Agenda - Council - 05/05/1980 - Special

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METROPOLITAN COUNCIL Suite 300 Metro Square Building, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 M E M 0 R A N D U M April 10, 1980 TO: Physical Development Committee FROM: Environmental Planning. Division (Carl Schenk) SUBJECT: Ramsey. Final'Critical Area Plan and Regulations. Metropolitan Council District No. 11 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 programs prepared by local units of government, regional and state agencies 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 the Minnesota Environmental Quali~ty Board (EQB) reviewed· Ramsey's existing plans and regulations and made specific recommen- dations to the city to amend these to achieve consistency with the Executive Order. The City of Ramsey has submitted its proposed final critical area plan, regulations and capital improvement program statement to the Council for review and recommendations. The Council shall submit its written evaluation and recommendations to the EQB. The EQB will review all plans upon receipt of Metropolitan Council comments and determine whether the plans are consistent with the provisions of the Order. The EQB will appprove the plans or return them to the community for modification. The River Corridor'in the City of Ramsey (as well as the City of Dayton across the river) is also located within the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) designated Wild and Scenic River area. This designation extends along the Mississippi River from St. Cloud to the Anoka and Champlin boundari°es.. 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 which is administered by the DNR. The area within Ramsey is designated as a recreational river land use. district which allows such uses as public open space and single-family residences but precludes commercial and industrial uses. Minimum r~quirements are set also for lot size, environmental management, building setbacks, roads, and land use. Areas are designated for scenic easement and open space acquisition. For example, all the i~lands in the Ramsey-Dayton reach are proposed for purchase by the DNR. In