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Compatibility with Adjacent Jurisdictions The city forwarded the plan to adjacent jurisdictions and the Department of Natural Resources for review in November 1998. The city of Dayton suggested coordination of land uses along the Mississippi River for compatibility with Dayton's open space plans. Dayton also suggested coordination on the location and trail linkages that would be involved in any future bridge crossing. In comments, DNR commended the city for natural resource policies, but requested policies to reduce impervious surfaces and recognize high quality wetlands. The city's permanent rural area borders Bums Township and is consistent with that Township's efforts to maintain the permanent rural character of the town. However, the "rural developing area" if permitted at the densities forecasted would be inconsistent with the Bums Township plan density of one unit per five acres and the city of Andover comprehensive plan for the permanent rural area where minimum lot sizes are one unit per 2.5 acres, unless clustered. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS 1. The city of Ramsey 2020 Comprehensive Plan meets all of the Metropolitan Land Planning Act requirements for 1998 plan updates. 2. The land use plan and staging plan is consistent the Regional Blueprint and the Regional Growth Strategy designation for the urban area. The minimum density is three units per gross acre. With the planned overall density of 4.7 units per acre within current and staged MUSA, there is sufficient land for urban development to meet Council forecasts and to be in conformance with the Regional Water Resources Management Plan forecasts of sewered households to 2020. As development occurs, the city may want to re- evaluate the percentage of land allocated for industrial use to ensure adequate work force housing. 3. The 1000 -acre Central Planning Area, identified in the March 14, 2001, submittal, is consistent with the urban reserve policies of the Regional Blueprint and Regional Growth Strategy. The city is proposing to work with the Council.during the next two years to identify the potential of this and other areas for sewer and water development after 2020 in order to eventually use the Metropolitan Disposal System capacity provided to the city based on previous city plans. In the interim, the area will be retained as it is currently zoned, rural transition area allowing four units per 40 acres and requiring preliminary plats for future urban development when sewer is provided. Because there are only 150 vacant acres within the study area, the city should work with the Council to identify additional lands for an urban reserve and or to intensify land uses within the MUSA after 2020. The Council should assist the city to find feasible areas because the Regional Growth Strategy showed an urban reserve in Ramsey that is largely developed. 4. The city's policies for the area designated in the plan as "permanent rural" are consistent with the Regional Blueprint and Regional Growth Strategy, however the area has been reduced in size from what was proposed in the original plan. The area designated as "rural developing" is consistent with the Regional Blueprint where this development pattern already exists south of Trott Brook and in some areas north of Trott Brook. The city has adopted an ordinance and program for the management of on -site systems and the plan includes natural resource and greenway preservation policies. However, large undivided parcels north of Trott Brook should be retained at one unit per 10 acres to be entirely consistent with current Council policies. The current regional policies for permanent rural are under review to deal with some of the realities within Anoka County and Ramsey that are not provided for in current policy. 5. The housing element of the city's plan is consistent with regional housing policy as set forth in the Regional Blueprint, and fulfills the minimum housing plan requirements of the Metropolitan Land Planning Act (MLPA). 6. The plan is in conformity with the policy plans for Aviation and Parks and Open Space plans and increases protected and recreational open space and trails. 19