Best Practice Action Detail

Hennepin County prepared a NRI for Bloomington in 2007. City adopted a Conservation zoning district and several natural resource-oriented overlay zoning districts to protect these resources.

Golden Valley conducted a natural resource inventory in 2003 and updated the inventory in 2013. Using information from the inventory, the City created its first Natural Resource Management Plan in the spring of 2015 that identified high and low quality areas and strategies for conservation and restoration of natural areas.

The City has created ordinances to preserve high quality natural areas during development and the natural resource management plan is referenced when evaluating development projects. The Planned Unit Development Ordinance (section 11.55 of the City Code) preserves and protects substantial desirable portions of sites including trees, scenic views, creeks, wetlands and open waters. The City’s Subdivision Regulations (section 12.30) allows the City to require a portion of a proposed subdivision to be dedicated to the public as a park, playground, public open space or storm water holding area or ponds (up to 10%).

The Floodplain Management Zoning Overlay District (section 11.60) protects the critically important floodplains of Bassett Creek and its tributaries from any development that would threaten the quality of the City’s water bodies or ground water infiltration, cause rapid runoff or increase periodic flooding resulting in loss of life and property.

The Shoreland Management Ordinance (section 11.65) prohibits the clear cutting of natural vegetation, and requires sufficient vegetative cover be left intact or restored to prevent runoff and soil erosion within critical shoreland areas.

In 2015, upon the recommendation of the Environmental Commission, an option and incentive was included in the Tree and Landscape Code to plant a larger massing of native grasses and wildflowers in developments as an alternative to traditional landscaping, where appropriate.
The Green Corridors concept in the Natural Resource Management Plan will be used to inform the 2018 comprehensive plan process and the review of land use and development proposals.

The Northwest Area Ordinance (2008) Ordinance states priority areas noted in the NRI (2003) should be consider when designating open space in a PUD. The Ordinance requires at least 20% of the PUD to be preserved for open space, of which 75% should be contiguous. It also required 50% of the open space to kept in a natural state with native vegetation.

The city-wide Stormwater Ordinance (2016) meets MS4 permit requirements. This requires infiltration of 1.0 inches for new developments in residential and commercial zones, and 3.6 inches in the Northwest Area. The City of Inver Grove Heights won the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) National Grand Award for accomplishing the City's zero runoff development goal in the Northwest Area (2015).

The City of Inver Grove Heights also enforces the MnDOT standard for bridge inspections to protect forest bats, and the 1991 Wetland Conservation Act to protect groundwater and natural resources.

In 2005 the Stillwater Annexation Area AUAR was completed, which studied and created a plan for the orderly and responsible development of land annexed from Stillwater Township. The management plan created from this emphasized protection of natural resources. In particular,
diverting storm water from the Annexation Area
away from Brown's Creek, a state-designated trout stream, to avoid impacts from development of the Annexation Area.

In the 2040 Comprehensive Plan the city makes recommendations for city code revisions for natural resource protection, such as requiring project proposers to identify all natural resource data from the NRI as part of the data submission for a project. This data could then be used to identify any necessary setbacks or alignments of potential greenway corridors.

Coon Rapids has a zoning district called a Conservancy District that aims to protect areas with valuable environmental qualities which should be retainedin a substantially undeveloped state to conserve natural resources, preserve environmental amenities, protect ground water recharge areas, curtail pollution and siltation and alleviate flooding problems. The permitted uses in the Conservancy District include agriculture following soil conservation practices, conservation areas, open space areas, and outdoor recreational uses and facilities. Other land uses require submittal of a site plan showing that the development considers neatural features, topography, minimal clearance, and a finding that the natural retention storage capacity of any watercourse is not reduced.

Not complete.

City approved original Water Quality Management Plan in June 1990. Approved updated Water Quality & Wetland Management Plan on 7-17-07. Incoroprated wetland inventory, mapping, and assessment for purposes of classification. Classification determines level of avoidance, protection/buffer, or replacement, when allowed.

One of the intents and purposes of the Plymouth City Subdivision Regulations is to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the community.
- Chapter V – Subdivision Regulations
-500.03.E. To encourage the wise use and management of land and natural resources throughout the City in order to preserve the integrity, stability, and natural beauty of the community.
- Zoning Code 21130.04 – Tree Preservation
- A tree preservation plan shall be submitted in conjunction with any proposal that includes a subdivision application, in accordance with Chapter V of the City Code.

