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28 N THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2002 LOCAL NEWS w
<br /> III
<br /> MINNESOTA / WISCONSIN
<br /> TWIN CITIES AREA
<br /> r
<br /> Metropolitan Council eyes r
<br /> Policies would be included in regional planI F YO u G O area," said Dennis Berg, who fi
<br /> owns a 60-acre farm in Burns
<br /> BY MARA H.GOTTFRIED cultural preservation ease- Township and is an Anoka
<br /> Pioneer Press ments and creating an .What:Citizens' meeting County commissioner. C
<br /> enhanced agricultural pre- on recommendations for "There are so many other
<br /> In 1935, an artist painted a serves program. the rural area things that enter into this
<br /> fanciful small town with tiny • Creating more flexible desire to preserve agricultural
<br /> houses, a church steeple and approaches to protect rural ■When:Today, open land,"he said."But as it stands
<br /> people romping in the snow character.While the Met Coun- house is 6:30 to 7 p.m., now,in the seven-county metro N
<br /> along the Mississippi River, cil would continue to consider and meeting is 7 to 8 area,most farms are no longer city,
<br /> near the Anoka-Champlin rural areas as places that have P.m. operating as they once did." unio
<br /> Bridge. one dwelling per 10 acres,there •Where:Afton City Hall, The Met Council will hold emp.
<br /> The painting hung nearby would be less emphasis on that 3033 St.Croix Trail S. the last citizens'meeting about push
<br /> as residents met recently with alone. the proposed rural policies a sti
<br /> Metropolitan Council staff to •Identifying important nat- ■For more informa- tonight in Afton. Afton Mayor Apri
<br /> talk about rural policies. And ural resources in the metro tion:See the full report Charlie Devine said he's not N
<br /> though not many glanced at area and taking them into at www.metrocouncil. sure how far the plan will go to negc
<br /> the painting, its content was a account while planning org,click on "Securing address his city's concerns incr(
<br /> key part of the discussion: growth. the rural area's future." about groundwater, storm heap
<br /> 4iith the population in the "Historically, people have Send your comments on water and transportation. to ti
<br /> .n Cities metro area expect- viewed this as land just waiting it to Thomas.Jensen@ "But it's a step in the direc- effor
<br /> .'in
<br /> skyrocket in the next to be urbanized," said Met metc.state.mn.us or fax tion of recognizing that there T
<br /> three decades, how can rural Council Member Marc them to(651)602-1442 are places like Afton who want Mon
<br /> areas accommodate some Hugunin. "We need to under- by May 1. to preserve their rural charac- plan
<br /> growth but still keep their stand that there are legitimate ter," Devine said. "The Met City
<br /> whimsy and character? uses for rural land. There Council is taking a long view of Mill(
<br /> The rural policies will even- seems to be now a greater rural areas to take care of growth, and I think that's the r
<br /> tually be incorporated into the urgency to protect this land." wastewater treatment and way to do it because if you try
<br /> Met Council's Blueprint 2030,a For rural communities that other services themselves. to react to development,you're
<br /> regional growth strategy. The want to grow, the Met Council The Met Council's emphasis going to lose."
<br /> main policy points are: is now saying it may offer those on preserving agricultural land t
<br /> ■Developing stronger tools places wastewater treatment "is well intended, but it just Mara H. Gottfried can be fl=
<br /> for protecting agricultural services, which is a shift from doesn't work to farm as your reached at mgottfried@pioneer- in's
<br /> areas,such as purchasing agri- the current policy of leaving sole livelihood in an urbanized press.com or(651)228-5262. of 1i.
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<br /> MADISON, WIS. tie'
<br /> spoil
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<br /> A DAY MADE . -—,. . " . broil
<br /> FOR ( ROCK) • ;. e; ,,. , , took
<br /> a ��,�
<br /> SKIPPING .. ' �.E�; .i .. •
<br /> '.a•; ,.• ...',':;,`,S e .,u,,,,w v' `r�.-t ,M. •< •.._
<br /> Dan Allen and his 3-year-old ..,. ,<.;:::=:„:,1,,,`, :• .;,,<° �` * . • ' ` » .'' 'r"»'
<br /> n,Tyler,enjoy the nice
<br /> gather Tuesdayat Tenney Park °•A . ;�; - < �! � r° ,Y -+
<br /> in Madison,Wis. Dan was in f'•,::•."-i ..1.•
<br /> • �
<br /> search of the perfect rock for '4•• = : : -, '• •"'
<br /> Tyler to throw into Lake Men- I�f • • , ;•• ••1•x --,. ` z
<br /> dota. •
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