City of Ely Background Information County: St. Louis Population: 3,460 GreenStep City category: B Full-time equivalent city staff (approx.): 38 Participating township(s) / school district(s): GreenStep Coordinator Harold Langowski City staff elyod@ely.mn.us 218-226-5474 City web page relating to sustainability/greenstep activities: www.ely.mn.us GreenStep City resolution: Click here to view the file. GreenStep City status and date: STEP 2
(06/15/2016) Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed Completed actions are denoted by stars. Mouse over a star for its definition. Buildings and Lighting Efficient Existing Private Buildings { BP no. 2 } 2 Star(s) Action 6: Provide a financial or other incentive to private parties who add energy/sustainability improvements, meet the SB 2030 energy standard, or renovate using a green building or energy framework. Date action report first entered: 04/07/2014
Loan and grant opportunities for business and residential upgrades Business energy retrofit program view file Building Redevelopment { BP no. 5 } 1 Star(s) Action 3: Plan for reuse of large-format retail buildings, or work with a local school to either add-on space or repurpose space into non-school uses. Date action report first entered: 04/07/2014 Study was completed to repurpose the Community Center.
Land Use Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans { BP no. 6 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Adopt a comprehensive plan or (for Category B & C cities) adopt a land use plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity. Date action report first entered: 04/09/2014 Ely made a comprehensive plan that was updated in 2012.
view file 1 Star(s) Action 2: Demonstrate that regulatory ordinances comply with the comprehensive plan including but not limited to having the zoning ordinance explicitly reference the comprehensive plan as the foundational document for decision making. Regulatory ordinances comply with the comprehensive plan. Resilient City Growth { BP no. 7 }
1 Star(s) Action 1: Limit barriers to higher density housing by including in the city zoning ordinance and zoning map: a. Neighborhood single-family density at 7 units/acre or greater. b. Multi-family housing at a gross density of at least 15 units/acre adjacent to a commercial zoning district or transit node. City has 17 acres of single family housing with 8-10 lots per acre. 1 Star(s) Action 2: Achieve higher density housing through at least two of the following strategies:
a. Incorporate a flexible lot size/frontage requirement for infill development. b. Use density and floor area ratio (FAR) bonuses in selected residential zoning districts. c. Tie a regulatory standard to comprehensive plan language defining compact city expansion zones that limit low-density development. d. Allowing accessory dwelling units or co-housing or tiny houses / apartments by right in selected zoning districts. In the downtown district,apartments are allowed above existing businesses.
1 Star(s) Action 3: Achieve higher intensity commercial land uses through at least one of the following strategies: a. Include in the city zoning ordinance and zoning map a commercial district with reduced lot sizes and zero-lot-line setbacks, or a FAR minimum of 1. b. Set targets for the minimum number of employees/acre in different commercial zones. The Central Business District has no minimum lot size and zero-lot-line setbacks.
Mixed Uses { BP no. 8 } 1 Star(s) Action 5: Have a downtown zoning district that allows residential and compatible commercial development. City is redeveloping commercial 2 district to allow for residential and commercial development. Also redeveloping downtown zoning district to encourage mixed use development. 1 Star(s) Action 7: Create incentives for vertical mixed-use development in appropriate locations (downtown, commercial districts near colleges or universities, historic
commercial districts). The zoning code encourages space above businesses to be used as residential and office space. Transportation Living Streets { BP no. 11 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Adopt a complete streets policy that also addresses street trees and
stormwater. The City operates under a complete streets policy for decisions on streets and sidewalks. The "Ely Tree Board," made up of urban foresters, manage all public/urban trees. 2 Star(s) Action 3: Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy. 9th Avenue was completely redeveloped to incorporate retaining walls,
drains, storm water catches, and sidewalks. Mobility Options { BP no. 12 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means: a. Produce/distribute route maps, signage or a web site. b. Document increased bike facilities, such as racks, bike stations or showers. c. Add bus infrastructure, such as signage, benches, shelters, park and ride lots, and real-time arrival data-streaming. d. Increase the number of employers promoting multiple commuting options,
including offering qualified transportation fringe benefits instead of only a tax-free parking fringe benefit. e. Be recognized as a Walk Friendly or Bicycle Friendly Community. The "Incredible Ely Group" and "Ely Health and Wellness" are working to develop route maps and signs for walking and biking. 1 Star(s) Action 2: Launch an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School program.
