6. Growth Options.I MEMORANDUM
CITY OF �=
CHANHASSEN
690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 e CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317
(612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739
I TO: Don Ashworth, City Manager
Action by City Administrator
—
Modified
Rejected
We Submitted to Commissior(
' FROM: Kate Aanenson, AICP Planning Director bate sunmirted to Council
DATE: November 6,1 1996
SUBJ: Proposed Amendments to the Metropolitan Council Policy Plans "Growth
Options"
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On October 10, 1996, the Metropolitan Council approved amendments to the Metropolitan
' Development Guide. There are public hearings scheduled on November 19 and 20 on the
proposed amendments. The Regional Blueprint has four system plans including transportation,
aviation, wastewater, and regional recreational open space. These proposed systems constitute
the regional growth management strategy.
As you may recall, the Metropolitan Council has been reviewing growth options that would
' direct urban growth and development patterns. There were three proposals; current Trend,
Concentrated Development, and Growth Centers. The selected option was a hybrid of all three.
' The remaining area of land not currently in the MUSA has been given a 2020 MUSA
designation. This means for Chanhassen that the official MUSA will be determined by local
governments as part of the 1997 -98 Comprehensive Planning process. The Bluff Creek
' Watershed Natural Resources Management Plan is providing a process for the city to review
future land uses south of Lyman Boulevard. In addition, the Comprehensive Plan will be
' amended next year (1997) and the phasing of the MUSA expansion will be addressed with this
amendment.
' Some of the proposed growth options that would have an affect on Chanhassen is the policy
stating "emphasis on increasing the housing density in the newly urbanizing areas" and that the
Council will plan its regional sewer and transportation services and facilities based on the 2020
' growth area. For the City of Chanhassen, this really is status quo except that we will be
providing a staging plan for ultimate development.
Mr. Don Ashworth
November 7, 1996
Page 2
I would like to have the Council aware of the proposed strategies and if they have any concerns, I
will forward those to the Metropolitan Council. I will be prepared to discuss this item at the
November 12, 1996 City Council meeting.
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Metropolitan Council
' Working for the Region, Planning for the Future
�J
I A Summary of
Proposed Amendments to Metropolitan Council
Policy Plans/Metropolitan Development Guide Chapters
' Regional Blueprint
Transportation
Water Resources Management
Aviation
Recreation Open Space
' Proposed amendments approved for public hearing purposes
by the Metropolitan Council October 10, 1996
Metropolitan Council Members
Curtis Johnson, Chair
Roger Scherer - District 1
Bill Schreiber - District 2
Mary Hill Smith - District 3
Julius C. Smith - District 4
Neil Peterson - District 5
Martha M. Head - District 6
Barbara Butts Williams - District 7
Carol A. Kummer - District 8
David Hartley - District 9
Richard Packer - District 10
Esther Newcome - District 11
Charles Arnason - District 12
Diane Z. (DeDe) Wolfson - District 13
Stephen B. Wellington, Jr. - District 14
Kevin Howe - District 15
Terrence F. Flower - District 16
The mission of the Metropolitan Council is to provide leadership in the effective planning of
regional growth and redevelopment, and in the delivery of quality regional services.
The Metropolitan Council coordinates regional planning and guides development in the seven -
county area through joint action with the public and private sectors. The Council also operates
regional services, including wastewater collection and treatment, transit and the Metro HRA — an
affordable- housing service that provides assistance to low- income families in the region. Created
by the legislature in 1967, the Council establishes policies for airports, regional parks, highways
and transit, sewers, air and water quality, land use and affordable housing, and provides planning
and technical assistance to communities in the Twin Cities region.
On request, this publication will be made available in alternative formats to people with disabilities. Please call the
Metropolitan Council Data Center at 291 -8140 or TTY 291 -0904.
Council information is available by calling the Metro Information Line at 229 -3780 and the Council's Data Center
at 291 -8140 or TTY 291 -0904.
Internet address: data. center @metc.state.mn.us
Web site: http: / /www.metrocouncil.org
Printed on recycled paper with a minimum of 20% post- consumer waste.
Publication no. 14 -96 -055
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I Overview
' This document summarizes proposed amendments to three Metropolitan Council policy
plans /Metropolitan Development Guide chapters. They are the Regional Blueprint, Recreational
Open Space and Aviation.
