Agenda - Council - 03/09/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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FRIENDSE MISSISSIPPI RIVER Dear councilmembers: 1:1) Atg/IU Working to protect the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities area. 101 East Fifth Street 651-222-2193 Suite 2000 www.fmr.org Saint Paul, MN 55101 info@fmr.org March 3, 2021 Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Ramsey's proposed Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) ordinance. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) is a non-profit organization with a mission to engage community members and other stakeholders to protect, restore and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities Region. We represent thousands of people in the metropolitan area who care deeply about the river, including a growing membership of over 2,700 people and more than 3,200 volunteers and 2,000 advocates engaged each year. The Mississippi River is a natural, cultural and historic wonder that helps define our metro area. In recognition of this, its 72-mile stretch through the Twin Cities is not only a state -designated Critical Area but also a national park afforded special protective policies. The MRCCA ordinance adoption process is an important opportunity for communities to define their goals and expectations for years to come. A successful ordinance will guide riverfront use in a way that reflects the city's environmental, development, and recreational priorities while providing clarity for landowners and developers. Strong and thoughtful ordinance On the whole, we're pleased with Ramsey's draft MRCCA ordinance; it reflects a high degree of care and attention. It's well -crafted to support the city's goals. Ramsey's ordinance exceeds minimum state standards in some notable ways. These strong points include: • Extending the public and agency notice period for discretionary actions to 30 days, allowing more time for the DNR and National Park Service to provide feedback and technical assistance. • Including clear, strong standards to ensure that variances and CUPs do not negatively harm the river or its important features. • Including regulations on fences, which will reduce conflicts between neighbors about river views.