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June 9, 2000 Minnesota Department of Natural Metro Waters, 1200 Warner Road, St. Telephone: (651) 772-7910 F City of Roseville Mr. Thomas Paschke, City Planner 2660 Civic Center Drive Roseville, MN 55113 ~~ Resources Paul, MN 55106-6793 ax: (651) 772-7977 ~ U Pty ~ RE: Youngquist Redevelopment of 39I South Owasso Boulevard, Lake Owasso (62-56P), City of Roseville, Ramsey County DNR Metro Waters has received (May 19, 2000) the faxed information concerning the Youngquist redevelopment proposal for 391 South Owasso Boulevard in Roseville. It was good to see that the City of Roseville required a variance for the project as is required by the Roseville Shoreland Management Ordinance. The DNR does not object to the approval of the variance. However, in our opinion the Youngquists should have been required to reduce the amount of impervious surface on the lot or mitigate the effects and they should have been required to plant trees between their home and Lake Owasso. Studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between good water quality and the amount of forest and buffered shoreline within a watershed. It should also be obvious that it is possible for trees and homes to be present on the same lot. It appears to be reasonable to request that trees be planted to mitigate for the impacts from a project that would not normally be approved (variance) under regulations that are intended to protect lakes from the negative impacts of over development. It was also good to see the proposed guidelines for the approval of variances that were presented to the City Council. However, we have three points to make concerning these guidelines: The guidelines should emphasize that variances are meant to be very uncommon (i.e., infrequent) occurrences that are a last resort of the property owners. Property owners are expected to change their proj ects to conform to the City regulations. Unfortunately, in many cities, property owners never attempt to conform to city standards. Instead they apply for variances in order to be exempted from following the city laws (please note that even with an approved variance, they do not conform to the city ordinances). 2. Guideline "d" should be removed from the list. Economic considerations are not to be considered when determining whether or not hardship exists for a project. Another guideline should be added to the list which is related to guideline "P'. The new guideline should ask whether the impacts often or twenty projects like this would create a significant impact on the health, safety, or general welfare of this community including lake water quality. DNR Information: 651-296-6157 1-888-646-6367 TTY: 651-296-5484 1-800-657-3929 An Equal Opportunity Employer Printed on Recycled Paper Containing a Who Values Diversity Minimum of (0% Post-Consumer Waste