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6d. Abstract for the Environmental Quality Board Monitor: <br />The potential environmental impacts of converting agricultural land to the Ramsey <br />Town Center are assessed in an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR). <br />Impacts on site drainage, traffic, connection to local and regional trails, groundwater <br />protection and protected wetlands are the centerpieces of the evaluation. A <br />mitigation plan has been developed that lays out the actions that the City of Ramsey <br />will follow to assure minimum environmental impact as the project proceeds in <br />stages, from initiation of construction in 2003, through completion in approximately <br />2007. <br />Summary of Environmental Impact. The change in appearance that results from <br />changing over 300 acres of land use from predominantly agricultural to an urban center <br />will be dramatic. The challenge to the City of Ramsey is to implement this change <br />without equally dramatic impacts on the environment. This AUAR lays out a plan by the <br />City to identify and mitigate, to the extent possible, the potential detrimental impacts. <br />Each of the Items within the AUAR that have an associated potential for impact will <br />include a section summarizing the impact, followed by a mitigation element that <br />addresses how that impact will be mitigated. Obviously, developing over 300 acres of <br />land will have some impact both during and after construction. The goal of the City is to <br />do everything possible to minimize that impact and incorporate amenities that improve <br />the current situation, such as standing water ponds, improved wetlands, open space and <br />parks, trail connections and a nice place for citizens to live, work, shop and recreate. <br />6-4 <br />