Agenda - Council - 08/24/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Tom Dimond 2119 Skyway Drive Saint Paul, MN 55119 June 22, 2010 Proposed MRCCA Land Use District Boundaries Urban Open Space Retain the Urban Open Space Districts designated and delineated in Executive Order 79-19 with the exception of areas proposed as District A park and open space land. Retain in Urban Open Space the south portion of Highwood that Saint Paul designated Urban Open Space. Designate the South portion of Maplewood that abuts Highwood and Fish Creek as Urban Open Space. Designate the area between 35E and Otto Ave as District F. Saint Paul has spent much time and effort developing plans and regulations for Urban Open Space. How would eliminating the District better protect the resources identified in the Saint Paul River Corridor Plan and resources identified in the MNRRA CMP? If District C is intended to provide the same or enhanced protections it could be considered. Lilydale, Mendota and Mendota Heights currently have Urban Open Space and were offered District C as the replacement. Saint Paul and Minneapolis have not been treated the same. Both the Minneapolis and Saint Paul sides of the river should retain Urban Open Space. Much of Highwood requires a half acre or larger lots, there are dirt streets, parks, trails, natural areas and a population density lower than areas considered suburban or rural. Highwood abuts the river and is readily visible. Why would Highwood be placed in a less protective district than Lillydale, Mendota and Mendota Heights? At the confluence of the Mississippi River and Minnesota River, the bluff top lands in Saint Paul are removed from Urban Open Space and dropped to F. This area is directly across from Historic Fort Snelling, Historic Mendota and Historic Pilot Knob. This is a highly visible and prominent site at the confluence of our State's largest rivers. This site deserves at least retaining current protections. District A Along Mississippi River Boulevard use the park boundary not the boulevard. Include the river bluff south of Ford Parkway and west of Mississippi River Boulevard in District A or Urban Open Space. Include all of Fort Snelling State Park in District A. All of Historic Fort Snelling including Officers Row and the Department of Dakota Headquarters should be included. Lillydale Yacht Club should be included. Include the north side of the Mississippi, Bruce Vento, Mounds Park, Fish Hatchery and Pig's Eye Lake bounded by Reserve St, Mississippi River, Lafayette Rd, Kellogg Blvd, Commercial St, Mounds Blvd, Clermont St, Thorn St, Mounds Blvd, Burns Ave, Hwy 61, on the south follow the boundaries shown on the DNR draft maps and up the west side to Pig's Eye Lake road, Pig's Eye Lake Road to Reserve St. Transportation is an allowed use so a separate district cutting across the park district is not needed for the railroads. Pig's Eye Lake District A should be a continuous district like the Urban Open Space