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COMMUNITYGROWTH <br /> I N S T I T U T E <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> To: Paul Sandelin, City Attorney <br /> From: LisaBeth Barajas, Associate Planner <br /> Charles Marohn, City Planner <br /> Date: November 21, 2005 <br /> Re: Technical Evaluation Panel Recommendations <br /> At the last Planning Commission meeting in Pequot Lakes, there was question as to whether the <br /> Planning Commission, or the City in general, has the ability to increase the replacement ratio <br /> required for a wetland fill application. <br /> The application being discussed was for a small area on a property that is covered almost entirely <br /> by wetlands. The Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP)reviewed the application over two meetings <br /> and recommended that the standard 2:1 replacement ratio be increased to 4:1. <br /> The TEP wanted to ensure that the essential values and functions of the wetlands were being <br /> appropriately replaced through the application, so the analysis procedure used in Cass County <br /> and contained in Cass County Wetland Management Plan. This procedure contains a series of <br /> items according to which the property must be ranked. This method was chosen because Sibley <br /> Lake is partly located in Cass County and the method would more accurately address the <br /> functions and values of the lost area. The method rates eight wetland values and uses a total <br /> score to determine the replacement ratio. The following is list of the factors that were rated and <br /> their corresponding scores: <br /> 1. Uniqueness— 1 <br /> 2. Wildlife—2 <br /> 3. Fisheries—3 <br /> 4. Water Quality—3 <br /> 5. Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species—2 <br /> 6. Cultural Resources—3 <br /> 7. Flood Attenuation—3 <br /> 8. Groundwater Sensitivity—3 <br /> The total score for this property is 20, falling in the score range that requires the replacement <br /> ratio of 4:1. <br /> Because this was an after-the-fact application for this particular property, the Planning <br /> Commission wanted to make the replacement ratio higher than what was recommended. Our <br /> interpretation was that the after-the-fact application fee and the recommended 4:1 replacement <br /> 14084 Baxter Drive, Suite 7 <br /> Baxter, MN 56425 <br /> (218) 828-3064 <br /> www.communitygrowth.com <br />