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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/03/2007 MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesdav. April 3, 2007, 7:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers 1830 County Road BEast 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes a. March 20, 2007 5. Public Hearings 7:00 Peterson Dental Clinic (1670 Beam Avenue) Land Use Plan Change - L (library) and OS (open space) to BG-M (business commercial modified) Zoning Map Change - F (farm residence) to BG-M (business commercial modified) Conditional Use Permit Termination 6. New Business a. 2007-2008 Comprehensive Plan Update 2030 Regional Framework Maplewood System Statement 7. Unfinished Business None 8. Visitor Presentations 9. Commission Presentations March 26 Council Meeting: Ms. Fischer April 9 Council Meeting: Mr. Yarwood April 23 Council Meeting: Mr. Trippler May 14 Council Meeting:?? 1 O. Staff Presentations 11. Adjournment DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the rneeting to order at 7:00 p.rn. II. ROLL CALL Vice-Chairperson Tushar Desai Chairperson Lorraine Fischer Cornmissioner Harland Hess Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner Dale Trippler Commissioner Joseph Walton Commissioner Jeremy Yarwood Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Staff Present: Chuck Ahl, Public Works Director Dave Fisher, Building Official Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner Ken Roberts, Planner Lisa Kroll, Recording Secretary III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler rnoved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Hess, Pearson, Trippler, Walton, Yarwood The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the planning commission minutes for March 6, 2007. Commissioner Trippler had corrections to pages 3, 4,7, and 9. On page 3, first paragraph, eighth line change prisons to prisoners. On page 4, after the ninth paragraph, insert a new paragraph with a sentence that says Mr. Biedny said no. On page 7, in the ninth paragraph, the paragraph has been reworded to say Commissioner Trippler said as the planning commission looks at the goals and policies for the city we should keep that in mind. If a policy says the city shall protect a natural resource, that could be an area someone who does or doesn't want a development to go through could bring up. If this is what the comprehensive plan says then this is what you must do. A developer could point to other rules and regulations and say the comprehensive plan allows it, but he wants to make sure the city doesn't have those potential conflicts waiting to be explored. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -2- Chairperson Fischer had corrections to page 9 and 10. On page 9, in the fourth paragraph, the last word should say [s not I's. And in the last paragraph, last sentence it should say met council system staternents. On page 10, first paragraph, second line, after any way insert the words they can. In the last paragraph, third line before the words two or three insert the word least. Commissioner Desai had a correction to page 9. In the sixth paragraph, second line, change city's to cities. Commissioner Trippler rnoved to approve the planning cornmission minutes for March 6, 2007, as amended. Commissioner Hess seconded. Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Hess, Pearson, Trippler, Walton, Yarwood V. PUBLIC HEARING St. Paul's Monastery Redeveloprnent (2675 Larpenteur Avenue East) (7:09 -10:17 p.m.) Mr. Ekstrand said the Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Paul's Monastery, are requesting approval of the following development plans for their 31.04-acre site at 2675 Larpenteur Avenue East: . A 40-unit seniors-housing apartment building to be operated by CommonBond Cornmunities. Common Bond is a developer and rnanager of affordable housing. . A 50-unit town house development also to be built and operated by Common Bond. The existing 11 O-car parking lot for the monastery on this site would be removed and relocated south of the monastery building. . A change in use of the existing rnonastery building. This building would be sold to the Tubman Family Alliance for use as a family-violence shelter/residence. This proposed facility would be used for offices, housing, comrnunity support, inforrnation and training, child-care and education. There would be a 108-car parking lot added to the south end of this proposed parcel for the Tubrnan Family Alliance. There would also be a 33-car parking lot provided northeast of the monastery building. The Tubman Family Alliance use of this building would include 37 housing units as follows: six for single women, 18 for mothers with one to two children, six for mothers with three or more children, four for adult males and three for families with rnothers and teenage boys. . A future rnonastery on the north end of the property. The existing monastery building was constructed to house 278 Sisters. Today, the comrnunity consists of 58 Sisters, 35 of which reside on the site. Therefore, there is no need for such a large building. The applicant will provide specific details and plans for this building at a later time. The applicant has not submitted any site and architectural plans; these will be provided later for review by the CDRB. City staff surveyed 46 property owners within 500 feet of the site. Of the eight replies, one was in favor, seven were opposed and one offered a cornrnent about the overall design of the development. One additional letter was received in support of the project from the Mayor of the City of Bloomington. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -3- Corn missioner Trippler asked if the parking lot shown next to Lot 1 Block 1 is the parking lot for the proposed 50 unit town home complex or is that a parking lot that is going to replace the parking lot for the monastery? Mr. Ekstrand said the proposed parking lot would replace the parking lot being lost and it would serve the future Tubman Family Alliance Service Center at the monastery. Commissioner Hess asked if there was a plan to put a fence between the Hill Murray School and the proposal for the monastery? Mr. Ekstrand said not presently. Commissioner Yarwood said one of the conditions for the conditional use permit is that the use would generate only minimal vehicular traffic on local streets and would not create congestion or unsafe access on existing or proposed streets. He said generally he doesn't have a problem with this development except for the traffic issues. The comments made by Chuck Ahl were that he didn't feel the traffic study proposed by the applicant was sufficient to adequately address what is happening in the area. Forthat reason he is uncomfortable making a finding or a recommendation for this unless we have what the city thinks are accurate traffic data and predictions for this area that would include this development. Mr. Ahl said as Mr. Ekstrand expressed, we have to look at the site and the maximum use that can be generated. The use that has been proposed is far below what it could be developed for so we need to understand it could be a lot worse than what they are proposing. However, as he looked at the numbers and Mr. Ekstrand started talking about some of the regional planning, our concerns are twofold. Number one, the traffic study does not provide justifications for some of the numbers that are in there and it's a proposal that we need to look at and understand how those numbers were generated, and his concern is with a 40 unit senior housing complex the city typically uses 6 trips a day per unit. The commission knows the City of Maplewood has a lot of senior housing complexes. If you look at the numbers, they plan for 3 vehicle trips a day so we need to understand the difference in numbers that have been determined. In the morning,leaving the senior apartment complex during the peak hour, they are assuming 1 vehicle trip leaving the site. To Mr. Ahl that seemed unrealistic but going back to the original premise, different types of housing would have greater impacts, so we need to understand the low numbers. We need to analyze how that will impact the roadways for Century and Larpenteur Avenues with vehicle trip numbers that are closer to what the city thinks are reasonable. More importantly, what the city has used to analyze traffic impacts in the other areas of the community. He doesn't think that is a basis for denial of the plan. It's an issue that we need to work through. We need to have the appropriate controls for the traffic concerns. Mr. Ahl said the second part of the analysis is part of the bus garage proposal; we had a multi- jurisdictional work group that looked at traffic in this area. His concern with the site plan isn't the way it's designed now. He thinks it's the city's responsibility to look over the next 10, 20, and 30 years at these roadways. The state of transportation in Minnesota is clear. There will likely not be any road improvements to Larpenteur or Century Avenue for capacity improvements for 25 to 30 years. Traffic will grow by 50-75% on those roadways in that period of time. This is the state we are in and it's called urbanization. The State of Minnesota is not funding transportation very well at this point in time. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -4- Mr. Ahl said it's the city's responsibility at the local level to try to incorporate how things work. Is there a roadway system that can help alleviate the conditions of the intersections along Century Avenue in particular? If you head south on Century Avenue, in 20 years there is probably going to be a signal system at Holloway Avenue. There is a signal system at Highway 5 and one at Larpenteur Avenue. There most likely is a signal system at Maryland Avenue or in that area and one signal system at Stillwater Avenue. The more access points we have, the more likely you are going to have congestion on that roadway. The city is working with MnDOT and eventually Ramsey County as they get involved with the process should we have some type of connection from this development as well as Hill Murray School to the north. Then through the vacant property (where the bus garage was proposed and denied by the city council) should there be a roadway connection through there. The city just isn't sure. Our concern is, don't let this development preclude our ability to plan for the next 5 to 10 years. So that's why Mr. Ekstrand made the recommendation for condition 5. in the staff report. We want to understand the impacts and why the traffic numbers are lower than what we think they are going to be. Before we proceed to the next phase, which is the future Monastery, let's work out the details. The city doesn't have a lot of money to build new roadways either. There may not be a need for the roadway either. That's the long answer to Commissioner Yarwood's question, but at this point the city doesn't have the answers we think are necessary regarding the potential traffic impacts. Commissioner Hess had a question for the Building Official. One issue that was mentioned in the staff report was that the existing monastery building may require a full NFPA 72 fire alarm system. He said he was talking to a friend who is in the design business and it sounded like that building will require that upgrade to be done which would be extensive. He assumes the Monastery building is sprinklered. With the new occupants, a number of things would probably need to be dealt with. Mr. Dave Fisher, Maplewood Building Official, addressed the commission. He said he has only been in the Monastery building once or twice and he couldn't remember if the building was sprinklered or not but he said the building is well built. If the building changes occupancy, the building would be required to be fully sprinklered and be required to be monitored with the full NFPA 72 fire alarm system. Chairperson Fischer said what you are saying is in order to meet today's building codes that would be a requirement in order to meet the CUP for the building. Mr. Fisher said if you change occupancy, or the use, then that changes the building code requirements and the building would have to be brought up to the current code. Commissioner Trippler said the largest concern people seem to have is regarding the traffic. The city has access to traffic counts on Larpenteur and Century Avenue, if you assume the trip counts we typically see in residences like this, did the city make an effort to do an analysis of whether or not this would have an impact on these roadways at a higher count or not? Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -5- Mr. Ahl said the city did a preliminary look and estimated the numbers at a difference of 2% to 3 trip counts. Granted the city's numbers are extremely high because we assume the worst case scenario. Under that scenario for the current existing 2007 traffic volumes in the area, we would likely recommend approval of this plan. As we get out 5 to 10 years, there likely would have to be some turn restrictions in the area. This is his concern. When you start putting turn restrictions in and altering access for emergency vehicles, you have to remember what the site uses are. The police and fire chief will tell you 83% of the fire calls received in the City of Maplewood are medical calls and a vast majority of them are related to seniors. When we start having to make traffic restrictions because of roadway volumes as it starts restricting access, it makes it more difficult because the fire station that serves this area is at Maryland and Century Avenue so the emergency vehicles would come south and would need to find an access. If you look at the two access points on Century and Larpenteur Avenue and you put a right turn in and right turn out we would also have to do that along Larpenteur Avenue. Eventually emergency vehicles would get into the site but leaving the site would become more difficult. Those are the city's concerns. We need to be sure the traffic volumes are reasonable. The city needs to understand at some point in time we will need to start adding those restrictions. The city will certainly have to be uniform in our application of those. You can't pick out this development and put in turning restrictions; you have to apply the process uniformly. You have to look at the driveways to the Hill Murray School and other roadways in the area. One thing the city doesn't want to do is to force additional traffic leaving this site over to some of the area streets such as Sterling Street. Three to five years isn't going to be a major problem because there are peaks in the area. They are 10 and 15 minute peaks when students arrive at Hill Murray School and leave the school. Commissioner Pearson said in the police report in the staff report it mentions almost a certainty that Larpenteur and Century Avenue would have to be posted on the north and south side with No Parking. He asked what the likelihood would be? Mr. Ahl said in his opinion that is definitely a direction the city will have to go. The more turning movements that there is, the city will have to put additional controls on the area and likely will put those parking restrictions on. Putting the no parking restriction on Larpenteur Avenue wouldn't impact a lot of people until you get closer to Hill Murray High School where there is some on- street parking allowed. Commissioner Desai asked if the enrollment at Hill Murray High School is maxed out? He asks that question because of the school's future growth and the potential of increasing the traffic. Mr. Ahl said he doesn't know the answerto that question, there is a representative here from Hill Murray High School so it might be a question for them to answer. From a traffic standpoint, the city doesn't assume that the traffic volumes are going to increase over time. The city's plan is that traffic volumes do increase. If we think about what's happened to our society from a driving standpoint, he said he's old enough to remember single car garages being built with a new house. Mr. Ahl said today's construction is built with three-car garages, which is indicative of what has happened to our traffic volumes in the last 25 to 30 years. People are driving more and they have more cars, so we certainly are seeing that impact on our roadways, businesses, institutions, schools and that has to be reflected in the traffic counts. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -6- Commissioner Pearson said looking at the plans and the number of children that are projected to be on site he noticed there isn't much playground space planned. There is a small playground space for the current daycare but he doesn't see anything additional. On the lower part ofthe plan there is a small area marked for a tot lot but that is remote from the other buildings. There didn't seem to be any access from the projected parking lot to the main building with the shelter in terms of sidewalk access. Mr. Ekstrand said these are all important details staff will consider but at this point the site plan shown, other than the parking proposed for the future shelter are conceptual. The applicant has explained they will be in with full details for the CDRB to review but at this time they have shown the 50-unit apartment complex and the 40-unit townhomes as a concept. Commissioner Pearson said he is concerned about comments in the staff report that Hill Murray High School is being used as a buffer, but a buffer takes the battering, whether it's from the wind or whatever. Without an adequate playground to occupy the kids, it's a natural fact that the kids would go onto the Hill Murray High School property. Mr. Ekstrand said that's a good point. It would be appropriate to add a playground as a condition since we are dealing with a PUD to make such a condition for children on the site so that there is adequate facilities for the children with this project. Commissioner Yarwood said one requirement for a CUP is that it doesn't substantially impact the traffic. To him it doesn't sound like we have hard traffic count numbers. He understands the density could be higher here than what is being proposed but we don't have set traffic numbers to make the judgment regarding this would create traffic congestion or create unsafe conditions on the streets on existing traffic versus what this might potentially add. If he could get an idea of the percentage that traffic would increase, that would help him. Chairperson Fischer asked the applicant to address the commission. Mr. Paul Holmes, Pope Associates, residing at 1694 Ivory Avenue, Lake Elmo, addressed the commission. Pope Associates has been working with the monastery for 3 years now helping them determine how best to use their land and building resource. The current monastery building was built in 1965 for many more sisters than what are there today. The cost of operating the monastery has steadily risen. Fewer sisters are working now than were working in the past and they found themselves with a situation that absolutely has to change. The question is how to change it. The sisters partnered with Common Bond Communities and with Tubman Family Alliance to develop a portion of their site and to sell the existing monastery to Tubman Family Alliance for their use as an east side consolidation of existing services in this area as a family violence prevention agency. This would allow the sisters to fund construction of a new smaller monastery on the north side of the site. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -7- Mr. Holmes said they feel they have a very good and accurate traffic study. There are other speakers that want to speak on behalf of the monastery. He said they knew traffic would be a major concern of the city, particularly at the intersection of Larpenteur Avenue and 120, so we commissioned a traffic study. The first observations were made on September 12, 2006, after school was in session at Hill Murray High School and Mounds Park Academy. Both schools add traffic on Larpenteur Avenue with students at those rush peaks in the morning and afternoon. This was after Hill Murray High School completed their campus improvements that occurred over the summer which included a new entry that was added off of Larpenteur Avenue and the internal circulation was improved. We found the intersection worked very well during those early morning 15-minute peak periods, and during the afternoon peak period the intersection was functioning very well. There was never a situation where it took more than one green light to clear the south bound right turn queue onto Larpenteur Avenue in the morning. One time it took more than one light to clear the north bound left turn queue off of Larpenteur Avenue onto Century Avenue. We reported those results to staff in a study and they responded back on the study saying it was only a 5-year horizon. We understand there is a legitimate concern going forward, so we talked to the traffic engineer company Benshoof Associates who has been in business in the Twin Cities for 25 years. Then a very highly respected firm called WenkAssociates purchased Benshoof Associates last year. Ed Terhar, the traffic engineer who did the study is here tonightto answer any questions you might have. We updated the traffic study for a 20-year horizon and went back to look at the intersection again. We were there on September 12, 18, 19 and November 16, 2006. In all those observations the intersection was working at acceptable levels. There was a level of service A or B during the morning 15-minute rush and during the afternoon 15-minute rush we saw the traffic clearing during the green lights. We found an intersection that continued to work well. We submitted the revised traffic report on December 18, 2006, with the PUD and we understand that Chuck Ahl still had some concerns with the numbers so he said he wanted to talk specifically about where the trip generations came from. Ed Terhar, the Traffic Engineer, said the numbers were based on trip generation numbers for the 40-unit senior apartment building and the 50-unit townhomes for standard data for the traffic engineering industry. Mr. Holmes said this document is the ITE document called Traffic Generation ih Edition. This is the bible for traffic engineers and it's what is used for studies all over the country. It had specific numbers that could be applied to apartment buildings and to townhomes and those numbers were used. No reduction was taken in the recommendations in that book for those uses. He added that the real numbers that we will see within the affordable family town homes and the affordable senior apartments are significantly less than what the study will indicate. Nevertheless, they used the more conservative number. There aren't numbers in the ITE Traffic Generation ih Edition for monastery's or for Family Violence Prevention Agencies. So in that case, the traffic engineer goes to the "user" and asks them for trip generation data. We knew this was important and had to be right since it was from the source. So Tubman Family Alliance went to all their locations on the east metro and counted trips in and out of their locations every day. Then they went to their Minneapolis location and counted trips in and out and then from there, projected with this square footage with these uses how many trips you would get. That answer is 582 trips a day, which we believe, is a good, conservative number. We are creating 143 parking spaces for Tubman Family Alliance. If the trip generation were really 2000 vehicle trips you would fill and empty the parking lot 7 times every day, and that's not realistic and isn't going to happen. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -8- Mr. Holmes said there are 18 sisters today of the 37sisters who live at the monastery and 18 of those sisters drive. Their current trip generation is low at about 12 vehicle trips a day. There are also some health care workers that come and go to the site so the 34 vehicle trips per day are an accurate number. We stand behind the numbers. Mr. Holmes said we have a total of 986 trips. Based on that, this intersection works in the 2026 timeframe at levels of C and above except for one turning movement in the p.m. peak. That's the southbound turn onto Century Avenue off Larpenteur Avenue where it drops to level D of service. However, Level D of service intersections are all over town so this is not a situation that is going to get that bad over time. The traffic study takes into account a 2%, per year, background growth in traffic, which equates to a 50% over all traffic increase in a 20-year period. This is a good traffic study and we depend on its results. As Mr. Ekstrand pointed out, the site is zoned R3-H and more than 400 units are actually allowed on this site if you take the 14.3 unit per acre designation that we could have used. The sisters looked at doing a development with that density and decided that it would be a horrible thing to do because of the impact on the neighborhood which would be very very high. Mr. Holmes said moreover the impact on the sister's monastic lifestyle would be unacceptable, so the sisters partnered with the two organizations for a smaller development, 90 units of housing for CommonBond, 40 senior apartments and 50 townhomes and also the Tubman Family Alliance consolidation of its existing east side operations in the existing monastery building. Mr. Holmes showed an aerial photo of the site on the overhead. He said we were encouraged by staff not to treat this site as an "island" but instead treat it as part of the regional transportation system. The reason he wanted to show an aerial photo of the site is because the site really is an island surrounded on 3 sides by wetlands, the park land and by Hill Murray High School. That is what makes this the right site for the monastery proposal. That is what makes it the right site for affordable housing and that's what makes it the right site forthe violence prevention site. We have to treat the site very carefully. That's why we aren't here asking for approval of a 400-unit development. He displayed on the screen a very early site plan of the new monastery proposal generated by his office February 14, 2007, showing the new monastery location adjacent to the existing cemetery where the sisters who have lived there before are buried. The new monastery building is about 36,000 square feet over all. The reason it's placed here on this site and the reason the rest of the site has been arranged as it has is to maintain as much a sense of serenity and as much a sense of solitude as possible while still developing a portion of the site. Mr. Holmes said the Common Bond development has been held to the eastern edge of the site against Century Avenue. It's away from the Hill Murray High School boundary; it is away from the north boundary to create the sense of solitude. It also takes advantage of the public transportation for the occupants of those units along Century Avenue, so it's an important placement. You can see the new monastery building located adjacent to the cemetery, and the sisters need that. The sisters' primary vocation is prayer. The road route that staff recommended be approved within the PUD is a road route that was recommended by the school district as option 2 that was put forward this summer. Chuck Ahl wasn't adamant about the road location but he pointed out three reasons why they object to the roadway. First, its disruptive, you can see that a public roadway in this location passes within 200 feet of the new monastery and within 15 to 20 feet of the existing cemetery and passes very close to the Maple Tree Daycare on the site. