Rochester,
Minn. – Engineering
and consulting firm WSB today announced that Chris Petree is joining the
organization as the director of Rochester operations. As the former public
works director for the City of Rochester, Petree joins the firm with more than
two decades of experience working for municipalities.
“I am thrilled to welcome
Chris to our firm. For several years, he has partnered with WSB on many
projects and I am confident that he will help drive momentum for WSB,” said
Bret Weiss, WSB’s President & CEO. “Chris is known for his leadership and commitment
to the public works industry. I look forward to introducing him to our clients
and the entire WSB team.”
In his previous role with
the City of Rochester, Petree was responsible for the supervision, management,
planning and coordination of all activities of the Rochester Public Works
department, from transit and land development to wastewater and stormwater management,
as well as the oversight of 160 employees and a multi-million-dollar annual
operating budget. Petree also previously served as public works director for
the cities of Lakeville and Hugo.
“We are so fortunate to have
Chris join our municipal team here at WSB,” said Monica Heil, WSB’s senior
director of Municipal Services. “His strong connection to the community and
extensive experience working with cities across a variety of services make him
an invaluable addition to our operations.”
As part of WSB’s municipal
team, Petree will lead operations and projects in Rochester, oversee the firm’s
work in southeast Minnesota, and support clients across all offices by sharing
best practices around project management, quality control and client engagement.
As a consulting engineering firm, WSB often works with municipal clients on
projects ranging from public engagement plans to road improvements.
“I’ve worked alongside WSB
for over 20 years and I am thrilled to be joining their team,” said Petree. “I
look forward to delivering for our clients in the Rochester area and supporting
our efforts across the country.”
So, your comprehensive plan is done – and everyone is breathing a big sigh of relief. Now what?
A community’s comprehensive plan includes recommendations on
land use, housing, and other areas that are described and enforced by that
city’s zoning ordinance and subdivision ordinance. Without updating the zoning
ordinance many planning goals may not be attainable. Zoning is important to
promote and manage growth and to help residents and businesses manage
expectations about what they and their neighbors can do with their property. Simply
put, you can’t attain the development goals established in a comprehensive plan
without a zoning ordinance.
A sense of relief and accomplishment at the end of the comprehensive
planning process is understandable; it can take years to update a comprehensive
plan. As a former local government planner, I have been asked many times if a
plan will just “sit on the shelf.” This often stems from a lack of ability to
build the plan. Zoning means different things to different stakeholders. For
developers, zoning is a building tool. For residents, it is a tool used for
protection from the unknown. For local government, it is a tool to promote the
prosperity, health, and welfare of the whole community. For planners, zoning is
a tool to achieve the plan goals. Turning a comprehensive plan into a reality
can be largely based on the zoning ordinance. An update to the zoning ordinance
should be incorporated when updating a comprehensive plan.
Here are four reasons to update your zoning ordinance:
An update leads to increased buy-in from elected officials and community stakeholders. Planning is a visionary process. If stakeholders know that the zoning comes next, they may be more likely to participate and stay involved. The zoning ordinance puts plans into action.
It helps ensure the zoning work will be completed and budgeted for in advance of planning fatigue that can overwhelm the late phases of updating the comprehensive plan.
The comprehensive plan visioning may be stronger with the knowledge that zoning should occur immediately following completion. The comp plan will be more targeted to the conditions of the community and supported by stakeholders and elected officials. In other words, visions are rightsized to the community.
The plan visions may be sooner realized. Oftentimes planning fatigue and competition for staff time and resources result in zoning updates being pushed off for months or years, potentially resulting in legal challenges or extended project timelines.
And beyond just planning for the zoning update, here are six
reasons to update your zoning ordinance:
Legal protection. Zoning decisions that have no basis in the comprehensive plan are more successfully challenged in court. There must be a rational basis for zoning decisions and requirements. Additionally, cities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area must comply with the Metropolitan Land Planning Act which imposes certain mandatory zoning and regulatory requirements and requires that zoning directives harmonize with and not contradict the comprehensive plan.
To reflect federal and state law pertaining to land use and zoning. For example, how we regulate non-conformities has changed in Minnesota, with local authority over non-conformities weakening. Also, legal decisions regarding signage impact how local government reviews sign applications.
To incorporate plain language and resolve internal conflicts that are the result of decades of incremental updates. The use of plain and clear language to define uses and terms strengthens the legal standing of ordinance interpretations.
To address confusing concepts that have led to inconsistent application of code. Modern zoning codes use graphics to illustrate concepts such as setbacks, lot coverage, and floor area ratio.
To adapt to societal changes that conflict with narrow use categories and single-use zoning, such as allowing home offices, businesses, accessory units, and accessory structures within homes and on single-family lots.
To incorporate best practices in land use and development that focus on how a building fits into its context and ways to mitigate use conflicts rather than narrowly legislate use of private property.
