Agenda - Council - 03/25/2025 - Laserfiche WebLink

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For example, the City of Ramsey, which has actively sought and built hundreds of multifamily units, and has always been keenly aware of the need for affordable housing, engaged in careful planning and marketing for a rapidly developing COR area (Center of Ramsey downtown) for the soon -to -be upgraded Highway 10 in the City. An increase in the development of commercial properties in this area will greatly broaden the tax base in this city now as it has elsewhere. Many of these properties have been provided with available sewer and water. If some of the provisions we have seen circulating in the legislature were to come to pass, the City would be unable to prevent a multi -family developer to build on any or all of those sites. Not only would there no longer be a requirement for careful traffic studies to anticipate traffic and safety issues, but the resulting development would increase traffic levels as well as service calls for things like police and fire without creating sufficient tax revenue to offset those increase costs and infrastructure expansions. Worse, in some parts of the city where those services are not yet available, they could require the city to provide them without paying those costs. This legislation would appear to be a case study of special interests and uninformed reformers seeking to impose a harmful outcome for most citizens in the cities we represent. Serving as stewards of our respective communities, we firmly believe in transparency throughout every aspect of the public process and that it is important to ensure that every resident has a meaningful opportunity to contribute to decisions made by their government. Limiting public hearings not only restricts the voices of constituents but removes the ability of public comment to affect positive change to development proposals that benefit both the proposed development and the existing community surrounding new development. Our concerns about legislative bills HF 1987/SF 2229, HF 2140/SF 2231, HF 2018/SF 2286, HF 2013 and SF 1268 stem from our commitment to safety, environmental preservation, and stable communities for current and future generations. We strongly believe further pursuit of this legislation, or any modification thereof is detrimental to building resilient, safe, and thriving communities. We would very much like to invite the members of the legislation prior to considering these measures to visit our communities and see how well citizens with effective and active zoning and planning histories and practices operate to the benefit of all Minnesotan. On behalf of the City Council and Ramsey Residents, Heineman, Mayor Cc: Sen. Calvin K. Bahr, Rep. Harry Niska