Agenda - Council Work Session - 03/16/2020 - Special

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153 Introduction Designated by Governor's Executive Order in the 1970s, the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) is a land corridor along the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area governed by special land planning requirements and land development regulations. These regulations, which are implemented through local MRCCA plans and ordinances, protect and preserve the natural, scenic, recreational, and transportation resources of this section of the Mississippi River. The MRCCA comprises 72 miles of river and 54,000 acres of surrounding land in 30 local jurisdictions. Ramsey adopted its first Critical Area Plan in 1980. Ramsey adopted its first Critical Area Ordinance in 1985, and has processed several amendments since that date. Ramsey has ensured that plan preparation has included extensive public engagement. In 2013, Ramsey hosted a series of public workshops on the topic, and maintains a contact database. With the 2040 Comprehensive Plan update that included the updating of the MRCCA plan. the City has conducted the most extensive public engagement process to date for any of its Comprehensive Plan updates. Community engagement included both online and in person activities resulting in feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders, many of which had likely not previously participated in community planning efforts. In 1988, the U.S. Congress established the Mississippi River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), a unit of the National Park System. The MNRRA shares the same boundary as the MRCCA, and the park's Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP), signed by the Governor and Secretary of the Interior, incorporates by reference the MRCCA program for land use management. Rather than institute a separate layer of federal regulations, the MNRRA largely relies on the MRCCA to manage land use within the park. This reliance establishes a unique partnership and framework for land use management amongst the local, state, and federal governments to protect the intrinsic resources of the Mississippi River Corridor. Comprehensive Plan Strategic Imperatives • A Balance of Rural Character and Urban Growth • An Active Community (Parks, Recreation, and Open Space) • A Connected Community (Transportation) • A Positive Learning Environment Initiatives for the Critical Area • Protect and Restore Significant Ecological Resources • Improve Water Quality • Maintain and Improve Recreation Opportunities along and adjacent to the Mississippi River • Improve Access to the Mississippi River • Communicate the Benefits of Protection of Ecological Resources city of RAMSEY Comprehensive Plan 2040