Although, there are many factors that determine how quickly
a comprehensive plan can become a reality, zoning is certainly not a factor to
discard.
As of September 1, Texas has made several changes to the land use planning review process. Specifically, the site plan and subdivision platting approval processes have been shortened to 30 days. The chart to the right demonstrates the revised work flow and timelines used in order to compile with the new planning review process. This new schedule is increasing pressure on local municipalities who are likely feeling pressure to comply with the new application process.
Our community planning team is experienced with navigating legislative
and ordinance process changes that create tight deadlines. We have spent years leading
clients through city internal reviews and staff capacity issues. By assisting
with ordinance and procedural changes, tracking applications, handling
communications, and ensuring that all statutory requirements are met, we help our
clients meet the needs of their communities. Our team uses an interactive and
quality control approach to account for every detail to ensure our clients’
success and the smooth operation of their Planning Department.
Client communities can relax and feel confident that their boards, councils and commissions have all the information they need to make educated decisions during the changing legislative landscape and the entire planning review process.
In the past few years, there has been a push to utilize
renewable energy resources. In Minnesota and other states, there has been
legislation to require some of this renewable energy to come from solar. According
to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Minnesota ranks 13th
in the nation for megawatt production, producing 1,140 MW of energy from solar.
This push for solar has resulted in the development of small-scale and
community solar gardens which construct panels across a variety of landscapes,
including low-lying wetland areas.
In Minnesota, there are rules and regulations for impacts to
wetlands that include regulations surrounding the placement of a structure in a
wetland. These rules are outlined in the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA). The WCA
allows the construction of some panels in wetland areas depending on the type
of impact, but regulation of these impacts is highly variable throughout the
state due to lack of specific language regarding whether solar panels truly
cause wetland impacts. There are opinions that suggest that the installation of
solar panels within wetlands affect the quality of the wetland vegetation under
the panels over time. In addition to these regulations, the Board of Water and
Soil Resources (BWSR) also has standards that encourage developers of solar
fields to plant vegetation that benefits pollinators.
Currently, there isn’t any research that explores the direct
impact of solar panels on wetland vegetation. From small community solar
gardens to large utility scale solar gardens, the energy generated can benefit
communities, but what is the impact on the underlying vegetation? If solar
panels are placed in a degraded wetland such as a farm field, would the
installation of panels and native seed mixes improve the quality of wetland
vegetation?
Where is the research?
The lack of research explaining direct impacts that solar
installations have on vegetation is a challenge for scientists and engineers.
Through communication with regulators and developers, we have discovered there
is room for growth and study in this area, and it is a topic that needs
continued exploration. This data gap has led us to develop our own vegetation studies
at community solar gardens. This data is imperative if we are to continue to
rely on solar energy resources. Without current guidelines that outline negative
or positive effects, we are unsure of the long-term overall environmental
impacts to vegetation quality under solar panels, which in turn affects the
quality of natural habitat and functional benefits provided by the landscape.
How do energy companies know if they are impacting the environment that
surrounds solar gardens? Pursuing funding for extensive research has been challenging
for those who are curious about the effects of installation of solar technology
on surrounding vegetation. Even after preliminary research, many questions remain
surrounding the shading of solar panels and vegetation, direct impacts, and
long-term effects.
What does this mean for the future?
SEIA projects that Minnesota’s solar energy consumption will grow by 845 megawatts within the next five years. Financial support to continue this research is necessary and will allow scientists to uncover data at solar sites that does not yet exist. With this data, we can better understand the environment, impact of projects on vegetation, and develop tools to distinguish impacts. Developers looking for land will better understand the risks involved when building a solar garden on or near a wetland. As need and desire for renewable energy increases, more energy companies will implement solar. However, if we are not aware of the impacts solar gardens have, how will we know if there is an additional cost to the environment? Knowing areas to avoid allows companies to be certain of regulations, save time and money, and limit impacts to surrounding wetlands. We are continuing to complete research to better understand the impacts and benefits of solar arrays on underlying vegetation.
Roxy is an environmental scientist and certified wetland delineator. She has a master’s degree in ecology and is a Certified Associate Ecologist . She has completed numerous wetland delineations and has experience with wetland monitoring, ecological restoration design, environmental site assessments, field research, biological surveys, ArcGIS mapping, and GPS Trimble.
You encounter many opportunities to pursue grants throughout the year. Grants can be a great way to fund community needs. However, preparing applications comes with expense – staff time and effort or consultant fees. Not to mention, there’s no guarantee you’ll be awarded anything. Is it worth the effort? Below are some things to consider when making a decision.
1. Know the program requirements
Does your project or need fit the eligibility requirements? Try talking to the grant administrator to see how well your project fits within the program requirements.
If a local funding match is required, make sure your community has the funds available.
