S.1 Identification and Avoidance of Critical Sites

Intent
Avoid selecting sites, or identify if project is on a site and minimize the development footprint on portions of sites whose natural features and functions are particularly valuable to the larger community. Avoid selection of and development on sites where soil, water, and flora/fauna indicators are in a fragile condition because of surrounding development or the natural state of the site. Knowledge of critical site conditions will help determine actions to be taken under S.4 Sustainable Vegetation Design.

Required Performance Criteria
For New Buildings Path: Avoid selecting sites that meets any one of the following Critical Site Criteria:

For New Buildings Path with a variance for site selection that meets S.1: Identify if project is on a site, and if building is allowed, minimize the development footprint on portions of sites that meets any one of the following Critical Site Criteria:

For Major Renovations Path: Identify if project is on a site that meets any one of the following Critical Site Criteria:

Critical Site Criteria:

1. Land of national, state, regional, or local natural resource and biological/ecological significance as identified in national, state, regional, or local natural resources inventories, assessments and biological surveys and land within 150 ft of this type of these areas which functions as a buffer zone.
2. Prime farmland and farmed wetland as defined by state statute rules and identified in County Soil Surveys and/or County/regional farmland and natural areas conservation/preservation programs.
3. Land whose elevation is lower than 5 feet above the elevation of the 100-year flood (as defined by the local Watershed District, Watershed Management Organization, or Joint Powers organization) and land within 50 ft of these areas which functions as a buffer zone.
4. Land which provides habitat for any animal or plant species on the Federal or State threatened or endangered list. If rare, threatened, or endangered species occur on maps of subject site, then contact the County Biological Survey (CBS) for exact coordinates of the said species. AND/OR if the site provides habitat for any rare animal or plant species using County Biological Survey (CBS,) and land which is within 300 ft of these areas which functions as a buffer zone.
5. Land which prior to acquisition for the project was public parkland, unless land of equal or greater value as parkland is accepted in trade by the public landowner (Park Authority projects are exempt.)
6. Land which is under a conservation easement.

Note: If the site does not completely avoid the conditions in S.1A, S.1C, or S.1D, there are site management implications documented in S.4D, S.4E, and S.4F respectively.

Compliance Tools and Resources

• Public Land Survey Plat Maps
• For S.1A Through S.1F Public Land Survey Notes (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Wilson Library – must have range, township, and section information on the subject site to obtain notes.)
• For S.1A Marshner’s Land Cover Map of Minnesota (www.dnr.state.mn.us/)
• For S.1A Comprehensive County "Critical Natural Resources" map and assessments such as County Biological Surveys, DNR Natural Resources Inventory and Assessment (NRI/A) (in 7 county Metro Area), local NRI/A's
• For S.1A National Wetland Inventory (www.fws.gov/nwi/)
• For S.1B See www.farmlandinfo.org/minnesota) as a starting point to help identify prime farmland and to identify other resources for this information.
• For S.1C The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resource (BWSR) can direct you to the source for most current local flood information.
• For S.1D National, state, or county databases and maps identifying habitat with identified or potential threatened or endangered flora/fauna
• For S.1E Comprehensive Plan
• For S.1F Minnesota Land Trust, Conservation Easement Holdings