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~ MetropolitA. Council ~ Working for the Region, Planning for the Future e ~ February 1, 1999 !RECEIVED I i FEB 4 1999 l I \BY:- -:- Cindy Sherman, Community Development Director City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Boulevard Ramsey, MN 55303 Dear Ms. Sherman: Thank you for the opportunity to provide an informal review of the revised Critical Area chapter (dated December 21, 1998) and the November 9, 1998 Comprehensive Plan for consistency with the state standards for Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area plans and policies in the 1995 Mississippi National River and Recreation Area plan (MNRRA). It has been a pleasure to work with your staff and consultants and to see a plan that so clearly incorporated many of the voluntary MNRRA policies. I will call Sean Walter to arrange a meeting next week so that we can address some remaining items before the plan is finalized by the Planning Commission and City Council for submittal to the Metropolitan Council for review. The city's Critical Area plan is well organized and includes a vision and policies for natural resources and development for natural resource protection and permanent open space. It also includes some specific provisions supporting MNRRA goals, such as interpretation of cultural resources. The December 21 revision better incorporated the purpose of the Critical Area rural open space district into the land use plan and added natural resource and view protection to the goals of the proposed riverfront greenway area. (The lands in the rural open space district are to be managed to preserve their open, scenic and natural characteristics and ecological and economic functions, even if urban services are extended into that area). Although the plan is almost complete, we need some clarification of how the proposed mixed residential district and greenway will work in the platted areas and how the goals for preserving natural areas, the riverfront and open space can be accomplished corridor-wide. Other Critical Area issues or omissions are summarized below and discussed in more detail in the attachment from the Department of Natural Resources. A list of additional policies to consider for achieving consistency with the MNRRA are included in the attached letter from the National Park Service (NPS). The final Metropolitan Council review of the final Critical Area plan will be forwarded to DNR for state approval and to the National Park Service - MNRRA for certification. . Add to Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area goal #2 "Minimize interference with views to and from the river" to what is currently stated as preserve natural and open appearance. . In order to assure that urban density (5 units per acre) development specifically protects and provides for open space and natural areas, and is consistent with the purposes of the Rural Open Space District, include MNRRA dimensional standards to protect the natural appearance of the riverfront and ensure open space along the river. Open space is now encouraged. . Add to the implementation strategy, working with Anoka County for acquisition of natural areas and easements. The plan should require developers of subdivisions and planned developments to dedicate to the public riverfront access land, other lands if this is not practical or possible, or cash to be used for river corridor land acquisition or other improvements. Please add DNR notification to the implementation section. AREA CODE CHANGES TO 651 IN JULY, 1998 230 East Fifth Street St. Paul. Minnesota 55101-1626 (612) 602-1000 Fax 602-1550 TOO/TIT 291-0904 Metro Info Line 602-1888 An Equal Opportunity Employer