04/12/2000 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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II/ M E M O R A N D U M 41111 DNR Forestry / 1200 Warner Road / St. Paul, MN 55106 (651) 772 -7562 / FAX: (651) 772 -7599 / E -mail: peggy.sand@dnr.state.mn.us 2000 January 10, 1-999 To: Interested Cities and Townships in Anoka County/Northern Washington County From: Peggy Sand Metro Region Forestry Manager • Re: Opportunity to Collaborate on Wildland -Urban Interface Project All communities are facing significant challenges in accommodating new development while conserving critical resources. This situation is complicated by the existence of many types of environmental review which are not always well integrated nor as timely as they could be. Now, on top of that we're hearing about "smart growth" and wondering how all that relates. In response, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Metro Region is starting a new effort aimed at providing more useful and better integrated assistance to local governments and landowners dealing with development on the urban fringe (also called the "wildland -urban interface). As we develop and refine our ways of providing guidance and assistance, we would like to work with selected local units to determine the best ways to work together. For that purpose, we are looking for local units of government to become our partners in a new Wildland- Urban Interface project. We are able to do this project at this time because we are receiving a modest grant from the USDA Forest Service to cover some expenses for a project called "Integrating Natural Resource Guidance to Enhance Smart Growth in Wildland -Urban Interface Communities ". Thus, while we are doing the project, we will provide some real, hands -on assistance and resources to our partners. In particular, we would like to partner with local units who are interested in working with us over the next 18 months to address habitat/woodland preservation, wildfire prevention, forest health, greenways, natural resources management, water quality, smart growth, and related issues. The project consists of three parts (each to deal with these all of these issues): PART 1. We will work with 1 or 2 local units (a township or city) to: a) complete a GIS -based natural resource inventory (including detailed land cover mapping and a wildfire risk assessment), b) evaluate the local unit's policies, plans, etc. related to natural resources, and c) develop recommendations on how to improve natural resource - related smart growth and management. PART-2. We will work with a specific landowner or developer (along with the local unit) to create a model subdivision plan which integrates wise natural resource planning, smart growth principles, and potential conservation easements. PART 3. A cooperative team will oversee the development, printing, and distribution (including on the DNR website) of a guidebook to assist small acreage landowners (typically 2 to 20 acres) in their resource management decisions. Work is just starting on this project. Please contact me soon if you are interested in being involved in • any parts of the project.