Posted 6/22/01 Metro Councilís latest efforts make sense The Metropolitan Council is preparing a new ìSmart Growthî development plan that could have a major impact on the future of the Twin Cities seven-county area and bordering counties. Instead of looking beyond the imaginary utilities line known as MUSA, this plan looks more inward at development and redevelopment within the councilís seven-county jurisdiction. This council is not interested in expanding its jurisdiction even though what it decides could have consequences for those living in Wright, Sherburne, Mille Lacs, Isanti and Chisago Counties. The council is forecasting 500,000 more people, 270,000 more households and 285,000 more jobs in the seven-county area by 2020. The seven counties are: Dakota, Hennepin, Washington, Anoka, Ramsey, Scott and Carver counties. The council is mindful of the need to develop ìsmart growthîpolicies, which it hopes will relieve traffic congestion, protect open spaces, safeguard the environment, provide for affordable housing and for redevelopment that will bring retail, housing and living space closer together. A strong player in this study will be the builders and developers themselves who are concerned about the lack of available space, which they say is driving the price of land beyond what people can afford. Builders and developers are leaping over the so-called council utilities line and building in adjacent, Wright, Sherburne, Isanti and Chisago counties. Aware that a top-down process of determining future land use and development will not work, the council wisely is involved in an intense effort to get advice and counsel from the grassroots. The goal, according to Council Chair Ted Mondale is to build communities that work. Out of this process the plan is to update a regional growing plan for the seven-county area by 2002. These local workshops are or have been scheduled in Maplewood, Eden Prairie and Savage, Blaine, Brooklyn Center and Hopkins. In addition, There are six designated opportunity sites that are being shaped by community residents for developers to examine in Brooklyn Center Business District, Heights of Chaska, Ramsey, Harriet Island/District Del Sol, St. Anthony Village and Maplewood St. Paul Hillcrest Village. The Council is to be commended for undertaking such an intensive information gathering process for a new blueprint development plan that should improve the quality of life for the Twin Cities Metropolitan region. -- Don Heinzman Following are the local workshops yet to be conducted: June 21: 6 - 9:30 p.m, Eisenhower Community Center, 2002 Hwy. 7, Hopkins. June 22: 1 - 4:30 p.m., Maplewood Community Center, 2100 White Bear Ave. June 25: 8:30 a.m. - noon, Hennepin Technical College, rooms, H-117 and H-118, 13100 Collegeview Drive, Eden Prairie. June 28: 6 - 9:30 p.m., Savage City Hall, Council Chambers, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage. Opportunity Site Workshops June 26: Heights of Chaska, creating a new neighborhood at the urban edge June 27: Harriet Island/District del sol, revitalizing an industrial area with an urban village. July 11: Brooklyn Center, reshaping an aging regional shopping center. July 27: Chaska Aug. 20 Brooklyn Center. ©Post Review