' The document also summarizes the Council's proposed new Transportation Development
Guide /Policy Plan and a new Water Resources Management Development Policy Plan. The policy
' plans are intended to replace existing Council policy documents in its Metropolitan Development
Guide.
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The Council is holding a single set of hearings and discussions on these changes to:
• Better integrate the Council's system plans with its Regional Blueprint, especially the proposed
regional growth management strategy;
• Move expeditiously to approve policies and guidelines that will help guide local governments
prepare their comprehensive plans; and
• Provide opportunities to members of the public, local governmental officials and others to
comment on the proposed changes in a way that is economical of their time.
Schedule for Discussion and Adoption
The Council approved the proposed amendments and the proposed new entire chapters on Oct. 10,
1996, so the documents could be distributed to all interested parties for review and comment. The
Council will consider any revisions that might be suggested through the public review process and
adopt the new plans or plan amendments by the end of 1996.
Final Council Action
The Council wants to take formal action on the plans by the end of 1996 so local governments can
use the Council's most current policies and its most recent forecasts as they update their local
comprehensive plans. Under state law, local government need to complete their updates by the end
of 1998.
Open Houses and Public Hearings
The Council will hold one set of hearings on the five policy plans on November 19 and 20 to get
public comments. It is doing so because the proposed Blueprint amendments and the new
Transportation and Water Resources Management policy plans are closely interrelated. In
addition, communities with comments pertaining to several of the chapters can present the
comments at one meeting.
The hearing dates and locations:
• Nov. 19, Metropolitan Council Chambers, Mears Park Centre, 230 E. 5th St., St. Paul, 2 -5 p.m.,
continued at 6:30 p.m.
• Nov. 20, 6 p.m.
Burnsville City Hall Council Chambers, 100 Civic Center Pkwy.,
Burnsville
Oakdale City Hall Council Chambers, 1584 Hadley Av., Oakdale
New Hope City Hall Council Chambers, 4401 Xylon Av. N., New Hope
In addition, the Council will hold three open houses. The open houses provide an opportunity to
learn more about the proposals and to discuss them informally. The open houses will begin at
6 p.m.
- Oct. 22, Burnsville City Hall Council Chambers, 100 Civic Center Pkwy.,
Burnsville
- Oct. 23, Oakdale City Hall Council Chambers, 1584 Hadley Av., Oakdale
- Oct. 24, New Hope City Hall Council Chambers, 4401 Xylon Av. N., New Hope
Providing Comments to the Metropolitan Council
The Council will accept written comments from the open houses that are mailed, faxed or
e- mailed. Persons who have oral comments based on the open house discussions can record
statements on the Council's Public Comment Line. (See below for mailing and e -mail addresses,
as well as fax and Comment Line numbers.)
All interested persons are encouraged to attend the hearings and provide comments. People may
register in advance to speak by calling 291 -6536 or 291 -0904 (TTY). Upon request the Council
will provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. Special accommodations
should be requested by November 8, 1996. All comments must be received by 4:30 p.m., Friday,
December 6, 1996. Comments may also be submitted as follows:
• Send written comments to: Metropolitan Council Regional Data Center, 230 E. Fifth St.,
St. Paul, MN 55101
• FAX comments to: 612/291 -6464
• Record comments on the Council's Public Comment Line: 612/291 -6536
• Send comments via e -mail to : data.center @metc.state.mn.us
Free copies of the public hearing documents will be available from the Metropolitan Council's
Regional Data Center on October 16, 1996. Call 291 -8140 or 291 -0904 (TTY) to request copies.
The public hearing documents are: (1) Regional Blueprint amendments, (2) revised
Transportation Policy Plan, (3) revised Water Resources Policy Plan, (4) Aviation Guide
amendments and (5) Recreational Open Space amendments.
At the close of the public comment period, a hearing report will be prepared. To request a copy of
the hearing report, call 291 -6536 or 291 -0904 (TTY).
Authority for Plan Preparation
The Metropolitan Council is directed by Minn. Stat. 473.145 to prepare a comprehensive
development guide for the metropolitan area. This development guide consists of a compilation of
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policy statements, goals, standards, programs and maps that provide guidance for the orderly and
economical development of the metropolitan area.
