /> <br />There was none. <br /> <br />Board Member Kociscak asked the applicant if he is mining and then leaving it as a pond. <br /> <br />Mr. Haile was present representing Mr. Enstrom and stated he is mining the peat and creating a <br />12 acre fish pond that will be 4 - 10 feet deep. He said when it is done, he wants it to not look <br />like an excavation; he wants it to look natural. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt asked what the status is of the conditional use permit application. <br /> <br />City Engineer Jankowski explained the City granted the permit contingent upon getting all the <br />other environmental permits from the Army Corps, the DNR and the Lower Rum River Water <br />Management Organization. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt asked if it is known whether the Army Corp will grant the permit. <br /> <br />City Engineer Jankowski responded he wouldn't want to speculate. He only knows it is under <br />discussion. He said if more than 6.5 feet is excavated and it was previously a wetland, it is now a <br />deep water environment. Therefore, Mr. Engstrom would have to mitigate and create wetland to <br />replace what was lost. <br /> <br />Board Member Johnson asked if this situation has lead Mr. Jankowski to believe the ordinance <br />should be changed. <br /> <br />City Engineer Jankowski said he would suggest amending the ordinance. His personal opinion <br />was that it should be a separate ordinance. <br /> <br />Board of Adjustment/February 7, 2002 <br /> Page 5 of 7 <br /> <br /> <br />