1995 Working Papers - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

'I. ..... .. Metropolitan Council Meeting of January 12, 1995 Business Item: E-3 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL Mears Park Centre, 230 East Fifth St., St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 612/291-6359 ~/~ REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTCOMMI'l'l'HE DATE: TO: January 9, 1995 Metropolitan Council ,'1 oS\ q~ ~ I \ ~3 jp' \ SUBJECT: Ramsey Comprehensive Plan Amendment MUSA Expansion Metropolitan Council Referral File No. 13834-7 Metropolitan Council District 9 '1. '1J<fO~J~~ ~ BACKGROUND The city of Ramsey has submitted a major plan amendment that will add 1,455 gross acres of land to the city's urban service area (MUSA). The Ramsey amendment would result in 442 net developable vacant acres being added to the current urban service area, 311 acres of which would be for low density residential uses providing approximately 933 lots. The area being added to the MUSA already contains a substantial number of scattered residential dwellings, several parks, an elementary school, the closed Ramsey landfill and the abandoned Gateway airport. The area is planned to accommodate a substantial share of the 1,800 new households and 609 additional jobs forecast for the city between 1990 and 2000. ISSUES AND CONCERNS Council members raised questions about the efficiency and cost of septic system inspections as well as the city's plans for future MUSA expansions. Staff noted that the recommended inspection procedure comes from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and has proved cost-effective and efficient over time. The city's future plans for expansion cover areas with soils unsuitable for on-site systems. RECOMMENDATION That the Metropolitan Council: 1. Adopt the staff report and findings as part of these recommendations: 2. Inform the city of Ramsey that pursuant to the Metropolitan Land Planning Act (Minnesota Statutes Sec. 473.175, Subd. 1), before it can put the plan amendment into effect it must agree to, within nine months of final Council action on this document, incorporate post- installation inspection and maintenance within the city's on-site ordinance and sewage system management program. The requirement would entail biennial inspections, at a minimum, of each on-site system in the city to verify its continued proper operation and need for solids removal. Inspections must be carried out by an inspector certified by the MPCA, and licensed by the city and/or county. The city's program is expected to include the keeping of permit records, licensing, correction of existing system problems and training of personnel as outlined in the Council's Policy Plan. -