The development guide, as it is currently being implemented, consists of the Regional Blueprint
and four system plans related to the transportation, aviation, wastewater and regional recreation
open space. Minn. Stat. 473.146 provides the direction to the Council to adopt these
comprehensive policy plans for transportation, airports and wastewater treatment as portions of the
metropolitan development guide. Additional direction is provided in the legislation for each of
these system plans.
Legislation related to metropolitan land use planning (Minn. Stat. 473.858) states that local
comprehensive plans cannot be in conflict with the metropolitan system plans. The metropolitan
system plans are defined in Minn. Stat. 473.852, Subd. 8, as "the airports and transportation
portions of the metropolitan development guide, and the policy plans and capital budgets for
metropolitan wastewater service, transportation and regional recreation open space."
The Council is proposing a growth management strategy to be incorporated into the revised
' Regional Blueprint. An important means to ensure that the revised Regional Blueprint is
implemented to reflect it in each of the system plans, since it is these system plans that will be
used to determine consistency of local government plans with the system plans of the Council.
Material contained in the system plans can be used to make the determination that there is a
substantial impact or substantial departure from the metropolitan system plans. To that end, the
Council has incorporated the revised Regional Blueprint, particularly the regional growth
' management strategy and forecasts in Appendix D, to implement it into each of the system plans.
Proposed Plans and Amendments
Regional Blueprint
The amendments to the Council's Regional Blueprint, originally adopted in 1994, would add a
regional growth management strategy to the document. The amendments (and a map) identify
general land uses for the region by the year 2040. The desired characteristics of the rural, "urban
reserve" and urban parts of the region are identified, together with the policies and action steps
necessary to achieve the desired land use. Population, household and employment forecasts based
on the policies and other factors also are included. The amendments establish the development
pattern for the region well into the next century. The 1994 Regional Blueprint did not do so. The
long -range perspective of the growth management strategy will help enable local governments to
determine the impact of future change and development on their communities and to begin
planning for options to manage those impacts.
The proposed Blueprint amendments articulate the Council's preferred growth management
strategy. The strategy is rooted in several goals in the existing Blueprint, including:
• Planning and actions encouraging regional economic growth,
• Enhancing the region's overall quality of life, and
• Fostering reinvestment in distressed areas and preserving the natural environment and open
space.
While preparing the proposed amendments, the Council had several other goals in mind for the
growth strategy. They are as follows.
• Maintain and enhance the region's high level of quality of life.
• Contribute to economic development, job creation and the overall economic vitality of the
region.
• Revitalize the urban core, with Council policies contributing to revitalization.
• Spend public funds for infrastructure wisely and efficiently.
• Enhance the opportunity for individual homeownership and provide an adequate supply of
various types of affordable housing.
• Preserve public, semi - public and private open spaces.
• Avoid excessive consumption of open land, requiring an achievable development density.
• Encourage local governments to adopt plans that recognize their responsibility to contribute to
regional solutions.
The proposed amendments are the Council's response to its year -long effort to identify and
evaluate growth options for the region. An extensive public involvement process preceded the
crafting of the preferred strategy, which is a hybrid drawing from the best characteristics of the
three options (Concentrated Development, Current Trend, Growth Centers) under discussion in
1996.
Transportation and Water Resources
The new Transportation and Water Resources plans take their land -use direction from the
Regional Blueprint document as proposed for amendment. The two documents move the growth
management strategy in the amended Blueprint an important step toward implementation, by
identifying how the areas shown on the map will be served (or not served ) by regional sewer,
transit or highway services. In addition, the two new plans contain many goals, policies and plans
pertinent to transportation or water resources.
Aviation
The proposed Aviation plan amendments have been prepared to bring the 1995 version up to date
with the recommendations of the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Airports Commission
to the 1996 Minnesota State Legislature. The recommendations, made law by the legislature, set a
clear direction about the future of the region's major airport. Other proposed amendments reflect
the results of studies completed since 1995 and decisions about the region's smaller airports.
Recreational Open Space
The proposed Recreational Open Space amendments would designate two new regional park sites
(the Ceridian recreation area in Denmark Twp., Mississippi West County Park in Ramsey), give a
special designation to Square Lake County Park in May Twp., and remove the proposed Rum
River South Regional Park in Anoka County from the regional system.