If the grant is for construction, does the project need to be let or constructed by a certain date? If so, be sure your community meet that requirement.
2. Know the real level of effort
Calculate the cost: consider staff hours or consultant fees needed to prepare the application.
Can your community meet all of the application requirements, including the due date?
3. Identify the grant team
Assign a grant champion – the person who will see the application through from start to finish.
Identify who will provide the technical portions of the application. For example: engineering layout; cost estimates; benefit/cost analysis; etc.
4. Obtain necessary approvals and endorsements
Is your community leadership on-board with pursuing the grant?
If the application will benefit from outside support from stakeholders or elected officials, be sure to request those items early.
5. Identify unstated factors that may influence success
Has your community recently been awarded money from this funding source? Oftentimes, grant administrators award money based on historic awards in an effort to ensure everyone has an opportunity.
Identify any outside factors that may influence selection.
Thinking about the items above will help you make an informed decision – balancing the level of effort required compared to the likelihood of success.
Need help deciding whether or not to go after a grant or wondering if any grants might fit a project? We can help.
Mary is a Sr. Transportation Planner at WSB with over 17 years of progressively complex transportation planning and project management experience, gained from working on a variety of transportation projects for modes including roads/bridge, transit, and trails.
As your public works team begins to prepare for winter, they will undoubtedly be using road salt to accomplish the important task of removing ice from Minnesota’s roads and sidewalks to keep residents safe as they walk and drive. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, an estimated 365,000 tons of road salt are used each year in the Twin Cities metropolitan area alone. However, overuse of road salt can lead to chloride pollution which harms lakes and rivers and the aquatic species that live there – and in some instances, even pollutes our drinking water. Once road salts are dissolved in the aquatic environment, it is nearly impossible to remediate the pollution.
What exactly are chlorides?
Chloride salts are salts that contain chlorine (Cl). Chloride salts are used to de-ice our streets and soften our water. They are also a pollutant that can damage the environment as well as man-made structures if accumulated in large amounts.
How can chloride be harmful?
When salt is applied to roads, the ice melts and dissolves the salt which creates chloride runoff into lakes, rivers and aquifers. Similarly, the brine discharge from in-home water softeners is discharged to municipal wastewater treatment plants and ultimately reaches the environment. This chloride becomes very difficult – if not impossible – to remove from our water. Chloride can disrupt ecosystems, threaten aquatic species and wildlife, and make potable water undrinkable. In fact, it only takes one teaspoon of road salt to contaminate roughly six gallons of drinking water.
Chlorides are also corrosive, causing damage to vehicles, bridges and other infrastructure. This leads to more maintenance and ultimately more costs for residents and municipalities.
How can cities help curb chloride pollution?
Prevention Road salt is one of the largest contributors to chloride pollution in Minnesota, but it is essential in keeping the public safe during icy winters. Earlier this year, Minnesota created a statewide chloride management plan for managing salt use and protecting our water resources in a strategic way. Municipalities are encouraged to review the plan to learn more. In the meantime, you can reduce chloride pollution by doing the following:
Make sure road salt is stored and transported securely.
Use a sprayed salt brine on pavement prior to snow and rainfalls to reduce your need for road salt.
If it’s below 15 degrees, your typical road salt loses effectiveness. Consider other options like sand or other de-icers.
Only apply road salt where needed and leave space between granules. Your average coffee cup holds enough salt for 10 sidewalk squares or a 20-foot driveway.
Be deliberate about slowing down and capturing runoff stormwater from roads and urban areas.
Educate the public on the risks of chloride pollution and offer alternative materials such as sand for use in de-icing.
Provide information to the public on the local drinking water quality and the consequences of in-home softening systems.
Need help curbing your road salt usage or more information about chlorides in your water? Contact WSB.
Ashley’s experience includes water and wastewater process design, construction management, and contract execution for both municipal and industrial wastewater and water clients. Her work includes sanitary force mains, interceptors, and lift stations, water treatment and water distribution, WWTP and collection system rehabilitation, sanitary sewer odor control, biogas utilization, and sludge and biosolids handling.
October 4, 2019 marks WSB’s 24th year of business. Every year on our firm’s anniversary, I reflect on WSB’s journey. Recently, I was in New York City at a conference and was reminiscing on the past 24 years and thinking about the future. While in New York, I saw the musical Hamilton again and began to understand why I’m drawn to it. One of the early songs in Hamilton is called “My Shot.” Alexander Hamilton sings about his place in history and how he is not going to throw away the opportunity that he has been given. He says that he is like his country, “young, scrappy and hungry.” That description is a good way to describe WSB founders Ron Bray, Pete Willenbring, Don Sterna and myself 24 years ago. In terms of firm age and staff, that description remains true in 2019. We have grown from seven staff in one oversized office in 1995 to more than 500 staff in 12 offices throughout four states today. Our secret sauce has always been our attitude of hunger and scrappiness – now reflected in our WSB Way values that remind us to be bold, authentic, passionate, optimistic and visionary.