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -9- Mr. Holmes said there is also a playground at the end of the daycare building. The road would also pass very close to the western side of the monastery where the new licensed child development center will be and there would also be a playground outside there that will serve those kids. Finally the road comes out onto Larpenteur Avenue, 250 feet from Hill Murray High School's new entrance to their school and 250 feet from our new entrance to the monastery, creating a situation where you have three accesses onto Larpenteur Avenue which can be very confusing and unsafe. Mr. Holmes said this roadway doesn't serve our development and is not needed. Our development has access onto Century Avenue and onto Larpenteur Avenue. The roadway in this position connecting Larpenteur Avenue to Century Avenue and Highway 5 is not a roadway our residents would use and there is no reason to use it. For those three reasons, we ask that you pass the PUD without condition 5. attached to it. Regarding the use, this community is in desperate need of affordable "senior housing" and "family housing". Tubman Family Alliance is a nationally known organization that has developed similar developments in other suburbs like Edina, Plymouth and Bloomington. All of them are well maintained and are doing beautifully, and this development will too. Tubman Family Alliance, providing violence prevention services, is an amazing fit forthe monastery. This monastery designed by Val Mickelsen in 1965 is an important architectural building built with cast concrete, it was never built for remodeling, it was never built for an exit strategy yet Tubman Family Alliance can just about come in and use the building as it is. Mr. Holmes said we understand the need to upgrade the building with sprinklers and we will be coming to see the city about that. In our mind, being able to use the existing monastery building for Tubman Family Alliance is a wonderful thing to be able to preserve the building. In 1954 the sisters of St. Paul's Monastery came to Maplewood and bought the land. And in 1958 the sisters built Archbishop Murray High School. In 1965, the sisters built their current monastery building. For 42 years the sisters have lived in the monastery. For 42 years the sisters have taught in our schools, worked in our churches, worked in our companies and now they are asking permission to develop a portion of their site and to sell their building to extend their ministries and to fund the creation and construction of a new home for them. In his view these women have earned this right and deserve all of our support as they respond to the circumstances that they find themselves in with a hopeful, positive, and incredibly beneficial way. So we request the city's approval of the PUD, without condition number 5. Commissioner Trippler asked if staff could talk about the need forthe road in condition number 5. and why it's important? Mr. Ahl said the roadway is being studied. We have not come to the final conclusion forthe need for the road, but this new road would combine the driveways. The point Mr. Holmes made regarding having three driveways is obviously not appropriate. Two of the driveways would be removed and combine into one access point instead of three. This provides a roadway connection through the MnDOT property to the north that is being looked at as a park area, soccer fields or ball fields and potentially extend that road so that you have a connection up to the signal system at Highway 5 and Highway 120. It provides an alternative for the traffic in the area to avoid backups that occur at Century and Larpenteur Avenues for a secondary access. In transportation planning you try to provide two access points. This area is limited to a single access with Larpenteur Avenue to a couple of major traffic generators with Hill Murray High School and now with this proposal. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -10- Mr. Ahl said trying to provide a second access is why the road is being looked at. It's probably 10 to 15 years away, but we have that opportunity and we want to be sure the city looks at that now. When the city proposed this plan we knew we were getting close because neither Hill Murray High School nor the monastery liked this plan, so the city figured we came up with a solution or a location. Each of the parties wanted the road to go further onto the other party's site. So the city figured they would split where the road would go on the site and come up with a plan that neither party liked equally well so it has less of an impact. This is the type of roadway system the city thinks may be necessary to continue to meet the transportation needs for the area. Again, not precluding the city's ability to continue the study. Commissioner Trippler said if the city really doesn't know "where" the road is going to go, how will the applicant agree to extend the right of way to the city? Or is the city asking for them to agree to that in the future? Mr. Ahl said because of the presentation Mr. Holmes made, the city needs to acknowledge that the road "may" exist. Because of the very sensitive issue of the monastery site we need to understand before we go ahead that this is being looked at for the site plan. If the city doesn't acknowledge that the road could be there and removes number 5. as a condition, that may preclude the road from ever going in. What happens if the monastery gets built and 15 years from now the city was correct in our assumptions and we have to come back and put the road in. Mr. Ahl said now we do have a road and a description that Mr. Holmes just gave about a roadway very close to the monastery. The proposal is being put forth with the sisters moving into a new building and looking at different alternatives for the site. We are looking at putting ball fields just to the north of the monastery location. This is an ongoing study. The city is looking at this potential of having this roadway on the site plan so the location of the senior housing, the town homes and the Tubman Family Center is predicated on all of those issues. If condition number 5. is removed and the site plan goes forward without this roadway it could affect things in the future. The city has to understand how each of these issues are all tied together. Commissioner Trippler said he wanted to be perfectly clear because of the impact the roadway has. As he understands what Mr. Ahl said, the way condition number 5. reads we are asking the applicant to agree in writing that the city "may" want at some point in the future to put a road in if the applicant agrees they would be granting the city the right of way for the road to go in. We aren't asking the applicant at this point to actually specify the exact right of way because the city doesn't know where the road is going to be built exactly. Mr. Ahl said that is correct, the city doesn't know for certain that the cost benefit analysis is going to tell us in the next 10-15 or 20 years that this road will provide the services the city thinks it will. The city doesn't know "if' we are going to build the road and we don't know "where" we are going to build it. Commissioner Walton said Mr. Ahl said the state wasn't going to consider expanding Century Avenue or Larpenteur Avenue for another 20 years but that would only be 5 years difference from the 10-15 years he mentioned. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -11- Mr. Ahl said what the city has to understand is the designation of Century Avenue. Century Avenue is designated in the metropolitan plan as a reliever roadway because it's parallel to Highways 494 and 694 and it provides relieffor traffic and local trips. The reason he brings that up is the longer term design for Century Avenue is to restrict access and turning movements. While the road gets widened, you also close medians, you also remove access and try to move access from these types of developments to local internal streets. When you do that you then look at this type of street as providing another access to the area in order to reduce the impact on Century Avenue. Father Kevin McDonouqh, residing at 226 Summit Avenue, 51. Paul, addressed the commission. Father McDonough said he is here as a Board member of the CommonBond Communities. Unofficially he has a number of connections with the area he would like to mention. He is the Vickers General of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, as such he is a trustee of all three of the Roman Catholic parishes located in Maplewood. His father worked for 3M in Maplewood for 44 years, and his parents lived on Fernwood Street in the southern part of Maplewood where he and his family spent many happy family times. He also attended the old Hill school when it was located at the current Mounds Park Academy site, so he has a good deal of affection for and history with this beautiful City of Maplewood. He is grateful to be able to speak first because his dad is celebrating his 75th birthday and is waiting for him to go to a party. Without insult to all the others who are going to be speaking tonight, he is sorry he has to leave and he is sorry. He has had the privilege of being associated with all four of the partners engaged in various ways in the site proposal before the planning commission. Father McDonough said much of what the commission is hearing has to do with whether everyone can continue to be neighbors, rely on and plan together, and work with the entities that are on the priory site. For the past 16 years he was one of the governing Board members of Hill Murray High School so he doesn't feel the need to speak about that quality organization. While Archbishop Flynn was the one who approved the gift of $1.3 million worth of property to that school, he was the one who twisted Archbishop Flynn's arm to do so because of his great affection and respect for Hill Murray School. He has been associated with the sisters for many years. Their organization has over 1500 years doing business as they do it now. The Tubman Family Alliance is recognized as perhaps the outstanding provider of such services in the State of Minnesota and outstanding in the entire Midwest. CommonBond, whose board he has served on since 1990, is regionally recognized as an outstanding provider of the kinds of housing services they provide. Regionally, because Common Bond expanded recently into the state to the east of us, it is looked at as a national model. Father McDonough said he mentions these things to you because it is important to know that for a first class city like Maplewood, you have first class institutions that are asking to partner with you for the future good of all of the residents in the City of Maplewood. Hill Murray High School is an extraordinarily fine school; the sisters have an extraordinarily long and generous history of service, and the partners Common Bond and the Tubman Family Alliance have an extraordinary reputation regionally and nationally. He said there have been long discussions that he has had the privilege of being part of. Among the four bodies he is pleased that all four of them are working together. He understands that the students of Hill Murray High School continue to do well volunteering at the Tubman Family Alliance sites and assisting the sisters in a variety of ways. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -12- Father McDonough said he wants to make it clear out of his long association with Hill Murray High School and the sisters, that there is every intention to work together in good faith with one another and clearly with the neighbors and the wonderful City of Maplewood. So he too appeals to the commission as an outsider but also to this city that you would support this request for the Conditional Use Permit for the Planned Unit Development and to do so without the restrictions that are proposed with condition number 5. He said he was grateful for the time you have given him. Sister Eleanor Wartman, Sisters of St. Benedict, 2675 Larpenteur Avenue, Maplewood, addressed the commission. The sisters made a community decision 13 years ago to respond in clear ways to the needs of society and the church, given our demographics and our financial projections. We engage the services of an organization that works with religious communities and strategic planning, to look at the future and how they can continue to be a viable force regardless of the number of sisters that will carry forth their mission. Our mission as Benediction sisters is to live the rule of St. Benedict and that is based on gospel values. Through our prayer life and being good stewards in the use of all of our resources, we create sacred space in which we adjust and respond to whatever the needs are of society and the challenges and also that of the church. We believe that at the present, our gospel challenge is that we would address issues that relate to seniors, women, children and families. Our demographics have impacted our ministries as well as our finances. When we came to St. Paul in 1948 our main ministry was teaching, so we were in schools throughout the metro area and greater Minnesota. In the early 1950s we shared with the Archbishop our plans to build a monastery in Maplewood and he asked that we first build and staff a high school for girls. We raised funds to build Archbishop Murray High School, and today Hill Murray High School continues to carry on the ministry of education on that site that we began in 1958. Sister Wartman said we built our current monastery in 1965 and at that time our community had 244 sisters. 