Agenda - Council - 05/05/1980 - Special

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corridor and that for the time being the city intends that the corridor will remain in rural use with rural services. Howeuer, the city's land use plan proposes expanded commercial development and 2.5 acre minimum lot sizes in unsewered areas. (One acre lots would be permitted in areas scheduled for sewers within five years, but these areas are not defined.) The proposed commercial uses and 2.5 acre lot sizes are considered to be urban uses and~densities by the Metropolitan Development Framework and metropolitan policies. Such subdivisions create demands for urban services. Also the commercial land uses and urban densities are proposed in an area designated in the Executive Order as rural open space where the purpose is to retain the open, scenic and natural characteristics of the lands. The proposed densities and uses would alter the open, scenic and natural character of the corridor and are inconsistent with the designations. It should also be noted that the Wild and Scenic River rules and regulations appear to prohibit new commercial uses in the river corridor° In conclusion, the city's proposed land use plan and policies are inconsistent with the Metropolitan Development Framework and metropolitan policies and Critical Area standards° Public facilities element a. Transportation plan The plan acknowledges and describes hazardous traffic access on U.S. Highway 10, due to the lack of controlled access and service roads, and contains policies to limit local accesses to one mile intervals, require developers to provide service roads and provide local collectors. The need for and timing of these improvements will depend on the types of land uses and 'timing of urban development along the river corridor. A letter received from the Minnesota Department of Transportation supports these recommendations. A copy is attached. Utility element Although a portion of the river corridor is included within the 1990 urban service area by the Metropolitan Development Framework neither th~4timing nor the areas for expanding urban services are defined in the plan. None of the river corridor is presently · serviced. The plan states that before any local decisions can be made the 201 Northwest Area Study will have to be completed by the MWCC. The city has' prepared a comprehensive sewer plan which indicates.a portion of the river corridor.could be sewered by 1990, 'but this plan has not been officially reviewed for consistency with the Metropolitan Sewer System plan. The memorandum from the city dated January 22,'1980, indicates that the city will include.all of the river corridor in the urban service area. However, discussions with the representatives of the city that same day indicates that this decision has not been made. It is clear that the city has not made a firm