As four founders on the verge of something new, we didn’t throw away our shot and we continue to work every day to provide opportunities to our staff so they can take their shot in a supportive and collaborative environment. Now 24 years later, I am more inspired by our team and have more passion and fire to be the best that we can be. Our industry is changing at a pace that we haven’t seen before, and we must be at the forefront of that change. I’m amazed when successful companies choose to relax and rest on past successes. Nothing is promised to us and without continued improvement and change, those companies will not exist in the future. From technology, productivity, sustainability to diversity, there is much more to do, and I believe that we are well-positioned to continue to lead. In recent years, we’ve been improving quality, expanding our offerings to new markets and service areas, and focusing on hiring and developing an amazing team. I am so thankful for our staff and clients who have helped build WSB and I am excited for our future successes as we begin to celebrate our 25th year in 2020.
In the musical, Hamilton’s wife says that he writes like he is running out of time. I can appreciate that feeling as we race to be our best. WSB is still a young company and there is much more ahead of us. My advice to our staff is to keep their heads up and watch for opportunities. Don’t make assumptions or preplan your career. You might miss out on something wonderful that you couldn’t have imagined. We have lived by that philosophy over the past 24 years and I know that our 25th year will be no different.
Today, we take time to celebrate the success we have had for 24 years, and after we will look to the future and move forward with passion, optimism and a bold vision to be the most authentic firm we can be. As Alexander Hamilton says, “That would be enough!”
Minnesota winter is fast approaching; recent experience and climatologists tell us that our temperatures are warming, but also more moisture in the atmosphere promises more winter precipitation. Snow, sleet, freezing rain, and more snow. Are you prepared for what winter has in store for you and your facilities? The public has come to expect early and effective response to winter storms, and that puts pressure on operations staff to meet expectations regarding mobility and safety.
Effective snow and ice control starts with proper planning well in advance of the first snowfall. Indeed, with facility budgeting it often means planning 18 months or more in advance. Having a formal plan will help address the bad weather when it comes, and just as important, it will help justify budget requests needed to meet the increasing demands in the realm of snow and ice control. Most importantly, planning ahead will make you more effective in providing a safe environment for students. Safety is paramount; running out of material, short staffing, obsolete equipment, forgotten maintenance activities, and the inevitable “accidents” that result are preventable.
A good snow and ice control plan looks at much more than when and where to plow snow. It establishes criteria for measuring success–and gets the buy in from policy makers and officials on those criteria. It explores equipment, staffing, contractor, material needs. The snow and ice control program establishes the need and creates a justification for budgeting for the proper tools, equipment and staff to get the job done as everyone expects.
Ensure you are properly prepared for the coming weather. If you don’t have a formal snow and ice control program, or you’d like to make the one you have a more useful planning and communication tool, it’s not too late to ask for help.
Klay has worked in the public sector for over 34 years serving four different communities. He has experience in capital improvement planning, infrastructure planning, comprehensive planning, site master planning, facility expansion projects, and interagency partnership agreements.
Denver, Colorado – Fast-growing
Minneapolis-based consulting and design firm WSB opened a new Denver office
this week at 5660 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. in Greenwood Village. The new office
will allow WSB to recruit and retain additional talent to serve clients in the
Denver area. WSB, which provides engineering, planning, environmental, traffic
analysis, landscape architecture, survey, and construction services for the
public and private sectors, has been rapidly growing in the Denver area over
the last year.
“We’ve
been expanding our capabilities in the Colorado market over the past year and
this new office marks our commitment to growing our services and team,” said
WSB President and CEO Bret Weiss. “Clients throughout Colorado have access to
the same full-service experience, advanced technology and industry-leading
expertise offered through WSB.”
The
Denver office is WSB’s second location in Colorado. The firm has had a
dedicated Utility and Pipeline team in Westminster since earlier this year. WSB
began expanding in Colorado through the acquisition of Legacy Engineering,
Inc., a Denver-based land development engineering services firm. The new
3,400-square-foot office includes room for the current 11-person Denver team to
expand up to 17 people.
“WSB
is growing a new family here in Colorado,” said Jim Mill, principal and Denver
office lead. “The new office reflects WSB’s culture and we are excited to share
this with more people in this market. A
brick-and-mortar location adds some permanence to our Colorado operations and
is attractive both for our team members and clients.”
Headquartered
in Minneapolis, WSB is the fourth-largest engineering firm in the Twin Cities.
When it was founded in 1995, the company had five staff, one office and three
different services areas. Today, the company offers services in more than 25
areas, employs more than 450 people and has expanded its markets beyond
Minnesota with 12 offices across four different states.
