Agenda - Council - 02/14/2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Drq~ b) 2001 Comprehensive Plan The Ramsey Crossings area traditionally has been zoned industrial since the mid-1970s. In the 2001 Comprehensive Plan, this area, as well the surrounding area was designated as Mixed Use. This was a conscious decision by the City Council to foster development/redevelopment oppommifies in the area. The Mixed Use designation allows for a variety of uses. Often times, mixed use indicates some overlap of uses (e.g. commercial, residential, office) in either vertical or horizontal pattern. It can also provide for flexibility in the types of uses permitted. In other words, a mixed use area may suited a variety of singular uses. Depending on what is proposed, a strictly residential development may be appropriate, under another set of factors a purely commercial development may be desirable. The City intended to allow for this flexibility when the Ramsey Crossings area was designated as Mixed Use. While the policy makers went with the flexibility of Mixed Use, it was thought at the time that this area would be suited for larger scale commercial and retail uses. In fact, the Ramsey Crossing area is zoned TC-2, which emphasizes retail, commercial, and office uses. c) Moratorium The area west of Armstrong has been recognized for several years as being an important location for the future of Ramsey. In June 2001, the City adopted a moratorium on development in large area around the future Mississippi River Bridge Crossing. The moratorium area included the Ramsey Crossings are~ This moratorium allowed the City to get a better understanding of the need for preserving the furore transportation corridor and also identified the area needed for the future corridor. The City felt that it was important to restrict development around the corridor In order to preserve potential right-of-way from development as well. as prevent piecemeal development as the crossing was discussed. IV. Need for development Given the supporting documentation that the Ramsey Crossings area has been planned for redevelopment, there are several other public purpose factors for why the City should assist in the development/redevelopment of the immediate area. They are: · Underutilized land · Vacant parcels · Inadequate infrastructure · Multiple parcels and owners * Tax base expansion · Transportation corridors · Services to residents. Underutilized lan& Of the 16 parcels contained in the Ramsey CrossIngs study area, three parcels are totally vacant (Parcels B,D,F), one parcel is vacant with the exception of a cell tower (Parcel I), three parcels are only utilized for outdoor storage. The other nine properties have 26 -258-