Agenda - Council - 09/23/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

While there are parks, recreation areas, and trails in the general vicinity of the proposed action (see Ramsey Town Center AUAR Figures 25.3, Anoka County Parks, Recreation Areas and Trails and 25.4, City of Ramsey Proposed/Existing Parks and Trails) there will be no impacts to these features from official mapping. No mitigation is necessary. Scenic views and vistas. Yes .~_X No Any impacts on such resources present in the AUAR should be addressed. This would include both direct physical impacts and impacts on visual quality or integribj. 26. Adverse visual impacts Will the project create any adverse impacts during construction or operation? Such as glares from intense lights, lights visible in wilderness areas and large visible plumes from cooling towers or exhaust stacks ? X Yes No If yes, explain. If any non-routine visual impacts would occur from the anticipated development, this should be discussed here along with appropriate mitigation. Official mapping of a portion of TH 10 through Ramsey may have potential short-term and long-term visual impacts that may be both adverse and beneficial in nature. Short- term impacts may be related to the reaction property owners along the existing corridor have to the City's interim actions along TH 10 prior to major improvements-including official mapping. There is a possibility that existing property owners and business operators may interpret official mapping, as well as other interim measures (e.g. the moratorium) as a sign that highway development is imminent. Property owners may take less interest in maintaining their property may be more likely to defer future property investments. An interim period (perhaps several years from now) might also involve the emergence of recent/acquired properties interspersed with the remaining developed land. Both of these possibilities have the potential to create adverse visual impacts along the roadway. However, in the direction for the officially mapped area, which includes conversion to a freeway, may be perceived as a visual improvement over existing conditions. As discussed in Item 6, Project Description, there is a proliferation of access points along the portion of TH 10 that is proposed for official mapping. The high number of access point is negative from a number of perspectives (for example safety as discussed above). While aesthetics is subjective, it is generally accepted that too many access points can also create adverse visual impacts along a roadway. Long-term public ownership of the officially mapped area would provide the potential opportunity for a consistent roadside aesthetic along the entire TH 10 corridor, including through Ramsey. Mitigation Element See the Draft Mitigation Plan attached to the end of this document for mitigation the City of Ramsey will take to address this potential impact, largely related to Ramsey's efforts to communicate with property owners along TH 10. RAMSEY TH 10 CORRIDOR AUAR 20