Agenda - Council - 04/10/2006 - 04/10/06

Home

DONNA PRUEHER 904l 167~ Lane, NW Ramsey, M2'4' 55303 February 27, 2006 Ramsey Planning Commission City Hall 15153 Nowthen BoulevardNW Ramsey, MN 55303 SUBJECT: Preliminary plats for Kelly Acres and Rum River Prairie Thank you for tiffs opporumity to voice my concerns regarding the above preliminary plats. When my husband and I decided to move from our previous residence, we searched several communities offand on for four years before we decided to move to Ramsey. We choose to Iive in Ramsey because of the rural atmosphere the City had to offer. We are both concerned about the cluster housing being proposed so close to our neighborhood. When we moved to Ramsey in 1992 I would periodically call the City of Ramsey regarding the zoning status of the vacant property that runs south of Armstrong Boulevard NW, west of Tiger Street NW, and east of Baugh Street NW. I was alwa~/s informed that the property was zoned for 1 unit per 10 acres. At one point I was told the reason for this was because of the water table. Has the water table changed since then that allows the City to consider placing cluster housing across the road? When reviewing the minutes from the meeting held on June 2, 2005 1 have some questions from the concerns/issues that were addressed, please provide the necessary explanations for the following: 1. What is the MUSA line? According to Comm/ssioner Brauer the MUSA line does not exist in the same capacity as it once did. What is the current capacity? Why has it changed? Commissioner Brauer asked if improving Armstrong is a County issue (due to traffic concerns regarding the Kelly Acres and Rum River Prairie preliminary plats). Associate Planner Geisler stated that the plans were submitted to Anoka County, Hav. e.the results been determined? If so, what are the plans? Who is paying for the changes? City Engineer Jankowski acknowledged there will be more traffic on Tiger Street. Staffasked ifa trail on Tiger Street would be added. Commissioner Brauer suggested, perhaps a sidewalk. If these plats are approved, will Tiger have a trail or sidewalk along it? If so, who pays for it? A question was asked that ifa cluster septic and well were installed, would it affect individual septic and well systems. Commissioner Brauer stated that he was told it should not affect individual wells or systems. He indicated they have to depend on the expertise of those that know these systems to approve the plans. Ok, so we all know that the "experts" have been proven to make mistakes. What if it affects individual septics and wells, who pays to correct the problem...the experts, the developer, or the city? Or is that when the city proposes City sewer and water so that the residents pay for the correction? If these building proposals are approved, it would be appropriate to have a legal contract that would eliminate the current residents from incurr/ng any costs to correct such an expensive problem. I'm assuming that the City of Ramsey considers the necessary changes to be made to the police, fire, schools, and other necessary services as it proceeds tO expand. Is the City sufficiently equipped to- handle the current needs to the residents living here? And how does the City plan to sufficiently provide the necessary services to the residents with the City's growth? Page 1 of 2 -173-