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......... 'November 8, 1999 Draft <br /> <br />restricted for development by floodplain, shoreland management <br />or wetland ordinances. Assuming that agricultural lands will <br />eventually become developed, this area could accommodate <br />approximately 120 additional housing units on private septic and <br />well systems. A development option within the rural area would <br />consist of small pockets of housing or cluster housing with lot <br />sizes being dictated by the physical constraints of the site and <br />soils capacity to handle on-site septic systems as required by <br />state law. Cluster housing can provide oppommifies for <br />protection of larger contiguous open spaces, preservation of <br />wetlands and tree canopy, preservation of agricultural lands and <br />preservation of rural lifestyles and character. See chapter XIII. <br />Environmental Protection for a discussion on cluster housing and <br />other land protection tools. <br /> <br />Rural Developing <br /> <br />The Rural Developing area is the largest land use within the City <br />of Ramsey.' This area consists of roughly 8,794 acres. The <br />existing primary use of this area is ve_ry low-density residential <br />development with average densities of roughly 1 unit per 2.5 <br />acres, a development pattern that was established in the early <br />1970s. This development pattern accounts for roughly 4,500 <br />acres of residential development within the Rural Developing <br />area. Because of this very.low-density pattern of development <br />and the nmnerous wetlands, the extension of urban services to <br />the rural developing area is not practical or financially feasible. <br />Regional growth policy would suggest imposing a gross density <br />consistent with the Rural Preserve area of 1 unit per 10 acres. <br />However, because of the historical development pattern that has <br />already been well established, an overall density of one unit per <br />10 acres will never be established. <br /> <br />The maximum density for the Rural Developing area shall be 1 <br />unit per 2.5 acres gross. This density was determined by <br />examining the natural features and the predominant existing <br />density within the Rural Developing area. In addition, this <br />density falls within the parameters set by the Focus Group in <br />previous comprehensive planning meetings (see "Critical Issues" <br />discussion on pages 17-18). There are roughly 2,200 acres of <br />vacant lands within the Rural Developing area. Assuming future <br />development of agricultural lands (which is the current trend) <br />densities of 1 unit per 2.5 acres would yield roughly 880 <br />additional residential housing units on private sewer and water <br />systems. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Ramsey Comprehensh,e Plan Page V-13 <br /> <br /> <br />