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Resident urges Rosemount to change per-acre stormwater trunk fee for low-density lots
Summary
A long-time Rosemount resident asked the council to reconsider a per-acre stormwater trunk fee that he says burdens low-density residential subdivisions, urging charges based on impervious surface or connection fees instead. The council referred the comment to staff for follow-up.
A Rosemount resident told the City Council on Tuesday that the city’s per-acre stormwater trunk fee can create what he called an unfair barrier for low-density residential redevelopment and subdivision.
"The city would like us to pay roughly $7,000 per acre in fees for which we receive no benefit," said Sam Adams, a Rosemount resident who described his family’s multi-generational property and the ongoing process to subdivide it. Adams asked the council to allow exceptions for parcels that will not require new trunk stormwater infrastructure and to instead permit a connection charge or an impervious-surface-based fee.
Adams said the city’s Appendix N of the City of Rosemount Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan frames the trunk fee as intended to fund future trunk conveyance system improvements needed to accommodate new development. He argued the per-acre method does not reflect the reality of low-density residential building, where impervious surface area (roofs, driveways, patios) — not raw acreage — drives the need for new infrastructure. Adams gave two examples: a family giving 50 acres to a child to build a single house would face the same per-acre fee as subdividing that acreage into multiple residential lots, even though the impervious surface and infrastructure demand would differ; and he said the city’s per-acre rate—about $7,000 per acre—would amount to roughly $62,000 on his parcel under current calculations.
Adams asked the council to apply the language already in Appendix N to deem trunk fee payments unnecessary when no new stormwater trunk infrastructure is required, or to accept a connection fee from property owners who will connect to existing systems. He said he would send additional materials by email to the council for review.
Mayor (presiding) said the comment would be referred to staff for follow-up.
The speaker’s comments were recorded during the public comment portion of the June 17 meeting; the council did not take any formal action beyond the referral to staff. No staff report or council response with policy direction was given during the meeting record.
