2012/06/25 - LAND USE - LUP - Other

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Buffer Restoration Plan The buffer zone/vegetation protection area requirements in Burnett County ordinance are as follows: A 50 feet deep vegetation protection area is required for Class 2 Lakes such as Benoit Lake. The vegetation protection area (the buffer) consists of two major components: the first component (35 feet deep) is a no-touch, natural vegetation zone, and the second component is a minimum maintenance zone. A single viewing/access corridor up to 30 feet wide may cross both zones perpendicular to the shore. Vegetation removal and land disturbing activities are prohibited in the no-touch zone. Limited pruning and mowing are allowed in the viewing/access corridor and the minimum maintenance zone. Walkways,pathways, and stairs must be located in the viewing/access corridor; and piers, wharfs and lifts must be placed in water immediately in front of the corridor. I talked with Craig Conroy with the Burnett County Zoning office. He explained that there was a misprint in the site plan I had along with me at the visit. The setback of the cabin including the allowed deck is 35 feet; the setback of the cabin itself is 41 or 42 feet. This is how the ordinary high water mark is indicated on the site plan. The allowance of 15 feet around the cabin remains, so there was no change in the buffer requirements from what we flagged at our visit. The Shoreline Buffer Restoration a Guide for Landowners (given to you at the site visit) provides planting instructions (page 11 and 12),plant lists, and potential sources of native plants (page 19). Local nurseries are carrying native shrubs in 3.5 inch pots this month. Locations include Wayne's Foods in Webster and Danbury, Grantsburg Family Foods, and Austin Lake Greenhouse in Webster. Burnett County sells bare root shrubs in an annual sale beginning around the first of the year with shrubs available for pick up the third week of April. However, the shorter shrubs you are interested in are generally not available in this sale. Contact the Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department for more information at 715-349- 2186. Viewing/Access Corridor and Minimum Maintenance Zone The access corridor is indicated in the enclosed site diagram. It is located near the southerly dock. A mown pathway is also indicated to the second dock to the north. Access corridors should have some vegetation to prevent erosion. This area can be seeded to lawn grass if desired. One option that works well in sand is fine fescue grass. This grass is frequently marketed as no-mow grass because it will only grow to about 6 to 8 inches.' Five pounds of no-mow grass seed will be sufficient for 1,000 square feet. Since no-mow grass is a cool-season grass, reseeding is best done in late May or early June or late August through mid September. ' No-mow grass is available from Prairie Nursery(littp://www.prairienursery.cotn/store/index.php.) and Ion Exchange(ionxchan e.com). 2