4.3. SR 10-28-1996ITEM 4.3.
City of
MEMORANDUM
'ver
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
STEPHEN ROHLF, BUILDING AND
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR ~
OCTOBER 28, 1996
SUBJECT: WILD AND SCENIC RIVER
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
It has been reported that the Council is concerned whether or not staff is
properly representing their views regarding the "Wild and Scenic River
Ordinance" as drafted by the DNR. Staff apologizes that the issues with the
DNR's draft ordinance were not made sufficiently clear.
In the packet for their August 19th meeting, the Council was provided a city
staff revised ordinance that the Planning Commission has recommended
approval of. The revisions proposed by staff were made to make this
ordinance consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan as adopted by the
Council.
Prior to the Council's August 19th meeting staff received comment back from
the DNR rejecting the proposed changes. Staff requested the Council table
the issue until the conflicts between the City's plan and the DNR's ordinance
could be resolved.
The map attached outlines the areas of the City where the DNR's ordinance
and the City's Comprehensive plan are in conflict. Elk River's Historic
Downtown was just used as an example. According to the DNR's ordinance
there are other commercial areas in the City that could no longer be
developed as commercial and existing businesses could not be upgraded or
rebuilt if destroyed.
Further, the DNR's ordinance would dictate that certain residential areas
could be urbanized, but the lots would have to be 2 acres in size. An
assessment for a 2 acre city sewered and watered lot can not be justified.
Some land would probably have to be refunded assessments already paid and
the City would have to rethink plans to extend city services to certain areas.
Staff has met with DNR Area Hydrologist Dan Lais regarding this matter.
He appearantly understands the City's concerns and is setting up a meeting
between the City and the powers to be in the DNR to discuss the issues.
Staff is suggesting the City representatives at this meeting are the Mayor,
City Planner and the Building and Zoning Administrator.
s:\b&z\stever\wldsceo.doc
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Please review the attached map. Staff will be at Monday night's meeting to
discuss this issue to make sure we represent the Council's desires to the
DNR.