City Implements MIDS to reduce impacts on the environment with the development process
- The City adopted the use of MIDS with the approval of their Surface Water Management Plan in
December 2018. As described in the plan, “The City accepts the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s
Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS), or an approved equal as the approved water quality design
standard for new, redevelopment and linear projects within the City. MIDS will help to achieve water
quality standards and meet Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocations for shallow and deep lakes,
streams and creeks. The City supports the emphasis of MIDS on keeping the raindrop where it falls in
order to minimize stormwater runoff, pollution and preserving our natural resources.” City staff enforce
and document MIDS compliance through private development reviews & incorporates MIDS during
design of City linear projects.
- https://www.plymouthmn.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/20055/636964666912270000 [Page 250].

Natural and Open Space Plan (starting on page 566)
- https://www.plymouthmn.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/20055/636964666912270000 [Page 250].

Rosemount conducted a Natural Resource Assessment in 2006. This assessment and associated map have been incorporated into the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The City's Rural Residential land use and zoning regulations provide for the opportunity to protect the community's natural areas through cluster development in which at least 50% of the developable land is permanently protected.

The City of St. Anthony denied rezoning of the previous boyscout camp to residential or commericial uses resulting in the newest Three Rivers Park Distric Park, Silverwood Park, their only park within the urban core and located in Ramsey County. Three Rivers has assesed the resources present at Silverwood Park and the Minneapolis Park Board has assesed their resources at Gross Golf Course. The remainder of the City is fully developed.

137 natural areas were inventoried and priortized as apart of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Ordinance. This innovative ordinance helps protect land while allowing for development. Based on solid ecological information and written input from local developers, the ordinance is implemented by the City with the help of a local team of scientists. The success of the ordinance can be seen through the completion of over seventeen developments that balance protection yet see a return in investment.

The city has an Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Ordinance. The purpose of the ordinance is to encourage protection of properties which have sensitive features on them (wetlands, lakes, ponds, etc.)with a goal of protecting, preserving, and enhancing these natural resources. Through this ordinance the city established an Natural Resource Inventory. The inventory allows the city to identify those ESA areas and promote the protection of these areas while balancing the city's growth and Economic Development.

City has an Open Space Conservation Subdivision process that allows development while preserving woodlands and other habitats, natural resources corridors, agricultural land, open space and significant natural features identified in the Comprehensive Plan.

City completed a street and park tree inventory in 2017. Ordinances protecting blufflands and shoreland are actively enforced.

In 1999, Burnsville created its first Natural Resource Master Plan, and
one of the first in all of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.
This progressive act set in motion programs and policies to protect
Burnsvilles natural resources, such as a prairie management plan, a
water resources management plan, and goose and deer management
policies, and initiated a policy to direct the private development of
remaining open space in an environmentally sound manner. The plan was updated in 2007. Continuous periodic updates to the plan will be made. Burnsville's Comprehensive Plan states that the city shall: "Implement and maintain the Natural Resources Master Plan, and maximize opportunities to preserve such resources by partnering with County, State, Regional, Federal and private programs."

Burnsville has a CD, CONSERVANCY DISTRICT. This is a zoning district established for the preservation of sensitive natural area and the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat. The CD may be applied to either public or private land. Areas included in this district are unsuitable for residential, commercial, industrial and most institutional development, due to flooding, high water table, restrictive soil conditions, steep slopes, significant and valuable vegetation and/or wildlife habitat.
The FLOOD PLAIN DISTRICT is a district with regulations to minimize impacts to property
and life by managing and regulating development activities in designated floodplains on the
Flood Insurance Studies for Burnsville. There are three sub-districts the FW, Floodway District
(the channel of the Minnesota River); FF, Flood Fringe District (the portion of the floodplain that is outside of the floodway) and the GFP, General Flood Plain District (the lake bed and areas adjoining a wetland, lake or watercourse which have been or hereafter may be covered by the
regional flood).
The following Environmental Overlay Districts are part of the Zoning Ordinance and their
purpose is to protect environmentally sensitive areas within designated areas of the City:
Wetlands Overlay District: This district implements the 1991 Wetland Conservation Act and the accompanying rules of the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and is intended to
conserve, protect, enhance, and result in the no net loss of wetlands in Burnsville. Additionally
the regulations promote the restoration of degraded wetlands.

NRI completed in 1998. Our current comp. plan specifically states that natural resource areas identified as highest quality in the NRI should be given priority in access or preservation efforts and development impacts should be kept to a level that preserves the integrity of the resource.

Development projects are required to achieve certain sustainability point thresholds and they can get some of those points for preserving existing healthy trees.
The Natural Resources Overlay indicates where wetland, flood plain, or shore land management needs to be considered before approving development.
The city is beginning the process of completing a comprehensive NRI to supplement the natural areas that have already had a complete inventory done: Hawk Ridge, Hartley Nature Center, St Louis River Corridor, and Magney-Snively Park. A comprehensive tree inventory was completed in the summer of 2019.

NRI and NRA completed, have not incorporated into a subdivision or development process.

Bonestroo conducted a natural resource inventory and assessment in September of 2004 and finished in December.

