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RAMSEY 1998 CITY INDEX BENCHMARK YEAR 2010 MUSAGOAL Affordability Ownership 88% 69 — 87 % 70% Rental 29% 35 — 50% 35% Life -cycle Type (Non- single family detached housing) 4% 33 — 35 % 10% Owner/Renter Mix 97% / 3% 75 / 25% 90% / 10% Density Single - family detached .8 / acre 1.9 — 2.3 / acre 2 / acre Multifamily NA 10 — 13 / acre 8 / acre Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (Kristina Smitten 651- 602 -1535) The city submitted a Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area element intended to address state Critical Area Executive Order 79 -19 standards and guidelines and the voluntary policies of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area ( MNRRA) Comprehensive Management Plan. The city does not yet have a state - approved Critical Area plan and regulations. The Mississippi River Corridor in Ramsey is located primarily west of TH10. Although it includes some MUSA lands and areas staged for MUSA to 2015, it is within the Critical Area Rural Open Space District the purpose of which is to conserve and protect the existing and potential recreational, scenic, natural, and historic resources for the use and enjoyment of the surrounding region. The city has included policies for development within the corridor to be consistent with these and other natural resource guidelines such as protection of slopes, retention and restoration of native vegetation, minimized site alteration and runoff, and encouraged open space. In addition to addressing Critical Area and MNRRA purposes, the plan also addresses the objectives of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Shoreland Management Act, and Floodplain Management Act. The plan provides general direction to the decision - makers and staff of the city on how to handle river corridor decisions in an informed and efficient manner. The primary land use designations in the corridor are Low Density Urban Residential and Park and Open Space. The low- density residential designation has raised considerable discussion as it may impact lands within the Critical Area/MNRRA corridor. The intent is to use planned cluster developments in order to preserve open space and views. The plan calls for transferring density from within the corridor to adjacent residential land areas through the PUD process and creative zoning strategies. Council staff would like to see remaining rural areas maintain a rural character and rural densities. However, the city has chosen to apply natural resource protection policies, cluster development design practices, and transfer of densities to achieve the city's vision while meeting state standards and guidelines. The city's river corridor plan is a very good plan that accomplishes several things. It establishes a city vision for the Mississippi River Corridor while incorporating policies to address regional, state, and federal requirements and guidelines. It provides for goals and policies that improve public access points to the river, protect water quality and other natural resources, provide for recreational opportunities and preserve historic and cultural elements. The plan incorporates voluntary policies from the MNRRA CMP with the intent to achieve a Tier 2 (most protective) conformance level. 18