Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 05/16/2013

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EMAIL: 06 As a new resident of Ramsey, and having just moved into the Meadow Creek neighborhood, I was upset at learning that the proposed use for the fire station property is to build a data center. We were informed when shopping for and purchasing a new house in the area that the City's plans for the fire station were a middle school or residential properties. I strongly prefer and support both of those options to the proposed data center. It is also my understanding that the proposed re -zoning of the fire station property meets the definition of "spot zoning" (see League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: Zoning Guide for Cities, 2012, pp. 35-36). It also seems reasonable to expect that the value of my property will significantly diminish if a data center is built. As per state regulations, "substantial diminution of value of property may be considered a form of regulatory taking of private property without compensation. In these rare instances, a property owner may be entitled to compensation for damages related to a legislative rezoning" (League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: Zoning Guide for Cities, 2012, p. 36). It is hard for me to imagine that city council members would support an illegal practice and face potential legal action over their decision. It also seems that the primary motivation for supporting this proposal is the funding solution for a new fire station. While on the surface this may seem to justify the re -zoning (i.e., furtherance of public welfare), it is difficult to see how reduced residential property values and the lowered quality of life (significant noise and traffic that will be generated by the data center and the eye sore that the building will be) for those in the neighborhood living next to the data center are in the public welfare. I highly doubt any of the city council members would like to have a data center in their backyard for the same reasons of lowered property values and reduced quality of life. It is also hard to imagine how residential zoning isn't preferable and supportive of the public welfare, particularly over the long term. We were very excited to move into Ramsey, and were excited about establishing Ramsey as our new community. In less than a week of living here, we are confronted with the possibility of facing reduced property values due to the significant noise and traffic that will be generated by the data center and the eye sore that the building will be in the neighborhood. I therefore ask city council members to vote against the proposed data center and consider zoning the property as residential.