Minutes - Council - 04/24/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Suzanne Dvorak, 14640 Potassium Street NW, Ramsey, stated that she received a copy of the approved Comprehensive Plan and it shows that low density is included around the existing neighborhoods and that it also states that a transition area is needed between existing residential neighborhoods and a higher density development. She suggested that the Council put together some density transition language into an ordinance that they can all agree on. Julie Horn, 6031 145th Lane NW, stated that she would like to thank Councilmembers Zimmerman and Hendriksen for their support in the submission of a Comprehensive Plan that takes into the consideration the residents, not just big business. The City's Comprehensive Plan is a written contract with the Met Council on how the City will manage its growth and opportunities. This is a very large responsibility and with this comes accountability. It is signed, sealed and delivered by the City Council who are people who are elected to represent the people of Ramsey. A petition was circulated and introduced at previous Council meetings urging the Council to pass the Comprehensive Plan. A petition urging a vision/a plan that would provide a town center, shopping, a bridge crossing, etc. What wasn't mentioned in the petition was the financial implications of undue hardship placed on residents that aren't connected to sewer and water. This includes homeowners that are within the MUSA that aren't connected to the sewer and water, and the residents that are in the planned areas. The submitted Comprehensive Plan indicated dates when this will happen. A few weeks ago residents brought their concern of being assessed $700.00 for improvements to their streets. In these planned sites, their financial commitment will be much more. She had a personal example. In the early 1980's, she owned a home in Champlin in the "planned" area. They were assessed $110.00 per foot for sewer and water, and reconstruction costs of their street. It was additional money to hook up. They had installed a larger sewer and drain field the previous year because they had been advised by the city that it would be years before they would schedule the improvements. Because of her personal detrimental experience of having to go through the disruption and financial costs (it doubled her house payment for 12 years), she chose to build on a lot with sewer and water seven years ago. Many people have chosen Ramsey to live in because of the affordability, the flexibility of housing choices, and good schools. She requested that the Council submit a plan that will put some accountability and faith back into the City government. Mayor Gamec replied that the Met Council does not tell the City to put sewer and water down existing residential streets. The City has a Charter amendment which makes it financially impossible to do so unless the majority of the residents in the area would agree. There is no one on the Council who would want to impact the existing residents in that way. Ms. Horn replied that she hopes that in five years people will still have the option to opt out of a sewer extension project. Mayor Gamec noted that in certain areas of the City, residents may be required to hook up to City sewer and water when they sell their home, but the cost is then negotiated between the buyer and the seller. City Council/April 24, 2001 Page 7 of 27