Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 09/19/2022

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5.01: Consider Request for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to Rearrange Areas Guided Low and Medium Density Residential (Project No. 22-126); Case of Green Valley Greenhouse Senior Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He stated that the City has received a land use application from Green Valley Greenhouse for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Zoning Amendment, Plat, Site Plan, and Amended Conditional Use Permit related to their existing greenhouse operation. The request involves 6750 Green Valley Road and 17455 Nowthen Boulevard (together, the subject properties). Most of these actions are outside the purview of the Environmental Policy Board, with the exception of the requested Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Chairperson Moore commented that she reviewed this case prior to the meeting and did not have any questions or concerns. Senior Planner Anderson commented that at this time there are no residential development requests, noting that this is solely to support the expansion of the greenhouse while insuring there is not a net loss of land use designations. He noted that any future development requests would go through the typical review process. Board Member Hiatt commented that the land proposed for purchase is open farmland and asked what type of landscaping would be done. Senior Planner Anderson stated that there would be landscaping along the road frontage and to buffer between the residential properties. He stated that the groundcover would be typical to the existing greenhouse property. Motion by Board Member Little and seconded by Board Member Hiatt to recommend approval of the requested Comprehensive Plan Amendment as there is no net loss of either land use designation, contingent upon a landscaping plan for the area adjacent to Green Valley Road and along the western boundary of the site. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Moore, Board Member Little Hiatt, Arts, Bernard, and Fetterley. Voting No: None. Absent: None. 5.02: Consider Natural Resources Aspects Related to the Proposed Water Treatment Facility (Project No. 22-104); Case of City of Ramsey Senior Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He stated that the City is proposing the construction of a Water Treatment Facility that would be located directly north of the new Public Works Campus at 14199 Jaspar Street NW (the subject property). The Water Treatment Facility is designed to remove iron and manganese from the municipal drinking water system and will have the capacity to treat up to 10 million gallons per day. The Water Treatment Facility will not only remove iron and manganese from the drinking water, but it is estimated that approximately 6 millions gallons of water per year could be conserved as water main flushing will no longer need to be conducted in the spring and fall. Board Member Litle commented that he supports removal of the Siberian elm. Environmental Policy Board/July 18, 2022 Page 2 of 5