Public Hearing - Consider Amendment to Chapter 117 of City Code Relating to Required Depth of Topsoil; Case of City of Ramsey

In January of 2010, City Council adopted Ordinance #10-01 amending the definition of topsoil to ensure material was available that could meet the City's specification.  The City Council directed Staff to bring forth an ordinance that would increase the required depth of topsoil from four (4) inches to six (6) inches, due to the more lenient definition of topsoil, which was adopted in April of 2010 (Ordinance #10-04).

In accordance with Minnesota Statute §15.99, the City properly advertised the Public Hearing in the Anoka Union, the official City newspaper.

One of City Council's strategic goals for 2011 is to review the costs of developing within the City.  One topic that several builders called attention to is topsoil.  While builders typically understand the purpose of the requirement, they have stated that Ramsey's topsoil requirement is more stringent than surrounding communities and it is difficult to justify the additional cost when they can offer their same housing product in other communities at a lesser cost.  Reducing the required depth of topsoil back to four (4) inches, as it was when the topsoil requirement was established in 2009, could result in and estimated $1,500 savings per lot for builders while still providing improved moisture retention capabilities.  This information was presented to the Public Works Committee in April and their recommendation, which was subsequently ratified by City Council, was to amend the required depth of topsoil to four (4) inches and leave all other aspects, such as trigger mechanisms and the specification itself, as is.

Amendments to Chapter 117 are processed as part of regular Staff duties.

Staff recommends forwarding the proposed ordinance to City Council for adoption.

Motion to recommend that the City Council adopt Ordinance #11-__ amending the required depth of topsoil from six (6) to four (4) inches.