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' Executive Summary of Proposed
Amendments to the Regional Blueprint
The proposed amendments to the Regional Blueprint, taken as a whole, constitute the Council's
regional growth management strategy. (The Blueprint identifies key goals for the growth and
' redevelopment of the region and, as well, action steps to reach the goals.) The strategy involves
selecting an urban growth and development pattern for the seven - county Twin Cities region as
well as identifying wide ranging policies and actions needed to carry it out. The intended result is
to accommodate the 330,000 additional households and 650,000 more people the Council expects
in the region in the next 25 years in a way that meets the economic, reinvestment, environmental
' and other goals in the Regional Blueprint.
The recommended strategy is a hybrid option. It emerged from three growth options (Current
' Trend, Concentrated Development, Growth Centers) the Council developed and brought to the
community for public discussion and evaluation during 1996. The strategy incorporates the best
combination of characteristics from the three options.
• The amendments designate and map the general location of land uses in the region to the year
2040 and beyond. The map (see page 7) identifies an urban service area and a rural area,
' and subareas within them.
• The emphasis in the permanent agricultural area and the permanent rural area is on
' preservation and permanence. The areas would not be developed for urban uses.
• In the permanent agricultural area (the area with the best land for agricultural purposes), the
standard would be no more than one dwelling unit per 40 acres.
' • The permanent rural area would have a mix of farm and nonfarm uses. The standard would be
up to (a maximum of) one dwelling unit per 10 acres. Clustered housing would be encouraged
to protect the rural character, natural resources and open space. Clustered housing involves
locating rural housing in close proximity so most of the land in the development remains in
open space. The area would be planned so it would never need urban services.
' • The "urban reserve" is a new concept added to the Blueprint. It is a reservoir of land
established to accommodate the region's need for urbanization to the year 2040.
' • The urban reserve would ring today's urban area in all parts of the region. Its outer edge would
become the Twin Cities area's urban growth boundary. The boundary is based on watersheds,
which allows the area to be served by more economical gravity sewers. Gravity sewers carry
' wastewater "downhill," reducing pumping costs.
• The Council would plan its regional sewer and transportation services and facilities based on
the map. The Council plans and builds the large intercommunity sewer pipes; operates the
public transit system; and in partnership with other units of government, plans the regional
highway network. The Council would size new wastewater facilities for the entire urban
growth area. Communities at the growing edge of the region would define and stage their 2020
Metropolitan Urban Service Area, or MUSA, within the urban reserve in collaboration with the
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Council. The MUSA is the part of the region with urban-scale development and services. The
area in the urban reserve but outside the new 2020 MUSA would be planned so short-term
development decisions are consistent with eventual full urbanization.
• There is a policy emphasis on increasing the housing density in the newly urbanizing areas as
well as in current urban areas so the urban reserve can meet housing needs for 40 years or
beyond. The desired density would be closer to historic trends, which are higher than today's
typical density in the newly developing areas of the region.
• In the urban area, the focus would be on jobs and economic development activities within
and around the Interstate Hwy. 494/694 beltway, with particular emphasis on the urban core
(see map) and the nodes and corridors connected to it. The transportation system, especially
transit, would be used to help bring about job concentrations. High levels of transportation
services would be maintained in and around the major concentrations. The Council would offer
transit service and other incentives to encourage higher- density housing and business
concentrations in the corridors.
• Redevelopment of housing and business properties throughout the area would be encouraged.
Ways to accomplish this include Livable Communities grants and polluted -site cleanup.
• The "urban core" of the region would be a major focus of reinvestment and redevelopment.
The core area is limited to the areas in and adjacent to the two downtowns and in the corridor
along University Av. between them.
• Job concentrations and development nodes will be encouraged in the urban core area, and
brownfield sites (polluted former industrial sites) in the urban core would be prime targets for
reinvestment and tax -base development. Access to job opportunities for core residents
throughout the region would be increased.
• The urban core would be a priority for Council investments and incentives. The programs
would aim at improving economic opportunities for residents and to improve the area's
physical characteristics. The Council would use all of the tools at its disposal (such as Livable
Communities grants and transit) to improve conditions in the core area, recognizing that its
tools are limited.
• In the counties adjacent to the Twin Cities, the proposed policies support requiring long -
range planning in communities with a population of over 5,000 people or where 50 percent of
the residents commute to the Twin Cities to work. The policies support growth management
and transportation planning, as well as steps toward economic self sufficiency. The adjacent
counties are encouraged to coordinate their planning with the Council's planning.
