Letters/Other CommitteesLETTERS/OTHER COMMITTEES
City of Ramsey
15153 NOWTHEN BOULEVARD N.W., RAMSEY, MINNESOTA 55303
Steve B. Ach, City Planner
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
PO Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
Dear Mr. Ach:
PHONE (612) 427-1410
FAX (612)427-5543
TTD (612)427-8591
I am in receipt of your letter, dated January 26, 1995, regarding Elk River Comprehensive Planning. In response to
your request for input, I have included below a few suggestions for issues of concern to Ramsey which your
planning will impact:
The Metropolitan Council and the Minnesota Department of Transportation have determined that Trunk
Highway #10 will be at Congestion Level F beyond the year 2005. This congestion, of course, is impacted
by all communities utilizing this roadway. While the Highway #101 improvement will provide short-term
relief to some degree, the issue will become more critical in future years. Ramsey will be looking to your
community to recommend policies and improvements that will mitigate congestion levels. While Elk River is
outside of Metropolitan Council jurisdiction, their transportation planners (Carl Ohm, 291-6359) would
probably welcome the opportunity to lend assistance.
2. In our recent planning activities, we have directed consultants to provide base maps that include small
sections of all surrounding communities. This allows us to see on one exhibit how our improvements relate
to yours and vice versa.
3. The Ramsey border with Elk River currently has incompatible land uses. We would like to discuss the
planned future zoning for this area.
4. Ramsey plans and sets aside funding sources for its park and trail construction for the five years succeeding
the current year. We would like to begin discussions of your park and trail amenities and how they relate to
ours. Minimally, we need to ensure that our trail systems provide for future extensions through Elk River.
5. Septic systems and other environmental issues (wetland, storm drainage) seem to be a hot issue into the
future. We look forward to discussing how we can work jointly in these areas in upcoming years.
6. We currently operate a small municipal water utility. Our municipal sanitary sewer is part of the Metro
system. Due to our projected growth patterns, however, we can see a time when our infrastructure will butt
up to yours. Let's discuss the impacts and opportunities of this.
Thanks again for the opportunity to comment. Good luck with your process and product.
Sincerely,
ZVF,,A SEY
eder
City Administrator
RRS/jkl
cc: Steve Jankowski, City Engineer
Sylvia Frolik, Zoning Administrator
Mark Boos, Parks/Utilities Supervisor
Mayor and City Council
IryA NcrtMffass Qssncoa4ad Consultants, Inc.
CU R S A M PLANNING ^DESIGN a MARKET R E S E A R L H
17 February 1995
Mr. Steve Ach, City Planner
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: Otsego - Elk River Comprehensive Plan
FILE NO: 176.08
Dear Mr. Ach:
As a follow-up to your 26 January letter to Elaine Beatty and our 16 February telephone
conversation, this letter will serve to highlight issues of central importance to the City of Otsego
which should be recognized in the City of Elk River's comprehensive planning process. Specific
issues considered relevant to this matter are referenced below:
1. Sanitary Sewer Service. The City's existing land use plan and growth staging were
based in large part upon the possibility of future sanitary sewer service being someday
provided from the City of Elk River. Having resolved that such service will not be
available, Otsego is currently investigating the potential of joint sanitary sewer service
with the City of Dayton and Frankfort Township. Should such service become a reality,
a likelihood exists that Otsego's development pattern could change dramatically and
prompt urban development in the southeastern area of the community. While provision
for such sewer service is still in the preliminary discussion phase, Otsego's long term
planning efforts in this regard should not go unrecognized.
2. Trailway Linkages. The City of Otsego's adopted Park Trail and Recreation Plan
(1992) proposes a bicycle trail along County Road 42 with an ultimate crossing of the
Mississippi River and linkage to Elk River. The construction of such trail would be of
benefit to both communities by providing Elk River residents an opportune access to the
Otsego County Park and providing Otsego residents an access to a major activity center
(the City of Elk River).
5775 Wayzata Blvd. • Suite 555 • St. Louis Park, MN 55416 • (612) 595-9636°Fax. 595-9837
Mr. Steve Ach
17 February 1995
Page Two
Wild and Scenic Ordinance. Mandated by the Department of Natural Resources, the
City of Otsego has recently adopted a Wild and Scenic Recreational River District
Ordinance which applies to lands abutting the Mississippi River Corridor. The intent of
the ordinance is to basically preserve the scenic, natural, and historical value of the
corridor through development control. Obviously, the intent of the ordinance will not
be fully realized if similar protections/standards are not imposed along the Elk River side
of the river.
4. River Crossings. According to Otsego's City Engineer, a future, long term roadway
crossing of the Mississippi River will likely be necessary between Trunk Highway 25 in
Monticello and County Road 42 in Otsego. While preferable crossing locations have not
been studied or identified, it should be recognized that the City of Elk River lies within
the area in which such long term crossing will likely be considered.
Contract Services. As you are aware, the City of Otsego currently contracts in part
with the City of Elk River for its fire service. In this regard, future development within
the Elk River fire service district will escalate fire service demands. While to be
considered only in the long term, continued growth within Otsego may someday justify
the establishment of an independent Otsego Fire Department.
Hopefully the above mentioned items successfully respond to your request for an identification
of issues applicable to Ells River's comprehensive planning efforts.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this material, or if I may be of any further
assistance, please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS,INC.
t3�I ti
Robert W. Kirmis, AICP
Senior Designer
PC: Elaine Beatty Larry Koshak
Andy MacArthur Otsego Mayor and City Council
A
7ity of
I
Elk River
January 26, 1995
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Dear «LastName»:
The City of Elk River City Council has authorized the creation of a steering
committee to review and update the City's comprehensive plan. The steering
committee has embarked upon a series of public meetings to gather input
from concerned residents and businesses on various issues facing the City for
the next seven to ten years. There will most likely be three to four additional
meetings before a draft of this comprehensive plan is presented to the
planning commission, who will then hold a public hearing.
This letter is being sent to all adjacent communities to solicit input on issues
that may be of central importance to both Elk River and your community.
Issues such as compatible land uses, transportation, parks and recreation
and infrastructure improvements are all issues that affect each of the
adjacent communities and are best coordinated to receive the highest level of
efficiency for delivering those services. Therefore, your cooperation in
providing input to this process would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions or comments or would like to obtain further
information regarding the City's process for updating its comprehensive plan,
please feel free to contact me at 441-4902.
Sincerely,
Steven B.Ach
City Planner
planning: steer:commltr
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 441-7425
BERT HOWE BRIAN BENSON DENNIS HUGGETT
TOWNSHIPCLERK SHERBURNE COUNTY TOWNSHIP CLERK
LAKE TOWNSHIP 13880 HIGHWAY 10 ORROCK TOWNSHIP
i�622 261ST AVE NW ELK RIVER MN 55330 24653 188TH STREET NW
ZIMMERMAN MN 55398 BIG LAKE MN 55309
LEROY ANDERSON
TOWNSHIP CLERK
LIVONIA TOWNSHIP
27487 112TH STREET NW
ZIMMERMAN MN 55398
SHIRLEY SLATER
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
CITY OF DAYTON
12260 SO DIAMOND LAKE ROAD
DAYTON MN 55327
KATHY WOOD
TOWNSHIP CLERK
BURNS TOWNSHIP
22131 SUGAR BUSH ROAD
ELK RIVER MN 55330
ELAINE BEATTY
CITY CLERK
CITY OF OTSEGO
8899 NASHUA AVENUE
OTSEGO MN 55330
RYANSCHROEDER
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
CITY OFRAMSEY
15153 NOWTHEN BLVD
RAMSEY MN 55303