Ely has a Safe Routes to School program. As part of the 9th Avenue redevelopment the sidewalk was extended to the youth center building. Environmental Management Sustainable Purchasing { BP no. 15 } Action 2: Purchase energy used by city government with a higher renewable percentage than required by Minnesota law. The City purchases power from Lake Country Power. LCP utilizes
renewables such as hydropower and is increasing renewable sources this year. Urban Forests & Soils { BP no. 16 } 1 Star(s) Action 6: Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of: a. Having trained tree specialists. c. Adopting an EAB/forest management plan or climate adaptation plan for the urban forest. b. Supporting volunteer forestry efforts.
City has a "Tree Board" that manages city owned trees. One member on the Board, a local botany professor, provides technical assistance on tree management. Bill, another local expert, consults the City on invasive species such as buckthorn and other water based invasive species. Parks and Trails { BP no. 18 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces. A new playground was installed in the downtown park. The band shell was also reroofed. The area is being designated to be an off road trail head.
3 Star(s) Action 3: Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members. The City has approximately 70 acres of municipal park for its 3,500 residents. Over 90% of residents live within 1/2 mile of park and protected green space.
Surface Water { BP no. 19 } 1 Star(s) Action 4: Adopt a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas. The City has a shoreland ordinance. Septic Systems { BP no. 21 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Report to landowners suspected noncompliant or failing septic
systems as part of an educational, informational and financial assistance and outreach program designed to trigger voluntary landowner action to improve septic systems. City speaks with landowners about existing septic systems outside of town. If septic systems fail it becomes a community process to address the failing system. Solid Waste Prevention and Reduction { BP no. 22 } 1 Star(s) Action 6: Improve recycling
services and expand to multi-unit housing and commercial businesses. There is only 1 private waste hauler. 1 Star(s) Action 7: Improve/organize residential trash, recycling and organics collection by private and/or public operations and offer significant volume-based pricing on residential garbage and/or incentives for recycling.
The City's 1 waste hauler service offers volume-based pricing. Economic and Community Development Green Business Development { BP no. 25 } 2 Star(s) Action 3: Promote sustainable tourism in your city, and green tourism resources to tourism and hospitality businesses in/around the city.
The City promotes outdoor based tourism. The City promotes itself as the "Gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area." http://www.ely.org/ Renewable Energy { BP no. 26 } Action 2: Consistently promote at least one of the following means of increasing renewable generation: a. A local utility's green power purchasing program that allows residents/businesses to order/buy new renewable energy. b. Local, state and federal financial incentives for property owners to install renewable energy systems.
There is a possibility of a solar energy project that would allow residents to purchase solar from one location. Local Food { BP no. 27 } 2 Star(s) Action 2: Facilitate creation of home/community gardens, chicken & bee keeping, and incorporation of food growing areas/access in multifamily residential developments. Date action report first entered: 04/09/2014
Ely has a community garden that brings local, fresh food to the people of Ely 2 Star(s) Action 3: Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city: a. A farmer's market or co-op buying club. b. An urban agriculture business or a community-supported agriculture (CSA) arrangement between farmers and community members/employees. c. A community or school garden, orchard or forest. The City owns an open lot where the community can grow produce. School uses garden for educational programs. City has a farmer's market.
Business Synergies { BP no. 28 } Action 3: Require, build or facilitate at least four of the following in a business/industrial park project: a. Shared parking/access OR shared recreation/childcare facilities. b. Green product development, manufacturing or sales OR a green job training program.. c. Buildings located within walking distance of transit and/or residential zoning. d. Renovated buildings OR buildings designed for reuse. e. Green buildings built to Minnesota's SB2030 energy standard OR renewable energy generated on-site. f. Combined heat and power (CHP) generation
capacity OR shared geothermal heating/cooling. g. Low-impact site development. Because the City is 1 mile by 1 mile, everything is within walking distance. The City has renovated several buildings including the Insula Restaurant; buildings adjacent to the old movie theater were renovated to create a bigger theater; drug store is undergoing renovation to become a mixed use building with bakery, retail, and office space. All buildings were brought up to MN code including new water heaters, furnaces, and other energy efficiency measures.