Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 07/19/2021

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We have reviewed the request in accordance with MN law and the City ordinance standards in Section 117-53 and find that the ordinance standards have been met. Specifically, the proposed action will not: 1. Impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent property. The variance from the wetland buffer requirements will have no impact on the supply of light and air to adjacent property. 2. Unreasonably increase the congestion in the public street. The wetland buffer setback variance will not increase the congestion on public streets. 3. Have the effect of allowing any uses prohibited in the applicable zoning district, permit a lesser degree of public health, safety, and general welfare protection than established by this chapter, or permit standards which are lower than those required by state law. The variance will not allow any uses prohibited by ordinance and will only affect three homes. We have reduced the driveway width to 10 feet for these lots to minimize the wetland impacts, but the location of the wetlands makes it impossible to access the west side of the property without some flexibility. We would be well below the amount of de minimis fill allowed by WCA rules, but believe that requesting the variance rather than filing the wetland to create the setback is consistent with the spirit and intent of the ordinance. 4. Increase the danger of fire or endanger the public safety. The setback variance will not increase the danger of fire or endanger public safety. The plan provides driveways for each of the homes. 5. Unreasonably diminish or impair established property values within the neighborhood, or in any way be contrary to the intent of this chapter. The project will allow construction of nine custom homes. Three of the driveways require a variance from the wetland setback requirements for the driveway crossing, but the remainder of the wetlands on the lots will meet the setback requirements. Many other communities do allow some wetland setback averaging to accommodate common impacts like the driveway impacts proposed. 6. Violate the intent and purpose of the comprehensive plan. The development is consistent the intent and purpose of the Comprehensive Plan goals to maintain and expand the rural character of Ramsey by creating nine estate lots rather than maximizing the potential number of homes on the lot. The development was designed to minimize wetland impacts and tree loss by creating only nine lots on this 94.4-acre site. 7. Violate any of the terms or conditions of subsection (b)(2)b of this section. Granting the variance would not violate any of the terms or conditions of the subsection, which references the statutory requirements in MN Statute §462.357, subd. 6(2). Furthermore, the City Code requires compliance with the following: William Woods 1st Addition, Ramsey, MN ZZZ20543 June 22, 2021 2