Agenda Packets - 1983/10/24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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land use issues appear to have more importance in most instances. For the Fully Developed Area, one policy emphasizes the importance of redevelopment over environmental concerns. The MDF does have some implicit economic develop- ment policies. Maintenance of the regional systems to serve existing devel- opment is important. Reinvestment in the Fully Developed Area and the Metro Centers is also emphasized. In these policy areas, jobs and economic develop- ment are perhaps bigger issues than servicing residential development. A brief discussion of relevant existing MDF policies follows: MDF Policy No. 12: The Council will work with appropriate agencies to establish an environ- mentally sensitive planning process that achieves environmental protection through comprehensive plans instead of individual project reviews. The objective is to waive environmental reviews of individual development pro- jects if the proposal is consistent with an adopted municipal comprehensive plan and if that plan is consistent with environmental development plans of regional, state and federal agencies. Except for public health reasons or areas designated for environmental protection in comprehensive plans, economic and development objectives should be dominant over environmental objectives in the Fully Developed Area. This policy recognizes that there are equally compelling reasons to achieve economic development objectives as there are to protect the environment within the fully developed area. However, implementation through use of comprehensive plans was difficult to achieve. A basic premise of the policies proposed in this discussion paper is that economic development concerns should be brought on par with environmental concerns. MDF Policy No. 6: The Region should maintain its diversified economy by retaining its growing industries and attracting new industries that are suited to the Region's work force and environment, The agricultural economy should be encouraged in the Region and opportunities expanded for young farmers. This is more of a goal than a policy. It contains no explicit actions for the Council to undertake. As a policy, it is weak; but Policy Nos. 2 and 5 (related to housing and the environment) weaken it even further. MDF Physical Environment Goal: To have a Region with... A balance between environmental preservation and the need for residential, industrial, agriculture and commercial land. Within this balance, the Region should preserve the natural environment and the functioning of natural systems, manage the use of natural resoures, and preserve and protect structures of historical and cultural significance. This is an important goal, but when viewed through Policy No. 5, which follows, one wonders how the balance is to be struck. Again, current policies are not geared to actions or decisions by the Council, MDF Policy No. 5: Land uses should be primarily determined by natural characteristics of the land and the availability of urban services. Urban development should not impair the functioning of vital natural systems. 27