The City of Faribault conducted a Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) in 2002 and incorporated this NRI into the Comprehensive Plan in order to protect Faribault's natural resources.

The City prepared a NRI for the community in 2010 and it was approved in 2011. The NRI incorporated a landscape ordinance to preserve trees in subdivision developments.

Leech Lake Land Use Ordinance has an environmental checklist in place which is comparable to a Natural Resource Assessment.

Council approved to receive and adopt the findings of the 2005 Natural Resource Inventory. This can be found in motion M2005-0120.

Prairie Island has conducted a wide range of Natural Resource Inventories between 2009-2014.

The city adopted an Open Space Preservation Plan in 2008 as an ammendment to the City Comprehensive Plan. (http://www.red-wing.org/comprehensiveplan.html)

In 2008, the City completed its Natural Resources Inventory.

Neither the Zoning Code nor its subdivision section have minimum standards for the protection of high quality open space. However, virtually all of the natural areas and high quality open spaces are already protected in public parks.

The city, through Hennepin County, conducted and received our Natural Resource inventory which we base natural resource decisions on. The entire inventory can be found in about internal computer drive within SLP organization; too large to include as file here.

Staff developed a Natural Resources Operations Procedures inventory and storymap of the City's natural features. Savage is filled with unique and beautiful natural areas. Staff follows the operations procedures to protect and preserve these wild areas.

Note: the Natural Operations Procedures is currently being updated by staff. The updated version will be uploaded soon.

In 2002, the City of Shakopee partnered with the MN DNR to commission a natural resources inventory using the MN Land Cover Classification System for lands within the City of Shakopee, Jackson and Louisville Townships

- “Land Cover of Northern Scott County – A Natural Resources Inventory of the City of Shakopee, Jackson and Louisville Townships”

To develop natural resources protection strategies and establish land use objectives incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan objectives, the Natural Resources Inventory divided the study area into regions that have similar physical context, land use, and remnant natural areas.

Shakopee City Code 151.112 – Landscaping Requirements (N)(1) and (2) require submission of a financial security through cash escrow, or other form of security the city deems acceptable, in the amount of 150% of the total tree replacement estimate, at $400 per replacement tree or as is updated in the city’s fee schedule. Additionally, the ordinance details the procedures and conditions for warranty periods and guaranteed survival.

Shakopee City Code 151.113 – Tree Preservation Regulations requires a tree preservation plan applicable to any tree removal including, a preliminary plat, final plat, minor subdivision, building permit, demolition permit, conditional use permit variance, or grading permit is required by the city on any parcel of land containing a significant tree. The city can deny or revoke any permits in violation.

The tree preservation plan must be completed by a forestry specialist and include:
- Tree inventory showing every significant tree on buildable land on the property as well as significant trees on adjacent property which have CRZ overlapping onto said property must be inventoried and tagged with a unique identification number.
- Site plan, a scaled drawing of the site including the location, identification number, and tree type (common, exceptional, or high priority) of all inventoried trees; proposed trees to remove and preserve: high priority areas and contiguous woodland area; critical root zones of all trees being preserved along with any area within critical root zone that will be impacted; proposed construction/grading limits, lot lines, building parameter, basic infrastructure, buildable land, and building footprint/elevation; locations of tree protection fence and silt fence; and soil stockpile and parking locations during construction.
o Additional requirements: a survey of the lot meeting all possible requirements of the tree inventory and site plan must be provided to the builder of the lot. The city must be provided a digital copy of the tree survey for each individual lot. Note areas with oak wilt, Dutch elm disease. Emerald Ash Borer, invasive plants such as buckthorn or others listed on the current year's State Department of Agriculture's noxious weed list.
- Tree replacement sheet: a scaled drawing of the site depicting where the replacement trees will be planted. The plan must include calculations for determination of required replacement trees and landscaping required as described in the ordinance; locations of all trees and other plants being installed on-site; plant list including species, size, and stock type of installed plants; planting details that meet the city's tree planting specifications; and easements, right-of-ways, construction limits, building pads, driveways, and basic infrastructure.

A Natural Resources Inventory of the yet undeveloped portions of Woodbury was completed in 1997. A total of 32 sites were analyzed. Within the next year, an Open Space Committee comprised of members of city commissions, residents at large, and a City Council member studied all the sites and developed a recommended preservation plan for each area, ranging from protection through conservation easements, acquisition through park dedication during the development process, or outright city acquisition. This preservation plan became the basis for successful open space referendums held in 1998 and 2005. Out of the 32 total sites (as of May 2013), 13 have been purchased or obtained through the development process in whole or in part. One additional site is protected through a conservation easement. While most parcels identified for purchase have been acquired, City staff continues to look for opportunities to add open space lands as development occurs.