75 sisters lived at the monastery. Today we have 58 sisters, 37 of whom live at the monastery on 30 acres of land in a 1 OO,OOO-square-foot building. Our median age is 76. With the changing times, with the church, society and the demographics, the ways that we carry out our mission today are also changing, but we are committed to continue to respond to the needs of people in our area. We are also committed to the residents who live in our neighborhood, and we have carried out that commitment in several ways. We sold land for green space to the cities of Maplewood and Oakdale. We offer a variety of retreats and programs at our Benedictine Retreat Center and throughout the past 40 plus years many people have joined us for prayer in our chapel. For the last 3 years we have hosted the National Night Out Celebrations. The Benedictine value of being good stewards in the use of our resources prompted us to be proactive in addressing the decline in our membership and the size of our building and the impact that has on our finances and our ministries. For several years we studied the options for the continued uses of our monastery building and forthe development of our land. So we are proud and excited to have found two organizations that share our mission and are able to use our present monastery as it is and part of our land. She said we want Tubman Family Alliance to share our building and Common Bond Communities to share our land. We believe that these two organizations along with our Maple Tree Child Care Center and our Benedictine Retreat Center as well as Hill Murray School, will help us promote our vision and our Benedictine legacy at the corner of Century and Larpenteur Avenues. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -13- Sister Wartman said the sisters will stay on the present site and we will build a smaller monastery near the cemetery of our sisters who have gone before us. Here we will build additional sacred space that captures our monastic spirit and supports how we live our Benedictine values. We are confident of our plans for the future. We are proud of the organizations that will come on our land and share our mission. We are grateful for the people who have walked with us and advised us. We move forward with a group of 134 oblites who spread our Benedictine values wherever they live and work and with our many volunteers who support our vision. So we ask this planning commission to approve the PUD as we have submitted it. Sister Rose Alice Althoff, Sisters of St. Benedict, 2675 Larpenteur Avenue, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She said she has been a sister for 73 years. She said she was one of the founding sisters of St. Paul's Monastery who moved from St. Benedictines in St. Joseph to Summit Avenue in St. Paul in 1948. In 1965, our sisters moved to our current monastery on Larpenteur Avenue. With the recent death of Val Mickelsen, the architect of the monastery building, she is now the only surviving member of the Building Committee. She said she hadn't spent much time thinking about another move, her fourth move as a sister, until recently. Now she's looking forward to a new monastery building. She said her ministries were teaching and the care of the elderly. These ministries will be carried on by our community, Tubman Family Alliance and CommonBond. We have a lot of faith in these two organizations and we are very lucky to be working with them. Ellen Hiqqins, Vice President of Development for Common Bond Communities, residing at 153 Montrose Place, St. Paul, addressed the commission. She said the belief is that stable housing is the cornerstone of vibrant healthy communities. Common Bond Communities provides a strong model for building and sustaining affordable homes for working families, individuals, and seniors. Founded in 1971, Common Bond Communities is the largest non-profit provider of affordable homes in the upper Midwest. Present in 35 communities throughout the region. She said overthe past 35 years, we have sponsored the development and preservation of 4,200 homes in 72 separate rental housing communities. While each setting is unique, there are core attributes found in all Common Bond Communities. Residents are welcomed into a community and find relevant services and resources to help meet their needs. Common Bond Communities isn't just building buildings; we transform the lives of children, adults and seniors by providing a stable home and a sense of pride and engagement in that home and in their communities. Common Bond Communities' mission is to build a community by creating affordable housing as a stepping stone to success. Our goals are simple and effective. First, we build new properties as we are planning to do in Maplewood as well as acquire and rehabilitate existing properties in order to create and preserve high-quality affordable housing. Second, we ensure that our properties are well maintained so that the surrounding community sees them as an asset. We are owners and managers for the long term. Thirdly, we form community and partnerships to encourage self sufficiency for families, academic achievement for our youth and independent and healthy lives for our seniors. She said at Common Bond Communities we believe "home" is everything. It allows people to feel safe and secure to have the foundation necessary to stabilize their lives. So what are our specific plans for the St. Paul Monastery site? Based on market studies that we commissioned for the Maplewood housing market, we are planning an inter-generational-housing community on a small footprint on the southeast corner of the site. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -14- Ms. Higgins said it was a deliberate decision sited there to have access to public transportation because our seniors and the residents of the affordable homes do not have the cars that market- rate residents and market-rate seniors have. They have significantly less than the Institutes for the ih Edition Guidelines. We wanted to cluster the housing on the southeast corner because we believe the footprint should be small. The beauty of the St. Paul Monastery site is the wide open spaces, the opportunity for trails, the opportunity for a green community and we are very interested in that opportunity. Specifically, we are planning 40-units of senior housing in one garden-style-apartment building primarily consisting of one-bedroom units. We are also planning a family housing community consisting of 50 townhomes with one, two and three bedroom units. Those townhomes will have a single tuck-under garage. Since we are only in the preliminary, conceptual stage she said she brought sample photographs of communities that CommonBond Communities has developed. These are only examples; we will be coming back to the city when the plans are ready. We design housing to meet the site and to meet the community style and architecture, but pictures are worth a whole lot more than words. She gave the photographs to staff to put on the overhead for everyone to see. Ms. Higgins said this included a Common Bond Housing Committee handout, a photo of the Arbor Lake Commons town home buildings in Maple Grove, a photo of the Bassett Creek Commons - senior townhomes, and Valley Square on Winnetka Avenue in Golden Valley. She said we believe each community is unique and we do not do "cookie cutter" housing. Since 1996 CommonBond Communities has won 15 design awards from the Minnesota Multi-Family Housing Association which is the state- wide industry trade organization. We will be working closely with city staff during the design process to ensure this project in Maplewood will be our next design award. How will our housing contribute to Maplewood? First, we will provide much needed quality, affordable housing for seniors living on social security or small pensions. Our market study projected a need for no less than 555 affordable units. We are providing 40 units. We will also provide much needed affordable townhome units for families. Our market study projected a study showing a need for no less than 285 units and we are providing 50. We will put land that is currently tax exempt back onto the tax rolls adding to the Maplewood tax base and generating a brand new housing community that will provide value. Ms. Higgins said along with Tubman Family Alliance and the sisters, we are creating an inter-generational housing services and educational community that is already being noticed on the state and national level as a model for partnerships between non-profit organizations and faith based communities. For Common Bond Communities it's all about home, stability, and community. We would appreciate your support and we believe we would make good neighbors for Maplewood. Commissioner Pearson asked what percent of market rate are your units normally put out at? Ms. Higgins said it varies, depending on the community need and what we see is fitting on the site. We are projecting 100% affordable with these units. When we say affordable for the family townhome units, that would be targeted for people with an average income of $35,000 -$40,000. They aren't "very" affordable; they are "just" affordable. For the senior housing units we are hoping to target those with an average of $15,000 incomes, so those units are considered very affordable. Commissioner Yarwood asked what kind of selection criteria you use to determine the qualifications for the family town home units? Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -15- Ms. Higgins said we have a property management company that manages all of our properties and works on two different levels. One is that we have to meet all of the financing regulations regarding the suitability of the clients and their income levels. From the standpoint of maintaining quality communities, we go through a very rigorous credit check, background history, criminal check, etc. The concept being, there is enough need out there among those who are good citizens that we can fill up all the housing we could ever build. Ms. Beverly Dusso, President of Tubman Family Alliance, residing at 2420 Sunrise Drive, Little Canada, addressed the commission. She asked what does Tubman Family Alliance do in Maplewood today? We provide services for those in Maplewood that keep people safe and healthy. You may have known us as the Family Violence Network. We've been serving you here for over 25 years and we would guess that many of the neighbors don't even know we have been here. This PUD is simply a consolidation of the work we provide you and your neighbors in Oakdale, North St. Paul and the eastern suburbs. We serve those struggling with family abuse and we teach prevention education to your kids and to the community at large. We could give you reams of national statistics from the Department of Justice in Washington about how many and what kind of families face this type of issue, but we will tell you it's "all communities", it's "all income brackets", it's "all faith groups" and "all countries" not just in the United States. Last year 205 Maplewood residents used Tubman Family Alliance's legal services. That is more than any other east metro suburban community. We serve all suburban communities in Ramsey and Washington County. Over 1/3 of 102 families that stayed with us who gave us east metro as an address had Maplewood as their address. In our community work last year in District 622, Tubman Family Alliance taught our Violence Prevention Program to 240 students at North High School and 102 students at Tartan High School. 40 students from Hill Murray High School worked in the Hill home during the past year in the Christian service learning projects. They did a holiday gift program, gardening and many many other programs. Hill Murray High School students have been doing this for us and with us since 1992 when we opened up our first shelter. Ms. Dusso said over 1,600 Maplewood/Oakdale/North St. Paul residents participated in our prevention education learning in civic groups and in our faith communities across the city. Statistically, Maplewood families are the most significant user of Tubman Family Alliance programs compared to any other suburban community we serve. You may have a chance to hear from one of the women who used Tubman Family Alliance to change her life. Secondly, what will Tubman Family Alliance do in the monastery building? First, we will keep the beautiful building and the wonderful grounds that are around it. We will bring our headquarters over to this building which basically means establishing 20 new living wage jobs in the community. Ms. Dusso said our legal staff will have their offices at the monastery. When they are not in court they will need a place to check in. We will provide short-term housing for 30 women and 30 children. They have an average stay of about 27 days. With regard to the children, 2/3 of the 30 children are 8 years of age or younger and this is a long-term statistic. It's true of the 64 beds we've had on the east side and the 64 beds in Minneapolis the statistics hold for years over for the same group. Some of the current residential space in the monastery will be converted to offices for community partners that serve our families already in Maplewood. She said some of the space will be dedicated as a national center for learning, student research and publishing, adding Tubman's national and international reputation for innovation to others like 3M that already exist here. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -16- Ms. Dusso said we think this is extremely important work here and we believe we are on the cutting edge. The last thing is what does the physical consolidation of Tubman Family Services do for Maplewood itself? By consolidating services in one place, Tubman Family Services will help reduce the use of public services. The research that we have done with the University suggests that by having an efficient delivery of these services we reduce the level of violence, trauma and of emergency calls across the city. Our work with the Minneapolis Police Department, by early efficient access to services, Tubman Family Alliance literally reduced the number of repeat 911 calls from the families we served. In summary, we want to serve the residents of Maplewood more efficiently then we can located in the City of Lake Elmo and the City of St. Paul Park. That means we will reduce violence, reduce the draw on police resources, we hope, and improve public health in the community at large. Bottom line, because we will be doing what we do now, better and more efficiently, we think we can save dollars, not just for the Tubman Family Alliance by being in one wonderful building rather than several not so nice buildings. We are honored to have been invited by the sisters to be part of this project and we very much hope, especially given the history that we have had with you this many years, that you will consider putting this forth as we gave it to you in the original PUD. Because we have a gentleman on our Board of Directors who has chaired our organization and chaired the Family Violence Network in our organization's original form, who was also a Police Chief, we would like to introduce him to say a few words, Mr. Tom Alleve. Mr. Tom Alleve, residing at 2024 - 3'd Street North, South St. Paul, addressed the commission. He said he was the former Chair for Tubman Family Alliance and he was also the Board Chair for the Family Violence Network, an agency that served Maplewood and suburbs of Ramsey and Washington County. He worked on the Police Department for the City of Roseville for 30 years and the last 18 years he was the Deputy Chief, so he is familiar with what this agency provides and how it interacts with the city and the city services. He wants to talk about safety because this is an important issue for some of the neighbors. Tubman Family Alliance is about making and keeping people safe. Tubman means excellent 24/7 security with highly trained staff. The security system is designed with neighbors and police input. On only two occasions in 12 years at the Tubman Family Alliance location in south Minneapolis did an unwarranted visitor come into the property. Staff called the police and the police handled the situation. Mr. Alleve said in five years at the Lake Elmo Hill home on two occasions spouses of residents came on site. Tubman Family Alliance staff called the police and they handled the situation. In the last 13 years at the St. Paul Park location, there was only one instance where an abuser tried to enter the location. Again, the police were called. We believe some citizens might be worried about the possibility of an abuser causing problems in their neighborhood. That is a real but unnecessary concern. These people, the vast majority are men, are abusers of significant others, wives, girlfriends, children, and family members and other friends. They are not serial or mass murderers. The specific reason they are in trouble is that they focus on a specific person, not just anyone person in a neighborhood. Check with your local police department to check on the specific types of calls they receive. Another example is the murder or assault of a spouse or friend such as the Lakeland, Minnesota incident we all heard about or saw on the news. We would like to point out that all the incidents we have heard about in the newspaper or on television have not happened in "shelters". He said they have not happened at Tubman Family Alliance shelters. Those horrid incidences happened at work places, schools, and suburban homes. Shelters are places for victims. Where do the abusers go? Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -17- Mr. Alleve said do you have to worry about your neighborhood? Since 1997 in the south Minneapolis, the Tubman Family Alliance near Lake Street in Minneapolis, a very public location, the abusers don't hang out there just as criminals don't hang out at police stations. Those that abuse don't go to shelter locations because they know the staff will not let them in and will call 911 immediately or the person may even have a warrant out for their arrest and don't want to be caught or are on the run. They may go back to their own residence where they live alone or they leave town. Fear that this location will bring abusers into your neighborhood or have spree assaults is unwarranted and hasn't happened at Tubman Family Alliance. Again, it happens in the home, school and work. When Tubman Family Alliance relocated from the church in White Bear Lake we did an exit survey of the area. We talked to neighbors, business people, and police and church groups. The survey results were that many didn't know we were even there, others said we provided a service for their community and finally the church elementary school with whom we shared a wall wanted Tubman Family Alliance back. They knew the life saving, transforming service of Tubman Family Alliance provided for the citizens. Just last week at our annual community meeting at our St. Paul Park location there were no concerns among city council, police, neighbors, or the church. In fact the city council said when we moved in 13 years ago that the people were concerned but now people don't even know Tubman Family Alliance is there. We want to continue to serve suburban Ramsey and Washington County as we have for over 25 years with services in the community. Being at the monastery building will give us the ability to deliver better services to Maplewood, Oakdale, and North St. Paul. Best of all, for those who choose to make their lives better, this facility will provide an environment to allow families to heal and change lives. Thank you for taking the time to hear about Tubman Family Alliance and the vision we hope to share with the sisters and the community here at the monastery. Commissioner Hess asked about the security for the center. In the information we received, it appeared security was given 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Mr. Alleve said that is correct. Commissioner Hess said he did some homework and checked with Maplewood Lieutenant Shortreed and he confirmed what Mr. Alleve said regarding the number of incidents and the low rate of police calls at these centers. He said he was also concerned about the families that would be temporarily residing here and whether they would be local or from out of state. He understood people would be there from Ramsey County only. Ms. Dusso said by state law it's a first come, first serve state law in the State of Minnesota. This is one shelter of 27 across the State of Minnesota, which about half are in the metro area. In fact, however, the majority of people are from the area or very near the area, in which the shelter is located. People in Bemidji clearly are not trying to stay at a shelter here. Commissioner Hess said the shelter on White Bear Avenue takes people from all over the region including Illinois and Wisconsin and out state which surprised him. He prefers when people locally are being served by this type of facility rather than bringing people in from outside the area. Ms. Dusso said to be honest with you there may be people that are so in danger in San Diego, California that they have come to the Twin Cities to get away from danger. We have also shipped people from this area to Dallas and Atlanta for example so there is a national network. But that is not the day-to-day situation. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -18- Commissioner Hess said he understands special or unique situations may come up. Chairperson Fischer said that completes the applicant's presentations. Are there any questions for staff before we open up the public hearing for the public? Chairperson Fischer said she has never seen a petition with a long letter with it with this many names. Mrs. Carrie Hansen, 2389 Nebraska Avenue, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She said she is the author of the letter. She said she is an actual tax paying resident of the City of Maplewood. There have certainly have been a number of people tonight who have made excellent presentations, they all have much to gain by the development that would taking place here. She feels that she represents a group of people who does not necessarily have much to gain. She would like to read the petition letter dated March 19,2007. We are writing to tell you that as CURRENT TAX-PAYING RESIDENTS OF MAPLEWOOD we are OPPOSED to the development efforts that the Sisters of St. Paul Monastery are proposing for their property: .90 affordable (low-income) housing units to be operated by CommonBond. .Remodeling the current monastery so that it may house the Tubman Family Alliance (a full- service family violence agency and shelter) .Construction of new parking lots and access roads .Construction of a new smaller monastery. We ask that you consider the following neighborhood concerns: 1. Traffic: There will be a substantial increase in traffic to both the perimeter of this development as well as both Century and Larpenteur A venues. The property to be developed is adjacent to Hill Murray High School, where students as well as neighbors walk and bike. The streets in this area have neither sidewalks nor curbs to separate people from the street. The potential for serious accidents increases as traffic density increases. 2. Crime: The people that will reside within the proposed housing development or at the shelter may draw unwanted individuals to our neighborhood. At a crime watch meeting a Maplewood City Policeman referred to our neighborhood as 'the shiniest apple on the tree" and as such we needed to be wary of strangers who could be tempted to take what was not theirs. 3. Personal Safetv: We are very concerned about personal safety! Hill Murray School enrolls approximately 1000 teenagers. Hundreds of young women and men go to and from that school in off hours to participate in school activities. In our neighborhood we have young and not so young women who enjoy walking in the evening or early morning. How responsible will you feel on the day we learn that one of us, a student or neighbor, has become a victim. 4. Prooertv Value: So what happens when we go to sell our homes? Will the location of affordable housing units and a battered women's shelter near our home impact the price of our home? Might it also impact the decision making of a potential buyer? Additionally we ask that you note the following pertinent facts and consider them as you make your decision: Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -19- 1. Maplewood Police make frequent calls to the shelters and affordable low-income housing units that are already serving Maplewood. See Emma's Place records where a child was murdered by its mother the previous summer. (NOTE: It was actually at the Family Service Center, Not Emma's Place.) 2. Hill Murray High School has offered to purchase the property at fair market value to preserve the location and financially enable the Sisters to take their mission to another area. 3. Maplewood already provides its fair share of "affordable" housing. Maplewood needs to look to stop decay as an inner-ring suburb and support new, positive development in the community. 4. Our school district is already financially strained. How will District 622 fund the extra educational services that this population will likely require? 5. The Sisters of the St. Paul's Monastery in looking to support their mission are not considering their neighbors nor their neighbors interests, including: Hill-Murray School as an organization o The 1000 students that attend Hill-Murray o The neighbors surrounding the Priory grounds with their concerns o The larger community of Maplewood that is battling encroaching crime, and seeking to redefine itself and change course In Closing: A group of neighbors spent just a few hours walking around the neighborhood looking to capture the general sentiment regarding the Sisters' proposal. We received over 100 signatures in opposition to this proposed development. We did not have public relations staff's, nor did we have the luxury of money or time. With enough time or money we could develop extensive numbers that are in opposition. You see, we are all out working to provide for our families and pay our taxes for the city and school district where we live. We want to continue to live in this area for many years. A development like this will negatively affect our long-term plans. We hope that the City Council and Planning Commission as members of the community listen to the overwhelming desires of the tax-paying citizens and take our opposition to this proposed development into your decision making roles. Respectfully, Residents of the area south and east of the proposed development A petition was provided with over 100 names, addresses and phone numbers (when given) for the planning commission and city councilmembers. Commissioner Trippler asked Mrs. Hansen if she got what she asked for, which would be to deny this proposal, and the sisters from the monastery turn around and develop this land with 400 units, would that make a better traffic situation compared to the 90 units they are proposing? Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -20- Mrs. Hansen said no, absolutely not, and that's why we are asking you to consider the impact on the neighborhood. That's why we talked to Sister Carol, her husband has talked to the sisters, and we have said these are our concerns as a neighborhood. Traffic is an issue, it's a two way street, there is no separation, our daughter walks home from school every day on that street, our son and younger daughter will soon be doing the same. It is our concern that our children will have an accident due to the traffic and the increase in traffic on the street. Commissioner Trippler said he doesn't understand what your options are. Basically you are saying you don't want any development here and you want the property to be left as it is. But you don't have the right to decide that unless you want to buy the property from the sisters so you can decide what you want to do with it. Mrs. Hansen said we have the belief that Hill Murray High School was interested in purchasing the property. Commissioner Trippler said that isn't part of this issue and we can't be negotiating or deciding that because that is not before us on the planning commission. Mrs. Hansen said we are not interested in supporting the position as it exists. If it comes back before you with 400 units she said she would be back stating she doesn't support that plan. Commissioner Yarwood said we have certainly heard a lot of testimony from the applicants, feedback and letters from law enforcement, staff, and the Mayor of Bloomington and these partners have created what appears to be model communities. He understands as a resident and homeowner of Maplewood the desire to keep communities safe and that is a fundamental issue for everyone. But with these partners the monastery has chosen, and the track record that they appear to have with other cities with their developments, he is asking what reason do you have to believe that track record will not continue here in the City of Maplewood? Mrs. Hansen said she doesn't know that it won't continue and it would certainly be her greatest desire that we can count on that but we have concerns that we can't necessarily depend on those numbers. Maybe in the next four or five years those numbers are still great and we don't have problems, but we are talking about a change in the integrity of a neighborhood that exists right now, that has existed over 10 years. We are talking about a dramatic change in the neighborhood that in the course of time we expect that it will lead to attrition. Mrs. Hansen said they lost some very close friends that moved to Woodbury in November, they sold their house for less than market value so they could get out of the neighborhood in two days after finding out about this development plan. We want to be able to stay where we chose to live and we want to feel safe. Commissioner Hess said he did some browsing on the internet, checking the local geography and he noticed that within three miles of the neighborhood of Sterling Street and Hill Murray High School is the Ramsey County Correctional Facility. Commissioner Hess said he was curious if there had been any problems, he would think that facility would pose more of a concern than this proposal would. If there haven't been any incidents from there and they are minimally guarded, he wouldn't think there would be any concerns here. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -21- Mrs. Hansen said there are a number of concerns. She said she is a person who sleeps with her windows open, she hears the sirens outside up and down McKnight Road and on Larpenteur Avenue, and she knows there is crime around here. She knows there are concerns and issues around the neighborhood. She is saying that she is concerned about developing the property as outlined and the likelihood of crime increasing is there and that is what her concern is. Commissioner Hess said with the track record and what he has investigated, it sounds like there isn't any proof of that. Mrs. Hansen said District 622 is overburden. The district is talking about removing every extracurricular opportunity for grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 in this city. No sports, no band and 40 children in a classroom. The children that would live in this facility she believes will need special assistance in school. She asked if District 622 will be able to support the aspect of educating these children that would live here? Commissioner Hess said a few years back when the Ramsey County Family Shelter was being discussed by the city council, the night he went there was the biggest night with over 600 people there and like this room, it was filled to capacity and way out beyond that. He had similar concerns as Mrs. Hansen, but as time has gone on, he lives within 1 mile of that shelter, and it's been benign as a past history. Mrs. Hansen said we can all cross our fingers, we can all pray, we can hope for the best, but on the day that something happens, it is too late. That is her position. Commissioner Yarwood said there are larger issues here. You brought up the school district, he absolutely agrees, there is more funding required and more teachers required. There is fundamentally traffic issues that have to happen with Larpenteur Avenue and Century Avenue and will have to be upgraded at some point, there's no doubt about that. We certainly can't address all the issues tonight. The question is, what is reasonable to go in this location and if this is a reasonable request. Honestly there could be a much higher density here and quite frankly that would worry him more in terms of the amount of crime or potential calls, traffic, etc. So he understands where Mrs. Hansen is coming from as a homeowner. But from the homework the commission has done and from what we have seen from these applicants, there is no reasonable expectation that the sorts of issues that you are bringing up will happen with this particular applicant. As he votes tonight he wants you to understand that is his prospective. Ms. Julie Lonnie, 2343 Larpenteur Avenue, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She is a Hill Murray High School alumni. She is here to support Tubman Family Alliance in purchasing the property at Larpenteur and Century Avenues. She has been helped tremendously over the past couple of years by Tubman Family Alliance. They have been her lifeline in dealing with and finally leaving an abusive marriage. Their support groups and counseling services have helped her in single parenting and in getting her feet planted on the ground. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -22- Ms. Lonnie said without them she is afraid of where she would be right now. She lived in Oakdale and North St. Paul before and she has seen crime everywhere and it's not because of Tubman Family Alliance, it's going on everywhere and they are here to help. She said they have been her teachers and her loving friends who have never given up on her as she learned new ways of living and thinking. They have helped her rebuild her self esteem with patience and kindness which is what so many people in our community are in need of. Tubman Family Alliance offers so many avenues of help of which she has only touched the surface. She has received help with legal and financial matters, help with food and other necessities being a single mom makes it hard to make ends meet. They are making sure that they do all they can to put people like her on their feet and to go forward with knowledge, dignity and courage and to help BREAK the cycle of ABUSE. They do not just save lives by sheltering people from danger, they save people. Domestic abuse is everywhere and can happen to anyone. It's dealt out by our most respected individuals and on down. People that you think would never do bad things, do, there is so much belief that it doesn't happen "here", but it can be happening to your neighborhood, your teachers, your students, your best friend, even your own children and you may not even see it. Let Tubman Family Alliance be there to help stop the ABUSE and offer hope to those who feel there isn't any. She said she recalled a saying that fits the Tubman Family Alliance "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime". Learning how to stop violence in our communities and our lives is just as important as how to read and write and our spirituality. She thinks they should all go hand in hand. Thank you. Mr. Jon Hansen, 2438 Nebraska Avenue East, Maplewood, addressed the commission. He said Mr. Ahl said that the on-street parking that Hill Murray High School students use currently would have to be removed, is that a correct statement? Mr. Ahl said he did not specifically say that, however, in his projections as traffic grows in the area, that is likely to occur over time as development occurs because that moves the process along faster. He reiterated again that is likely to happen whether or not this site develops at some point and time because we expect to have background in traffic levels. Mr. Hansen said his point is that should be taken into account with Hill Murray High School so there is adequate parking for them. The point about traffic people have been making is that there is a lot of traffic and a lot of issues here, the human side of that is there could be an accident with pedestrians and cars. The worse part is that kids and adults walk up and down Larpenteur Avenue, he knows studies have been done but the study talks about the number of cars in and out and those sorts of things. He said he drives up and down Larpenteur Avenue from Century Avenue and McKnight Road and it's getting scary out there. There are people who walk out into the street, especially at night, but during the day too, and he thinks there is a tremendous risk for an accident to occur. He said he has almost hit people at night on that stretch because there are no streetlights and there is a lot of foot traffic and no sidewalks. That is the human part of it when there is an increase in traffic and no sidewalks, there is an impact. He said we as residents can't bring in nuns, or a priest or paid staff that get a lot of money to do these studies, but there are 110 or 120 parents or another 200 to 300 people that live here that probably spent $20 on copying paperwork and going door to door. He said he was told by the nuns that the neighborhood supports this. He wanted to send a clear message that the neighborhood south of this area clearly does not support this. We are not public speakers or paid staff that gets paid to do this, we care about our community and they thanked us for bringing this information forward, otherwise those people wouldn't have done this. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -23- Mr. Hansen said they would have sat back and said this proposal will just go through. It appears from your statements you on the planning commission are going to approve this proposal. He said that's fine, you do that, you better understand that the neighborhood in that area does not approve of this. We had one person that disagreed with we were talking about as we went house to house. This is a strong message that we want to make. Maybe it doesn't matter; maybe safety isn't an issue, but it's not wanted by the community. He fears for Maplewood down the road. In the near future maybe it's nothing but the neighborhood and the community is going down hill. Everywhere you look there is more and more crime and poor properties and he thinks that this will add to these issues in the long term. He doesn't think it's the best use of the property. We can't afford to buy this property and he can't tell the nuns what to do with the property but he told them what the nuns do propose to do should be consistent with the neighborhood. He is not speaking for Hill Murray High School because he thinks they need to speak for themselves as an organization but as a parent of a child that is there, he is concerned about their safety so he does have a say and as a neighborhood member this proposal is not in "our" best interest. Contrary to what all the paid staff has said, we can't give stickers out, it's a bunch of neighbors that are concerned about this proposal and about Maplewood. Ms. Mary Lehmen, 1420 Mary Street North, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She said she is a tax payer like Carrie and Jon Hansen. She said she had no intention of speaking tonight; she was here to listen but because she thought the things she read and the information that Carrie and Jon Hansen said were very valid. As she looks at the people sitting in this room and the people who have come up to speak tonight, she doesn't see very many people in this room that have small children still in school. She has two small children in school who attend LC Webster. She wanted to applaud the prinCipal for the wonderful job he is doing. However, the low- income housing that surrounds the areas within this district is bringing transient populations into our school district. The kids that our children are going to school with make it much more difficult for parents of younger children to parent them and teach them the right thing to do. A lot of you would probably not believe some of the things that go on at the elementary school level. There is low income housing right across from the Maplewood Community Center, there are apartments with low-income housing and those students are not bringing the best to our school district and she is concerned that our schools and teachers can't handle it. She is concerned about bringing more low-income housing into this community and what impact that is going to have on the growing children of our community. The children at our elementary schools are the future of Maplewood and are the future of Minnesota and she is concerned about bringing more low- income town homes into this community. She said you asked what Carrie Hansen would like to see happen with the property. Perhaps the sisters could look at other options. She totally agrees that we need affordable housing for seniors though. She doesn't think most of the people who signed the petition would have been concerned about this proposal if they were proposing senior housing only but when they are proposing to bring in low-income housing with people that could bring the community down, there is a huge impact. She said while she totally agrees with what they have said, perhaps if there was more time and more research could be done, it would be nice if you could hold off on your decision to approve that plan and give others the opportunity to take the time and spend the money that these people have spent to do their research to bring back the other side of the story. Thank you. