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<br />
<br />CITIZEN'S COLUMN
<br />
<br />"Communities and regions of Minnesota are
<br />blessed with a rich heritage and a promising
<br />future. However, as pressure for change
<br />mounts and the signs of age increase, they
<br />must seek out new opportunities to achieve
<br />their greatest potential, correct existing
<br />problems, and preserve the important values
<br />of the past. Planning is the best available
<br />method of accomplishing this threefold task."
<br />(Introduction- Comprehensive Planning, Minn.
<br />State ilanning Agency, January 1976.)
<br />The 1976 Metropolitan Land Planning Act
<br />significantly reinforces the Metropolitan
<br />Council's central role in coordinating
<br />develo?ment. It requires local governments
<br />to prepare and carry out Comprehensive Plans
<br />consistent with the Council's Metropolitan
<br />Systems Plans for parks, sewers, transporta-
<br />tion and airports.
<br />The Metropolitan Systems statement describes
<br />the plan for physical facilities each juris-
<br />diction should consider in planning. They
<br />describe the location, capacity, condition and
<br />timing of existing or planned sewers, highways
<br />airports or regional parks. They also show
<br />projections for population, employment and
<br />housing the Council used in preparing its
<br />systems plans.
<br />The content of the Comprehensive Plan was
<br />set by law - each must contain:
<br />A Land Use Plan, which must include:
<br />* Existing and Proposed uses of land for
<br />agricultural, residential, commercial, indus-
<br />trial and other public and private purposes
<br />(to the year 1990)
<br />* A protection element for environmental and
<br />historical areas.
<br />* A housing element containing standards,
<br />plans and programs to meet existing and pro-
<br />jected local and regional housing needs, in-
<br />cluding use of official controls and land use
<br />planning to promote opportunities for develop-
<br />ment of low and moderate income housing.
<br />
<br />A Public Facilities Plan, which must include:
<br />* Statements on the location, timing, capa-
<br />city, and related information about the trans-
<br />portation system.
<br />* The same information about sewer facilities
<br />plus standards and conditions for private
<br />sewer systems.
<br />* A plan for local parks and open space.
<br />* In addition, the seven counties must pro-
<br />vide a description of existing and planned
<br />facilities for solid waste disposal and re-
<br />source recovery.
<br />An Implementation Program, a description of
<br />the public programs and fiscal devices through
<br />which the community will implement the plan
<br />and ensure conformity with the metropolitan
<br />systems plans, including:
<br />* Official controls (soning, subdivision re~
<br />gulations)
<br />* A description of capital improvement pro-
<br />grams for transportation, sewers, parks and
<br />open space facilities.
<br />* A housing program, including official
<br />controls, which will supply sufficient existing
<br />and new housing to meet the local share of
<br />the regional need for low and moderate- income
<br />housing.
<br />* Solar Access - a 1978 amendment requires
<br />communities to plan for solar access.
<br />
<br />Each municipality and township is required
<br />also to prepare a local sewer plan in which
<br />they are to identify areas not suitable for
<br />on-site systems as well as establish a manage-
<br />ment and regulatory program for its on-site
<br />systems based on Council guidelines. Required
<br />also are plans for protection of natural re-
<br />sources. Approval comes from the Met. Council.
<br />Prior to adoption by the Met. Council and
<br />the City, the Plan is presented to neigh-
<br />boring communities, the cQunty and school
<br />district for the purpose of review and com-
<br />ment. The local Planning and Zoning Com-
<br />mission approves the plan, the City Council
<br />considers it and then it is sent to the
<br />Met. Council. The Ramsey Comprehensive Plan
<br />was adopted by the Met Council May 27, 1982
<br />and by the City on June 22, 1982.
<br />
<br />The counties and school districts are
<br />required also to submit plans. In the latter
<br />case, they are required to prepare and adopt
<br />capital improvement programs for new facil-
<br />ities costinf more than $200,000. In the
<br />county's case, they are required to plan for
<br />and operate regional parks and manage the
<br />disposal of solid waste. All counties are
<br />involved with planning for health, criminal
<br />justice and the 911 emergency telephone
<br />system.
<br />A community's interaction with the Met Coun-
<br />cil depends upon its distance form the central
<br />cities, its stage of development, its poten-
<br />tial as a site for airports, highways, hos-
<br />pitals, and regional parks, and its interest
<br />in participating in housing programs or ap-
<br />plying for funds for local projects.
<br />
<br />The Council's role and its powers have
<br />evolved over the years and as its responsi-
<br />bilities have increased so has its influence
<br />over local governments. Its true enough that
<br />sometimes the Council thwarts local plans -
<br />but it sees things from a regional perspec-
<br />tive and that is its reason for being.
<br />(Information gathered by the Council of
<br />Metropolitan Area Leagues of Women Voters
<br />provided some of the above information)
<br />
<br />Next month - Community PRIDE, Seasonal
<br />Reminders and Recycling. If you would like
<br />to comment on any of these topics or ask a
<br />question for the next issue please feel free
<br />to call 421-8987 or write 15011 Juniper Ridge
<br />Drive, Ramsey, Minn. 55303.
<br />
<br />-Jean Schlueter
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />You must have long-range goals to keep you
<br />from being frustrated by short-range failures.
