Agenda - Council - 04/25/2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Biko Associates, Inc. Ms. Anita M. Rasmusson, City Planner City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Bird., N.W. Ramsey, MN 55303 April 19, 2000 Dear Ms. Rasmusson: Thank you for the opportunity to submit a letter outlining my interest in working with the City of Ramsey on an update of your current tower ordinance. In 1995, Biko Associates worked with the City of Ramsey on an update of the city's transportation plan and would welcome an opportunity to again work with the City. I am a land use planner and an attorney licensed in Minnesota. My resume is included with this letter. I have a strong background in pi'eparing land use plans and zoning ordinances; group process facilitation; and growth management. I have found that my consulting work with Biko Associates combines my interests in planning and law by using public participation and conflict resolution techniques in the process ofdevetoping policies and ordinances. Biko Associates is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm providing services in several areas of planning, including comprehensive planning and zoning, transportation, sustainable development, and growth management. I have briefly reviewed the City of Ramsey ordinance section 9.15 Towers. The 'fundamental language regarding setbacks, heights, and placement.fails within current trends. I was, however, surprised to see towers allowed in residential zones. Although towers and residential uses can be compatible, they often are not. Local governments often restrict the placement of towers in residential zones based on aesthetic and safety concerns. I I I am currently working on a land protection project for the Osceola, WI, Main Street Program that involves the citing of a cellular tower on a water tower. In addition, I am drafting a zoning ordinance for the Town of Farmington, WI, immediately south of Osceola that wilt include a tower ordinance. These two local governments are particularly concerned about the visual impacts of towers from file St. Croix River, a national wild and sceptic river. I I Following are brief descriptions of completed ordinance projects on which I have worked: Model Sustainable Developmet, t Ordinances, 2000. Biko Associates recently completed an integrated set of sustainable development ordinances for the Minnesota State Planning Office. These model ordinances were developed for use by local governments interested in sustainable development; promoting economic development and residential growth that min{mizes local government cost and impact on natural resources. The ordinances integrate the following elements: an urban growth boundary, an agriculture and forest protection zoning district, a conservation subdivision zoning district, a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) ordinance, I I I Co~tnzunity ?lan/zit~g and DeveIop,~ent · Com/~u~ity Organizit~g · Lat~d Use · TraJ~sportatiot~ , Urban Desig~ 25 Ut~iversity Amute Southeast. Studio 403 · Minnectj~s, Mit~esora · 55414 · Phoebe (612) 623-4000 · Fax (612) 623-0200