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Anoka Conservation District 16015 Central Ave. NE # 103 Ham Lake, MN 55304 Ph (763) 434-2030 Fax (763) 434-2094 Anoka Natural Resources.com .APH 1 3 2084 April 6, 2004 Jim March 1880 Main St Centerville, MN 55038 Re: Avoiding Referenda: Creating Corridors During Development Dear Jim March, The Anoka Conservation District is seeking your written support for an application to the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) for funding to provide local government units with technical and financial assistance to develop a county-wide open space network. We would like to work with you and other local decision makers to set aside important natural areas during the development process to ensure that we continue to enjoy wildlife and nature-based recreation long into the future. The ACD strongly believes that the most viable approach to protecting natural resources is for local governments to partner with land developers during the platting process to set aside some areas in exchange for platting flexibility. In this way, the taxpayers will be assured of future recreational options without having to pay for costly referenda for land acquisitions to meet demands. With the funds we are seeking we would like to work with 4 or 5 communities to clarify local goals and a long term community vision, define open space goals and develop different tools that protect open space during development. The program would start in July 2005 and end in June of 2007. This would, in effect, provide four or five communities with a quarter time employee for two years. The LCMR application also requests funds to cover the expenses of two land protection projects in each community involved with the program. If awarded the funds, four or five communities will be selected to receive assistance through a competitive process established by the ACD. The Anoka Conservation District has worked with several communities in Anoka County to identify regionally significant natural resources. We would like to continue working with past partners and new ones to ensure the natural areas we now enjoy will remain for future generations. While your written support at this time does not obligate you to be involved in the future or necessarily mean that you will be selected as one of the communities chosen to receive assistance, your support for this proposal will be very helpful to make it through the LCMR. We have included an example letter of support for your convenience. 2JZ -~ ~ Chris Lord . District Manager Anoka Conservation District Enc. Avoiding Referenda: Creating Corridors During Development flyer, example support letter