Agenda - Council - 08/10/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

CC Regular Session Meeting Date: Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: 08/10/2026 7. 3. Title: Introduce Ordinance #26-11 Amending Chapters 30 (Nuisances) and 106 (Zoning Code) of City Code Related to Managed Natural Landscapes Purpose/Background: In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature adopted new legislation mandating that statutory cities and home rule charter cities must allow private property owners to establish and maintain Managed Natural Landscapes in excess of eight (8) inches in height. While the City of Ramsey has allowed for these types of landscapes for a number of years now, the only requirement was that a management plan be submitted to the City. However, City Code never specified what information needed to be provided in a management plan, nor that City Staff had to approve said management plan. Thus, enforcement, when necessary, has been challenging. So, City Staff worked with the Environmental Policy Board to develop a couple new definitions (pulled from State Statute 412.925, attached to this case) and some minimum standards (for properties within the MUSA) to not only make enforcement more manageable, but also to provide clarification to applicants about the type of information that must be provided as part of their management plan. Notification: A public hearing notice was placed in the Legal section of the Anoka Union Herald newspaper for the July 23, 2026, Planning Commission meeting. No additional notice is required. Time Frame/Observations/Alternatives: The proposed Ordinance clarifies that a management plan must be approved by the City. An application packet has also been developed, which outlines the specific information that must be provided within a management plan for a Managed Natural Landscape. Additionally, the Ordinance includes a couple of new definitions in Chapter 30 and several new standards, which are outlined in a new section (106-371 - Managed Natural Landscapes). The new standards include: • A three (3) foot setback from property lines, roads, sidewalks and trails within the MUSA (no setback would be required outside the MUSA); and • A Managed Natural Landscape shall be established within three (3) years, meaning that by the end of the 3-year establishment period, the Managed Natural Landscape consists of not more than 25% weeds; and • If, after three (3) years, there are still more than 25% weeds, it would be deemed a failed landscape and would require either a new management plan subject to review and approval by the City, or returning the area to a more traditional ground cover, subject to the standards outlined in Chapter 30 (Nuisances). The intent of the Ordinance is not to make it more difficult for someone that wants to establish a Managed Natural Landscape, but rather to ensure adequate information is provided to the City to ensure that a property owner does not just let an area of their yard 'go natural' and to specify that a Managed Natural Landscape must be established within three (3) years (meaning undesirable plants and weeds make up less than 25% of the Managed Natural Landscape area). City Staff did work with the City Attorney to ensure that both the proposed Ordinance and the Application Packet were sufficient to provide a clear pathway for enforcement, if necessary. The Planning Commission conducted a Public Hearing on the proposed Ordinance on July 23, 2026. There were no written or verbal comments received. There was substantial discussion regarding the size threshold that would be exempt from requiring a management plan. As drafted, a Managed Natural Landscape of 100 square feet or less (think a small rain garden or a pollinator pocket garden) would be exempt from requiring a management plan. The Planning Commission discussed ideas such as tying it to a percentage of lot size or allowing an additional 100 square foot exemption for each full acre of property. However, ultimately, the Planning Commission supported the Ordinance, as drafted, by a 6-1 vote. Funding Source: This case is being handled as part of Staffs regular duties.