04/25/2001 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• May 3, 1995 To: Growth Advisory Group From: Environmental Advisory Group Subj: Mid -term forum, your questionnaire, and which way from here? Page 2 We agree that all groups must consider cost/benefit ratios in their planning, and we in the environmental group have done so. We think our goal of environmental sustainability falls well within fiscal restraints and that the limiting factor to success relates more to growth than to money. In your visioning statement under "Goal — Open Space," you ask "What's the real issue...do we want 25,000 people ?" We couldn't agree more. Everything we have seen where residents have responded to that question in one way or another indicates that residents want a small -town atmosphere. "Small town" doesn't translate to a certain number, but does convey the vision of most residents. They want lots of open space close to home. We think that's clear. Lino Lakes has a head start over most communities when it comes to open space. Large chunks of terrain already are dedicated to open space within our borders, through no acts of our own. Much of it would be built up by now, were that not the case. Regarding these open space "freebees" (to the City), the largest and most significant is the County park system, which provides many environmental features with little or no cost to the City. If Lino Lakes can define its own needs regarding open space, and the County agrees and cooperates, we are a long way along the road to sustainability.` The second major "freebie" comes in the form of wetlands, which are under State jurisdiction. Our challenge is not to shell out money, but to use the wetlands wisely and for the purposes for which each body of water or wetland is best adapted. Some wetlands would be excluded from public use. In others, motorized vehicles should be excluded. Knowledge, resolve, and rules—not money—are the ways in which to use such open space most efficiently. The third major "freebie" is the land zoned rural. If we stuck by today's zoning regulations, much open space would be preserved. The catch here is that developers shower farmers and other large landholders with incentives to put Environmental Board Comprehensive Plan Comments, Appendix 5, page 2 of 4