<br />-Charles C. Norle
<br />
<br />FORUM
<br />
<br />MARCH 28TH
<br />
<br />7:30 p.m.
<br />
<br />Ramsey City Hall
<br />
<br />Ramsey JC Women
<br />and
<br />Concerned Citizens
<br />are sponsoring a FORUM on the Impacts of Haz-
<br />ardous Waste and New Sanitary Landfill sitings
<br />in the City of Ramsey.
<br />PANELISTS ARE:
<br />Tom Renner - Hydrologist
<br />Roger Scherer - Metro Council Representative
<br />Anoka Soil & Water Representative
<br />PCA Representative
<br />EPA Representative
<br />Natalie Haas - 1st District Commissioner
<br />Also present will be our State Representatives.
<br />
<br />For more information call Sue 421-3894 or
<br />Marilyn 427-5957
<br />
<br />-Marilyn Gallagher
<br />
<br />OUR
<br />CONGRATULATIONS
<br />
<br />Susan Johnstone, daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
<br />Tomas B. Johnstone, 7550 158th Ave. N.W., was
<br />initiated into Tau Beta Pi, National Engineer-
<br />ing Society. She is a Junior at the Univer-
<br />sity of Michigan, where she is an Air Force
<br />ROTC scholarship student majoring in Atmos-
<br />pheric Engineering.
<br />**********************
<br />
<br />Kathy Johnstone, daughter of Tom & Barbara
<br />Johnstone, 7550 158th Ave. N.W., competed in
<br />and was chosen for the Minnesota Museum of
<br />Art's, Young Artist Project, at the Landmark
<br />Center, St. Paul. The progra. runs for twelve
<br />weeks and provides art classes for twenty-five
<br />Senior High students from the seven county
<br />Metro area. Kathy is a Junior at Anoka Senior
<br />High School.
<br />**********************
<br />
<br />~ e4,(de,et Z' e4fiU1te4,
<br />
<br />DEADLINE FOR THE APRIL ISSUE IS APRIL 11th.
<br />
<br />OPEN LETTER COLUMN: Have something to say? Write it down, SIGN IT and muil to 'Open Letter'
<br />c/o Sue VanWagner, 16330 Yttrium St., Ramsey, Minn. 55303.
<br />
<br />CITIZEN'S COLUMN: Looking for an answer concerning gov't? Write it down, SIGN IT and mlil
<br />to 'Citizen's Column' c/o Jean Schlueter, 15011 Juniper Ridge Dr., Ramsey, Minn. 55303
<br />
<br />BIRTH, ENGAGEMENT, MARRIAGE, DEATH, SCHOLARSHIP AND MILITARY NEWS: Write it down, SIGN IT
<br />enclose phone number for verification purposes and mail to 'Announcements' c/o Sue VanWagner,
<br />16330 Yttrium St., Ramsey, Minn. 55303.
<br />
<br />SPORTS COVERAGE: Karen Weiss, Sports Editor, To report team scores, call Karen at 421-9002.
<br />A Iso call in hat tricks. If you wish to report plays or other details, write it down,SIGN IT
<br />enclose phone number for verification and mail to 'Sports' c/o Karen Weiss, 16053 Nowthen Blvd.
<br />Ramsey, Minn. 55303.
<br />
<br />YOUTH SECTION: A place for those of us under 18 who have something to share..a poem..story...
<br />joke..adventure or an accomplishment. Write it down, SIGN IT and mail to 'Youth Section'
<br />c/o Sue VanWagner, 16330 Yttrium St. Ramsey, Minn. 55303
<br />
<br />ADVERTISING: Business advertisers should call Tom Gamec at 421-7615. For classified ads
<br />the following catagories exist: houses, avtos,recreation vehicles, pets and appliances:
<br />the charge for a three line ad is $9.00. Garage Sales may submit an address and date for
<br />$4.00. JOB OPPORTUNITY ADS MAY BE PLACED FOR NO CHARGE PROVIDING THEY ARE NOT PUBLISHED
<br />ELSEWHERE FOR ONE WEEK FOLLOWING THE RESIDENT'S DELIVERY DATE. To submit an ad, print
<br />plainly how you wish it to read and mail with your check to 'Classified Ads' c/o Sue Van
<br />Wagner, 16330 Yttrium St., Ramsey, Minn. 55303.
<br />
<br />FUTURE FUNCTIONS: If your organization is planning a function and would like citizen parti-
<br />cipation, write it up, be sure to enclose date, place and time, enclose phone number for
<br />verication and mail to 'Functions' c/o Sue VanWagner, 16330 Yttrium St., Ramsey, Minn. 55303.
<br />
<br />ORGANIZATIONS & CHURCHES: Let us know what you're up to, write it down, SIGN IT and send
<br />to 'Happenings' c/o Sue VanWagner, 16330 Yttrium St., Ramsey, Minn. 55303.
<br />
<br />IF YOU WISH TO INCLUDE A BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO (NOT POLAROID), PLEASE ENCLOSE $3.50 TO COVER
<br />PRINTING CHARGES.
<br />Any further questions??? Call Sue VanWagner at 753-4034.
<br />
<br />The Ramsey Resident is published by the City of Ramsey, Councilwoman Sue VanWagner; Editor,
<br />Mayor Tom Gamec; Director of Advertising, Karen Weiss; Sports Editor, Princess Printing;
<br />Printer.
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