Agenda - Council - 11/25/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Tim Gladhill From: eric zaetsch [ezaetsch @gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 6:27 AM To: Kurt Ulrich; Amber Miller; Tim Gladhill; Matt Look; Sarah Strommen; d.elvig @estreetmakers.com; Bob Ramsey; Mayor Gamec; Mary Jo Olson; David Jeffrey Subject: My prior email re rationale and process of Comp Plan going 2000+ units over quota, given water constraints and all Kurt & all - I believe I should say one or two more things stand better explain A process engendering Comp Plan was posted as my public view what I posted, and I by it suggested and followed, then at the last moment, without sufficient real notice a quota was exceeded without any explanation given those induced into trusting the process. The "without any explanation" dimension is what is troubling. Add to that the water situation was known at staff levels, and not integrated in a way I would have done it in the public processes, and add to that a feeling some share with me that the prior city administrator had ways and means that, hopefully, left with him and cause for frustration should be apparent to you, Kurt, and others I am emailing. Presuming there was some,rationale, and that staff intent to do what's best for Ramsey was not overborne by those only consulting and advising - i.e., presuming staff had cause, even in light of the water availability constraints, to plan thousands of units above quota, it is inexplicable that such cause was not explained before or at the Planning Commission public hearing. The consultant talked fast and quite long at the Planning Commission session, but neither he nor staff said boo about adding thousands of units over quota - as if it were an inconsequential thing - thus giving the appearance of hoping it might go unnoticed. That is a questionable way to deal with a trusting public. So, I can see possible rationales - neighboring communities might want cutbacks, so more units were written in at this stage, accommodating land owner will lead to the glut, some explanation beyond it was simply and arbitrarily done for no good reason. Learning that rationale and the process of staff - consultant deliberation might make the ending feelings of trust stronger, the sting of such a surprise move less galling. Or not, on the answer. If it came out more units north of Trott Brook in the plan caused the overage, then that is cause to preserve more prime jobs - generating land along Highway 10 for industrial park and business purposes, while still meeting quota but presenting the best future for Ramsey where long metro wide commutes are lessened by promoting having jobs and people growing more dense in Ramsey together, over time ideally with jobs growing at a faster rate because such property adds more to the tax base while requiring less servicing cost to come from residential taxpayers. Kurt, I hope you and Amber and Tim can understand, however, how this only via -a- visual "leak" l of substantial thinking, without offering explanationhoorerati have or re his raised a problem that now, top down, I am asking staff to or at least plausible answers and do not simply circle the wagons. Thanks. Eric -334- 1