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was due to lawn irrigation in very sandy soils. While the current standard is quite effective in <br />water conservation, Staff believes it is an appropriate time to evaluate the cost -benefit ratio. The <br />standard has not reduced the amount of development in the community, but the City has received <br />much feedback on the standard. <br />City Planner Anderson explained for several years now, the City has been receiving feedback <br />on the current topsoil requirement, both in the field and at other forums such as the Contractor's <br />Networking event, hosted by the City. More recently, the City received a written request <br />from Capstone Homes to consider revising the topsoil standard by eliminating the specification <br />for Premium Topsoil Borrow (a now former MnDOT specification). The request identified two <br />negative effects of the current topsoil requirement. First, that the topsoil is doing too good of a <br />job in terms of holding water. They acknowledge that many homeowners are likely not adjusting <br />their irrigation systems to account for the topsoil and are actually contributing to the problem. <br />Secondly, they identified price as a concern compared to the cost of 'regular' black dirt. <br />City Planner Anderson reported staff has had multiple discussions with the EPB regarding this <br />topic. The EPB requested Staff to gather information on what similar peer communities (with <br />similar sandy soils) require and what the purpose of the requirement was (to see if it is an apples - <br />to -apples comparison). Staff looked at the requirements for communities such as Andover, Big <br />Lake, and Blaine, all of which have a topsoil requirement and are growing communities on sandy <br />soils (Elk River was also contacted but due to significant opposition, they did not adopt a topsoil <br />requirement and rather, through their municipal utilities division, implemented a rebate program <br />focused on improving irrigation systems). <br />Citizen Input <br />Ben Minks, Capstone Homes, thanked the Commission for their consideration. He commented <br />on the cost of the topsoil material noting he was working to provide a home product that working <br />families could afford. He explained that many of the watering concerns were being created by <br />residents. He encouraged the Commission to consider allowing generic black dirt to be used as <br />topsoil. <br />Commissioner Surma thanked Capstone for building high quality housing products in Ramsey. <br />He stated he would support Capstone's proposed request. <br />Motion by Commissioner VanScoy, seconded by Commissioner Surma, to close the public <br />hearing. <br />Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Bauer, Commissioners VanScoy, Surma, Anderson, <br />Gengler, and Woestehoff. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Onyambu. <br />Chairperson Bauer closed the public hearing closed at 10:28 p.m. <br />Planning Commission/February 7, 2019 <br />Page 16 of 18 <br />