• The emphasis in the permanent agricultural area and the permanent rural area is on
preservation and permanence. The areas would not be developed for urban uses.
• The amendments focus on physical form and related policies. Some implementation steps are
identified, but more specific tools will be needed. Guiding principles to bring about the
strategy are a commitment to incentives /disincentives and pricing mechanisms, rather than
governmental regulation.
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October 10, 1996
1
Executive Summary of Proposed
Transportation Development Guide/Policy Plan
Background
Large growth and new economic development are forecast for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
over the next 25 years. Nearly 650,000 new residents, about 400,000 new jobs and almost 350,000
households are projected. The Metropolitan Council's objective in accommodating this growth is
to revitalize and promote economic development in the core area while encouraging orderly
suburban development. The Council also wants to encourage higher densities, particularly along
established transportation corridors.
The large amount of growth forecasted for the next 25 years will have a significant impact on the
regional transportation system since little roadway expansion is planned. If current transportation
investment levels and priorities are extrapolated to 2020, congestion on major metropolitan
roadways, a barometer of the ability of the system to meet travel demand, is expected to increase
from 100 miles in 1995 to 220 miles in the year 2020.
Regional accessibility to various destinations (i.e., work, business, education, recreation) will
deteriorate significantly. Today, it is possible to access almost any point within the region in less
than 60 minutes during the peak hour. This makes it possible for the region to function as a well -
interconnected economic entity. In 2020, only 60 -70 percent of the metropolitan area will be
accessible within 60 minutes from any point in the region. This constraint in the movement of
people and goods will result in lost economic productivity, higher overall cost of doing business
and decreased regional competitiveness in the world economy.
Key Transportation Policy Directions
The transportation policy direction provided in this plan will help implement the Regional
Blueprint. The plan proposes five major transportation strategies to mitigate some of the negative
consequences of a severely constrained transportation system and to preserve, to the greatest
extent possible, current levels of regional accessibility with the limited resources available. The
plan, however, acknowledges that the region cannot build its way out of congestion. The
environmental, social, financial and political impacts would be too severe.
I.Reduce Travel Demand
The main objective of this strategy is to encourage behavioral and land use changes that will result
in fewer vehicle trips, particularly during rush hours. Societal and technological changes and
proactive planning by the private sector and the development community are critical in
implementing this strategy. Examples of initiatives that may help reduce travel demand are:
• Promote a better balance of jobs and housing
• Promote transportation modes other than the single occupant vehicle (e.g., transit,
ridesharing, bicycles, walking)
• Promote pedestrian- and transit - friendly land uses
• Use pricing incentives /disincentives
• Increase telecommuting opportunities
• Encourage staggered work hours
2. Increase Transportation Capacity Through Better System Management
The main objective of this strategy is to better utilize the existing capacity of the transportation
system and improve traffic flow. Examples of initiatives in this category are:
• Better traffic signal timing
• More ramp meter bypasses for vehicles with two or more occupants
• Increased enforcement of HOV facility use
• Faster removal of stalled vehicles and accidents
• Enhanced traveler information systems about alternate routes
• Better roadway access control
Most of these initiatives will increasingly rely on advanced Intelligent Transportation System
(ITS) technology.
3. Replace and Improve the Existing Highway System
The main objective of this strategy is to replace and improve the existing system without a major
corridor capacity expansion. Examples of projects included under this strategy are:
• Removal of bottlenecks
• Bridge replacement
• Pavement reconstruction
• Intersection and interchange construction/reconstruction
• Safety improvements
4. Improve the Transit System
The main objectives of this strategy are to: alleviate growing traffic congestion, provide better
accessibility to jobs, promote higher density development and revitalize the core area of the
region.
