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<br />6ecause little existing tree canopy cover exists In the buffer area around <br />Highway 10. new tree plantlngs will be incorporated to the greatest extent <br />~osslble when development or redevelopment takes place, The focus of this <br />planting will be on the north sldl! of Highway 10. to act as a buffer between the <br />road and high-density development which Is predominately located north of <br />the road. A continuous line of street trees along Highway 10 will be the goal. <br /> <br />POLICY DIRECTIONS <br /> <br />Major Roads <br />The Comprehensive-Pian can be used to ensure that no new parks are guided <br />within 500 meters of Highway 10. The plan can also recommend against the <br />establishment of anynew day cares or schools within 500 meters of Highway <br />10. However, an overlay zone or specific zoning requirement would need to be <br />used to explicitly exclude these uses from being established within zones In <br />which these uses are typically permitted If the location Is within 500 meters of <br />Highway 10. <br /> <br />Additional residential development Is and very likely will continue to be <br />planned for the Town Center area which is adjacent to Highway 10, The <br />Comprehensive Plan and ;ol'1lng code are the primllry policy tools thl3t will be <br />used to do this. <br /> <br />As noted above, Ramsey will notnecessarliy always meet this goal, as Highway <br />10 (and possibly other roads) may exceed 40,000 MDT at some point in the <br />future. Because. of other planning goals, such as focusing high-density <br />residential developm~nt near existing Infrastructure (both roads and transit), <br />and making efficient use of land, it is likely that the number of pOints Ramsey <br />qualifies for under this threshold will go down in the future, In fact, it couid be <br />argued that this threshold is .In conflict with other healtb goals, such as <br />increasing accessibility. As residential density increases, soteo does the need <br />for expanded transportation Infrastructure. Even in areas of dense, mixed-use <br />development, and high walkablllty, the number of auto trips can be very high, <br />and therefore, air pollution can be very high. <br /> <br />Since communithu rarely charge residents for thliil cost of roads bl!lsed on their <br />use (or miles driven), but rather YSt bondS or require developers to pay for <br />road construction and "free" parking, the costs of road construction and <br />Increased auto use (health impacts, for slIample) is dispersed and often times <br />not made a tangible part of any economic transaction. Internalizing these <br />externalities may be an effective way of achieving both goals of high <br />accessibility and high air quality. <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />-109- <br />