Alterations of vegetation and topography will be regulated to prevent erosion into public waters, fix nutrients, preserve shoreland aesthetics, preserve historic values, prevent bank slumping, and protect fish and wildlife habitat.
(A) Vegetation alterations.
(1) Vegetation alteration necessary for the construction of structures and sewage treatment systems and the construction of roads and parking areas regulated by this section of this chapter are exempt from the vegetation alteration standards that follow.
(2) Removal or alteration of vegetation, except for agricultural and forest management uses as regulated in this section, is allowed subject to the following standards:
(a) Intensive vegetation clearing within the shore and bluff impact zones and on steep slopes is not allowed. Intensive vegetation clearing for forest land conversion to another use outside of these areas is allowable as a conditional use if an erosion control and sedimentation plan is developed and approved by the soil and water conservation district in which the property is located.
(b) In shore and bluff impact zones and on steep slopes, limited clearing of trees and shrubs and cutting, pruning, and trimming of trees is allowed to provide a view to the water from the principal dwelling site and to accommodate the placement of stairways and landings, picnic areas, access paths, livestock watering areas, beach and watercraft access areas, and permitted water-oriented accessory structures or facilities, provided that:
1. The screening of structures, vehicles, or other facilities as viewed from the water, assuming summer, leaf-on conditions, is not substantially reduced;
2. Along rivers, existing shading of water surfaces is preserved; and
3. The above provisions are not applicable to the removal of trees, limbs, or branches that are dead, diseased, or pose safety hazards.
(B) Topographic alterations; grading and filling.
(1) Grading and filling and excavations necessary for the construction of structures, sewage treatment systems, and driveways under validly issued construction permits for these facilities do not require the issuance of a separate grading and filling permit. However, the grading and filling standards in this section must be incorporated into the issuance of permits for construction of structures, sewage treatment systems, and driveways.
(2) Public roads and parking areas are regulated by this section.
(3) Notwithstanding (1) and (2) above, a grading and filling permit will be required for:
(a) The movement of more than ten cubic yards of material on steep slopes or within shore or bluff impact zones; and
(b) The movement of more than 50 cubic yards of material outside of steep slopes and shore and bluff impact zones.
(4) The following considerations and conditions must be adhered to during the issuance of construction permits, grading and filling permits, conditional use permits, variances, and subdivision approvals:
(a) Grading and filling in any Type 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 wetland must be evaluated to determine how extensively the proposed activity would affect, according to the Wetland Ordinance, the following functional qualities of the wetland. (This evaluation must also include a determination of whether the wetland alteration being proposed requires permits, reviews, or approvals by other local, state, or federal agencies such as a watershed district, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The applicant will be so advised.)
1. Sediment and pollutant trapping and retention;
2. Storage of surface runoff to prevent or reduce flood damage;
3. Fish and wildlife habitat;
4. Recreational use;
5. Shoreline or bank stabilization; and
6. Noteworthiness, including special qualities such as historic significance, critical habitat for endangered plants and animals, or others.
(b) Alterations must be designed and conducted in a manner that ensures only the smallest amount of bare ground is exposed for the shortest time possible.
(c) Mulches or similar materials must be used, where necessary, for temporary bare soil coverage, and a permanent vegetation cover must be established as soon as possible.
(d) Methods to minimize soil erosion and to trap sediments before they reach any surface water feature must be used.
(e) Altered areas must be stabilized to acceptable erosion control standards consistent with the field office technical guides of the local soil and water conservation district and the United States Soil Conservation Service.
(f) Fill or excavated material must not be placed in a manner that creates an unstable slope.
(g) Plans to place fill or excavated material on steep slopes must be reviewed by qualified professionals for continued slope stability and must not create finished slopes of 30% or greater.
(h) Fill or excavated material must not be placed in bluff impact zones.
(i) Any alterations below the ordinary high water level of public waters must first be authorized by the Commissioner under M.S. § 105.42.
(j) Alterations of topography must only be allowed if they are accessory to permitted or conditional uses and do not adversely affect adjacent or nearby properties.
(k) Placement of natural rock riprap, including associated grading of the shoreline and placement of a filter blanket, is permitted if the finished slope does not exceed three feet horizontal to one-foot vertical, the landward extent of the riprap is within ten feet of the ordinary high water level, and the height of the riprap above the ordinary high water level does not exceed three feet.
(C) Connections to public waters. Excavations where the intended purpose is connection to a public water, such as boat slips, canals, lagoons, and harbors, must be controlled by local shoreland controls. Permission for excavations may be given only after the Commissioner has approved the proposed connection to public waters.
(Ord. 110, passed 11-15-97; Am. Ord. 0408, passed 12-14-04) Penalty, see § 155.999