1982 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I 2. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND DETERMINANT'S There: are many phenomenon that should be considered as a basis for developing a Comprehensive Plan for the City of Gem Lake. Perhaps most significantl y, it should be noted that the City Is only. A small part of the- Minneapolis -St. Paul metr000litan area. fihe nature Of physicaldevelopment within Gem Lake, its natural *resource base, its people, 1-ts..economy, And :its governmental plans must all be placed in context with. what is happening in the larger. metropolitan area and, more specifically, that portion of the metrODolitAn area in the immediate vicinity of Gem Lake. The primary purpose of this Aaptdr of the Plan is to examine those trends that are most aot to act as determifiants of the Comprehensive Municipal Plan propcdals. Creation of Gem Lake The City of Gem Lake was created through a referendum conducted in 195.7. The City was One of several mUWqipal jurisdictions whidh:incorporated during the 1950's .n response to a rapid increase -in urbanization pressures during that time period. In addition to Gem Lake, themunicioalities. of Little Canada, Maplewood, North Oaks, Shore -view, and Vadnais Heights, all within a five mile radius were incorporated in ith'n* that same time period.. GeoLrraDhical Settin The City of Gem Lake encompasses a land area Of -approximately "12.5 acres in the nsey County. The City- i north central. portion of Raj s located approximately seven miles .north of the central business -district: of.St.- Paul and approximately 11 miles northeast Of the. central business district of Minfieapolis (see Figure 1). Gem Lake is bounded on the. north by the Town of White Bear. The City of White Bear Lake Generally bounds the City on the east. The City of Vadnais Heights bounds the City partially on the east; entirely on the south and Weit, -and partially on the north (s" Figure 2). -The northern and eastern boundaries of the City are well defined .4y the rights -of -way of tht Northern -Pacific Railroad. Most of the southern boundary of the City. LIS County Road E. The western border of the Citv is LaBore Road. -'Irt close proximity to the. City's western border is Interstate Highway 35E.- U,,S.. 6:L cuts through the southeastern portion of the City. Natural Features df Gem Lake X The natural environment Of- Gem Lake is unquOtionably of a very high quality, the preservation ot:enhancement of which should*be considered as the City :more 'fully develops. 4.