1996 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Provide adequate protection through land use development policy to maintain the environmental balance between natural and man-made physical features and insure against property loss or deterioration of property values. Provide safe, healthy and attractive residential environment which offers a broad choice of housing opportunities. 5.2 General Land Development Policies The dominant share of total land within Gem Lake should b residential 12rol2erty at the community's ultimate developmen is age. Residential uses will constitute approximately 60 percent of all land in the community and approximately 85 percent of all land that could reasonably be developed (street area, water and wetland areas being considered undevelopable). It is the policy of Gem Lake to encourage the prgpmderauc-e-of_ new development in the form of low density housing (0 to 1 0 dwelling upper net acre). This policy_ is advocated for the following reasons: (a) most of the undeveloped lands within the City he adjacent to existing low density residential development, (b) much of the vacant land is of high natural environmental quality (hilly, wooded, wetlands), and (c) the municipality is not well equipped to provide the higher level of municipal services that higher density development would require. Based on the planned ultimate allocation of land uses. it is the 12icy of Gem Lake to make planning decisions based on ultimate community population of approximately 600 persons It is estimated that this threshold may be reached in 15 to 20 years. This population threshold will be utilized in planning for community facilities and in the provision of public services. This population level suggests that Gem Lake will be heavily dependent on cooperating with other governmental jurisdictions in providing certain urban services. It is the policy of Gem Lake to contain commer ial uses within their presently zoned areas. This policy is viewed as being extremely important in achieving the stated goals (a) of maintaining a high quality natural environment and of (b) encouraging a high quality man-made environment. Existing commercial development serves an area much larger than Gem Lake property. Commercial development in surrounding communities serves most of the needs of Gem Lake residents. Since much of the commercially zoned land in the City is already developed, future commercial expansion will be principally through (a) conversion of residentially developed land within presently commercially zoned areas and (b) upgrading of existing commercial development. Comprehensive Plan A-GEMLK9501.00 Gem Lake, Minnesota Page 14