SM SMART
GROWTH MINUTES
Se September 24, 2009
Th The Smart Growth Group met in the Central Library Large Group Room at 9:30 a.m.
Att Attendees:
Fre Fred Padgett, Westside Improvement Assoc. Lindsay
Martinez, NRCS Soil Conservationist
Blaine Oliver, Area Plan
Bill Jeffers,
Surveyor
Do Donna Bergman, Evansville EPA
Larry Caplan, Cooperative
Extension
La Laura Lamb,
Evansville MPO
Karen Barnhill, Storm Water
Coordinator/Inspector
Da
Darrell Rice, NRCS
District Conservationist
Bonnie Bittner, SWCD Executive Assistant
Da Darrell Rice opened the meeting reminding participants that last meeting it
was decided to start on Riparian Buffers. A
c copy of Bill Jeffers’ draft proposal & a watershed map was passed. Blaine
Oliver explained the watershed map.
Dis Discussion on:
·
What level of steam banks do we want to address,
i.e. the whole floodway of a stream or uniform amount of footage
for buffers.
· Advantage and disadvantage of the two ideas
· NRCS program: the more slope; the wider the buffer
· Any floodway by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) they have a minimum of 25 ft. on both sides.
· Counties can add another layer as long as they don’t go below the state level.
·
One can check with the Corp of Engineers for the
high water mark then establish the amount of feet needed for
riparian buffer for
animals to travel
·
Floodways designated by DNR and tributaries of them
– should we have riparian buffers designated for both; pros
and cons
·
Pro and cons of only designating Floodway areas for
buffers which leave gaps for wildlife/ Agricultural land
exempt/developer buying
agriculture land for development.
·
Vegetation for the buffers was discussed; i.e. list
of native trees, plants, invasive species, quality of maintenance,
leave in
pristine state if it exists or enhance if needed.
· Certification of technician
· What would be required of new developments versus existing homeowners
· Need to provide education materials up and down the corridors and erecting signs designating nature easements
La Laura Lamb volunteered to
check with DNR for a map layer showing their area specification. Darrell
volunteered to
contact Matt Riehle at Bernardin and Lockmueller.
Smart Growth’s purpose was more trees in parking
lots and riparian buffers along streams. Blaine gave an update on
the parking
ot ordinance we came up with. He reported it is on the mayor’s desk.
Mike Schopmeyer wants to move on it so Blaine
asked the mayor if he and Mike could meet with the Home
Builders Association concerning the ordinance. The mayor
gave the okay to proceed.
Darrell asked if everyone wanted to continue
setting the meeting date with the web doodle. Consensus was yes that
was a good idea. He suggested sending out copies of the
Riparian Buffer Language Draft Proposal and the Watershed
Boundaries maps for everyone to study before the next meeting.
R Respectfully submitted by:
B Bonnie Bittner, Executive Assistant
Va Vanderburgh County SWCD