Laserfiche WebLink
History of the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) <br />1973 Minnesota passes Critical Areas Act of 1973 (MN Statutes, Chapter 116G) <br />EQB adopts rules to implement Act (MN Rules, parts 4410.8100 — 4410.9910) <br />1976 Mississippi River and adjacent corridor designated a state critical area by Governor Wendell <br />Anderson (Executive Order No. 130) <br />1979 Designation continued by Governor Albert Quie (Executive Order 79-19) <br />Metropolitan Council acts to make designation permanent (Resolution 79-48) <br />1988 Mississippi National River and Recreational Area (MNRRA) established by Congress as unit of <br />NPS (MNRRA shares same boundary as MRCCA) <br />1991 MNRRA designated as state critical area per Critical Areas Act (MN Statutes, section 116G.15) <br />1995 Responsibility shifts from EQB to DNR by Governor Arne Carlson (Reorganization Order 170) <br />2007 Legislature directs DNR to prepare report on MRCCA (Completed January 2008) <br />2009 Legislature amends MN Statutes, section 116G.15 and directs DNR to conduct rulemaking for the <br />MRCCA (MN Laws 2009, Chapter 172, Article 2, Section 5.e) <br />Current Status <br />There are thirty (30) communities along corridor (21 cities, 5'counties, 4 townships), plus several quasi - <br />governmental entities. Most have adopted critical area plans and ordinances. EC/ 79-19 establishes four <br />land use districts: <br />• Rural Open Space <br />• ' Urban Open Space <br />• Urban Developed <br />• Urban Diversified <br />A majority of Ramsey is currently classified as Rural Open Space under current statute and ordinances. <br />This designation is in conflict with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan which specifies Low Density <br />Residential (LDR) in respect to density and lot size <br />Furthermore, EC 79-19 establishes performance standards and guidelines for each land use district. Local <br />governmental units (LGU) administer and enforce a variety of regulations to meet the performance <br />standards, which has led to general concern regarding consistency and sufficiency to protect key <br />resources and features, according to the DNR. <br />The MRCCA is cooperatively managed through the following processes: <br />The DNR adopts rules, reviews and approves local plans, ordinances and amendments, and <br />reviews development proposals requiring a hearing for consistency with EO 79-19 (including <br />variances, conditional use permits, site plans, etc.). <br />94 <br />