04/25/2001 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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POPU LAT10N GROWTH 1SSU E The following quotation appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press dated April 9, 2001: "The map is familiar by now: census figures for the Twin cities shows a thin band of fast growth ringing the core cities and inner ring suburbs, cutting through communities such as Woodbury, Lakeville, Chaska, Maple Growve and Lino Lakes." Lino Lakes, of all places, the City that three years ago firmly rejected being told by the Metro Council what our share would be of the Metro's burgeoning growth. Instead, we chose to set our own pace and limits to growth. Perhaps no other Metro city worked harder to draw up its own guidelines. Finally, after a long and often contentious debate, city officials compromised on a scenario called "moderate" growth rate although some considered it to be too fast. This indecision caused the Comp Plan to be delayed long after the deadline set by the Metro Council. It still is unfinished and confusion over the growth part of the plan still lingers. There should have been no confusion as to the terms of the "moderate" growth rate because they were published by the City in the Quad Community Press in September 1998 (attached) . In brief, these figures claimed that by cutting back to 147 new homes per year the resident population by, the year 2020 would not exceed 20,500 and the open space so highly esteemed by most residents would be preserved. How then could a city so anxious to control its own destiny now be among the top five in the category of explosive growth in the 7- county Metro area? The official year 2000 census showed the Lino Lakes population to be 16,791 and still growing at a rate far in excess of the 147 stated in its growth formula. Now we have a new set of figures for "Myths and Environmental Board Comprehensive Plan Comments, Appendix 4, page 1 of 2