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NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY <br /> <br />It is important to assure that efforts to provide life-cycle housing are compatible with the <br />character of existing neighborhoods and also sensitive to the environment. In addition, it is <br />important to prevent housing in older neighborhoods from deteriorating. Some of Ramsey's <br />housing in older neighborhoods was built before Ramsey became a City and when building <br />codes were not in place. Also, there are deteriorating older housing units within the City. In the <br />future, these units may become less attractive to home buyers, thus depreciating housing values. <br />To address these concerns, the City adopts the following policies: <br /> <br />· Plan and design new housing to: <br /> (> Protect existing housing, natural features, and neighborhood identity and quality. <br /> 0 Assure there is a range of services and adequate community facilities and improved <br /> access and linkage between housing and employment. <br /> Maintain or strengthen the character of established neighborhoods and assure that all housing <br /> units are safe, sanitary, secure, and free from blight. <br /> <br />The City of Ramsey also adopts the following neighborhood quality policies and activities: <br /> <br /> The City will work to protect the integrity and long-term viability of residential <br /> neighborhoods and reduce potential negative effects of commercial or industrial land uses <br /> through zoning, site plan review, and code enforcement. <br />· Ramsey will require and enforce high design and maintenance standards for multi-family <br /> residential development. Design standards will include provisions about building massing, <br /> architectural design, off-street parking ratios and location, access, traffic impacts, <br /> landscaping, fencing or screening, and trash handling. <br />· Ramsey will assure that development respects the natural environment to the maximum <br /> practical extent. <br />· The City will continue to use its shoreland, floodplain, and environmental protection <br /> ordinances to assure protection of lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands, steep slopes, and <br /> woodlots. <br />· Ramsey will encourage the maintenance of its housing through its housing maintenance <br /> codes. <br />· The City, through its Economic Development Authority, will participate in programs to help <br /> property owners with home maintenance and improvements through loans and, if available, <br /> grants. <br />· Ramsey will target any rehabilitation efforts at homes built prior to 1977. <br /> <br /> <br />