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<br />waS looking at rooftops as being what was needed to attract a big box, it has become a target for <br />the Met Council to take 8,000 units. He noted that could result in 25,000 people coming into <br />Ramsey, the same population it now has. Councilmember Look asked if Ramsey needs to <br />double its population or let market forces drive it. He stated he moved to Ramsey for 2.5-acre <br />lots. In response to wanting a big box use, he stated the Council talked about using eminent <br />domain and rebuilding an area but he does not think that is why Ramsey residents moved here or <br />want to see. Councilmember Look stated he looks at it from needs and wants but questioned <br />what does the City really need and what do Ramsey residents really need. He stated he wants to <br />consider that question and not just what is needed to get a big box in Ramsey. <br /> <br />Mr. Slotterback stated they are only talking about development to occur in the private market and <br />not through use of eminent domain. He explained that one of the reasons they did not show a <br />significant amount of redevelopment on existing lots is because a lot of feedback from the <br />Ramsey3 process indicated that it is important that their lot size be continued or the <br />neighborhood has similar lot sizes. Mr. Slotterback noted it is a balancing act and they tried to <br />look at areas where there is enough space to provide density transition. <br /> <br />Mr. Bilotta stated they are looking for this kind of input from the Council and Planning <br />Commission. He stated if the policy is that "x" percent of units need to come through rural <br />residential, then they can adjust the Plan to do that. He stated you can spend a lot of time talking <br />about acres and number of units but it does not mean anything until you see it. Now a <br />representation has been created to show a range and what it would look like. As consultants, he <br />stated they will follow the direction given. <br /> <br />Councilmember Olson stated whatever number Ramsey or the Met Council uses, it is immaterial <br />because it is all market driven. She stated if Ramsey is going to grow, there has to be a plan for <br />where growth will occur and then if it happens, it happens. . <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated he has worked on three Comp Plans and the City has yet to reach those <br />figures. He stated it does not happen here or in other metro cities because of economics. Mayor <br />Gamec noted it is just a planning goal. <br /> <br />Planning Commissioner Brauer described a scenario of a carrier jet accident, and stated he thinks <br />Ramsey is "staring at a plane that is on fire and hanging over the edge of a ship." He stated he is <br />amazed that the three Scenarios presented in this Plan are virtually identically to what was <br />presented three years ago. He distributed copies of Plans A, B, and C that were presented in <br />2005 and stated the similarities are uncanny. Planning Commissioner Brauer reviewed that those <br />three Plans were rejected at that time and Ramsey3 has spent three years to come up with an <br />alternative. He expressed his frustration that now, after three years, they are presented with the <br />same scenanos. <br /> <br />Planning Commissioner Brauer referenced a Met Council document related to forecast <br />methodology and advised that at the end of July, the US Bureau of Census provided new <br />population estimates. The estimates essentially show that central areas of cities are suddenly <br />starting to grow again and outlying cities are in deep trouble. Planning Commissioner Brauer <br />referenced a Washington Post series 'of articles about the gas crisis where several experts were <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / August 12, 2008 <br />Page 7 of 10 <br />