As far as the storm water runoff , I would disagree with Mark's assumptions. Front yard setbacks must be approximately the same on all contstruction that has been done in Mpls, so the yards are basically the same for a 3 lot 22 unit building and 3 houses or duplexes. As far as the rear, a 22 unit building will have the parking lot and the homes will probably have a 20' garage which will cover 1/2 the width of the lot. So at the most, the runoff would be double for the 22 unit versus the 3 houses. Currently the rate charged is 7 1/2 times more for the 22 unit, which is not exactly equitable. You can confirm this info by looking at the case of JAS Apartments v. The City of Minneapolis (File # 00-17717) which is going in front of the Appellate Court in the very near future.
Steve Meldahl Jordan (work) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Snyder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Minneapolis Issues Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 12:14 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Uptown Apartment Bldgs Sold (City Regulations Blamed) > > I can't speak with authority on #1, but I can say that Steve Meldahl is > incorrect with his assumption in #2. The reason for this is because the > three houses on three lots are surrounded by three yards that absorb storm > water whereas the 22 unit building on three lots has a great deal more paved > surface area (especially if there's off-street parking as well) that does > not absorb storm water and it must instead run off into the storm sewers. > > Whether there's enough of that going on to justify the price difference > Steve cites, I don't know, but there are justifiable grounds for having a > price difference. Especially when we consider just how much water is being > lost to the storm sewer system rather than replenishing our ground water > through infiltration (sinking back into the ground). > > According to a report issued this past August, Minneapolis ranks among the > top ten metropolitan areas in ground water infiltration losses. Based on > 1997 figures, we lose around 21 billion gallons of water per year. This is > more than double what was lost annually in 1982, when it was 9 billion > gallons annually. > > Why is this important? Because diminishing ground water supplies > contributes to drought conditions. And of course, since we all have to have > pristine green lawns, we consume even more water to maintain them. > > Those interested can read more at: > http://www.americanrivers.org/landuse/sprawldroughtreport.htm#execsum > > And if you're wondering what you can do to reduce your impact on storm water > runoff, a simple thing is to redirect the downspouts on your gutters so that > they empty onto your lawn or garden (away from your house, of course) and > not a paved surface like a driveway or sidewalk. > > And if you really want to make a difference, you can quit water your lawn > during the driest part of the summer and allow it to go dormant as nature > intended. I haven't watered my lawn in about 20 years. It still comes > back just fine every spring. > > Mark Snyder > Windom Park (59A) > > On 11/18/02 9:05 PM, "steven meldahl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > You are not quite right on this matter. Steve Frenz is complaining based on > > 2 reasons: > > > > 1. Sewer rates for homes and duplexes are based on water consumption levels > > during low-use winter months, while sewer rates for all others are based on > > actual water use, including the high-use summer months - see the difference? > > > > 2. The cost of storm sewer projects is based on water consumption, not on > > the size of the lot as it should be. I do not think it rains more heavily > > on apartment buildings than houses or duplexes. A 22 unit building that > > sits on 3 city lots does not produce any more runoff than 3 houses on the > > same 3 lots, yet their proportion is 7 times higher - see the difference? > > > <snip> > > > > Steve Meldahl > > Jordan (work) > > _______________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
