Minutes - City of Sartell

SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE
SARTELL CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF APRIL 2, 2013
SPECIAL MEETING
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a special joint meeting was held on April 2, 2013 at Sartell City
Hall. The meeting commenced at 5:30 PM.
COUNCIL PRESENT:
PLANNING COMM PRESENT:
COUNCIL ABSENT:
PLANNING COMM ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
Council members: Mayor Perske, Braig-Lindstrom (arrived at 6:08 PM),
Hennes and Peterson
Lori Ellering, Ryan Fitzthum, Corey Hansen, Gary Orman
Nicoll
Worzala
Therese Haffner, Planning Associate
Mike Nielson, City Engineer
Anita Rasmussen, Planning Director
AGENDA
The agenda was adopted as presented by consensus.
INTRODUCTIONS
Mayor Perske discussed water quality and the intent of a shoreland ordinance. Nielson introduced Bob
Barth with WSB Engineering. Barth is a research engineer on stormwater who can provide input on
shoreland management practices. Barth stated he has worked with the Cities of Champlin, Bemidji,
Dayton, Mendota Heights and a couple of others on a shoreland ordinance.
SHORELAND MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTIONS
Rasmussen provided a summary of the previous joint meeting on March 13 th and confirmed the direction
given to staff.
Mayor Perske asked if we had impervious surface limits. Haffner indicated that we currently do not have
impervious surface limits in residential districts. The City currently addresses this by limiting building
coverage to 35%, driveway areas to no more than 30%, structures within rear yards to no more than 25%
and setbacks that have to be met. Within a multi-family area it is based on a density ratio.
Bob Barth discussed stormwater run-off and agriculture’s role in water quality. Barth discussed the
importance and positive impact that vegetation buffers have on water quality stating that is the key to
stormwater. Fertilized lawns going to the edge of the shoreline have a negative impact on water quality.
Hennes asked how important trees were. Barth said that native grasses and forbs work the best with
filtering water. The buffer width is important. Barth said the shoreland area is a small portion of the
watershed. Steve asked if more areas are getting away from curb and gutter and if it makes a difference.
Barth said some have but there are other ways to treat stormwater that are just as effective, such as
narrower streets and finding areas to treat stormwater.
Peterson asked about looking at having a 35% impervious surface coverage limit city wide for residential
and requiring mitigation if you go over that. Barth said that would be a BMP (Best Management Practice).
Barth discussed the alternative DNR shoreland rules requiring 10% maximum impervious surface limits

and the current limit at 25%. Rasmussen discussed the need for balance and that a 10% limit would result
in larger lots. Some would argue that urban sprawl is not good. Nielson recommended adopted an
impervious surface limit in residential districts. Mayor Perske said he was concerned with runoff along
shorelines. Ellering said a trade off would be to require buffers.
The MS4 permit requirements were discussed. Barth said that the MS4 permit addresses impaired waters
and that should not be included in a shoreland ordinance.
Fitzthum asked about determining the amount of mitigation needed. Barth said it depends on the size of
the lot but it could be having a buffer a certain width along the shoreline.
There was discussion on having a higher city wide impervious surface limit. Barth recommended having a
flexible standard and the benefit of being denser. Up to 40% can be mitigated well. The problem with
urban sprawl is there is a lot more exposure to fertilizer resulting in phosphorus problems within our
waterways. Fitzthum suggested the shoreland area be 30%-35% for single-family residential areas.
Lindstrom discussed past development not considering these issues. Hansen said he agreed with having
standards but that it could not be so restrictive that it creates development problems. Lindstrom
discussed how to deal with a small house surrounded by larger houses, therefore, not fitting the character
of the neighborhood. Ellering recommended an impervious surface limit of 30% in shoreland areas for
single-family and two-family residential areas and 40% city wide for single-family and two-family
residential areas. Peterson said he agreed with Ellering.
Consensus was to limit impervious surface coverage in single-family and two family residential areas to
30% in shoreland areas within 100 feet and 40% in single-family and two-family residential areas city
wide.
Haffner asked about multi-family impervious surface limits and discussed what other communities have in
place. Nielson discussed the lack of space for stormwater pond needs. Haffner shared that landscaping
space was a concern as well and suggested requiring at least 50% greenspace for multi-family areas.
There was discussion on wetland areas being counted as greenspace. Consensus was to discuss this
further at the next meeting and look at net buildable area.
ADJOURNMENT
Perske adjourned the meeting at 7:01 pm.
Minutes By:
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Therese Haffner, Planning Associate
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Joe Perske, Mayor