5.b) Staff Report-Adoption of Fee for Wetland Application � �
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SCANDIA
Staff Renort
Date of Meeting: January 8, 2013
To: City Council
From: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
Re: Adoption of Fee for Wetland Application
Agenda Item#: S.b)
Background:
Currently, the City does not collect a fee from applicants for wetland review completed by
Washington County Conservation District. This can make it difficult for the City to recover its
costs from the applicant, as is done with other consultants are used for planning and zoning,
particularly if the applicant only makes an application to WCD and does not contact the City for
any other permits.
Issue:
Should the City Council approve a wetland application fee and escrow to be collected before
applications are reviewed by Washington County Conservation District?
Proposal Details:
After discussion with staff at WCD, City staff is recommending the City Council approve a
wetland application fee on its schedule of fees for permits. This would be added to the
Application for Planning and Zoning Request form and attached fee schedule. The fee schedule
was last updated in November 2010 and did not include a wetland application fee.
Staff proposes a$100 fee and $500 escrow for wetland reviews. Other communities have similar
fees. For example, Hugo charges $200-300 depending on the size of the site. Grant charges
$100 application fee and a$500 escrow.
If approved, staff at WCD would be informed that they may only begin review of applications if
they are accompanied by the City Planning and Zoning Request form.
Fiscal Impact:
WCD staff estimates that they review 2 Wetland Conservation Act applications per year in the
City of Scandia. This would result in an extra$200 revenue for the City, if a$100 application
fee is approved. This would cover staff time processing the request and attending TEP meetings
if necessary.
This number may increase if developments also increase.
The more important fiscal impact is in creating a means to ensure the City is able to recover the
cost from the applicant for the work performed by WCD staff. If unrecovered, the City could see
additional expenses of$1,000-1,500 per year.
Options:
1) Direct staff to prepare a new fee schedule for Planning and Zoning Requests to include a
$100 application fee for wetland review and a$500 escrow. Ordinance to be approved a
future meeting.
2) Direct staff to make some other changes to the Planning and Zoning Requests regarding
wetland reviews. To be approved at future meeting.
3) Make no changes to existing form.
Recommendation:
Option l.
CITY OF SCANDIA
ORDINANCE NO.: 123
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING FEES FOR PLANNING AND ZONING
APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY OF SCANDIA AND
REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 95
The City Council of the City of Scandia, Washington County, Minnesota hereby ordains:
Section 1. Planning and Zonine Application Fees.
(A) Applications for consideration of any planning, zoning and/or subdivision and
zoning requests pursuant to the Development Code of the City of Scandia shall be accompanied
by the fees as specified in this ordinance. No application shall be considered complete until the
fees have been paid. Application fees are not refundable.
(B) In addition to the application fee, applicants shall be required to reimburse the
city for all out-of-pocket costs that are incurred for processing, reviewing and hearing the
application. These costs shall include, but are not limited to: parcel searches; publication and
mailing of notices; review by the city's engineering, planning and other consultants; legal costs,
and recording fees. A minimum escrow deposit to cover these costs shall be collected by the city
at the time of application. The Zoning Administrator shall have discretion to increase the
amount of the escrow for any application at any time if the city's costs are reasonably expected
to exceed the minimum amount. The Zoning Administrator shall also have discretion to require
an escrow deposit even where no minimum amount is specified by this ordinance, if authorized
by the Development Code.
(C) Applications for projects requiring more than one type of review (for example, a
Conditional Use Permit and a Preliminary Plat) shall include the cumulative total of all
application fees specified for each type of review. The minimum escrow deposit shall be the
cumulative total for each type of application required for the project, unless the Zoning
Administrator determines that this amount would significantly exceed the city's reasonable
expenses to review the applications, in which case the amount of the escrow deposit may be
reduced.
(D) After review of the application has been completed and all costs have been paid,
any costs exceeding the escrow balance shall be invoiced to the applicant. Any escrow balance
remaining shall be refunded to the applicant. No interest shall be paid on escrow deposits.
(E) Amendments to previous(y approved applications shall require the payment of the
same fees as for the initial permit application, except for Plan Modifications not requiring review
by the Planning Commission and City Council or as otherwise provided by the Development
Code.
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(F) Fee Schedule:
Application Tvpe Application Fee Escrow Minimum
Variance $150.00 $325.00
• Variance Extension $50.00
Conditional Use Permit(CUP)
• Open Space Conservation Subdivision CUP $750.00 $2,000.00
• Planned Unit Development CUP $500.00 $550.00
• All other Conditional Use Permits $200.00 $300.00
• CUP Extension $50.00
Interim Use Permit $200.00 $325.00
Administrative Permits
• Driveway Access $25.00 $500.00
• Grading/Land Alteration $125.00 $250.00
• Land Clearing $75.00
• All other Administrative Permits $50.00
Site Plan Review
• Pre-application sketch review, Open Space $500.00 $500.00
Conservation Subdivision
• Pre-application sketch review,Planned Unit $500.00 $500.00
Development
• Pre-application sketch review,all other $50.00
• Site Plan Review,Minor Projects $100.00 $250.00
• Site Plan Review,Major Projects $250.00 $500.00
• Plan Modification $50.00
• Site Plan Extension $50.00
Amendment
• Rezoning(Map Amendment) $500.00 $575.00
• Amendment-Development Code Text $500.00 $500.00
• Amendment-Comprehensive Plan Map $500.00 $575.00
• Amendment�omprehensive Plan Text $500.00 $500.00
Sign(permanent) $25.00
Environmental Review
• EAW(Environmental Assessment Worksheet) $750.00 $2,000.00
• EIS(Environmental Impact Statement) $750.00 $10,000.00
Subdivision
• Minor Subdivision $100.00 $550.00
• Preliminary Plat/Major Subdivision $250.00 $1,000.00
• Final Plat $200.00 $1,000.00
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Section 2. Repeal.
Ordinance No. 95, adopted on November 16, 2007, is hereby repealed.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Scandia this 3`d day of November, 2010.
Dennis D. Seefeldt, Mayor
ATTEST:
Anne Hurlburt, Clerk/Administrator
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