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City of Ramsey MASTER HOUSING PLAN ----------------.---------------.----------------------------------------.---------------- Introduction: History - The City of Ramsey has historically developed in a typical suburban fashion. In the 1970s, Ramsey's land was developed primarily as ramblers and split level housing on large, rural lots, with the exception of auto related commercial uses and some heavy industry. Growth - Since 1985, Ramsey has had municipal sewer and water services available to the south-eastern part of the city. The relatively recent availability of these services, in addition to a continually growing and thriving metropolitan area, has sparked the interest of developers and metro area residents and workers. The City has begun a transition period of growth that is sometimes difficult to address. Developers are buying large tracts of land, requesting to connect to the available municipal sewer and water systems, and developing this land at higher densities than previously developed. This new urban development is oftentimes occurring directly adjacent to existing rural residential neighborhoods, which remain on individual septic systems. Need to Establish a Plan - Due to increasing growth and changing development patterns from rural to suburban, the City and its residents need to determine how they want to develop in the future. A plan will help to provide for orderly, well-designed, and varied housing development that provides opportunities for all types of families and people of differing income ranges. In addition, the policy makers need to identify short and long term areas of growth and redevelopment that may require public facilitation and [mancial resources. Purpose of the Plan - The Master Housing Plan (The "Plan") is intended to provide direction for future housing development in Ramsey as well as provide a vision for the City's neighborhoods as the community evolves and grows. The plan includes a review of the existing housing stock, housing trends, and housing demand within the City as well as provides a variety of goals and objectives of the City and its Housing & Redevelopment Authority. The goals and objectives were identified through a series of discussions with stakeholders in the community as part of the Comprehensive Plan update process. This included feedback from housing partners and business leaders as well as Ramsey residents. Not only does this housing plan state the realities and goals of the City, but it serves as a handbook of policy solutions to the challenges that Ramsey and similar communities face when deciding the future direction of the housing and population. Furthennore, it incorporates sources of funding available by local, state, and federal government agencies and other sources to achieve the stated goals of the community. This plan not only frames the housing issues and ideals, it answers the question of how to achieve these ideals. February 2008 City of Ramsey Master Housing Plan Page 1