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Mr. Valentine stated he believes City Staff have a good understanding of what the citizens of <br />Ramsey want. He added residents were generally in agreement with where things are going. He <br />noted the City has a unique opportunity to combine and balance both urban and rural aspects of <br />the community, and City Staff is headed in the right direction so far. <br /> <br />Mr. Bengtson stated many residents expressed support for initiatives that have already been <br />proposed, such as the potential for a community center, which is of definite interest in terms of <br />planning but requires a funding partner. He added the real challenge is the rural/urban mix, as <br />residents say they like the rural feel of the community and do not want to lose it, but generally it <br />is somebody else’s property that could potentially be developed. He noted this could be an issue <br />in the north parts of the City, where there is an expectation that land will be developed and utilities <br />installed. <br /> <br />Ms. Adams stated she recently drove by her old house, which is in a rural area of Ramsey. She <br />added she believes the rural area should be defined so that rural properties have guidelines and <br />parameters. She noted people are not taking care of their property in rural areas. <br /> <br />Mr. Gladhill stated many residents have expressed the importance of the City’s rural character and <br />how it can be maintained despite urban growth. He added there are areas that will remain rural in <br />character, and some areas identified for development. <br /> <br />2. COMMITTEE BUSINESS <br /> <br /> <br />1.Review First Drafts of Comprehensive Plan Update <br /> <br />Mr. Gladhill stated the most significant Comprehensive Plan chapters set the stage for the rest of <br />the document. He added the chapter on the Comprehensive Plan’s framework outlines higher level <br />planning goals and strategies and provides a community profile. He noted the very early drafts of <br />the Land Use chapter will be reviewed, as well as planning and zoning districts. <br /> <br />Mr. Gladhill stated the Comprehensive Plan’s Vision Statement, as well as the four broad goals, <br />are derived directly from the City Council’s Strategic Plan. He added five primary themes are <br />identified, a well as a few secondary themes. He noted the primary themes are: passion for the <br />future of Ramsey; preservation of rural character; Parks and Recreation; Transportation; and <br />increased educational opportunities. <br /> <br />Mr. Gladhill stated secondary themes include the City’s vision for and development of the COR, <br />and development of a quality housing plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Gladhill stated drafting a detailed planning document is important as the City prioritizes goals <br />as well as areas where resources are limited, and identifies opportunities for pursuing outside <br />funding. <br /> <br />Mr. Gladhill stated population growth for 2016-2017 has been significantly ahead of forecasts. He <br />added it is expected that this trend will continue. <br /> <br />2040 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee / July 10, 2017 <br />Page 2 of 10 <br /> <br /> <br />