Minutes - Council - 03/15/1989 - Joint with Planning, Park and EDC

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The consensus was to maintain a 66 foot right-of-way requirement for minor streets. Mr. Greenberg noted that the County has initiated acquisition of Jim Martin's property for park land. The Economic Development Commission is opposed to the County taking any action until the alignment for the Mississippi River Bridge crossing is complete. It is the opinion of the Commission that developing the property west of the proposed Mississippi Bridge crossing is a wiser use of the land. Mr. Harfley noted that a certain amount of acreage is required in order for a regional park to qualify for Federal and Metro Council funding. Mr. Hartley also noted that $2,000,000 has been invested in sewer and water east of the Mississippi Park; there are no utilities west of the park; to usurp property to the east for park land would be a waste of some of those funds invested in sewer and water. Mr. Martin stated that he feels any advantage the City would gain from those municipal utilities is diminished by the fact that the river frontage is proposed to be developed as residential. Mr. Greenberg stated that he feels the area of the Mississippi crossing has the potential to be developed as a business center in Ramsey. Mr. Greenberg stated that the County should only acquire that amount of Mr. Martin's property required to connect the Huseby property to the Elm Creek Park Reserve across the river. Mayor Reimann agreed that the bridge crossing area should be developed to it's maximum land use. Mr. Martin noted that the City wanted the Huseby highway frontage to accommodate plans for strip development along Hwy. #10 but maybe cluster development is more feasible; the City could benefit more from having the entire Martin property available for development rather than the Huseby highway frontage. Mr. Hartley noted that not acquiring Huseby highway frontage for commercial development would present a problem in extending and paying for utilities to reach the Martin property. Mr. Hartley stated that City Staff would obtain more information but the City must be very careful not to jeopardize the priority ranking of the Mississippi crossing. Mr. Martin noted that he prefers that the alignment for the frontage road be along the north boundary of the gravel pit on his property and the alignment for the Mississippi River Bridge crossing be along the west edge of the Mississippi Park. ADJOURNMENT The workshop adjourned at 7:57 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sylvia Frolik Secretary David Hartley City Administrator City Council/Planning & Zoning/Park & Recreation/Economic Development Page 3 of 3/March 15, 1989