CC_Minutes_2004_1220 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

- Riverfront Roundup FMR has stepped up its work on riverfront development issues in the past ;,ear, with the goal of enhancing the sense of place the river provides to the commu- nity. Our primary task has been to assist citizens on local issues that impact the river corridor. Some of the key issues and ques- tions that surface repeatedly are: Does the development provide for public access to the river? Does the development minimize erosion and impervious surfaces to protect water quality? Does the 'height or design of the development impact the scenic views and natural qualities of the river's banks and bluffs? In some cases, the laws in place work to protect the river's resources. In other cases, it's all about political will. In either situation, it's encouraging to see that so many citizens are interested in getting in- volved in planning for a riverfront that is welcoming to all. A quick summary of some of FMR's recent work on river corridor issues is be- low. (For more details, please visit our website archives of MississippiMessages). R il'er's Cloud 1,\'lalld TcJWllsluj) FMR is working with local citizens and ~.. leI' environmental groups to downsize a plan to urbanize rural riverfront land with a mega- residential development, including five-story condos on a sensitive backwater bay. :Ihol!f the Falls, Minneapolis FMR is working on many fronts to see the Above the Falls Master Plan imple- mented in north and northeast Minneapo- lis. By working directly with city staff and elected officials, as well as participating on the citizen advisory comniittee, FMR has been able to help shape development pro- posals coming down the pike. We also funded and carried out a design and feasi- bility study of future development poten- tial at the Upper Harbor Terminal site. /\iissis.\'ljJpi RilleI' Corridor Pia II , Saillt Paul. The City ofSt. Paul has a corridor plan that will serve the river well if it's followed. A citizen task force is currently working on updating the city's zoning code to incorpo- rate goals of the plan, bLJt in the meantime, proposals keep coming forward. FMR weighed in on two riverfront proposals re- e Iy - Island Station and the West' Side ;1', and is working with citizens and elected officials to ensure that the river's views, access and resources are not dimin- ished by new developments. Rice Creek Watershed Update FMR's watershed iJ1l- tiative has made great strides in,the Vermillion Watershed, and we have begun to wade deeper into our s,econd pri- ority watershed Rice Creek. The City of Lino Lakes is home of the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Parks Reserv(}; This Anoka County Park contains all or part of ten different lakes, making it the largest chain of publicly owned lakes in the Metro Area, and a sig- nificant natural and recre- ational resource for the wa- tershed and surrounding area. . Protecting and improv- ing the quality of these lakes is a high priority for the city. With both I-35W and 1-35E running through the city, Lino Lakes is facing increasing development pressures and threats to lake water quality. Development and high quality waters need not be mutually exclusive. With creative and effective planning, water quality protection and growth can go hand in hand. To this end, FMR is currently working with Lino Lakes city staff to evaluate and hopefully change how this northern suburb plans its development over the next twenty- five years. FMR Research Consultant, Shabana Hammed, is researching the City's poli- cies and practices that relate to or impact water quality. With a Ph.D. in Water Resource Management, a Masters in Planning and many years of experience working with surface water management plans, Shabana is uniquely qualified to assist FMR with this work. Once Shabana's analysis is complete, \ve will engage local residents and elected officials in a community discussion about how to best use her recommendations. For more information on FMR's Watershed Initiative, please contact Dan Hutfat 651/ 222-2193 ext. 18 or dhuff@fmr.org. Paddlers learned about water quality last June on the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes. Several tributaries of the watershed, along with a variety of pollution impacts, come together in the City of Lino Lakes, home to the largest chain of lakes in the metro area. Restoration Plans at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA Dedicated in May 2004, the I 85-acre Pine Bend Bluffs SNA in Inver Grove Heights is the newest Scientific and Natural Area in the Twin Cities. At the north end of the SNA is a fifty-acre portion that was donated to the Minnesota DNR by the late Dwight Malcolm. A caring steward of the environment, Mr. Malcolm not only ensured long-term protec- . tion of this special property, but also dedicated funds for management and r~storation. In cooperation with the DNR, FMR completed a management plan for the Malcolm property and began management activities this fall. The top priority is to reduce exotic invasive plants (especially buckthorn and garlic mustard) from the high quality dry oak forest which covers about 26 acres of the site. No rare plants have been located at the site, but kittentails (Besseya bullii), a state threatened species, were found in nearby areas. Savanna restoration will also begin at the existing eleven-acre old field portion of the property. Volunteers helped collect seed this t~111 from two nearby natural prairie sites. The oak savanna will be restored gradually as adequate seed is obtained. Only local seed will be used because the intent is to restore the plant community that was here at the time of European settlement. Friends ol/he Mississippi River. Willfer ]()()5