Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Comprehensive Plan Session Tonight.

We have seen RAMSEY3. This now appears to be a formal City of Ramsey session.

Strib's North Metro section published a notice, with the same thing online, here. The part that caught my eye was after the City Hall, starting at 6:30 pm, this [emphasis added]:

Tonight's meeting will give background information on the comprehensive plan process, demographics of the city, current land use and trends. There will also be an update on the Ramsey Town Center, the city's 390-acre residential-commercial urban center.


Hopefully, we finally get a reality check - besides the mess over its future, how big is the thing? The multitude of numbers for acreage - something that should be consistent over time and reports - is mind-boggling.

Now this - 390 acres.

Last Pioneer Press reports have said planned 2800 housing units.

Let us hope City staff starts by pinning down some definitive numbers, that way.

Then we can get into interesting Town Center questions - like who owns city hall.

You think that's a no-brainer. Well, then you tell me, who owns it?

Will Minnwest's foreclosure affect title there?

Who holds title?

What, exactly is a Public Facility Lease Revenue Bond? Is it anything beyond smoke and mirrors to evade a bonding limit for general obligation bonds? I know nothing - except how to ask questions. If honest and direct answers are forthcoming, I find that I am a quick learner.

AGAIN -- WHO OWNS CITY HALL? IF THERE'S A LEASE, WHO RENTS FROM WHOM?

A planning process should be comprehensive enough to give a straight answer - you'd think.