Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/10/2014

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City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update Chapter 11: The Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area 5. To improve public awareness and involvement in preservation efforts of the river corridor and to maintain and respect private property owners rights. 6. To establish a continuous permanent open space corridor that reflects the proposed greenway corridor and preserves natural resources, environmental features and scenic vistas. 2. Critical Area Policies a) Protecting the Environment A critical concern to residents in Ramsey is the protection and restoration of its natural resources, which leads to preserving the rural character of a suburban community. This notion is particularly important when applied to the Mississippi River and the Critical Area Corridor. Critical Area Corridor/MNRRA Policy In regards to environmental protection and natural resource management, it is the policy of the City to: 1. Minimize direct overland runoff in future development and maintain natural watercourses such as ditches, wetlands and floodplains to handle existing storm water runoff and slow the process of surface water infiltration. 2. Ensure urban best management practices are strictly adhered to during and after construction projects including the replacement of all vegetative cover, which is removed for construction purposes. 3. Adopt development controls consistent with National Urban Runoff Program (NURP) standards and the MPCA's Urban Best Management Practices to reduce nonpoint source pollutant loading in storm water runoff. These standards should be applied to both existing and future development. 4. Minimize site alterations and protect natural watercourses, bottomland forests, prairies and woodlands as part of the development plan through such means as conservation easements or land preservation techniques. 5. Encourage and assist when possible private property owners in the implementation of river bank protection and stabilization projects consistent with state and local regulations. 6. Encourage landowners to preserve the physical riverbank and floodplain areas as permanent open space. 7. Discourage the use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers on residential and public lawns and agricultural fields to support sustainable land treatment activities. 8. Prohibit alterations or disturbances of wetlands, tree canopy, significant habitat areas and natural vegetation areas. City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Page 11-17