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-166- <br /> <br />August 29, 2002 <br /> <br />Mr. iVfichae! Nix-c, Chair <br />City of Ramsey Planning Commission <br />15153 Nowthen Blvd. NW <br />Kamsey, ~LN 55303 <br /> <br />Dear Chairman Nixt and members of the Planning Commission: <br /> <br />I am wrking to you on behalf of Protecting Our Natural and Distinct Surrounding <br />("PONDS") regarding Case #5 on the Commission's August 29 agenda. This is the <br />request for preliminary plat approval for Villas at Meadow Point; case of AJlstate <br />Development, LLC. <br /> <br />POWDS formally requests that the Planning Commission table action on Villas at <br />Meadow Point until more information is obtained regarding the potential impacts of <br />the developmen~ It is our poskion that there are a number of unresolved concerns that <br />make approval of the preliminary plat premature at this time. <br /> <br />Specifically, our concerns include: 1) adherence to the values expressed in Ramsey's <br />Comprehensive Plan; 2) the natural value 6fthe proposed site; 3) impacts on surrounding <br />neighbors. <br /> <br />1) Adherence to the Values in 1lamsey's Comprehensi-ve Plan <br /> <br />Ramsey's Comprehensive Plan states, "Rarnsey has an abundance of natural resources. <br />As development occurs, 'these resources become ever more threatened. It is important to <br />prese~e and protect areas that may be suitable for development but more appropriate for <br />their natural use such as wetlands for storm water infiltration, slope preservation for <br />erosion control or woodlands and prairies for .wildlife habitat. Encourag-ing <br />environmentally sensitive design and development will help preserve these natural <br />resources (page XIII- 1).' <br /> <br />The only way to detem0.ine the most appropriate use for a particular parcel of land is to <br />conduct some type of comparison of its potential uses. To our knowledge, such ~ <br />analysis has not been done for the Villas at Meadow Point site, and therefore, approval of <br />preliminary plat would violate the Comprehensive Plan. <br /> <br />2) Natural Value of the Proposed Site <br /> <br />Further examination of the proposed development is also warranted because the Villas at <br />Meadow Point site has exceptional natural value. In addition to having mature trees and <br />wetlands, the site is documented habitat for Blandings Turtle, a listed threatened species <br /> <br />?1 <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br /> <br />