A. Definitions: For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:
GROSS ACRES: The total acres within a plat, subdivision, or parcel. Gross acres do not include outlots within a plat that are intended to be replatted at a later date into developable lots.
NORTHWEST AREA: That certain geographic area within the City of Inver Grove Heights, defined, established, and referred to as the Northwest Area Overlay District pursuant to chapter 13, article J of this title.
B. Purpose And Intent:
1. Minnesota Statutes section 462.353, subd. 4 allows municipalities to prescribe fees sufficient to defray the costs incurred in the review, investigation, and administration of subdivision applications. The City has incurred costs while preparing studies and analyses in the Northwest Area, an area of approximately three thousand one hundred forty (3,140) acres. These studies include:
a. "Natural Resource Inventory and Management Plan for the Northwest Area", prepared by Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik & Associates, dated January 2004.
b. "Northwest Quadrant Hydrologic & Hydraulic Analysis", prepared by Emmons & Olivier Resources, dated February 2004.
c. "Northwest Expansion Area Alternative Urban Area-Wide Review (AUAR)", prepared by Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik & Associates, dated January 2006.
d. "2005 Basin Monitoring", prepared by Emmons & Olivier, dated April 2006. "Inver Grove Heights Northwest Area Low Impact Development - Overflow Contingencies and Cost Analysis", prepared by Emmons & Olivier Resources, dated July 2006.
e. "Northwest Area Surface Water Modeling Report", prepared by Emmons & Olivier Resources, dated August 2006.
2. These studies and analyses provide direct benefit to subdividers in the Northwest Area. These studies and analyses were necessary and advisable in order to review, investigate, and administer applications for subdivision within the Northwest Area. But for the City having prepared these studies and analyses, the subdividers in the Northwest Area would, in all likelihood, have had to prepare the studies themselves. The costs incurred by the City in performing the above studies was at least three hundred seventeen thousand three hundred eighty two dollars ($317,382.00).
3. The purpose and intent of this section is to establish fees to reimburse the City for its costs in performing these studies and analyses.
C. Fee Established; Payment: A fee of eighty dollars ($80.00) per gross acre, to be known as the Northwest Area Environmental Studies fee, is hereby established, imposed and required to be paid by all applicants for subdivision in the northwest area. The northwest area environmental studies fee shall be paid by the applicant when an application is submitted to the city for approval of a final plat in the northwest area. (Ord. 1171, 12-10-2007)