Minutes - Council - 03/17/1998 - Comprehensive Plan Workshop

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Councilmember Haas Steffen noted that Mr. Scheib did not talk about cluster housing. Mr. Scheib responded that's the reason behind Concept B - the two-to-five acres are clusters. The town center was discussed with regard to location and size. Councilmember Haas Steffen noted that the concepts do not meet the targets the Metropolitan Council has set for the City of Ramsey. · Mr. Scheib agreed that Concept A does not, however, Concept B may - he has not mn the numbers yet. It will tell us what type of densities we will develop at. Councilmember Haas Steffen stated that MnDOT has designated T.H. #47 as a preservation highway but expects us to take on 5,200 more houses. That's more homes and no money for upgrading the highway - and no river crossing. Mr. Scheib stated that we are committed to see highway improvements - bridge crossing, etc. Mayor Gamec stated that even if Ramsey has zero growth, with what's happening in Oak Grove, Bums and Elk River, our two major roadways will be swamped with traffic. We have to concentrate on upgrading the roads and also on a river crossing. A comment was made to include a road the City feels will have to be updated and put them into the Comprehensive Plan - taking into consideration the outside growth. Councilmember Zimmerman commented that the densities in Concept A are 1 in 10 and in B it's 2 to 5. North of the MUSA it's 4 in 40 but cluster development will be allowed. Discussion ensued relating to what the City wants to preserve environmentally. There are more units in the B concept, but the density is higher - more open spaces into the corridor rather than in everyone's back yard. Environmental Specialist Bacon noted that more open space in the plan is public and passive uses. He wondered if Hoisington could look to rural or green businesses and development that support productive uses of open space. We are a community one hour away from the major metro market. He asked if other communities ever look at business development potential for fields, gardens, wetlands, woods for production for specialty crops, for instance. He stated he is not talking about farms - but rather value added uses; Western Europe is an example of economic development programs and initiatives that preserve and restore local jobs, training, unique specialty niches, like nurseries, bed and breakfasts, bicycle tourism, cheese, flowers, herbs, and prairie native seeds. It was noted that there will be a meeting for public input on April 30, 1998. Comprehensive Plan Update/March 17, 1998 Page 3 of 4