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CASE # <br /> <br /> PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING DRAFT WETLAND BUFFER ORDINANCE; CASE <br /> OF CITY OF RAMSEY <br /> By: Sylvia Frolil4Asst. Comm. Dev. Dir.; HRA Exec. Dir. <br /> Chris Anderson/Recycling & Zoning Coordinator <br /> Loren Gordon, Hoisington Koegler <br />Background: <br /> <br />Thc April 21 Planning Commission agenda included a review of the draft wetland buffer oi'dinance. <br />Ordinance revisions reflecting the comments received at the April 21 meeting have been incorporated into <br />the dratL <br /> <br />Obsep/ations: <br /> <br />In general, the purpose of the ordinance is to provide protection of wetlands in the City based on their <br />quality and other relevant factors through the establishment of natural vegetative buffers. These buffers <br />provide an additional level of protection to the function and value of wetlands. These natural wetland <br />edges serve a number of other purposes in maintaining wetland function and values such as providing <br />areas for wildlife habitat, pollutant filtration, and the promotion ofbiodiversity. <br /> <br />Wetland buffers will be established when triggered by development and on a voluntary basis. The width <br />ol' the buffer is based on wetland quality, topography, soils, and other environmental conditions. <br />Generally, a natural vegetative strip serving as a wetland buffer will range between 5 and 50 feet. Review <br />or' wetland and site conditions by the City is an important aspect of determining the appropriate buffer <br />width. It is anticipated that that a City wide wetland inventory will be conducted or the City would <br />require development to pay for the costs of a City hired wetland specialist to perform evaluations on a <br />case by case basis. <br /> <br />At their regular meeting on May 2, the Environmental Policy Board will be reviewing the ordinance with <br />City Engineer Steve Jankowsk[ to ensure that there is no overlap with the Lower Rum River Water <br />Management Organization. <br /> <br />The fi~llowing items are enclosed: <br /> <br />Edited version of draft ordinance <br />Commission meeting <br />Draft ordinance <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />incorporating revisions from April 21 Planning <br /> <br />City Staff recommends that the Planning Commission forward the proposed ordinance to City Council for <br />adoption. <br /> <br />Commission Action: <br /> <br />M()tion by Commissioner and seconded by Commissioner <br />that City Council adopt the proposed wetland buffer ordinance. <br /> <br />to recommend <br /> <br />Review Checklist: <br /> <br />C, ity Engineer <br />Anoka Conservation Dist. <br />Recycling & Zoning Coordinator <br /> <br />Copies To: <br /> <br />City Attorney <br />Community Dev. Dir. <br />Asst. Pub Works Dir./Pr. City Eng. <br /> <br />PC: 115/05/05 <br /> <br />69 <br /> <br /> <br />