1. Vision
A mixed community of residences, businesses and industrial activities is embedded in a matrix of native plant communities, wetlands, and green spaces that sustain the air, water, wildlife habitat, and natural amenities that contribute to the quality of life in St. Anthony Park.
While we recognize that a continued mix of residential, business and industrial activities will remain in the District, balancing these uses with a greater priority on environmental improvement and preservation will be practiced. We envision a systematic approach to redefining land use and redeveloping land through “green construction and site design” in order to preserve and improve ecological functioning, improve internal and external connections, and to add new green space amenities.
2. Objectives and Strategies
N1. Water Quality Improvements. Achieve measurable water quality improvements to the Kasota Ponds, Cathlin Wetland, and other natural remnants. Improve quality of all runoff directed towards the Mississippi River.
- N1a. Initiate water testing of all ponds to determine baseline data for all critical contaminants, and continue quarterly water quality monitoring of chemistries.
- N1b. Work with the city and MnDot to prevent road runoff from entering SAP ponds. At a minimum, maintain or achieve the following goals in SAP ponds from road and surface funoff:
- Conductivity: < 1500 uS (seasonal high level);
- O2: > 4 ppm (minimum year-round level);
- Nitrate: 0 ppm (year-round max) as has been the case annually since the year 2000*;
- Nitrite: 0 ppm (year-round max) as has been the case annually since the year 2000*;
- Orthophosphate: 0 ppm (year-round max) as has been the case annually since the year 2000*;
- Secchi depth: minimum visibility of one meter (yearround).
- Increase dissolved oxygen from 3 parts per million to 6 parts per million, especially during summer months.
* Field notes of Karlyn Eckman, Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota.
- N1c. Develop educational programs promoting sound home and garden best management practices for reducing the flow of contaminants and nutrients into our natural waters. This is to include the stenciling of storm drain inlets.
- N1d. Work with adjoining neighborhoods to assess H20 quality at Fairview Ponds and develop surrounding natural areas into viable habitats.
N2. Impervious Surfaces and Ground Water Recharge. Increase the level of ground water infiltration in the District by 30 percent through development standards, the creation of new open spaces, and the retrofitting of existing structures and properties.
- N2a. Establish a base line of impervious surface in the District and monitor all new development for an annual update on the impervious surfaces and changes.
- N2b. Research and promote new technologies that reduce runoff and increase ground water infiltration.
- N2c. Work with the city and advocate for changes to city utility policy that charge storm sewer fees to property owners based on the amount of impervious surface (similar to Minneapolis policy). Policy is to encourage retrofitting of existing buildings and properties or their redevelopment.
- N2d. Work with the city and advocate for zoning and development policies that encourage green roofs, pervious pavements and sustainable site designs.
- N2e. Develop education and awareness programs to increase the use of rain barrels, raingardens and the diversion of roof runoff onto pervious surfaces. Programs will be directed to areas of greatest impact such as large commercial and industrial facilities.
- N2f. Encourage rainwater gardens and sustainable landscapes.
N3. Planting of Public and Private Spaces. Use community programs and community building initiatives to increase the amount of vegetation in public and private spaces.
- N3a. Evaluate the level of current vegetation in public parks using data available from the city and that included in the report “What We Have and What We’ve Lost (August 2001)” funded through the DNR.
- N3b. Prioritize public spaces targeted for replanting based on need and community feedback. Develop a replanting and maintenance program.
- N3c. Enhance neighborhood parks and common spaces with areas of naturalized vegetation.
- N3d. Support continued beautification of Hampden Park with neighborhood participation.
- N3e. Maintain the rrent community garden and identify new garden opportunities.
- N3f. Reduce invasive species in public and private spaces (buckthorn, sumac, mulberry, and russian olive).
- N3g. Request city funding to implement a planting and maintenance program during the annual budgeting process.
N4. Habitat Corridors. Restore and/or recreate habitat corridors to facilitate movement and stablize habitat populations.
- N4a. Develop a plan to daylight and restore parts of the Bridal Veil Creek and wetland areas to improve quality of habitat, increase runoff infiltration and add new green space amenities (see N8d.).
