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IV <br />BACKGROUND STUDIBS <br /> <br />The problems associated with developing a plan for thoroughfares and <br />establishing a basis for assigning priorities for physical improve- <br />ments is becoming increasingly more complex as the development <br />character of the County changes from rural to urban. <br /> <br />Virtually all roads in the Anoka County road system are hard-surfaced. <br />In spite of this cost the system has been able to keep pace with the <br />growing needs caused by the contiguous urbanization of the County. <br />This is a notable accomplishment when consideration is given to the <br />limited road financing available and the pressures of local govern- <br />ments to have the County assume an even larger role in the construc- <br />tion of roads. <br /> <br />System planning and programming based on structural needs no longer <br />su££ices as the basis £or committing capital expenditures. Rather, <br />a sound plan based on County development goals is needed. This plan <br />should be the basis for ordering capital improvement priorities <br />which can provide the most overall County benefits. <br /> <br />Although transportation facilities do significantly affect land <br />development, other factors play prominent roles as well. Soil con- <br />ditions and water table location, in particular, have had a major <br />effect upon development in Anoka County. <br /> <br />Physical Constraints <br /> <br />A substantial portion of the undeveloped land area of Anoka County is <br />covered with depressions, low lands, wet areas, and hummocky hills as <br />a result of glaciation. These are illustrated in Figure S. A major <br />wetland, the Carlos Avery Game Refuge, covers a huge area in the east <br />central section of the County. <br /> <br />15 <br /> <br /> <br />