Agenda - Council - 01/22/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL Suite 300 Metro Square Building, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 M E M O R A N D U M 12-06-79 TO: Physical Development Committee FROM: Environmental Planning Division (Jim Baker and Carl Schenk) SUBJECT: Ramsey Final Critical Area Plan and Regulations Metropolitan Council District No. 12 Metropolitan Council Referral File No. 7460-1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND In accordance with Executive Order No. 79-19, Continuing the (temporary) Designation of the Mississippi River Corridor as a Critical Area, the Metropolitan Council shall review the plans, regulations and capital improvement pr.ograms prepared by local units of gover~ment for consistency with the standards and guidelines contained in the Executive Order and other regional objectives. Following designation of the Critical Area, the Council and Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) reviewed Ramsey's existing plans and regulations and made specific recommendations to the city to amend these to achieve consi-stency with..'the~-'Executive Order. The City of Ramsey has submitted its final Critical Area plan, regulations and capital improvement program to the Council for review and recommendations. The Council shall submit its written evaluation and recommendations to the EQB. The EQB shall review all' plans upon receipt of Metropolitan Council comments and determine whether the plans are consistent with the provisions of the Order. Tiue EQB will approve the plans or return them to the community for modification. The River Corridor in the City of Ramsey (as well as Dayton) is al~o located w{thin the state (DNR) designated Wild and Scenic River area. This designation exte~dg along the Mississippi River from St. Cloud to the Anoka and Brooklyn Park boundaries.' The Critical Area and Wild and Scenic designations have coincident boundaries in Dayton 'and Ramsey. The Ramsey Critical Area plan will also have to meet the land use control requirements of the Wild and Scenic River designation. The area within Ramsey is designated as a recreational river land use di~strict. Minimum requirements are set for lot size, environmental management, building setbacks, utility crossings, roads, and land use. Areas are designated for scenic easement and open space acquisition. All the islands in the Ramsey reach are proposed for purchase by the DNR. In accordance with a DNR and EQB agreement the Ramsey Critical Area plan and regulations will. satisfy' the requirements of both designations. Ramsey Critical Area development regulations cannot be less restrictive than the Wild and Scenic River management standards.