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612-3386 38 H e e WORKING DRAFT Page 3 of 14 · To protect existing established and future neighborhoods from external stresses such as traffic, noise or water quality pollution. Penn anent Rural Based on the existing large lot development pattern that is prevalent in the central and northern parts of Ramsey, urban services should not be extended to serve existing or future residential development in the Permanent Rural Area. The permanent nrral area is comprised of two separate land use patterns: Rural Preserve and Rural Developing. Rural Preserve The Rural Preserve area consists of roughly 1,972 acres lying in north central Ramsey (generally north of Trott Brook). The area predominantly consists of significant portions of wetlands and tree canopy with limited agriculture, horticultural and residential uses. Residential development within the rural preserve area has been mostly large lot development with minimal smaller lots developing in scattered areas. Current development yields an overall gross density of roughly 1 unit per 20 acres in the Rural Preserve Area. Future development within the Rural Preserve Area would be limited to a gross density of no more than 1 unir per 10 acresl. The preferred development pattern within the rurdl area would consist of small pockets of housing or cluster housing with lot sizes being dictated by the soils capacity to handle on-site septic systems as required by state law. Cluster housing can provide opportunities for protection of larger, contiguous open spaces, preservation of wetlands and tree canopy, preservation of agricultural lands and preservation of rural lifestyles and character. Supportive land uses in the Rural Preserve area would include agricultural production crops such as cash grains like com and soybeans; field crops like alfalfa, clover, hay or potato farms; organic farms; horticulture specialties like field nurseries, sod farms or tree fanus; low density residential housing, educational or institutional uses and regional park facilities. The land uses and density limits defined above are consistent with regional infrastructure planned for the area. Rural Developing The rural developing area comprises the largest land use category for the City of Ramsey. This area consists of roughly 8,794 acres. Land uses within the rural developing area include some agricultural uses (cash grains such as soybeans or com etc.), institutional uses (churches) and some scattered home occupation and business uses. However, the primary use of this area is low-density residential development with average densities of 1 unit per 2.5 acres, a development pattern that was established in the early 19705 and carried through during the height of Ramsey's growth spurt in the 1980's and early 1990's. This development pattern accounts for roughly 4,500 acres of residential development. Because of this low density pattern of development. the numerous wetlands that pose barriers to infrastructure development and the presence of sandy soils I A density of 1 unit per 10 acres was determined by the Metropolitan Council in its "Regional Blueprint", December of 1996 as an appropriate density for maintaining a rural lifestyle and character and is consistent with planned transportation system capacities and levels of service. Hoisington Koegler Group, inc. Ram.fey Comprehensive Plan 1':::;,,) It' .,