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Alena Hunter, 14628 Helium Street, Ramsey, read the following prepared statement:
<br /> development allows a citizen to plant roots in a city and gives them the chance to rem~in'i:ih a city
<br /> they've chosen, through all the stages of their life Our ,c, hildren will eventually~.~d.places to
<br /> live that they can call their own once they leave the "nest. _At},,d they'll need
<br /> to meet their needs. And as we creep closer to retirement, we 11 want a place!~6~all our '¢~!ilhat
<br /> gives us the freedom to enjoy our retirement, without the burden of m~t~ing a
<br /> mxght be too large or too &fficult to hve in. And we 11 want se~ces to 'meet.. our
<br /> needs. When people plant roots in a city, they're more likely to~be~6m~jactiv~i'~:~mbers of
<br /> community. And when more people become involved, the co~hn~'~y l~b~mes a better place for
<br /> every citizen. If you simply have one type of housing, or ori¢:.Wi~e of business, or service, you
<br /> cannot meet the variety of needs of your citizens of all:.a~S~i''' Diver~e~development also helps
<br /> keep our property taxes lower by bringing a variety~:.of~:):~e~nue sour~i'!TM ;the City. A person
<br /> can't simply live on bread and water their entire lif~::~v(th~t:any othCrli0UrCe, of nutrition, and
<br /> expect to live a long healthy life. The. same is true'for a '~i~?~:!f. yb~"iimlt~'the source of tax
<br /> revenue, it eventually proves unhealthy for a city. Both citizer~s:~d BUsinesses rely on a variety
<br /> of services to meet their needs. If they can't find the services th~Y-"..'he~d and want here, they'll
<br /> look elsewhere, and eventually leave for a community that gives t~i"Wha(.th~'want. When
<br /> homeowners and businesses leave, you-.~sse .tax revenue. And when y~u lo~ thx revenue, you
<br /> have trouble funding the basic services:ithatcitiz~n~.n~ed.' And when ypt~:cafi't fund those basic
<br /> services, you lose more peop!eand b-~nesses ~Amd.:'~at s ~the visc0us~:e;3;cle that makes a city
<br /> stagnant. Diverse developm&nf'prevents stagnation,:r.(i:-~i:¢'etroP~6.1itan area is growing and
<br /> changing, and the population is aging, we have the'~6rfect oPi~'6rt~ih"ity to meet the needs of this
<br /> area, as well as the needs of our citizens,'' ~d ca'~i~'d~' it with: kmi~xed use area between Ramsey
<br /> Boulevard and Armstrong. Boulevard, which }~ known as sec~i'~)n 28. We all know that there is
<br /> opposition all over the city to high density development. We know that residents don't want to
<br /> have it "in t~ei[ ;backyard." ~But with your si~tureS;-you've committed to provide the housing
<br /> and serv!Ce~ ~ meet the nee~ bf our changing ~:!i, section 28 is perfectly suited to meet a large
<br /> portionofLlie commercial,_tih~¥industrial and h{sU~ng needs of this city, without dropping it right
<br /> in s6meone'.S:: backyard," ~Ms.-HuBter r~_ep&t. ,'::~:~ portion of a letter dated November 7, 2000,
<br /> addressed to ~Metrop01itaW'C0unciI!,-R~'Pi,~bntative Natalie Haas Steffen indicating Ramsey
<br /> agreed to make changds' to the Comprehehkive Plan. She stated those changes established a City
<br /> -.-. ;"7iSTS Tracking and Notification System as part of the Comprehensive Plan, identified at least a
<br /> · --' ...... f00za~i-b mixed-use area in .the .,xi'icinity of the proposed NCDA rail station where sufficient high-
<br />'-. density residential develbp~'~eint' is allowed, to meet Livable Community negotiated goals,
<br /> commitmen~t.t0'ta density. °f~fleast 15 units per acre within the town center area, and to finalize
<br /> the ComprehenSive Plan tO-be consistent with the Regional l~lueprint. Ms. Hunter stated there is
<br /> no denying theisignatures of Anderson, Connolly, Zimmerrnan, Gamec, and Hendriksen on those
<br /> .... .i:'.-~.. letters. She stated there is also no denying they have already made that agreement. Ms. Hu_n!e_r
<br /> '-'' ': .continued to. read her prepared statement as follows: "With your signatures on the November 7th
<br /> letter to the Met Council you've already committed to that mixed use area, and you need to stand
<br /> by'that-.commitment. It would be very irresponsible of you not to do so. The Mississippi River
<br /> cr0'ssihg needs to happen now. Ramsey has had the crossing in their Comprehensive Plan for at
<br /> least 15 years. Ramsey and Dayton have finally come to a compromise on its location, and we
<br />
<br />-104-
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<br />City Council/March 13, 2001
<br /> Page 22 of 31
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