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8 Vision and Objectives [This could be moved to the Community Goals section.] The City of Falcon Heights' goal is to create and maintain a good high quality of life in a community that is an aging, inner ring, fully developed suburb adjacent to St. Paul and within two miles of Minneapolis. The City does this by funding good public services and investing prudently in rebuilding and maintaining infrastructure. Historically, Falcon Heights has found it cost effective to contract cooperatively with other municipalities and with Ramsey County for many of its services. [Quote to be added] Maintaining the urban/rural character valued by our residents. Of all responses Falcon Heights residents made when asked what they value about living in the city, "open space" was by far the leader. Falcon Heights is uniquely advantaged among fully developed inner ring Twin Cities suburbs in that it includes a high proportion of open space, thanks to the University of Minnesota's extensive agricultural research land and golf course. Future redevelopment should honor this history by finding creative ways to maintain the rural/urban character of the city while accommodating the expected growth in households and population. Becoming a healthier, more livable community. The open agricultural research fields in Falcon Heights contribute to the community's rural feel that residents have cited as one • of its most prized qualities. This asset offers high motivation and potential for implementing a number of healthy community "best practices". On the other hand, two busy thoroughfares quarter the city: Snelling Avenue, a state highway, and Larpenteur Avenue, a Ramsey County highway. These roads constitute major obstacles to pedestrian and bicycle travel and offer a considerable challenge to the city in implementing some changes that could make the community a healthier place to live. Maintaining the property tax base. Falcon Heights' geographic boundaries include the east portion of the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus and the Minnesota State Fair. This unique land use composition creates an interesting community that is appreciated by residents and visitors alike. However, it results in 66% of the city's land area being both tax-exempt and statutorily out of the City's land use control. In addition, one quadrant of Falcon Heights central commercial core, the Snelling/Larpenteur business district, was acquired in 2000 by T.I.E.S., a non-profit corporation, taking another 6.3 acres out of the City's tax base, although city land use controls still apply. Unlike many university cities, Falcon Heights tax base does not reflect the commercial or private research facilities that many university communities enjoy. Given the city's location by the university and within a few minutes of both downtowns, the city is increasingly attractive to tax exempt property owners. Since maintaining the tax base is critical to being able to pay for services that continue to make Falcon Heights an attractive community, the city must evaluate all land use proposals for their relationship • to the tax base as well as their planning value to the community. Background: Draft 2 FH Comp Plan 2007 Page 3 of 9