Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 02/09/2026

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City of Ili` RAMSEY 7550 Sunwood Drive NW • Ramsey, MN 55303 City Hall: 763.427.1410 • Fax: 763.427.5543 www.cityoframsey.com Property Owner Guidance for Vegetation Clearing Permits in the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) Intensive vegetation clearing in many areas of the MRCCA needs a permit. The permit requires that removed vegetation be replanted through a restoration plan. A restoration plan is also required upon failure to obtain a vegetation clearing permit when one is required. This guidance explains when to apply for a vegetation clearing permit and how to complete the permit application, including a vegetation restoration plan. Does all vegetation removal in the MRCCA require a permit? No, common activities such as maintaining existing lawns, landscaping and gardening do not require a permit. Additionally, selective vegetation removal - the removal of only isolated individual trees and shrubs that does not substantially reduce the tree canopy or understory cover - is allowed anywhere in the MRCCA without a permit. The MRCCA is a corridor of land along each side of the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities Metro Area with coordinated state, regional and local land use planning and zoning. Vegetation removal is regulated through a local permit to protect the corridor's scenic, natural, and recreational features. The purpose of the permit is to help property owners remove and restore vegetation in a manner that sustains natural character and animal habitat, and stabilizes slopes. When is a permit required? A permit is required for any intensive vegetation clearing - the removal of all or a majority of the trees or shrubs in a contiguous patch, strip, row, or block - in areas known as Primary Conservation Areas (PCAs). PCAs include: • The shore impact zone: Land within 50% of the required structure setback from the river. • The bluff impact zone: A bluff and land within 20 feet of a bluff. A bluff is a natural feature with a minimum 25 ft. height and an average slope exceeding 18%. • Native plant communities: Plant communities of five acres or greater that meet the quality criteria established by the Minnesota Biological Survey to qualify as a native plant community. • Significant existing vegetative stands: Largely intact and connected plant communities that contain a sufficient representation of the original native plant community. • Areas within 50 feet of a wetland or natural drainage route. It is our mission to work together to responsibly grow our community, and to provide quality, cost-effective and efficient government services