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -24- Mr. John Proctor, 2348 Nebraska Avenue East, Maplewood. He said to dovetail on what was said; both he and his wife volunteer a significant amount of time at LC Webster and Maplewood schools. He said his wife volunteers at least 3 days out of the week. It's important for you to understand that the low-income students that she has worked with for the past 5 years, she has gotten to know them all very well. It's the low-income families that tend to be the attendance problems as well as the children that are most disruptive to the school system. He volunteers and chaperones trips for LC Webster and recently returned from a three-day Audubon trip with the 5th graders. It was intense because of the behavior the children have. These are all great causes but LC Webster, Carver, and other Maplewood schools are significantly tapped out of resources and this proposal will only continue to add to the issues and in affect, the quality of education coming out of the Maplewood's school system. Thank you. Dr. Heather Rushford, 2444 Nebraska Avenue East, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She said she too is a tax paying citizen in Maplewood. Her main concerns are two fold. First of all, low-income housing and affordable housing has a significant direct impact historically on housing values in the neighborhood. The architect at Pope Associates said this area is like an island, it's not an island. Sterling Street and Larpenteur Avenue are direct accesses to the Oakridge Estates Addition where she lives along with over 150 families. It's not an island; it is a direct access point to our neighborhood. The addition of low-income housing will significantly impact housing values. Over the last six years that she has lived here she has seen her taxes double. The value of her home has been assessed and has increased. Right now there is a down turn in the housing market. With the addition of low-income housing at the direct access point to our neighborhood the likelihood that the houses are going to sell for their assessed value is low. Already we have many houses in our neighborhood sitting for sale and not moving for 30 to 120 days. We have foreclosures in our neighborhood that aren't moving and this proposal is going to significantly impact this area. Our neighborhood is one of the neighborhoods where the city gets their tax dollars. Her taxes have doubled and she doesn't think she could sell her house right now for what it's appraised at and to add low-income housing historically, studies across the nation show it impacts housing values and the ability to sell your house. Regarding the traffic study, the study said they were conservative and went by the traffic bible. She drives those roads and it's very busy when the students are driving in and out and it's also busy at other times. The fact of the matter is there are 150 houses in that development located south of Hill Murray High School that have small children. She has two small children and she doesn't want to move. The kids are going to grow up and drive and those drivers are going to increase expediently in our development as well as the kids in this proposed development so the fact that they only took into account a 2% increase in traffic due to the development, doesn't take into account the fact that it is the direct corridor into our development. As the kids grow older there will be more drivers in the development. Sister Jacqueline Leiter, Sisters of St. Benedict, 2675 Larpenteur Avenue, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She is a member of the monastery and she has lived in Maplewood for most of her life. She went to Weaver and John Glenn and graduated from Hill Murray High School. As a member of the monastery she has enjoyed participated in the Maplewood National Night Out celebrations and having neighbors over. We believe our monastic community is a part of the greater neighborhood surrounding us. She said as a member of the community she has been a part of the future and has had an opportunity to visit the Tubman Family Alliance sites in the east metro area. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -25- Sister Leiter said she was impressed and humbled by the important work serving local women and children in need. She is also a public school teacher and teaches school at a school located 8 minutes away from Maplewood and she serves children in low-income families. The students she serves are no different from the children she sees here in Maplewood. It saddens her that some of her student's families have been in difficult situations and have needed special programs to help them through a crisis. She is grateful for organizations like the Tubman Family Alliance program that has helped those people. It has made a huge difference for these children in their learning and to their family life. We also have children and families just like this in Maplewood who could benefit from these programs which could make a huge difference in their lives as well. Mr. Bob Nehotte, 4846 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, addressed the commission. Unfortunately, at least for now, he said he lives in Minneapolis and has for 78 years. He has two daughters who moved to Maplewood and one is a taxpayer. He said his other 6 kids have moved out of Minneapolis. He wants to move here and get one of the senior citizen units and he is very supportive of the sisters. During the early 1960's he was making $2.50 an hour, one of the sisters asked him if he knew he gave $75, which was a lot of money back in those days. He has been retired for 14 years now and he knows friends south of here that are taxpayers and they are very supportive of this proposal too. We could have brought 200 to 300 people here to support this and from the bottom of his heart he said please give this proposal a chance. Thank you very much. Sister Catherine Nehotte, Sisters of St. Benedict, 2675 Larpenteur Avenue, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She said she has been a member of the monastery for over 19 years. She currently works at Tubman Family Alliance and the monastery has been her home for a long time. It's hard to let it go, we have gone through a discernment process and knowing it's a beautiful facility we just don't need a home that large anymore. In discerning our future, two wonderful organizations, Common Bond and Tubman Family Alliance she just hopes that people can get it clear in their minds that low income is different than affordable housing. CommonBond offers affordable housing. There may even be students living there that will attend Hill Murray High School. She is hoping that people don't move out of a place of fear, but rather a place of faith. Commissioner Trippler said staff handed a four page memo dated March 15,2007, about the St. Paul Monastery discussing the traffic study but he didn't see a name of who authored the memo. Mr. Holmes said that memo was offered by Pope Associates in response to the engineering comments that came out from the city. It should have come out on our letterhead with a signature so we apologize. Mr. Kevin Otto, 2276 Arlington Avenue East, Maplewood, addressed the commission. Being a 12 year resident of Maplewood he just moved to this neighborhood about 1% years ago and he specifically chose this neighborhood because of the appeal of the Hill Murray High School, the monastery, the character, the serenity, the paths, the open space and the whole surroundings. He shares the same concern a lot of the other people from the neighborhood have. He asked the planning commission because of the overwhelming support of the proposal if it would be possible that they modify the development plan not to include the 50 town home units? Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -26- Mr. Otto said as he looked at the aerial photos with the 40 unit senior apartment building and the smaller monastery building to the north with the existing monastery being converted to the shelter, everything seems like it's in the same character except when you put in the clustered town homes. When he hears clustered, he thinks of congested. With so many other townhomes in the area it seems like they are plugged into the smallest areas and it seems like they want to get as much bang for their buck for the parking and the garages so he wondered if there could be a modified development without the townhome complex? Commissioner Trippler said when staff made their presentation the property has been planned and zoned R-3H which is high-density residential for over 30 years. To ask that the 50 unit town home cluster be removed when potentially the sisters could have had a plan for 400 units doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. When you bought your property and you looked at the lay of the land it may have looked open and very inviting, but still it wasn't like anybody was trying to hide the fact that this area was zoned high density residential. As potential land buyers and potential homeowners, we need to do due diligence to find out what the things we are looking at are really represented. In this particular case, before you bought your property, if you went to the city or asked your realtor what that property was zoned, it mayor may not have made a difference in purchasing your home. The problem the planning commission is facing is we have to make decisions based on what the rules, regulations and ordinances are before us for the City of Maplewood and as he looks at this development proposal it's so far below what could possibly be proposed that he doesn't see how he as a planning commissioner could possibly say no to this proposal. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. This proposal could be ten times worse than what the unit count is. Mr. Otto said he feels the 50 unit townhome complex feels like it's being piggy backed on the senior citizens apartment complex and the Tubman Family Alliance women's shelter. He totally supports that, loves the neighborhood, loves Maplewood, but as a citizen and as a resident that lives here, he opposes the 50 unit town home complex on the southeast portion of the property. He said just so you know that's the common feeling in the neighborhood to the south. Mr. Bob Bruton, 2856 Lake Boulevard, North St. Paul, addressed the commission. He said he comes here on behalf of the St. Paul Ramsey County Homeless Advisory Board of which he is a member of. He comes to you as the Co-Chairman of the zoning sub-committee of that body. We spent two years studying generic zoning codes concerning affordable housing and subsidized housing and he wanted to share a few thoughts of what we learned over two years of extensive study. According to the Planning Commissioners Journal, by 2022, one out of five citizens in this country will be senior citizens and that takes a lot of housing that doesn't exist today. Out of our recommendations to the Homeless Advisory Board we recommended a Mayor's forum that will take place in the near future regarding the document that the suburbs need to share the future development of affordable housing. They are home to many businesses as retailing only lower wage jobs. These businesses need employees who can live reasonably close to the jobs they hold. Going on to what we call our NIMBY related findings, which stands for "not in my backyard". Market values and sales a study was done in the Twin Cities by the Housing Family Fund commissioned the study on affordable housing rental and home values completed in 2001, it showed that indeed home values in the area go up, not down with affordable housing. