HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-12 Council Work Session Agenda PacketCouncil Work Session Agenda
May 12, 2022 – 5:30 pm
1. Call to Order / Roll Call
2. Natural Resources Work Session
3. Unscheduled Items
4. Adjournment
*Includes Materials - Materials relating to these agenda items can be found in the house agenda packet
book located by the Council Chambers entrance, or online at the City’s website at www.corcoranmn.gov.
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Item 2.
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8200 County Road 116 Corcoran, MN 55340
763-420-2288 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us
MEMO
Meeting Date: May 12, 2022
To: City Council
From: Jessica Beise, City Administrator
Re: City Code Updates – Natural Resources Topics
____________________________________________________________________
In January the City outlined goals for the 2022 including working on City Code updates.
In February of 2022, Council provided feedback on the priorities and in March 2022,
staff outlined a proposed workplan. As part of the work plan staff identified some key
topics that needed more discussion to understand the code update to assist staff in
effectively drafting ordinance language.
Below are the proposed code update goals, staff inquiry, key questions to assist in the
discussion, and additional considerations that may impact the code update. Staff would
like to have a discussion on each goal and then staff can propose different updates to
code.
Goal: Review/modify buffer zones between neighboring zonings, public areas,
and/or development
Staff would like to understand the scope of buffer zones and what options would be
acceptable to Council as we draft proposed code updates.
Key questions:
What is the scope of a buffer zone?
Is this an additional setback?
Is this a physical barrier?
Is this a reduced density?
Would additional landscaping provide the desired outcome?
Would buffer zones be requested in all zones?
Additional Considerations:
Item 2.
2
Density requirements may make it challenging to implement buffer zones on odd
shaped and smaller parcels.
Goal: Create incentives to preserve natural resources or project enhancements
Staff would like to understand the types of resources and we’d like to preserve and the
types of incentives as we draft proposed code updates.
Key questions:
What types of natural resources are we looking to preserve?
Preserving trees?
Preserving prairie grasses?
Preserving current grades?
Additional incentives beyond watershed requirements for water resources?
Should we preserve natural resources in all zoning districts?
Should we consider project enhancements such as innovative storm water treatment?
What types of incentives should we consider?
Reduced setbacks?
Other incentives?
Additional Considerations:
Goal: Consider credits for tree plantings, encouraging more mature trees
Staff would like to understand what credits and options would be acceptable to Council
as we draft proposed code updates.
Key questions:
If we are requesting more mature trees does that reduce the overall landscaping
required?
Do we have a maximum number of mature trees?
Additional Considerations: We discussed differing opinions on mature trees at the
February 24th Joint Work session, as mature trees can have challenges acclimating to
new environments.
Goal: Review zoning restrictions regarding ecologically significant natural areas
Staff would like to understand concerns with ecologically significant natural areas.
Key questions:
Are there concerns/changes with zoning restrictions related to ecologically significant
natural areas?
Do we want to keep the current code?
Do we want to add additional credits for preserving ecologically significant natural
areas?
Item 2.
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Do we want to remove preserving ecological natural resources from the code?
Could incentives related to preserving natural resources, meet this goal.
Additional Considerations: Currently the open space and preservation plat area is the
only section of code that outlines requirements related to ecologically significant natural
areas.