Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 06/06/2005

Home

Exhibit 2 Where wetlands and/or wetland buffer strips, or a portion thereof, are not vegetated or have been cultivated or otherwise disturbed within ten (10) years of the permit application, such areas shall be re -planted and maintained for at least two years by the developer. The wetland and wetland buffer strip plantings must be identified on the landscape plan. The wetland and wetland buffer strip landscaping shall be according to each of the following standards: 1. Planted with a seed mix containing 100 percent perennial native vegetation, except for a one- time planting of an annual nurse or cover crop such as oats or rye. 2. Seed mix used shall be broadcast at a minimum rate of 30 pounds per acre. The annual nurse or cover crop to be used shall be applied at a minimum rate of 20 pounds per acre. The seed mix shall consist of at least 12 pounds pure live seed (PLS) per acre of native prairie grass seed and 3 pounds PLS per acre of native forbs. Native prairie grass and native forb mixes shall contain no fewer than five (5) native prairie grasses and fifteen (15) native forb species. The Minnesota Department of Transportation Mix for prairie sedge and prairie meadow areas, Mixture 25A Modified (25B or 26B) or other alternative pre -approved by the Zoning Administrator can be used to meet these requirements. Applicants may obtain from the City a set of Native Wetland & Buffer Area Seeding Guidelines for wetland buffer strips that meet City requirements. 3. Native shrubs may be included with native forbs. Such shrubs may be bare root seedlings and shall be planted at a minimum rate of sixty (60) plants per acre. Shrubs shall be grouped or distributed so as to provide a natural appearance. 4. Any groundcover or shrub plantings installed within the wetland buffer strip are independent of landscaping required elsewhere by the City Code. 5. Native prairie grasses and forbs shall be seeded or planted by a qualified contractor. The method of application and determination of the contractor's qualifications shall be made by the Zoning Administrator. It is the responsibility of the Applicant to have the contractor and method used approved by the Zoning Administrator prior to planting or seeding. 6. No fertilizer shall be used in establishing new wetland buffer strips, except on highly disturbed sites when deemed necessary to establish acceptable wetland and/or wetland buffer strip vegetation and then limited to amounts indicated by an accredited soil testing laboratory. Determination of proper accreditation shall be made by the City Manager. 7. All seeded areas shall be mulched immediately with clean straw or native vegetation of an applicable zone at a rate of 1.5 tons per acre. Mulch shall be anchored with a disk or tackifier. 8. Wetland and wetland buffer strips (both natural and created), shall be protected by erosion control during construction in accordance with the City's Standard Details. 9. The erosion control shall remain in place until the area crop is established.