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Commission advances draft shoreland ordinance options, considers stricter buffers and impervious-surface trade-offs
Summary
The commission reviewed a draft Shoreland Management ordinance with input from the Minnesota DNR, discussed using larger setbacks for waterbodies with rising water levels, considered allowing up to 35% impervious cover in exchange for buffer creation, and reached consensus to pursue including Valley Creek in a future tributary buffer ordinance.
At its March 11 work session, the Mendota Heights Natural Resources Commission reviewed the current draft Shoreland Management ordinance and relayed takeaways from a January meeting with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Natural Resources Manager Krista Spreiter said the DNR advised that non-public tributaries might be better addressed in a separate ordinance to avoid confusion, and pointed out the DNR standard that only tributaries with drainage areas of 2 square miles or greater qualify as public waters. Spreiter said Valley Creek’s drainage area exceeds that threshold (the draft estimated approximately 5 square miles), prompting discussion about whether Valley Creek should be treated as a public water in the ordinance.
The commission discussed setbacks, noting DNR officials indicated they were open to approving an ordinance without building-height standards and that setbacks are more important for shoreline protection. Commissioners expressed a preference for stricter buffer standards than the model ordinance — tentatively up to 50 feet or one-third of the shoreline, whichever is less — while allowing flexibility to reach the model-ordinance standard in exchange for creating larger buffer areas.
On impervious surfaces, Spreiter reported the DNR confirmed a 25% maximum is the standard but said cities may propose higher impervious limits through implementation flexibility if they provide compensatory measures. The commission’s general consensus was to explore allowing up to 35% impervious surface in exchange for one-to-one buffer creation.
The commission also agreed to follow MRCCA (Mississippi River Critical Corridor Area) terminology for defining 'intensive vegetation clearing' and to allow removal of invasive species when accompanied by an approved native restoration plan. Commissioners asked staff to follow up with DNR on Valley Creek’s public-water status and to refine ordinance language on buffers, impervious-surface exchange options, vegetation-clearing definitions and any building standards to be included or excluded.
No formal ordinance action or vote occurred; the draft will be revised with committee input and returned for further review.
