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2001 Comprehensive Plan Amended 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 residents and landowners. Although the City advertised the meeting to all its residents, nearly 90% of the participants were residents or landowners within the Critical Area Corridor. Because the attendance was heavily representative of the landowner interests, the key issue of protection of private property owner rights consumed much of the meeting. However, other objectives were identified within this meeting that reaffirmed directives, which are consistent with the intent of the MNRRA Comprehensive Management Plan. A strong effort should be made to preserve the natural resource base and to protect and improve water quality. 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 to land. 2. 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. Although this issue is much broader than just the MNRRA 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. The issues with the Highway corridor are relative to traffic congestion and its impact on air quality and problems associated with strip commercial development including poor image, traffic accidents and interruptions and with non-point source pollution emanating from used car lots on unimproved surface parking lots. These issues should be addressed through the Highway Corridor study recommended for US Highway 10. 2001 Ramsey Comprehensive Plan Amended February 26, 2002 Page XI-12