PRECM 08-01-1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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i The law directs that "each park district located wholly or partially within the Metropolitan Area, and each county in the Metropolitan-Area not wholly within a park district, shall prepare, after consultation with all affected municipalities, and submit to the Metropolitan Council, and. from time to time revise and resubmit to the Council, a master plan and annual budget for acquisitjon and development of regional recreation open space located within the djstrict or county, consistent with the Council's policy plan." This language would appear to require that the counties and the Hennepin County Park Reserve District are primarily responsible for .preparing master plans on a countywide basis. Whjle the language does not preclude muni_cipali,tjes from submitting master plans, it appears that the counties are to play a coordinating role with municipalities in this effort. Master plan, as defined in the law, seems to define a county system plan rather than a specific site development plan. If this interpretation were used, it could be held that no funding can be approved for any park until that county- wide master plan is complete, i.e. includes all designated regional recreation open space within that county. The Council's policy plan provides that municipalities can prepare master plans. This is in recognition of the historical involvement of some municipalities in park sites identified as part of the regional system. Examples are the chain of lakes (Cedar, Lake of the Isles, Calhoun-and Harriet) in Minneapolis and Como Park in St. Paul. Plans from Minneapolis and St. Paul are now reviewed on-their own merits, rather than in a countywide context. (2) Should the policy plan distinguish between master plan stages for acquisition and development of regional recreation open space? The policy plan says that a master plan should include the following items: . The identification of boundaries for each specific park and the delineation of parcels to be acquired and an acquisition schedule; A description of the nature of development and use of each specific park; A description of the recreation needs and deficiencies each specific _ park wi 11 meet; . A statement identifying any conflicts with other existing or proposed public projects; A description and timing of public servjces needed for proposed development; and . A description of the anticipated operational plan for each specific park commensurate with the proposed development program. 5