Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 11/18/2004

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200] Comprehensive Ame,nded February 26, 2002 5. Current Corridor Issues A public meeting on river corridor issues was held April 30, 1998 and was attended by nearly 40 Ramsey res/dents and landowners. Although the. City advertised the meeting to all its residents, nearly. 90°,/0 of the participants were residents or landowners within the Critical Area Co~d0r..Because the attendance was heavily representative of the landowner interests, the key issue of protection of private prope~/ owner rights consumed much of the meeting. However, other objectives were identified within this meeting that reaffirmed directives, which are consistent with tile intent of the t'v[NP,2L:~ Comprehensive Management Plan. A strong ef£ort should be made to preserve the natural resource base and to protect and improve water quali .ty. Some support was given for a continuous trail corridor that linked to greater Ramsey and neighboring communities: however, a strong coalition also supported no trails. Many of the issues discussed at the April meeting were also discussed at previous .public meetings and information gathering sessions. The following list identifies the key issues needed to be address within the Critical Area Plan: a) Key Issues 1. Protection of private property owners rights which allow reasonable use of land and prevent damage t.o land. Preservation of open space and natural resources to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and rural character. improved public access .through a continuous trail corridor sensitive to property, owner concerns. The critical issues to the trail corridor involve location of trail corridor, its use (bicycle, walking, hiking, rollerblading, etc...), public safety and protection of vandalism to agriculture and private property. Also of critical importance to this issue is public involvement in. the decision making process. This plan does not identify a specific location of a trail corridor; rather it will establish a general approach to identifying use and location. /Jr. Although this issue is much broader than just the ~ff, IRtLA Corridor, a future bridge crossing should be addressed in the plan. Criteria for the location and design of a potential Mississippi River Bridge Crossing, if one should be planned, is of critical importance. .An issue not discussed at the public meeting is-the design, function and land use along US Highway 10. Tile issues ~vith the' Highway corridor are relative to tral-'±~c congestion and its impact on air quality, and problems associated with :strip commercial development including poor image, traf~Sc accidents :md interruptions and with non-point source pollution emanating ~'rom used c:tr lots ,)la unimproved sur'Gce parking lots. These issues' slnottld be addressed through the Highway Corridor study recommended ~'or LiS Highway l I). 29