Agenda - Planning Commission - 07/06/2017

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Review File: 7214 167th Terrace Variance Request Review June 30, 2017 Page 2 of 2 Observations Staff reviewed all of the available data after the variance request was received. Sources reviewed included the 2003 aerial photographs and point data commissioned by the City, the Anoka County GIS website which has aerial photos from 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2016, and Google Earth which has aerial photographs dating back to 1991. We also looked at the CAD files provided by the developer. All of the photos viewed prior to development showed row crops were planted through this area. There were some years where the water level appeared to be higher, and some where the water level appeared to be lower. The wetland vegetation mostly disappeared after the site was graded, especially after homes were built adjacent to the wetland. The plans stated the normal water level of this wetland was 871.0. The lowest elevation we found from the 2003 aerial information was 871.5, the CAD files showed an elevation of 872.0. Becky Wozney from the Anoka Conservation District visited the site last summer at the request of the applicant. She observed that there was some wetland vegetation; however, the area was not a functioning wetland. Staff has requested another site visit with Becky Wozney and a representative from the Board of Water and Soil Resources to determine the status of the wetland. The visit had not happened when the agenda was published. Recommendation Staff recommendation will be dependent on the determination of the wetland status. If the wetland is still partially functioning then staff recommends denying the variance to allow placing a fence around most of the perimeter of the back yard. Staff would support placing a fence along the northerly line of the property to define the property boundaries and address the trespassing concerns the applicant has raised. Staff would also support placing a closed fence near the house to separate the children and pets from the pond. If the wetland is nonfunctioning and does not need wetland protection then staff would support the variance request to place the fence around the entire perimeter of the back yard.