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

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I IIN REPLY REFER TO: i L8020(MISS)-2 May 14, 2003 I I Patrick Trudgeon City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Blvd., NW Ramsey, MN 55303 United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Mississippi National River and Recreation Area 111 E. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1256 Dear Mr. Trudgeon: This letter concerns the May 8, 2003 Ramsey Town Center (RTC) Draft Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR). As described in the Draft AUAR document, the proposed Town Center boundary is adjacent to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), a unit of the National Park Service, and the state designated Mississippi River Critical Area. Due to this proximity and the potential for RTC connections through the MNRRA corridor and to the Mississippi River itself, certain components of the RTC planning process could have a direct impact on the MNRRA corridor. The following comments are based on these potential impacts. Regarding stormwater runoff, the AUAR states that the RTC will require a stormwater outlet to the Mississippi River. Item 8, question 5 (page 8-6) states that a discharge path has not yet been identified and that permitting by the Department of Natural Resources will be required for future discharge to the Mississippi River. We encourage the City of Ramsey to work closely with the Department of Natural Resources and other relevant agencies in the design of the RTC stormwater management. Tables 17.1, 17.2, and 17.3 suggest significant increases in stormwater runoff from existing conditions during 100- year rainfall and snowmelt events, for both the minimum and maximum projected runoff condition. We encourage minimization of runoff to the greatest extent possible and adherence to Mississippi River Critical Area standards, as well as those of the MNRRA CMP. The issue of a potential river crossing is also raised in the discussion on traffic in Item 21 of the AUAR. While decisions regarding a future bridge crossing will be made through the transportation planning process, the development of a town center could influence decisions for a new Mississippi River bridge. In its plans for the Ramsey Town Center, we urge the City to carefully consider the potential impacts of - any future crossing on the Mississippi River corridor and on existing and proposed parks and open space on both sides of the river. The National Park Service also encourages the creation of continuous greenway corridors to, and along, the Mississippi River where possible, and promotes connections to the regional trail system, including access to the river. We also urge consideration of visual impacts on the river corridor of any tall structures planned within the RTC boundary, such as a new elevated reservoir or communications towers. The MNRRA Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) provides National Park Service (NPS) land use and protection guidelines for the Mississippi River corridor. Policies of particular relevance to Ramsey Town Center planning are as follows: -199-