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City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update <br />Chapter 7: Housing Plan <br />a. Tactic: Improve the licensing and inspection process, and update City Code as needed. <br />b. Tactic: Provide additional outreach to landlords on the requirements of the program. <br />HOUSING GOAL #4: <br />Provide a development environment that increases residential health and respects the natural <br />environment. <br />SUPPORTIVE FINDING: <br />Ramsey is a developing community that will have an impact on the protection and improvement of the <br />environment. According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Center for Sustainable Development, buildings <br />consume 40% of the world's total energy, 25% of its wood harvest and 16% of its water. While researchers <br />remain cautious, many public health professionals, and a growing number of affordable housing developers <br />believe sufficient evidence exists to justify adoption of basic "healthy homes" practices to keep homes dry, <br />clean, well ventilated. Some of the key benefits to encouraging green building and sensitive land planning <br />include: <br />• lower electric and water utility costs <br />• environmentally effective use of building materials <br />• enhanced health and productivity <br />• long-term economic returns <br />• reduced environmental impact <br />IMPLEMENTATIONS STRATEGIES: <br />1) Encourage development that incorporates environmentally sensitive site planning, resource efficient <br />building materials and superior indoor environmental quality practices. <br />a. Tactic: coordinate policies within the land use section of the comprehensive plan update <br />that will include specific code amendments <br />b. Tactic: educate residents on environmental issues and the financial impacts of implementing <br />sustainability within the home <br />2) Evaluate additional sustainability standards, such as Minnesota Green Star Certification or LEED, <br />for the Ramsey Town Center. <br />3) Encourage housing development that incorporates connections to existing pathways and creates <br />natural and safe walkable areas. <br />4) Develop partnerships with utilities, banks and green building experts to develop financial incentives <br />for incorporation of green building technologies. <br />5) Evaluate the cost and benefits of incorporating geothermal heating within new and existing housing <br />developments. <br />a. Tactic: create a geothermal prototype to present to housing developers <br />b. Tactic: create a deferred loan program for households that incorporate geothermal heating <br />within scattered site housing development and renovation. <br />c. Tactic: evaluate zoning and building codes to ensure that geothermal heating can be <br />implemented with no additional permitting costs <br />City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Page 7-19 <br />