Minutes - Council - 03/13/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Motion by Councilmember Strommen, seconded by Councilmember Jeffrey, to authorize the Mayor and Interim City Administrator to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with DSU/Bonestroo for the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update in an amount not to exceed $83,300. Further discussion: Councilmember Elvig stated he was also impressed with DSU/Bonestroo. He requested Mr. Carlson share a couple of reasons for their interest in participating in the Ramsey Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Carlson stated he has been in the planning business for 30 years. What Ramsey is seeing in their community is a microcosm of what is going on in this metro area with development pressure on the rural areas and communities trying to articulate what it means to value the open space and wide open lifestyle, and at the same time say they are in a metro area of 3 million people busting at the seams. This has gone out to Ramsey and beyond. They need to address how to responsibly respond to that so it does not just keep going to Elk River and Princeton. There are sustainable issues of building highways, using gasoline, and of quality of life in trying to create neighborhoods that have some cohesion. Mr. Carlson stated Town Center is currently going through a hiccup in its development, but it is a progressive piece of urban design in this metro area. DSU/Bonestroo is excited to add their piece. This will be a work in process for these next few years. They will be working with natural resources, open space, wildlife, and stormwater. All those issues come together to work with the natural resources. The urban center and the rural lifestyle is all here in Ramsey. Councilmember Elvig asked if Ramsey is more challenging than most communities. Mr. Carlson replied every community is a challenge in its own way. Councilmember Dehen explained in regards to the discussion on the conflict of interest, his question is what the perceived conflict was as Mr. Carlson understood it. Mr. Carlson replied the folks in Dayton said they had asked all the consultants if they worked in neighboring communities. DSU/Bonestroo did not see that question anyplace in the proposal or hear it in the interview; had it been brought up they would have answered it as they did in Ramsey. The concern of Dayton was around the bridge issue, with things being looked at differently from one side of the river to the other. The side in Dayton is the widest open and people are fearful of a bridge they do not need being shoved down their throats. It is a real emotional issue for many on the other side of the river. Mayor Gamec noted at the time DSU/Bonestroo interviewed with Dayton, the Ramsey proposal was not in place yet. Motion carried. V oting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Strommen, Jeffrey, Dehen, Elvig, Look, and Olson. Voting No: None. Case #3: Request for Preliminary Plat and Preliminary Site Plan for Pine Prairie; Case of Tri-Cor Development, LLC Associate Planner DaInes stated Tri-Cor Development, LLC has submitted a preliminary plat application to develop nine townhome units on the property located to the west of Nowthen Boulevard and north of Iodine Street NW. The subject property is approximately 1.7 acres in . size and is zoned R-2 Medium Density Residential, which allows up to 7 units per acre. The plat is proposing 9 townhome units. Ms. Daines stated the plat proposes access off of CR 5 (Nowthen Boulevard). Helium Street is indicated as a public street, with a service road right-of- way of 45 feet instead of the typical 60 feet. The pavement width is proposed to be the standard 24 feet. Proposed Helium Street right-of-way is adjacent to existing right-of-way for the County Road, and can be considered a service road in nature. Ms. Daines advised access for this portion City Council / March 13, 2007 Page 9 of21