Agenda - Council - 01/10/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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URBAN DEVELOPMENT ~opu!ation The Metropolitan Council's 1986 population estimate as reported by the State Planning Agency Demographer estimates Ramsey's population at 1i,395 comprising 3,102 households.* The Metropolitan Council esti- mated that the number of households in the City increased by 132 during !987 with a total estimated 3,234 households** and an estimated population of 11,706. However, in 1987, 194 new residential building permits were issued. Based on actual figures through September, zn estimated 190 permits will also be issued in 1988. Thus, even the ~ost current MC population estimates are considered to be extremely conservative. While the City has not undertaken a special cens~s, on the basis of the number of building permits issued and known vacant houses, it is believed that the City's current (!2/88) population exceeds 12,000. This compares to MC's "official" population estimate of 12,600 for the year 2000. Residential The city has experienced steady growth in the 1980's with accelerated growth in real numbers of new households over the last two years. Figure 2 illustrates the number of building pe~nr~its issued over the past eight years. As shown, urban service areas have only been avail- able the last four years with all prior development activity in non- sewered areas. Sewer and water systems were constructed in !985 with an initial 22 homes constructed in the sewered areas. The number of homes built in the urban area nearly doubled in 1986 and again in 1987. in 1988, the total number of permits issued was approximately the same as in 1987 indicating a leveling off of housing activity paralleling other trends. The nu~er of permits issued for urban area development, however, was essentially the same as in i987. Discussions with con- tractors and developers in the City brought forth the concern that the flattening of growth in the urban area was due primarily to the limited supply of quality lots remaining in the urban service area. it is estimated that fewer than 90 urban lots are currently available in the entire City. Nevertheless, the number of pe_--mits issued indicate that the current balance is that approximately 55% cf the lots developed are in the non-sewered area and 45% are in the urban area. The city desires to be able to achieve tkis kind of balance and continues to desire a greater emphasis cn development within the urban area. *"~~o~.~ ....... Notes", M_nneso~a.~ ~ State Demographer, November, .~957; State Planning Agency. **"Minnesota Population and Household Estimates - 1987" Office cf State Demographer, Mn/State Planning Agency, August, 1988.