Agenda - Council - 05/22/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

City of Ramsey Active Community Planning Proposal Deadline: June 1, 2007 Section I: The Applicant The City of Ramsey has embarked on a series of innovative community planning efforts that have emphasized providing alternatives to the standard, suburban environment. The Ramsey Town Center Master Plan is perhaps the best example of these efforts. The Ramsey Town Center (RTC) was designed to provide Ramsey with a downtown, a gathering place. The design standards, zoning districts, and performance standards written for R TC place emphasize alternative transportation modes, including walking, biking, and transit. The City received Federal Congestion Mitigation grants and Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Demonstration grants in excess of $6 million to construct a parking ramp at the center of RTC, adjacent to the future Northstar Rail corridor. This ramp serves as a park and ride for the Ramsey Star Express, a commuter bus service to downtown, and will eventually be the transit facility for the Northstar Commuter Rail. The park and trail system proposed in the RTC Master Plan includes 3 City Parks and a promenade that meanders through the center ofRTC, and serves as a destination for walkers, shoppers, and residents of Ramsey Town Center. The new Municipal Center campus, also located in RTC, is designated as smoke-free, including the grounds and parking ramp/transit hub. Furthermore, the entire park and trail system had been declared smoke-free by ordinance. Bike lockers are provided at the parking ramp, which encourage multi-modal transportation options. The development of RTC is the largest step the City has taken to express its desire for alternatives to the auto-dependent, suburban development model and encourage active living by fostering walkability, encouraging bike use, and providing recreational opportunities. Ramsey residents remain dedicated to the values of active living and walkability by introducing a resident-initiated effort called "Ramsey 3" that includes a community visioning process and a series of guest speakers who highlight alternatives to typical transportation, ecology, and development planning. Also, in a recent housing survey, "increasing neighborhood walkability" was listed as one of the top priorities among those surveyed. Ramsey has also proven its dedication to active lifestyles not only through planning, but with capital investment. The Master Trail Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program outlines a series of trail construction projects and identifies a funding source and time line for construction of these trails. The City has -210- Page 3 of 16