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<br />LAND OJ OUALITY FOODS <br /> <br /> <br />0.' <br /> <br />. . <br /> <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br />DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br /> <br /> <br />eo W PLAto IOULfY",," <br />SAINT PAUL'" 6&107 <br /> <br />(612) 296-1488 <br /> <br />May 2, 1986 <br /> <br />~~ <br />~~~ <br /> <br />I <br />L <br /> <br />Ms. Ann Norri s <br />Ramsey City Planner <br />15153 Nowthen Boulevard Northwest <br />Ramsey, MN 55303 <br /> <br />In Response To: Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Northfork PUD <br /> <br />Dear Ms. Norris: <br /> <br />The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has reviewed the above <br />referenced document and we offer the following comments for your consideration: <br /> <br />! <br />, <br />; t <br /> <br />1. The land use chapter, and specifically the agricultural land use section <br />(4.1) is inadequate in that impacts on agricultural land use are not <br />adequately addressed. The statements on page 24 indicating that <br />non-agricultural uses have been encroaChing on agriculture in the area for <br />over a decade, and that the development will be relatively self-contained, <br />are not sufficient rationale to conclude that "the development will not <br />adversely affect the agricultural operations in the surrounding area". <br /> <br />~ l <br /> <br />The EIS should explore whether the conversion of this agricultural land, <br />along with the other conversions that have been taking place over several <br />years, will have impacts on agricultural support services like feed and <br />fertilizer suppliers, implement dealers, and etc. in the area. The [IS <br />should also discuss what impact this development, and the city's <br />interpretation of their Rural Service Area development policies, will have <br />on adjacent or nearby agricultural operations in such ways as increasing <br />pressure for the conversion of additional farmland in the area, slow <br />moving vehicle conflicts, nuisance complaints, and etc. <br /> <br />, <br />: i <br /> <br />2. As an issue related to No.1. the [IS should examine the impact the city's <br />interpretation of their land use plank Rural Service Area density <br />guidelines, and this project, will have on future development in their <br />Rural Service Area. Unless the city can establish several characteristics <br />unique to this project that justify the density interpretation, the <br />density for this project will become the density standard for the Rural <br />Service Area, because landowners wanting similar densities will be able to <br />argue that they are not being treated equally if their densities are not <br />also approved, at least if they are within the same zoning district or <br />land use area of the comprehensive plan. Also, if the same density as <br />~ <br />.I~SOTA <br />CR_.;.WM <br />~ <br /> <br />. ENJOY THE HIGH QUALITY AND INFINITE VARIETY OF MINNESOTA FOODS <br /> <br />, <br />\ <br /> <br />AN EQUAl OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />-50- <br />