Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/19/2013 - Strategic Planning

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Ramsey Final Report Grant No. 05 -1237 City of Ramsey In the end, the group concluded that Ramsey needed a combination of these approaches to avoid something too proscriptive and inflexible. What they favored was a "smorgasbord" approach that took from the best of each of the new alternative zoning ideas and applied them to parts of the city where they might best work. For example, a New Urbanist development might be appropriate in some area of the City but not necessary in all. In articulating this, the group affirmed the transect concept that is gaining much attention among planners. Ramsey may prove a particularly fertile ground for this concept because we range from the New Urbanist concept of the Town Center to the rural farming areas north of Trott Brook. Review By a Larger Group of Citizens Using OST. In a three -hour evening session lead by Michael Herman Ramsey invited all citizens to attend an OST session to review the draft vision document drawn up by the Work Group. Most of those attending this session had attended one of the earlier OST sessions held the previous summer, reinforcing that this method of collaborative decision - making is one trusted by citizens because it is citizen lead. Herman began the session by having the Work Group review what it had accomplished and presenting the draft to them. A "library table" at the rear of the room also contained preliminary drafts from the Work Group sessions as well as key City documents such as the current Comprehensive Plan, City Code Book, and a map of the city. A staff member served as a resource for the "library" for those who had questions. Because of experiences the previous summer when citizens sometimes used this as an opportunity to address personal issues not related to OST session, citizens were asked to defer these questions to discuss with staff privately. Herman then "opened the space" to those who wished to raise issues or comment on the draft document. Two of these sessions were held within the three -hour time limit. At the conclusion of the evening the entire group met to review the draft document and comment about the issues raised. Perhaps the most gratifying aspect of this final evening was the dramatic change from a year ago. While there were still differences among participants, the atmosphere of the session was one - 19 - Mandated New Urbanism Neighborhood, high standards Can be expensive Community, walkability Elitist Place, amenities More restrictive More restrictive No space for boat /toys More planful- efficiency/benefits Need to be planful /takes effort Can be used w /conventional development Form -based Codes Emphasis on form Requires up front work Could be part of PUD Too rigid to accommodate underlying changes Ramsey Final Report Grant No. 05 -1237 City of Ramsey In the end, the group concluded that Ramsey needed a combination of these approaches to avoid something too proscriptive and inflexible. What they favored was a "smorgasbord" approach that took from the best of each of the new alternative zoning ideas and applied them to parts of the city where they might best work. For example, a New Urbanist development might be appropriate in some area of the City but not necessary in all. In articulating this, the group affirmed the transect concept that is gaining much attention among planners. Ramsey may prove a particularly fertile ground for this concept because we range from the New Urbanist concept of the Town Center to the rural farming areas north of Trott Brook. Review By a Larger Group of Citizens Using OST. In a three -hour evening session lead by Michael Herman Ramsey invited all citizens to attend an OST session to review the draft vision document drawn up by the Work Group. Most of those attending this session had attended one of the earlier OST sessions held the previous summer, reinforcing that this method of collaborative decision - making is one trusted by citizens because it is citizen lead. Herman began the session by having the Work Group review what it had accomplished and presenting the draft to them. A "library table" at the rear of the room also contained preliminary drafts from the Work Group sessions as well as key City documents such as the current Comprehensive Plan, City Code Book, and a map of the city. A staff member served as a resource for the "library" for those who had questions. Because of experiences the previous summer when citizens sometimes used this as an opportunity to address personal issues not related to OST session, citizens were asked to defer these questions to discuss with staff privately. Herman then "opened the space" to those who wished to raise issues or comment on the draft document. Two of these sessions were held within the three -hour time limit. At the conclusion of the evening the entire group met to review the draft document and comment about the issues raised. Perhaps the most gratifying aspect of this final evening was the dramatic change from a year ago. While there were still differences among participants, the atmosphere of the session was one - 19 -