Agenda - Council - 01/26/1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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! ! I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I The role of Anoka County in the land use planning process according to the plan is intended to include the following elements: a. The formulation and adoption of county-wide land use and housing policies, The formulation and adoption of a generalized land use plan for the County which may be used in guiding the delivery of County and municipal services, both current and projected. The review of local land use plans and zoning ordinances relating to the protection of significant natural resources, and the review of specific significant development proposals which may have an .impact upon the County transportation, parks, or solid waste ~isposal systems. The Plan's goals and policies closely parallel those of the Metropolitan Development Framework and thus are largely consistent with MDF. The Plan provides, for example, that new development in the general urban area should only be allowed with the orderly and economic extension of municipal sewer and water facilities and that these facilities should only be provided within the general urban area. Only low intensity uses are encouraged in the general rural area. Maintaining viable commercial agricultural regions is supported. The Plan also contains policies supporting the Freestanding Growth Center of Anoka, the Proposed Freestanding Growth Center of St. Francis, and rural centers (with development at a scale appropriate to their ability to finance and administer services). The Plan does not mention a recommended development density in the general rural area. The Council's guideline for density in a general rural use region is one housing unit per 10 acres. The County is encouraged to apply this standard in its planning. Since the Plan was prepared, the Metropolitan Agricultural Preserves Act (1980) was passed that provides farmers with tax and other incentives to continue farming in exchange for a commitment to maintain the agricultural use. While responsibil- ity for designating agricultural areas rests with the unit of government with primary land use and zoning authority (thus townships and cities within Anoka County), the County might describe agricultural preserves in its Plan and encourage agricultural preserves within the County's planning process. The CouD~y indicates in Policy II on page LU-21 that "communities containing land areas within the General Urban Use Area (under- lining added) should encourage the continued ~'arming of existing agricultural lands in locations not immediately programmed for urban development." The policy further indicates that the Green Acres law or other preservation legislation might be employed to preserve a§ricultural land. Application of this policy may be