09/02/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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growth, and the City has prepared a plan that provides efficiently for this growth. In addition to providing for this growth, the city can also dictate how and where this growth should occur to ensure that community goals are met. Many elements of the Comprehensive Plan and subsequent zoning ordinances and subdivision code updates will be focused on this effort to ensure quality development that does not negatively impact natural features of the community. As the City grows, growth will be shaped and managed in a variety of ways. The City's abundant natural resources will have a significant effect on the city's development pattern, as development in environmentally sensitive areas will be managed appropriately to ensure protection of resources. The City has several tools to protect these resources. The City's growth will also be shaped by the availability of infrastructure, as urban -scale development is not feasible without municipal sewer and water service. A staging plan, which identifies the timing and phasing for sewer service to all areas within the city, was developed as part of the Comprehensive Plan process. Additionally, growth will be timed to ensure that appropriate infrastructure and transportation improvements are completed to accommodate new development. Finally, the City's Growth Management Policy provides for additional flexibility to manage growth in an efficient manner while still responding to market conditions. The policy works in conjunction with the staging plan, as it dictates the criteria for moving from one staging area to another. Each of these growth management tools are discussed in greater detail below: Protection of Natural Resources As Lino Lakes develops, protection of its valuable natural resources will continue to play an important role in guiding growth and shaping future development. Growth and economic development objectives should be balanced with managing natural resource systems. Natural resource protection strategies are also an essential component of a growth management plan to ensure that the community's resources are preserved. The City has several tools to protect natural areas while also managing future growth. These tools include: • Parks, Natural Open Space, and Trail System Plan (2004).• The Lino Lakes Parks, Natural Open Space, and Trail System Plan identifies a future park, trail, & greenway system throughout the city. This plan provides a framework for restoring and managing the city's natural resource areas, and enables the City to prioritize sensitive areas for preservation. The City uses this plan in working with developers to preserve open space and natural areas, and will continue to do so as development occurs. This plan is further discussed in Chapter 2- Resource Management System Plan. • • Rare Wildlife and Plant Habitat Models; Using available natural resources inventory data and land cover information, and known habitat affinities of rare animals, city staff developed a GIS based wildlife model to assess potential habitats for rare animal populations known to occur within the City. The results of this model are used to review proposed development plans and conservation projects, and to identify areas within the City that may require additional field survey and assessment for the presence of rare plant populations. Suitability Anaiysis: As mentioned previously, development of the future land use plan was guided by a thorough analysis of natural resource information to determine areas most suitable to accommodate growth and more intense development. This suitability analysis compiled a variety of natural resource data, including information on wetlands, plant communities, rare plant species, and soils to determine areas marginally suitable for development, moderately suitable for development, and highly suitable for development. The suitability map was consulted during the development of the Land Use Plan. This data will be 3 -20 • • •