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2001 Comprehensive Plan Amended February 26, 2002 C. The Crifical Area Plan Future Land Use This section is intended to supplement the land use plan described in Chapter V of the Comprehensive Plan. a) Future Residential Land Use Future residential development within the Critical Area/MNRRA Corridor is guided primarily as "Low density residential"; however, a small portion of the area is located outside of the future urban growth boundary and is designated as "Rural Developing". The future land use plan defines Low density residential as land use that places an emphasis on single-family detached housing but is designed to allow a variety of housing types and styles including attached single-family housing (townhomes) and two-family homes (twin-homes and duplexes). While the maximum density allowed for low density residential is 4 units per net acre, due to the extensive regulations placed on the area by the Wild and Scenic Rivers designation, it is unlikely that 4 units per acre will be achieved. However, given regional growth strategy to encourage higher density within MUSA, the opportunity to create a plan with higher densities that is acceptable to the public, and meets approval of local and state regulatory agencies should still be provided. Both the Critical Area and Wild and Scenic Rivers designations in Ramsey permit residential development. The Critical Area guidelines for the "rural open space district" call for development that preserves "...their open, scenic and natural characteristics and ecological and economic functions .... "and does not specify a density limit. The Wild and Scenic River designation contains similar language; however, it goes on to require 2+ acre lot sizes except when developed through a Planned Cluster Development. The intent of the planned cluster development is to strategically group housing together in order to preserve large open space areas, natural features and scenic views. It is the intent of this plan to encourage a development pattern that seeks to minimize density within the Critical Area Corridor while maintaining the ability to achieve higher density development consistent with urban development standards and policies. This intent can be achieved by transferring density from within the corridor to adjacent residential land use areas through the PUD process and through creative zoning strategies. The small area of rural developing is intended to be guided by the rural performance criteria as identified in Chapter V while conforming to the goals and policies of this chapter as well. The Rural Developing policies are consistent with the intentions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. b) Future Park and Open Space Use The general intent of the land use plan is to encourage compact development in order to preserve larger areas of permanent open space. Open space combined with active and passive public parklands provides for visual relief from the urban 2001 Ramsey Comprehensive Plan Amended February 26, 2002 Page XI-13