Ramsey Resident - 2005 - July/August

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2 Town Center Update Continued From Page 1 The City is also expecting construction to start on a 600 -stall parking ramp this summer. The parking ramp, which will be adjacent to the Ramsey Municipal Center will provide free parking for users of the future Northstar Rail as well for those who will be utilizing the Ramsey Town Center's many amenities. The parking ramp is planned to be substantially complete by the end of 2005, with finishing touches completed in the Spring of 2006. Residential Developments The City has received several applications for housing developments within the Ramsey Town Center. It is expected that some of this new housing will be started in the Fall of 2005. Below are brief summaries of the proposed residential developments. Ramsey Town Center 2"d Addition. D.R. Horton received approval to construct 103 townhome units in 2004 along Ramsey Blvd. A couple of the buildings have begun construction and Horton has indicated that they plan on constructing a majority of their units this year. Ramsey Town Center 6th Addition. This project has received final approval and will be the second phase of the D.R. Horton project and will contain 77 townhome units. The development will be west of Horton's first phase. Ramsey Town Center 7th Addition (Symphony at Town Center). The City has given preliminary approval for this townhome development being proposed by Town and Country Homes. The project will be directly south of County Road 116 and west of the D.R. Horton development. The subdivision is proposing to have approximately 190 townhomes. The City is working with Ramsey Town Center LLC on the preliminary plat that will bring townhome and small lot single family homes on the Town Center property north of 116. Presently, it is anticipated that there will be 63 small -lot single family lots and 196 townhomes for a total of 259 units. It is expected that the approval process for this development will take place of the summer. Crestview Senior Housing. Staff has met with representatives of Crestview regarding their project in the Ramsey Town Center. At this time, Crestview is proposing to have approximately 100 senior apartments, assisted living units, and skilled care facilities. The Crestview buildings will be located along Sunwood Drive, east of the Ramsey Municipal Facility. OAK WWT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Oak Wilt is a disease that affects oak trees and leads to the death of a substantial number of oak trees. The City of Ramsey has had a program for several years to assist homeowners in combatting Oak Wilt. Below is information about Oak Wilt, how to combat the infection, and details about the City of Ramsey's Oak Wilt Suppression Program. The difficulty with Oak Wilt results from the density of their stem growth and overlapping roots in the native woods. Converting an oak woods to a residential setting often increases both wind and mechanical breakage and bark injury which makes them susceptible to infection by the wilt fungus spores. The spores can be transferred through the sap in the roots, which often graft and join underground. If control measures are not taken, year after year they progressively transfer the infection to adjoining trees. Red Oaks are especially susceptible and can wilt from green to brown in a few weeks. Bur and White Oaks often take years to die after the first branches exhibit symptoms. Remedial treatment and preventive chemical injection with "Alamo" is now an effective option, most effective on Bur and White Oaks. With the continuing incomplete removal of recently dead Red Oaks, the fungus spore mats crack open the bark and release the spores and increase the risk to spread over land, rather than just through the connected roots. Bur and White Oaks DO NOT form spore mats. Recently dead Red Oaks can be saved for firewood if cut to firewood length and split, piled in a sunny spot away from other Oaks and completely covered with plastic all the way to the ground and secured for a year, which should contain any spores. Please do not give away or move oak wilt infected wood to other sites, keep it on your own property for one year. If the wood is not saved, it can be disposed of at the Anoka County wood disposal site. Homeowners can also contract with a tree service company for removal, chipping or disposal. Despite the disease risk, White and Bur Oaks remain a beautiful and durable choice for planting in a yard setting. In the world of trees, the fastest growing trees [Poplar, Box Elder, Cottonwood] are the shortest lived. Oaks often are slow growing, but with water, compost and wood chip mulch to help their establishment, they will add a couple feet a year, and outlast most other trees. Red Oaks will not form root grafts with Bur and White Oaks. By spacing your plantings away from other Oaks, planting after construction activity to avoid injury, and no pruning May to September, the disease risk is greatly lessened. A good planting strategy is to mix a variety of species if you have space. By including Oaks in your planting plan, and participating in the Oak Wilt Control Program, you will help maintain the legacy of aging Oaks in Ramsey's community forest. You can also consider planting Dutch Elm Disease Resistant Elms to replace their loss to our community landscape. Continued on Page 13 Teenagers are people who express a burning desire to be different by dressing exactly alike. — Anonymous