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7) What is the status of the comprehensive plan, which currently guides the City of Ramsey development efforts? When was the existing operating plan approved? The comprehensive plan adopted in 1980, which has been amended since, is still the document guiding development efforts. in defining "operating plan" we are assuming zoning ordinances which direct city staff in development procedures. One such amendment to the comp plan occurred in 1989. This amendment led to a major restructure of zones, reconfigured the MUSA, and revised zoning codes effective January 29, 1990. Since then minor comp plan revisions have been made in 1995 and 1999, both leading to subsequent amendments to the MUSA boundary. 8) What comprehensive plan has been ratified by the Metropolitan council? Comprehensive plan draft dated March 2001. 9) Does your current comprehensive plan prevent the city from future development for the foreseeable future? No. The comprehensive plan, as is, does not prohibit construction as long as plans comply with current zoning. However, the current comprehensive plan does inhibit proposed development plans. (i.e. Katnis, ACCAP, Laws, Maxton, Lord of Life church, Blaine Edmundson, Sunfish Lake West properties) Approval of the proposed comprehensive plan would offer immediate benefits to the community with the restructuring of land use zones and updating the zoning code and would put into place the tools necessary to effectively manage the progressive growth pattern that Ramsey is and will be experiencing. 10) What are the consequences of not following through with: a) the town center site; b) the Highway 10 corridor study; c) Mississippi bridge crossing? Since no one is possession of a crystal ball, it is difficult to provide an answer that cannot be debated. Whether it is argued that each of the projects are interrelated and depend on one another or whether it is . argued that they are independent of one another can be argued with equal amount of validity. a) The town center /multi -modal site is perhaps the most independent of the three projects and can most likely take place without the other two. Both the town center and multi -modal station site would be enhanced by the improvements of the Mississippi River bridge crossing. b) The Highway #10 interregional corridor study is already in process, as is the Northwest Metro Corridor and River Crossing Study. Since both projects are already initiated, it is assumed that the studies are independent of the other two factors being initiated. c) The Mississippi bridge crossing is obviously the most difficult project to initiate. it is a fact that without the corridor studies, a major bridge project, such as the Mississippi River crossing, would not be possible. Since the Mississippi River bridge crossing is such a major endeavor by MnDOT and the Counties of Anoka and Hennepin, it only stands to reason that the development of a town center and multi -modal station would enhance the possibility of a major river crossing project. 11) What communities in the metro area have or use density transition plans? Are the communities similar to yours, and what comments (good & /or bad) have you heard? Does any community use a density transition plan that is similar to yours? The City of Ramsey finds itself on the frontier of this urban growth issue and the use of a density transition plan within the seven county metro region. Consultants from Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. have been working with city staff on updating the comprehensive plan and zoning code. Their research, being inclusive of the metro region, has produced no such prior model of density transition plans. In the consultants words, "(Ramsey)... is inventing the wheel."