06-12-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Anoka County Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan 146 Another unique natural resource in East Bethel is the Sand Hill Crane Natural Area. The area includes Ned, Mud, and Deer Lakes. It covers 533 acres and is owned and cooperative managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Anoka County, and the City of East Bethel. Another 74 acres of government land is adjacent to the Sand Hill Crane property bringing the total amount of government land in this unique resource to 607 acres. Another one of East Bethel’s unique physical resources is Coon Lake. It is located in the southeast corner of East Bethel, with portions of the lake in the City of Ham Lake and the City of Columbus. Coon Lake is part of the Anoka County Park System. Coon Lake has numerous access points and is used for boating and swimming. The lake covers 1,259 acres with a littoral area of 1,098 acres. It also supports many forms of wildlife such as loons, ducks, geese, fish, beaver, and turtles. East Bethel also has a number of community focused recreational facilities. The East Bethel Ice Arena is located on Highway 65 at 207th Avenue NE. Booster Park is the oldest and most popular park in the city. It is adjacent to city hall and consists of 45 acres and offers traditional activities such as baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a hockey rink, picnic facilities, and hiking trails. The city recently acquired 32 acres to expand Booster Park. John Anderson Memorial Park surrounding Cooper Lake is in the northwestern corner of the city. It is a total of 70 acres in size. The city also has a number of smaller neighborhood parks that offer recreational opportunities to residents. Private fee areas: East Bethel has two privately owned and operated golf courses. Viking Meadows Golf Club and Hidden Haven Golf Club. Both course are open to the general public. Agriculture and forestry: While a large amount of land in East Bethel is vacant or rural (54%, 16,414 acres) agriculture is limited due to soil conditions and the declining availability of agricultural support and services. Portions of the community are currently zoned for agriculture or are participating in agricultural preserve programs. Commercial and industrial development and trends: The majority of commercial and industrial development has occurred and is expected to continue to occur along the major transportation corridors of the city, specifically along State Highway 65 and Viking Boulevard (County Road 22). Accessibility is the primary factor that has determined past development and that will influence future development. The city is currently in the process of constructing public water and sewer systems for the area surrounding Viking Blvd and Highway 65. Residential development and trends: Residential areas account for the vast majority of developed areas in the City, accounting for approximately 20% of the gross acres in the City. Much of the rural residential development is located near lakes or near Trunk Highway 65. Because of the lack of public wastewater treatment systems, the maximum allowable density in residential areas is one home per two and one-half (2.5) acres. Residential areas also include two manufactures home parks along Trunk Highway 65, one of which is located on the northern border of the City, the other on the southern end. Recent interest in the community for a more diverse housing stock (i.e. multi-family, town homes and senior housing) with areas of high density per acre as part of the City Center development, are more consistent with the community becoming classified as a rural growth cent er. The plan for the City to have a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility is a critical element of the plan for a more varied housing stock. The City is developing appropriate zoning classifications that reflect this change while maintaining, for the most part, larger lots of a minimum of two acres in size.