- N4b. Focus immediate efforts to improve habitat quality around the existing Kasota ponds and along the railroads
- N4c. Control domestic and feral animals to ensure survival of songbirds and native small animal species.
- N4d. Examine current habitat and watershed linkages between North and South St. Anthony Park and across municipal lines. Create strategies for improving natural connectivity and ecological function through partnerships with neighboring organizations.
N5. Improve Air Quality. Gather appropriate data and work with community stakeholders to improve air quality.
- N5a. Analyze air quality to create a baseline of current conditions and create monitoring programs to achieve measurable goals.
- N5b. Target assessments and programs to work with business, industry, and community organizations to achieve goals.
N6. Reduce Noise Pollution. Gather appropriate data and work with community stakeholders to reduce noise pollution.
- N6a. Analyze noise levels to create a baseline of current conditions and create monitoring programs to achieve measurable goals.
- N6b. Identify sources of noxious noise and create strategies for reduction and mitigation.
N7. Increase Outdoor Light Efficiency. Educate the community about efficient and safe lighting and replace lighting to meet community standards through public infrastructure maintenance and repair programs.
- N7a. Promote measures that target an efficient use of outdoor light, to conserve energy, improve “dark skies,” and support adequate public safety.
- N7b. Eliminate upward directed outdoor lighting.
- N7c. Install pedestrian-friendly street lights in South St. Anthony consistent with the historic lanterns in North St. Anthony.
N8. Collaborate with other Stakeholders on Natural Systems Issues. Proactively reach out and colloborate with other stakeholders having an interest and influence over the natural environment in St. Anthony Park.
- N8a. Obtain public disclosure about the types and timing of herbicide use by the BNSF railroad in our neighborhoods.
- N8b. Work with the city and other stakeholders to determine better neighborhood planting strategies, including efforts to plant trees with better survival odds in given conditions, which would likely be native species.
- N8c. Work with the University to minimize pollution of the environment.
- N8d. Establish a cross-jurisdictional task group encompassing the area covered by the historic Bridal Veil Creek Watershed to develop a plan to daylight and restore the creek and wetland areas.
- N8e. Promote neighborhood beautification through gardens, public art, and other neighborhood improvements. This may be facilitated through the U of M, the Horticulture Society or local design programs.
- N8f. Partner with the DNR, MNDOT and other key organizations to promote new environmental technologies to improve wildlife habitats and watershed function.
- N8g. Work with the city and utility companies to mitigate exposure to large power lines in Hillside Court and elsewhere in the neighborhood.
N9. Support Precautionary and Sustainable Programs. Adopt policies that proactively protect the environment. Examine all actions associated with proposed programs and activities, including no-action.
- N9a. Advocate city participation in the Kyoto Protocol.
- N9b. Research and promote new technologies that reduce dependence on non-renewable resources (e.g. hybrid vehicles, solar and wind energy).
- N9c. Take a long-term precautionary approach, seeking to anticipate future events and trends, including globalization climate change, environmental pressures and stresses. Precautionary monitoring should also be applied to increased storm frequency, oak wilt, dutch elm disease, biological disease and infestation, chemical spills, invasives, and avoidance of monocultures.
- N9d. Encourage the city to take a proactive approach to treating and preventing tree disease and infestation through new programs and community education.
- N9e. Educate our community on environmentally friendly ways to manage properties. This would include community programs, lectures, house tours, and other methods to teach and raise awareness about lawn care, construction, household chemicals, and landscaping.
- N9f. Promote native species in public and private plantings. Use education and subsidy programs to increase private plantings; use communication and cooperation to influence public plantings.
- N9g. Create focal/social areas for gathering, information and environmental education in our public spaces (e.g. a gazebo in Hampden Park, a Council kiosk in South St. Anthony, speakers corner, theater, bulletin board, public art).
- N9h. Continue efforts to staff and support community cleanups, including the Kasota Pond and Eureka Neighborhood clean-ups.
- N9i. Develop strategies for green business in the neighborhood, including incentives or recognition for reduced runoff, use of mechanisms to reduce environmental impact. May also include neighborhood marketing promoting the “Green Oasis in the City.”
