Agenda - Council - 03/07/1985 - Special Joint with Planning and Zoning Commission

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I I I I I I I I I I I I ! I I I I I February 5, 1985 TO: Plannin9 and Zoning Commission Members FRCM: City Staff RE: Rural Residential Density Prior to the adoption of the present Comprehensive Plan, the City was divided into three areas with different development standards in each area. In the old Transitional Area, residential develof~ent was allowed on 2-1/2 acre lots and in the old Rural Service Area, residential development was permitted at one unit for each ten acres. In the old Urban Area, density of 1 unit for each acre was permitted. With the adoption of the current Comprehensive Plan, the City was divided into two develot~nent areas; the Rural Area and the Urban Area. ~he Transitional Area was deleted as a result of Ramsey's requests for: 1. Sanitary sewer oonnection ~1; and 2. Sanitary sewer connection ~2. If Ramsey continued to allow develou~ent of 2-1/2 acre plats in the Rural Area, the Metropolitan Council would not have planned on providing sanitary sewer service to the City of Ramsey. Following its original plans, the City elected to have sanitary sewer service available to its Urban Area. Transitional Area was abolished and that~ area has become part of the Rural Area. Since the adoption of the present Comprehensive Plan, the City has approved one Planned Unit DeveloIm~_nt and one plat which are served by sanitary sewer and municipal water service. In order to provide the sanitary sewer trunk line, the municipal water trunk line, and the sanitary sewer and water laterals to this area, the City sold a special assessment general obligation bend. ~hese projects were approved in accordance with development standards in the present Comprehensive Plan. In summary, the City of Ramsey has an obligation to its citizens to provide good planning. What has generated this staff report is a concern regarding residential development in the Rural Area. Under the old Comprehensive Plan as under the new Comprehensive Plan, the residential develolm~ent of land in the Rural Area has always been a one in ten density - allowing clustering, but not to exceed four units per forty acres. (~he only difference between the.old and new Comprehensive Plan with regards to density is the old Transitional Area. ~hat area served as a buffer between the Urban and Rural Areas and 2-1/2 acre residential density was permitted. Under the new Comprehensive Plan, the Transitional Area was abolished and became part of the Rural Area.)