Minutes - Council - 04/19/1983 - Utility Information Meeting

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work on CAB through 1974 and 1975 and in 1975 the City rezoned the Southeast quadrant to commercial, which created a lot of controversy and the City was sued by residents. Discussions began for a plan for the Southeast corner of Ramsey, the Tooker plan was amended and the Urban Planning District Study Report evolved. This report deals basically with the Southeast quadrant of the City and this area had the most likelihood of being served by utilities. Some of the goals of the Urban Planning District Study are: a) City should encourage employment opportunity for it's residents; b) plan for a mix of housing types; c) provide for convenient and economic outlets. This plan also included that municipal water and sewer would be provided simultaneously and that municipal sewer and water could not be provided until CAB is extended, which it is at this time. This Urban Planning Study also states that laterals can be extended if: a) request by petition; b) public health problems; c) other need as determined by City Council. The Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1982. Highlights of that plan are: a) 2.5 acre lot sizes outside of urban area but with a buildability of one residence per 10 acres; b) 10,000 square foot lots within the urban area, but until utilities are available, they would be built on one in three acres; c) Ramsey called for development of first and second connection which would enhance development of industry and provide multiple housing for employees of that future industry. Goals of Comprehensive Plan are: a) provide adequate public utilities; b) maintain individual on-site systems; c) City will sewer within 8 years of CAB; d) City will continue to enforce on-site ordinance. Mr. Goodrich stated that he has reviwed Township and Council minutes since 1971 and he has come to the conclusion that City is following basically same policy of planning goals. The bottom line is to provide a stable tax base and that the City feels that industrial and commerical development must be encouraged, residential type housing provided for, mixed type housing (such as multiple) provided for younger residents and senior citizens, staged growth provided for - no leapfrogging, allow sewer in Southeast quadrant for urban development at developers cost, on-going attempt to forestall the need for municipal utilities in existing subdivisions. These factors have been past policy of Ramsey for the past 13 years. Chapter 429 is the Minnesota State Statute which allows for cities to construct improvement projects within the city and assess costs to onwers. An improvement can be reviewed and ordered in if by a petition of 35% of landowners fronting on property to be improved and a 3/5 vote by Council. It a project is initiated by means of no petition, it would require a 4/5 vote of Council to pass. Chapter 429 provides that no one on any project can be assessed beyond dollar amount by which he is benefitted. In August of 1982, Council determined that an assessment policy should be adopted and they appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to prepare an assessment ordinance. This proposed ordinance has been presented to Council and Council has conducted one public hearing and two workshops to review the ordinance. Adoption of this assessment ordinace will be on the Council agenda for April 26, 1983. This assessment policy is not saying that municipal improvements are coming - it is a policy to be followed when municipal improvements occur. There is before Council, a petition for utilities for the Southeast quadrant of the City. The petition was submitted by a developer, the land is currently undeveloped. The current status is that Council has ordered a feasibility study and that feasibility report will be submitted to Council at their April 26, 1983 Council meeting. The only action Council will take will be to order a public Utility Information Meeting April 19, 1983 Page 2 of 11