Minutes - Council - 03/22/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Commissioners. He suggested Ramsey should maintain a 60% new household to 40% new job creation ratio. Mr. Hamborg then reiterated his concern with the $6 million relationship to enhance I~tvor toward amending the Comprehensive Plan and suggested it would be a mistake to send a sewer line in the wrong direction, under or over sizing it. He suggested that on top of the $13 to $18 million sewer expansion project there is also a $30 million commitment to the Town Center project to include a new $16 million municipal building, and millions spent on recent sewer and water expansion in that neighborhood, or well over $50 million for just these projects. Mi:. Hamborg stated the Council is over extending the City financially and will look to residents ~br increased contributions to cover needs as developers build and then take their millions and leave. In addition, the State has been deficit spending for years so this is not the time for Ramsey lo be creating big ideas, making deals with developers, or spending big money. Mr. Itamborg suggested the Council is wrong to consider this project and give Mr. Peterson the confidence to go ahead and spend large amounts of money to further this project and purchase polluted development properties known as the Gun Club. He felt his right to live safely and securely while in pursuit of happiness is being threatened by the very people voted into office to protect them. The Plan amendment tums Traprock Street from 155th to the cul-de-sac into a thorough fare for a 265 home development and cause a chain reaction of development, which will impact all residents of Ramsey. He asked the Council to think about the additional vehicles, all headed to Highway #10, which is maxed out already as all roads lead to Highway #10. Mr. llamborg asked the Council to not kid themselves about relief coming any time soon. Today residents want to get home to the wonderful, livability of Ramsey, not a bedroom community of tomorrow because the City has abandoned its Comprehensive Plan and created a developer's all*Call1. Mr. ttamborg stated if residents sat in the Council's chairs, they would not allow this to happen. lie askcd the Council to go back to the Comprehensive Plan and get the "horse in front of the cart" because 800 homes per year is not allowed by the Comprehensive Plan. He asked the C'ouncil to not allow developers to cloud their judgment or back down from the development machine. He asserted the threat of developers suing the City to develop land was an issue worth f'unding and should have argued it all the way. The Council's job is to protect resident's rights. Changes of this magnitude to the City's Comprehensive Plan impact many citizens and are not amendments but re-writes of the Plan that are not allowed until 2008. He stated the City cannot al?ford to allow this abandonment of the Comprehensive Plan, which provides for controlled development at a maximum of 200 single-family homes per year. There is no error in the Comprehensive Plan, it was debated at length and embodied a hard won consensus that should not be sacrificed for insider profit. Mr. I lamborg stated no citizens planned for City growth at this level or had notice that the Comprehensive Plan could not be trusted because it would not be honored. He stated the Council's vote opposing this amendment and agreement to follow the sound existing Plan is just and right for Ramsey and would represent the citizens of Ramsey instead of a handful of rich connected powerful men. City Council / March 22, 2005 Page 12 of 38