2000 Correspondence - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

- ~ Metropolitan Council ~ Working for the Region, PlanningIor the Future Internal Memorandum DATE: April 20, 2000 SUBJECT: Sandra Pinel; Secj~ Re~esentative, Principle Reviewer Kristina s~Jt:; Corridor Planner, 651/602-1535 City of Ramsey Critical Area Plan, File # 16891-1 TO: FROM: Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area and Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the city of Ramsey's Mississippi River Critical Area Corridor/MNRRA chapter of the comprehensive plan for consistency with state Critical Area standards and guidelines, voluntary Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) policies, and Metropolitan Council regional policies. We commend the city's efforts and acknowledge the commitment to the river corridor that the city has taken through the development of the river corridor plan. There are some very exciting components within the plan that are strongly supported and recognized as real efforts to achieve conformance with objectives of many different programs. This has not been an easy task for the city and we praise efforts to this point. There are still some concerns that all three agencies share and would like to work through before the plan goes for approval by the Council, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and MNRRA conformance determination by the National Park Service. We would like to come to agreement on these issues so that we can further support the city's efforts. Critical Area issues or omissions are summarized below and discussed in more detail in the attachments from the DNR. A list of additional voluntary policies to consider for achieving consistency with the MNRRA Comprehensive Management Plan is included in the attached letter from the National Park Service (NPS). All three agencies reviewed the city's plan separately and have made comments; therefore, there may be some redundancy in the comments expressed. The Council fully supports additional comments from the DNR and the NPS, whether or not the comments are repeated. XI.c.1.a, page XI-13 According to the city's plan, future land use within the Critical AreaIMNRRA corridor is planned to develop as "Low density residential" and a small area as "Rural developing". The Council encourages rural preservation along the river corridor. The opportunity to create higher densities within the MUSA service area is appropriate outside of the Critical Area. Any increase in density would need to address Wild and Scenic and Critical Area Rural Open Space District guidelines, and would need to involve discussions between the city, DNR and the Metropolitan Council X1.C.1.b, page XI-14 Commercial/Industrial riverfront development is of concern in this stretch of the Mississippi River. All commercial/industrial development needs provide site plans that demonstrate conformance with state Critical Area standards and guidelines.