01/08/2007 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • Anoka County Multi- Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan Agriculture and Forestry - The southern third of Anoka County is fully developed with residential, commercial, and industrial development and has been for many years. This area and the southern most communities are involved in ongoing redevelopment activities. There is almost no agricultural activity in the lower third of the county. The center third of Anoka County has experienced rapid growth and development over the last 15 years. This area has changed from predominately agricultural and wetland to urban and suburban in nature. Large residential, commercial, and industrial developments have occurred in all the communities in the center third of Anoka County. This urbanization process is likely to continue as long as the local economy remains strong. Policies of the Metropolitan Council, a regional planning agency established by the State of Minnesota, guide local and regional planning and development efforts, through the establishment of the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (sanitary sewer service.) These policies greatly influence the location and timing of development in the portions of Anoka County where the Urban Service Area is expanding, which is the center third of the county. The northern third of Anoka County is still rural or semi -rural in nature and has a substantial amount of agricultural activity. However, the communities here are also growing and experiencing residential, commercial, and some industrial development. The residential growth is on larger suburban lots several acres in size or in townhouse type developments clustered around amenities such as a golf course or a water feature. The commercial services that are expanding are those that generally follow residential development. These new developments in the northern third of Anoka County usually result in a corresponding loss of agricultural or forested land, and some impact on wetlands, There is no major forest products industrial activity in Anoka County. There is a small amount of wood harvesting activity from farm or suburban wood lots, especially in the northern and central thirds of the county. Forest activity in the very urbanized southern third of Anoka County would be the result of local communities or property owners "caring for" the urban forest. Commercial and Industrial development and trends - The southern third of Anoka County currently has the largest concentration of commercial and industrial development. This type of development is now moving into the central third of the county. Commercial and industrial development is occurring along the three major transportation corridors that exist in Anoka County, Interstate 35W, Highway 10, and Highway 65. Anoka County is the home of several large corporate entities, including Medtronic World Headquarters, Aveda, BAE Systems, Hoffman Engineering, Onan, and Federal Cartridge. The largest commercial growth segment has been in the area of retail. Commercial and retail development has followed the increase in residential development and population in the central portion of the county. The City of Blaine is considering a major master plan development known as The Preserve at Rice Creek, This development will be a master planned community covering 740 acres plus the restoration of 250 acres of wetland. The anchor of the plan will be the Minnesota Sports and Entertainment Center, which will include a professional football stadium to be developed in partnership with Anoka County, the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Vikings, and private development interests. The plan includes the stadium, team offices, training facilities, a health - wellness component, hotel, commercial and retail space, and a residential community. The northern third of Anoka County has experienced commercial development that is supported by residential development. There has been very limited industrial development so far in the northern third of the county, but it is expected to increase because land costs are significantly less than in the central or southern portions of the county. Residential Development and Trends - Anoka County has been, and will continue to be in the near future, one of the fastest growing counties in the State of Minnesota. The communities in the southern third of the county are fully developed and are engaged primarily in redevelopment