Key components of this strategy are:
• Develop a network of dedicated transitways to support an effective express transit route
system
• Redesign and restructure existing services to provide a broad range of transit service
options that better match land use and socioeconomic conditions
• Promote competition in the delivery of transit services
• Enhance coordination of services
• Encourage cities to create more pedestrian- and transit- oriented land uses
• Encourage more local involvement in transit decisions
• Improve safety and security for passengers and transit employees
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' Implement transit related Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies
5. Expand Highway Capacity
' The objective of this strategy is to provide some additional capacity on the Metropolitan Highway
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System, a 657 mile network of freeways and expressways. This system carries the majority of
' vehicle travel in the region, the longest trips at higher speeds and accommodates the movement of
both people and goods. Examples of projects included in this strategy are:
t Building some of the unfinished segments of the metropolitan highway system
• Rebuilding some expressways to freeway design
• Add one or more traffic lanes (mixed - traffic use, HOV or transitway) to better serve
redevelopment of the core and intensification of employment nodes
I Financial Outlook
This plan acknowledges the need for additional transportation resources to adequately address
' regional transportation needs. Existing and currently projected transportation funding levels will
not be sufficient to adequately serve the travel needs projected due to regional growth, even with
' aggressive implementation of the strategies described earlier. The transportation impacts caused by
additional development will be mitigated but not eliminated. Current levels of regional
accessibility will not be preserved, even if significant behavioral changes and maximum use of
' technological advances occur.
The existing system can be preserved and maintained adequately but the expansion of transit and
' highway capacity will be very limited unless additional transportation resources are made
available. Less than 15 percent of the total projected transportation investment are identified for
highway capacity expansion. For over 30 years, the federal government provided funds for the
' construction of the Interstate System. Federal funding levels no longer provide for major system
expansion now that the Interstate System has been completed. In addition, state highway funding
sources have not been increased since 1988.
The transits stem desperately needs a stable, dedicated funding source. Transit funding is overly
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dependent on regional property tax levies for both operations and capital investments. Federal
' funding for transit operations has been drastically reduced and is expected to be eliminated. A
great deal of pressure is placed on general fund appropriations and passenger fares just to preserve
' the existing system.
The financial plan recognizes that alternative funding sources must be pursued in addition to
' increases in traditional sources of transportation revenues. Toll roads, congestion pricing and
parking surcharges are examples of alternative funding sources generated by users who directly
benefit from the service or facility provided.
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Executive Summary of Proposed
Water Resources Management Policy Plan
Our water resources have sustained this region for millennia, and our wise use of this natural
wealth can ensure a water -rich future for generations to come. Achieving sustainable water
resources calls for a multifaceted regional strategy that draws on the Council's development and
environmental goals of its Regional Blueprint and a range of supporting elements.
All together, the elements of the water resources strategy present a broad front to deal with issues
of water quality, wastewater service and water supply. In these efforts, the Council intends to
pursue cooperative, productive relationships with other jurisdictions, as well as education and
information - sharing among public officials, the private sector and the general public.
The Council's approach to water quality concerns relies on a watershed focus to control pollution
from point (specific) and nonpoint (diffuse) sources, bringing together agencies and organizations
in partnerships for collaborative planning and implementation. Watersheds offer the best
opportunities for dealing comprehensively with water quality issues, with a strong emphasis on
management of nonpoint pollution sources. A mix of techniques will provide optimum, cost -
effective benefits. An Upper Mississippi River Basin plan, incorporating the watersheds lying
within the metropolitan area and beyond, will provide the focus for watershed -based activities.
Local initiatives supporting regional water quality goals can expect continued support from the
Council.
Pollution control is one of the key goals of the metropolitan wastewater treatment system. The
system will continue to meet strict discharge permit conditions and experience continued
reductions in the amount of toxic materials and other pollutants in its processes. Education of
homeowners and support for state and locally initiated programs form the core of the Council's
approach to on -site sewer systems.
Water quality is so critical to the region's well -being that the Council intends to develop a
program of baseline data and measures to mark the progress in meeting water quality objectives.
Collaborative goal- setting, joint action and coordination will make water quality efforts a truly
region -wide partnership.
Within the framework of the Regional Blueprint's regional growth management strategy, the
metropolitan wastewater treatment system is also a crucial factor in the region's future
development. Metropolitan service is focused on the urbanized area of the region to keep costs
within reasonable bounds, although it can be extended into the rural area under special
circumstances to remedy pollution problems.
Rural treatment plants, both public and private, are the responsibility of the local government,
which needs to provide for such plants in its comprehensive plan. Implementing the growth
management strategy will require further study into the question of whether the rural growth
centers will be able to provide the wastewater services necessary for expected future growth.
The Council sees its responsibility as providing an interceptor connection to a municipality's
border, rather than at several points or to an area within the border. Connections beyond this basic
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' service would need to be the subject of a cost - sharing agreement between the Council and the
municipality based on the guidelines in the Regional Blueprint.
