HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Ordinance 2003-17CITY OF PLYMOUTH
ORDINANCE NO. 2003-17
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 8 OF THE CITY CODE TO ADD A NEW
SECTION ON NATURAL PRESERVES (2002147)
THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH ORDAINS:
Section 1. Amendments to City Code. The text of Chapter 8 of the City Code of the City
of Plymouth, Minnesota is hereby amended as follows:
A. SECTION 810.01, SUED. 2 IS HEREBY AMENDED AS FOLLOWS:
Subd. 2. Weeds as a Nuisance. Weeds, tall grasses and other rank or harmful vegetation,
excluding Noxious Weeds, growing upon any private property or upon any property adjacent to
the traveled portion of any street, alley, trail or sidewalk in the City, exceeding the height of eight
(8) inches on properties other than Agricultural or Natural Preserves or buffer strips shall be cut
by the owner or occupant of the property. Agricultural land, for the purpose of this subdivision,
shall be properties located in the FRD zoning district and under current cultivation or properties
used for grazing purposes or undeveloped land not in the FRD district excluding portions of such
property abutting within 200 feet of property developed or under development, improved public
or private facilities or City streets. Natural Preserves are defined in Section 811.02 of the City
Code. Buffer strips are defined in Section 4, Subdivision B (definitions) of the City's Zoning
Ordinance. (Ord. 95 -10, 02107195)-
B. SECTION 811 IS HEREBY ADDED AS FOLLOWS:
Section 811 — Natural Preserves
811.01 Purpose and Intent: It is the policy of the City of Plymouth to encourage
preservation, including appropriate management, of natural areas within the community. To this
end, the City will formally recognize areas within Plymouth where the City and/or a private
property owner find it is beneficial to maintain the area in a natural state.
811.02 Definition of Natural Preserve: Publicly owned lands designated as park or open
space or private properties approved by the City which are set aside to preserve their natural
characteristics and qualities.
811.03 Procedures to Establish a Natural Preserve
Subd.1. Designation without platting. To request natural preserve designation, a
property owner must submit a written application to the City. Lands that the City
Council finds have merit as natural preserves will be so designated by Council resolution.
Ten (10) days prior to City Council action on a natural preserve, the City will mail
notification of the pending action to all owners of property within two hundred (200) feet
of the boundary of the property in question. An application for natural preserve
designation must include the following:
(a) List, mailing labels and map from Hennepin County, of names and
addresses of property owners of record (current within 6 months) located
within two hundred (200) feet of the boundaries of the subject property.
(b) A property survey that identifies the area to be designated. A
minimum of eight (8) feet of maintained area (e.g. sodded, mulched,
paved) is mandatory between the proposed natural area and any abutting
public roadway or trail.
(c) A description of the vegetation types in the area. The vegetation in
the area must consist of native plant communities. The City will not
designate areas as natural preserves that consist of previously graded area
with little or no topsoil, which is simply overgrown with whatever
vegetation will grow on the site. In addition, extreme slopes may be
excluded from natural preserve designation due to inaccessibility or
hardship in maintaining the slope.
(d) A management plan. Lands designated as natural preserves shall
be managed to ensure compliance with State Noxious Weed Laws.
Subd. 2. Designation as part of platting. If a property owner requests natural
preserve designation as part of a plat, the property owner shall follow the same
requirements set forth in Subd. 1(b) through Subd. 1(d) above. However, approval of a
natural preserve that is requested through the platting process will occur as part of the
City Council approval of the tree preservation plan associated with the plat rather than in
separate resolution.
811.04 Duration. A natural preserve shall continue to exist until such time as the City
determines that a property owner is not meeting the requirements outlined in Subd. 1 of this
section or until the property owner requests that the designation be removed from the property.
Section 2. Effective Date. This amendment shall take effect effective immediately upon
its passage.
Adopted by the City Council this 10th day of June, 20
JiNJoboyayor
ATTEST
andra R. Paulson, City Clerk