Adopted 2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

.~ f ~ , ,-- 2001 Comprehensive Plan n I. INTRODUCTION AND PuRJrQ$:E A. What is the Comprehe1(sife:ptan and who is it for? The Comprehensive Plan is a~Ltobe used by many people and organizations with an interest in 41e Ramsey communitr. First andforeiUost,it is, for the people of Ramsey, the policy makers who represent ther ,an4 the City Staff who support them. But it is also for the businesses and residents whQ wislt!to come to the community or scholars and students who might want to learn about ~sey.The Comprehensive Plan sets out a vision for the future comtpunity, a vision that ~~~teatedbythe people. It contains goals that define the vision and public policy thc(tis 4es,igned to help realize the vision. It provides an analysis of'the forces that hav' $haped Ramsey since .its beginning. Although it is heavily focused on the futurel'Ilysica) development of the community, it also addresses the economic and social qualitie~ of'\lamsey. Finally, the plan lays out implementation strategies that best use the tax p~~ers,dollars to achieve the vital elements that make the Ramsey Community a safe, highrquality, healthy place to live, work and play. B. Why do a ComprehensivtirRlari,? Comprehensive Planning for mu6.i~ip~ities in the j county metropolitan area is mandated by State L~gislature. In 1976 tt.e'M~esotaLegislature passed the Metropolitan Land Planning Act which require' .~. m#IDcipalities to develop (or update existing) Comprehensive Plans as a tool tp f'pr~ct the health, ,safety and welfare of the residents of the metrQPolitan area and to ~ure' coordinated, orderly and economic development." Ramsey conformed to this requFBt by.llpdating its 1973 Comprehensive Plan in 1980. Piecemeal updates to this planmtve, oCFurredismce 1960. Recent amendments to the 1976 Metropoli1;aJ1 Land Planning ^"Ieqlii~e local Comprehensive Plans to be updated by December of 1998 and reviewe,ti ,at 'least once every ten years following that date to ensure' conformance with a regioPal growth strategy for the entire Metropolitan Area. Ramsey is a growing communit~ on tpe edge of a rapidly expanding Metropolitan Area. It is acomtpunity that faces th4 o,ha\lenges.. of contr~lIing the high" demands for urban growth at the edge of a met{o,olitan area., It (Jepends heavily on the regional transportatiQn system and its abijity tOl11ove people efficiently and safely. Ramsey is a community with a wealth of nat1lr~tl ffltures a1\d.a stro.ng desire to preserve, protect and enhance these features. The Coq.P!eh~IXsive .Plan is atool that will guide the community in controlling and managing its i8I;O~. The plan will provide the community with a map to achieving "A Vision to1:h,e Yea;r2020." c Who p~epared it and howf In 1997, the City Council hiredf.h9 ptanning firnof'~oisington Koegler Group, Inc. to assist the C~mmunity with prepaJ'itlgi~plan. 1ih~Cittfollowed a process that made the public an integral part in devol<t>ing'tlte Coml>rebe~ive Plan. Throughout the end of 1997 and through 1999, a setie~ ~f gublicmeetingswere held to organize the effort, establish a vision, identify andr<fsqlv~i$sues, andre~ew and comment on concepts and ideas. The 1'1an was created withtth.'e ~sistance ofthe~eneral public, a community focus group, the various boards and cotlunis*pns of the City, the City Council and City Staff. 2001 Ramsey Comprehensive Plan Page 1-1