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Growth Forecasts <br />Ramsey appreciates the efforts to revise local forecasts based off our previous response. Ramsey recently <br />hosted a public workshop to take a new look at our Future Land Use Map. At this time, no significant <br />changes were identified as part of that process. The general rate of growth forecasted appears to be more <br />relevant to the current market rate and historical average growth. However, as noted above, we <br />acknowledge that our Future Land Use Map has the capacity to experience this growth, but are not <br />convinced that the existing infrastructure, most notably transportation and water supply, can sustain this <br />growth unless future capacity improvements are made and the current model and distribution is adjusted <br />to provide equity in the region as it relates to strategic infrastructure improvements. <br />As previously identified, Ramsey has focused on the key land use policy topics of water supply and <br />transportation capacity. Before Ramsey will extend its support to the published forecasts, we feel that it <br />is important to model several scenarios that will illustrate the outcomes of our land use decisions if <br />investments in these two (2) categories are not made. <br />First, as would be anticipated, we believe that general statistical analysis demonstrates a strong <br />correlation between congestion levels on Highway 10 and growth rates of new development. We feel <br />that, at minimum, an alternative analysis that models forecasts with the assumption that improvements <br />to Highway 10 are not made should be completed. We assume these improvements will be made at some <br />point in the future; however, we do desire to better understand the outcomes of our land use decisions <br />if these improvements are not made in the short term and how that directly relates to these draft <br />forecasts. <br />Additionally, based on a general recalibration of our 2012 Water Supply Study and substituting average <br />growth rate from the Thrive forecasts to ensure consistency, our future growth will be significantly <br />impacted if the current water supply assumptions and formulas are not adjusted and regional investment <br />is not made. This factor is anticipated to begin impacting Ramsey somewhere between the year 2020 and <br />2025. In other words, if the issue of water supply is not addressed in the next several years, we would <br />anticipate our growth forecasts to reduce significantly. Ramsey has taken several proactive steps to <br />attempt to reduce our water consumption, including completing surface water supply studies and <br />implementing various water conservation measures such as standing odd/even watering restrictions and <br />organic -rich topsoil requirements for new development. Ramsey is also an active member of the <br />Northwest Metro Water Supply Work Group, and is participating in the Metropolitan Council's Northwest <br />Metro Water Supply Study. <br />Separately, Ramsey acknowledges several planning efforts that are currently underway, but are not <br />complete. With that in mind, the outcomes of these processes do have the potential to impact our <br />forecasts. We have adopted a more iterative model, continually refining our Comprehensive Plan <br />throughout the regional planning cycle to ensure that is up to date, market relevant, and consistent with <br />our land use goals. <br />As identified in our previous response, Ramsey is working on three (3) small area plans below: <br />1. Old Municipal Center <br />2. 167/47 Node (soon to be re -named) <br />3. Armstrong West -Future Business Park <br />