Ramsey Resident - 2007 - May/June

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Development ~ City to Conduct Natural Resources Inventory A Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) is a thorough accounting and assessment of natural resources within the city. An NRI will provide baseline data that can act as a blueprint for the city to guide more sustainable development. The city has hired Bonestroo & Associates to complete a city-wide NRI throughout this summer. The results will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan Update that the city is required to complete in 2008. As part of this exciting project, there will be an open-house style public meeting for residents to learn more about the process, goals, and pos- sible outcomes. The open house is scheduled for May 15 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 7550 Sunwood Drive. Questions concerning this project can be directed to Chris Anderson at 763-433-9905 or canderson@ C1.ramsey.mn.us. Interested in Open Space? Please consider attending what promises to be a very informative presentation regarding the eco- nomic value of open space. Embrace Open Space, a non-profit organization, commissioned a study to lool( at the economic value of open space. At the request of Ramsey's Environmental Policy Board, Mr. Paul Anton, Chief Economist of Wilder Research Center and principal author of the study, has agreed to present and discuss his findings on May 14 at 6:30 pm at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 7550 Sunwood Drive. If you would like to review the study, you can access it at: www.embraceopenspace.org/EOSReport/Econom- ic ValueofOpenSpace.pdf. Please contact Chris Anderson at 763-433- 9905 or canderson@ci.ramsey.mn.us if you have any questions. Habitat for Humanity Development Underway! The first eight units of the planned 24 Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity townhomes are now under construction in the Ramsey Town Center Gardens 3rd Addition. A celebratory kickoff event to raise the first wall was held on a bright and cheerful April 16 as a small crowd gathered to hear Mayor Gamec welcome Habitat to Ramsey. The twenty-four townhomes will be built on land near 149th Avenue NW and Olivine Street NW. Twin Cities Habitat has recently adopted a three-year strategic plan calling for three-quarters of their new construction activity to occur in targeted suburban communities with job and population growth, access to mul- tiple transportation modes and good schools. Ramsey clearly fits the bill. Habitat sells homes to working families who earn between 30 percent and 50 percent of the area median in- come-about $30,000 for a family of four-and issues zero-percent mortgages. In addition to purchasing their new townhomes, the families who will join the Ramsey community will contribute between 300 and 500 hours of sweat equity on site helping to construct their new homes. The city is glad to see Habitat shift its focus to addressing the Twin Cities community as a whole and worl(ing with northwestern communities such as ours. Also, the Habitat team stresses community engagement and partnerships at every level, having held two public meetings at the city as well as hosting an information session for interested homebuy- ers. Additionally, local individuals, churches, and businesses have come together to form the Habitat Partnership of Northwest Anoka County (HPAC) which will aide Habitat in their efforts to fundraise, engage the community, and solicit volunteers. Lord of Life Lutheran's own Larry Culp is serving as the chair of the partnership and is already busy at work preparing for upcoming weeks in the late summer and early fall when local residents will have an opportunity to volunteer onsite. Until then, generous supporters from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Wells Fargo and other Twin Cities groups, will be seen during the week as walls are raised, shingles are attached and new homes are rising from the ground across from the Ramsey Town Center. www.ci.ramsey.mn.us 3