Agenda - Council - 05/27/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I CASE #: AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR AN OPPORTUNITY GRANT THROUGH THE LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM, CASE OF CITY OF RAMSEY By: Patrick Trudgeon, AICP, Principal Planner Backgro u nd: The Metropolitan Council recently opened up a new round of funding for Opportunity Grants through the Livable Communities Demonstration Program. The grant program was created to fund and assist local comnaunities in developing project and site specific land use plans that show potential for evolving into the development category. The Metropolitan Council has a total of $300,000 in grant money available to disperse to metro area communities. The grant will be disbursed in amounts fi'om $30,000.00 to $75,000.00 and the city must lnatch the grant award on a ] to I basis. The funds can be used for the preparation of master plans, developing design standards, market studies, developing zoning and land use implementation tools. Observations: As part of the 2001 Ramsey Comprehensive Plan, the City created the Central Rural Reserve Area (CRRA) to.preserve land currently subdivided into large rural lots. The Comprehensive Plan states that the City will worl< to identify the potential of' the CRRA for urban services after the year 2020. Staff bel ieves that the LCDA Opportunity Grant would be a vehicle to fund a study of the CRRA. Staff is proposing to apply for approxin~ately $30,000.00. Matching funds would come from in-kind staff costs and already budgeted items (such as the aerial photography being done for the stormxvater plan). Tile Central Rural Reserve Study would do tile following: l) Inventory existing land uses ill the CRRA; 2) Identify opportunities and constraints ill the CRRA for future urban development; 3) Detem~ine the amount of households with urban services that could be created in the CRRA; 4) Draft and adopt procedures and policies for the process of when and how land is converted to receive public utilities; 5) Determine the optimal routing of public utilities through the CRRA; and 6) Draft and create a regulatory fi'amework tbrougl~ the use ordinances and/or zoning overlay clistricts to preserve the land For future urban development. The deadline for the grant applications is June 2, 2003. Staff is still working on completing the apl~lication. Metropolitan Council staff have indicated that they expect to award the grants on August 27, 2003. Included with this case cover sheet is a proposed resolution that authorizes staff to apply for Opportunity Grant for your consideration. Recommendation: City Staff recommends adoption of the resolution authorizing staff to apply for an Opportunity Grant. Council Action: Motion to adopt Resolution #03-05- authorizing staff to apply for an Opportunity Grant for the Central Rural Reserve Study. iReview Checldist: City Aclministt'ator Community Developnaent Director Ih'iucipal City Engineer CC: {}5/27/03 -!43-