Agenda - Council - 03/09/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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This past year was also an active one in terms of commercial and industrial development. The City issued 14 building permits for new construction projects for a total of 300,000 square feet. The projects included Chem Graphics, Building Fastners, Minnesota Tool and Dye, Peck Construction, Air Gas North Central, A & R Manufacturing, KCI Construction, Holiday RV, Bill's Superette, Diamonds Sports Bar, and a 50 unit Senior Housing Building. The City developed its own industrial park south of County Road #116 and east of Sunfish Lake Boulevard in 1995 to encourage industrial development. During the past four years, the City Council has approved commercial and industrial construction totaling more than $42 million in market value. This past year was also an active one in terms of commercial and industrial development. The City issued building permits for 212,373 square feet of commercial or industrial construction projects valued at $7,316,000. The nine projects included Heritage Millwork, Shorewood RV, Landmark Community Bank, Children's World Daycare, AcCent Kitchen & Design, Spectrum Fixtures, JMJ Business Center, Wolf and Associates and Ramsey Bicycling. The City developed its own industrial park south of County Road #116 and east of Sunfish Lake Boulevard in 1995 to encourage industrial development. During the past three years, the City Council has approved more than one million square feet of commercial or industrial construction totaling more than $34 million in market value. Planning Through November, 1998, the City Council approved 3 new subdivisions including 105 residential lots. In addition to the platting activity, the City reviewed 19 commercial site plans, 27 conditional use permits, 4 rezoning applications, and 11 variance requests. The Metropolitan Council requires cities within its jurisdiction to formulate and follow Comprehensive Plans for land use and transportation. Ramsey's updated plan was due at the of 1998. The City requested an extension of the submittal deadline and expects to submit its plan by the end of March, 1999. The consulting firm of Hoisington Koegler, Inc. has facilitated the process of updating the plan. In 1997, there were at least six public meetings and a random telephone survey to gather information and opinions form the public. City staff members also convened meetings with representatives of communities bordering the City and the City Council appointed a 20-member focus group to consider alternative ways to resolve issues identified during the public meetings. In 1998 the first draft of the updated plan was written and there were more opportunities for public input. On December 8, 1998, the City Council approved the 1998-2003 Capital Improvements Program. This document projects the priority and the schedule for completion of $20,841,250 in public improvements over the next five years. Most of these improvements are funded through dedicated funds that are set aside specifically for the noted project at this time. A few projects will require a general tax levy in order to realize completion. While this plan is amended by Council each year, it is this document that gives the community the best picture of projected new roads, utilities and parks over the next several years.