' The Council is committed to maintaining the high quality of its wastewater service while
maintaining a reasonable cost for service. Improved technologies and improved efficiencies will
help contain costs. The Council is also committed to limiting wastewater rate increases to the rate
' of inflation for goods and services typically used by government organizations, and to developing
a rate structure with relatively stable rates and easier administration requirements.
' Surface and underground sources provide the region with the water it needs for daily life.
Interconnections of municipal systems offer a promising solution when drought is a problem and
' where areas develop out of reach of the region's most productive aquifer — the Prairie du Chien -
Jordan. A joint planning process is in place to protect the aquifer wellheads, with the Council and
local municipal water utilities playing key roles, and a Mississippi River Defense Network will
' help alert the region of contamination that may affect water intakes on the river. Conservation
remains the least expensive solution to maintaining a reliable water supply, and the Council
supports a region -wide program of basic conservation methods.
' Executive Summary P of Proposed Amendments to
' Aviation Development Guide/Policy Plan
The 1996 amendments to the Aviation Policy Plan primarily consist of changes needed to bring
' the document up to date with the 1996 Minnesota Legislature's decision to expand and improve
Minneapolis -St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Deletions reflect repeal of Council land -use
control authority concerning new major airports and major airport search area development,
prohibitions on Council action concerning new airport site protection, and elimination of material
on the dual -track process that is no longer relevant or is outdated.
' There is new text on the region's growth management strategy and Regional Blueprint objectives.
Full integration of the regional growth management strategy, including updated forecasts, and the
' implication for the regional airport system will be evaluated as part of an overall guide update in
1998.
' Descriptions of the development expected under the 2010 Long -Term Comprehensive Plan and the
2020 Concepf Plan for MSP are included, along with updated noise policy contours for MSP and
Flying Cloud airports. Airport/aircraft activity numbers and planning dates also are updated where
needed. One policy is deleted. The rest remain essentially unchanged.
The key changes to the policy document and system plan are as follows.
' • Adds information on the Regional Blueprint and how the aviation system infrastructure and
services provide economic support to regional economic development objectives.
• Removes all references to repealed Council authority concerning the new major ai orf
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' development area, land -use control criteria and review requirements, and also aircraft noise area
determinations.
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• Removes the Dakota major airport search area, site, and comprehensive plan information from
the system plan.
• Deletes dual -track "Reuse" policies for MSP since the new airport option was not selected.
• Describes the MSP expansion plan for 2010 and development aspects of the year 2020 concept
plan, including preliminary project cost and development phasing anticipated in future MAC
capital improvement programs.
• Incorporates a new Appendix C on the dual -track process, including. MAC and Council
findings /recommendations, and a summary of 1996 legislative actions concerning metropolitan
airport planning.
• Incorporates the latest Council action reviewing the Flying Cloud Airport Long -Term
Comprehensive Plan and a new noise policy contour.
• Updates the text on federal funding for land -use compatibility around MSP, especially the
status of the FAR Part-150 home insulation and land acquisition measures.
• Clarifies latest action concerning runway 4/22 implementation/litigation, and the status of the
1996 legislatively required evaluation of aircraft noise mitigation planning /funding for areas
around MSP.
• Updates the MSP noise policy area to retain the capability to apply "preventive" land -use
control strategy by communities in the Eagan/Mendota Heights aircraft flight corridor.
Executive Summary of Proposed Amendments to
Regional Recreation Open Space Development Guide/Policy Plan
The Council is proposing four amendments to the plan. Two new regional park sites would be
added to the regional system. One site would be removed from the system. One park would be
given a special designation.
The following actions are proposed:
• Adding the Ceridian recreation area in Denmark Twp. (Washington County) to the regional
system. The 579 -acre site is for sale by its corporate owner. A portion of the site (371 acres) is
proposed to be added to the regional system. It is currently developed for recreation uses.
Washington County requested consideration of the addition. Estimated value of the 371 acres is
$3.99 million.
• Adding Mississippi West County Park in Ramsey (Anoka County) to the regional system. The
site is 273 acres in size and has been purchased by Anoka County. The county requested
consideration of the addition.
• Removing the Rum River South Regional Park in Anoka County from the system.
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• Designating Square Lake County Park in May Twp. as a regional special recreation feature. The
designation would make the park eligible to receive state funds for its operation and
maintenance. Washington County made-the request because the county park is used by a
' significant number of non - county residents.
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