CCP 02-14-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - FEBRUARY 2, 2000 DRAFT 10 Commissioner Sand asked what measures will be taken to keep the grass out ofthe beach sand. Mr. Mack stated that a curb will be installed across the back ofthe beach in order to delineate the e grass from the sand. Additionally, ongoing maintenance will be required of the sand itself. He noted that there had been a large amount of weeds in the sand last year due to the lack of activity at the park. Mr. Steve Gericke, 1840 West County Road E, stated that he liked the proposed architecture and the low roof line. He was concerned about the location of the beach building and asked why this building will not be located farther from the existing residential area. He noted that there was no buffer zone between the beach and the residential area. He also noted that the original plan had included two trails that dead end at the road, however, they did not appear on the current plan. Mr. Mack indicated that the trails will be added with a later phase. Mr. Gericke asked why the beach building will be located so far away from the parking lot. Mr. Mack stated that there was a desire to center the building on the beach area. Mr. Hagen added that the beach building was located in such a way to minimize the loss of trees. He indicated that the original beach building had been located too close to the ordinary high watermark. An unidentified audience member noted that the original beach building could not be flooded since it was at a higher elevation than the water line. Ms. Randall explained that the 75 foot setback was in the City Shoreland Ordinance and was also a Department of Natural Resources required setback from the ordinary high watermark. This requirement did not mean that any buildings within this setback would flood, however, a hardship must be proven as to why a building must be closer to the lake. e Ms. Margurrite Jaster, 3453 Lake Johanna Boulevard, requested the location of the ordinary high watermark. Ms. Randall explained the location ofthe ordinary high watermark on the plan. Ms. Jaster asked if the weir that was constructed years ago was intended to keep the water down to that level. Ms. Randall stated that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources establishes the ordinary high watermark for all lakes. This is not necessarily where the water level is in any given year. The ordinary high watermark is established for the entire lake as a whole and all structures are required to be a certain number of feet from this mark. Ms. Jaster asked if consideration had been given to the fact that the lake cannot get any higher than a certain level. Chair Erickson noted that the lake does fluctuate as much as two feet. Ms. Randall stated that the setback from the ordinary high watermark allows for a buffer between the lake and buildings for enviromnental reasons as well as flooding. Mr. Gericke asked if it would be possible for the beach house to be moved farther away from the residential properties. Ms. Randall stated that this would require a change to the original plan as well as approval from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In order to gain approval from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources the hardship criteria must be met. Mr. Gericke noted that the high watermark was not at the high level of the lake. Commissioner Sand explained that once the ordinary high watermark is established by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources it does not change and has no bearing on the actual water level oflake. .