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -27- Mr. Bruton said we address things like the design and appearance of affordable housing. It's not low-income housing, it can actually look good. We address the Fair Housing Act and the rights of communities and the need for communities to be open to that. We addressed crime, there are studies that we can document including in the Twin Cities area that show crime actually does not go up, in some cases there are fewer crimes because of the security of the areas provided. He asks you to sincerely consider this proposal. As a former Maplewood Planning Commissioner, former Maplewood Mayor, as a former Planning Commissioner in North St. Paul and former Councilmember, he knows what you are up against, he understands opposition, but this is important and he believes in your community and he asks you to support it. Thank you. Mr. Rav Muetzel, 2678 Germain Court, Maplewood, addressed the commission. He said his here as a Maplewood resident but especially as a representative of the Social Justice Ministry at Transfiguration Church. The Social Justice Ministry strongly supports the plan that the sisters have submitted. We feel that this fits our mission of providing affordable housing and serving the needy. We also feel that the Maplewood community will benefit as well. He thanked everyone for their consideration. Ms. Debra Cohn Madson, 2360 Mamie Avenue, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She supports the sister's proposal and she is here supporting this for many reasons. She is a Maplewood resident, she is a license social worker; she works at Fairview Hospital as many ofthe sisters know. She started as a social worker at St. Mary's and she has worked with many sisters here and today they are her patients. She firmly believes in their ministry and their mission and she knows that this plan fits in with their idea of what they should be doing and how they should be ministering to the people. She knows as a social worker just how difficult it is to find shelter for her patients when they come into the hospital. Commissioner Hess was interested in knowing how placement at a shelter works. Basically when someone comes in and they need shelter as a social worker we call around and whoever has an opening that is where the person is placed. They try to get people placed as close to their own community as where they reside but that doesn't always happen. She has had people she's has had to place far away from their home. It's difficult on those patients but they have to go somewhere and if we don't have the shelters available for our patients what we end up doing is getting a voucher for a hotel and that isn't a safe situation for those women and their children. Perpetrators often find the abused person or persons a lot easier because there isn't the same type of security system in place. She wanted to comment on a couple of things, her in-laws live on Grand Avenue, her husband grew up on Grand Avenue and there are two shelters on Grand Avenue and there has never ever been an incident at those shelters. Her in-laws have never feared walking around on Grand Avenue and the property values are high in that area. Even with the shelters in that area. The Maplewood residents here are fearful of the unknown, we are all fearful of the unknown. When she built her home 18 years ago we built our home on a cul-de-sac thinking we are going to raise our children on here with 17 acres of woods around us. We didn't do our homework and didn't realize how the area had been zoned. The proposal was to open up the cul-de-sac and build a subdivision. She like everybody else in that neighborhood was pretty angry about that because all of us didn't do our homework. Having the development built actually increased the value of her home and the other homes when the new homes were built because the values of the homes were more than what she had built her house for. She has had two children in this school district. One of the reasons she moved to Maplewood was because it was an inner city suburban area and the diversity that it had to offer. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -28- Ms. Cohn Madson said it's important and imperative for our children to be in a school district with kids of all colors and all economic levels and to live a life knowing people live with different kinds of hardships that we all have to face. She never wanted her children to live in a IiIlie white suburb where everybody made the same amount of money. Her husband is a St. Paul school teacher and he works very hard and one of the reasons there are problems with kids who are from low- income housing is not because of low-income housing, it's because of the transient life. What this proposal would offer is the stability that these kids need so that they can be productive and get the education that they deserve. Thank you. Ms. Patricia Milodv, residing at 6048 - 51st Street, Oakdale, addressed the commission. One comment she has heard so many times is about low income and affordable housing. There is a vast difference between the two. She works for the Dorothy Day Center and does financial assistance there. She sees the need for affordable housing. We have clients that come to us that are paying 60% to 80% of their income for apartment rent and they need affordable housing. Public housing is so hard to get and the waiting list is long. She sees the need for affordable housing for both families and seniors. Down the road in 10 years or so she could see living at the CommonBond senior homes herself. She knows the sisters very well and if there were any concern about crime, violence, safety or any other problems, the sisters would not, in good conscience, sell the property and they would not plan to live there themselves. The sisters consider this land sacred. She worked there when the sisters were electing a new prioress. The sisters gravitated to the graveyard to pray to the ones who went before them. This is sacred land, it's their history, it's the future, it's their roots and it's their land. Ms. Anne Fosburqh, 2516 Idaho Avenue East, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She referred to a letter from Tom Ekstrand dated January 19, 2007, that says that property is zoned R- 3; she asked if that was correct? Mr. Ekstrand said yes. Ms. Fosburgh asked why we are talking about R-3H then? Mr. Ekstrand said R-3H is the land use category. There is the zoning and the land use plan and the land use plan is labeled R-3H which means high density. That is what gives it the density classification. We have three forms of density in Maplewood. Low, medium and high and the H refers to high density. It is zoned R-3 which means multiple- dwelling residential, and the R-3H is the land use designation, which means high density. Ms. Fosburgh asked if this needs a zone change then? Mr. Ekstrand said no, it is zoned correctly. Ms. Fosburgh said that wasn't the understanding we had. The traffic study has been done on Century and Larpenteur Avenues. She asked about the affect on side streets exiting onto Larpenteur Avenue. She said there are times of the day that you sit there 5 to 10 minutes and cannot even get out onto Larpenteur Avenue. As far as eliminating parking, there are anywhere from 30 to 60 cars parked on both sides of the street from Hill Murray High School. The open space has no plans for a parking lot and parking is supposed to be on the south side of the street for people using the trails and the open space. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -29- Ms. Fosburgh asked how that is going to affect the parking situation? She would say she wants to see a compromise. She would go along with Tubman Family Alliance taking over the monastery building and the 40 units for seniors. Seniors are retired and would come and go from the site at different times of the day and not necessarily drive during rush hour when 3M is using Century Avenue and Hill Murray High School and Mounds Park Academy are using Larpenteur Avenue dropping and picking up students. Instead of the 50 unit town homes, she would like to see a playground forthe children at the Tubman Family Alliance. That would make the neighbors happy and she is sure that would give the nuns their Tubman Family Alliance and their senior complex. Thank you. Chairperson Fischer asked staff how they see the parking for the open space if there is no parking on that stretch of Larpenteur Avenue. Would there be an area for cars to park? Mr. Ahl said the rules in the city are the same rules for everyone in the city, if there are parking restrictions the city would have to provide parking on-site. We apply the same rules to the city and its facilities as we would for those in the area. Mr. Bill Voiqt, 2520 Larpenteur Avenue East, Maplewood, addressed the commission. His driveway is right across from the Hill Murray ball diamond. He moved here 15 years ago and he is glad to live here. It's great to have Hill Murray High School here. The only thing he was disappointed in was when the acreage south of the area was developed instead of keeping it as open space. He said he could have been very selfish because he walked there with his dog and he hardly saw anybody but he didn't own the property and he couldn't control what happens to it. If we are willing to develop that area for high income housing he thinks we also need not to be inclusive and also develop needs that the community has with the way the monastery is proposing. He pays taxes here, he talked to his neighbors and they are in support of this. He was not approached by anyone to sign a petition so there is an equal amount of people who are in support of this development and would welcome this development and feel very good that Maplewood is continuing to progress. Thank you. Mr. Peter Fischer, 2443 Standridge Avenue, Maplewood, addressed the commission. One question he had was that a road was proposed from the public works area going through the site and it said it might be servicing some ball diamonds there. He was curious where that was coming from because he is very familiar with the parks plan and he knows that at this current time the City of Maplewood doesn't have any designs on the recreational aspects of the MnDOT property so he wondered what was happening with that and about the road in question. Mr. Ahl said the proposal has been in front and came out of an alternative study that is being presented called the Marshlands proposal, an environmental group, and Hill Murray High School looked at that. As part of the bus garage plan, when that was rejected by the city council, that group from the area communities, the soccer associations, the city's former Park and Recreation Director, the City of Oakdale, are part of that group and continue to meet and look at those proposals. Mr. Fischer asked as of right now nothing has currently been approved by the city council forthat site? Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -30- Mr. Ahl said nothing has been approved other than the city council has appropriated money to investigate the Marshlands proposal and is still in the study stage and the next report will be in October of 2007. Mr. Fischer said regarding the open space parking, seeing that things are still in the conceptual stage it would be nice to find somewhere along the line some parking for the open space visitors. A program occasionally happens or a school bus comes by so there will be some needs that should be addressed. Otherwise he is in favor of this proposal. As a Maplewood resident who has lived here most of his life one of the things he was very impressed with in Maplewood is the values that we have here and he thinks the nuns at the priory are very good examples of the values of our community. The project they have put forward embraces those values, putting forward a safe, friendly environment for people to establish their lives whether they are people of trouble or people living in affordable housing. In some ways we are an extension of the east side of St. Paul and there isn't anything wrong with that. Some of those same values apply here in Maplewood showing great concern and commitment to the values of family and people involved in the community. The sisters want to make sure that we have a strong social fabric. He thinks the sisters would not propose a development that wouldn't keep family values in mind. When you take a look at a development that comes through the city you have similar questions and concerns. When the houses were built south of Larpenteur Avenue a lot of people had concerns about crime and other trouble. The developers were the ones that made the money when they bought and developed that land. The developers were playing to the "almighty" to earn a dollar. In this case the sisters are doing something for the "almighty" and that's a great value to this community and we should be embracing it. Thank you. Ms. Barbara Leiter, 1734 Gulden Place, Maplewood, addressed the commission. She said she has lived here for 35 years, she has three children and they went to the public schools and then to Hill Murray High School. She has two granddaughters who are going to be living here two years from now and according to their parents they will be going to Hill Murray High School. Over the years she said she had been concerned with the traffic on Larpenteur Avenue driving her children back and forth to special activities at Hill Murray High School. She is concerned because she drives on that road and she counted the number of cars that are present during school days there. She drives at night past that area and sees people are walking the roads. In her area, there are no sidewalks; there is no streetlights except at the intersection of the streets. We definitely will need to improve that area and make it safer with sidewalks and streetlights; then maybe we won't feel quite as unsafe about the conditions. She supports the nuns and what they have done. They have done a wonderful study. With all their prayers, working with the other groups and finding out what wouldn't be a match and what would be a good match she thinks this is a wonderful proposal for this site. She hopes you will consider that and not follow through with the stipulation of condition number 5. dividing the site with a road because it will be nothing but cause more problems. Thank you. Mr. Paul Holmes, Pope Associates, spoke again. When we are talking about affordable townhomes, we are talking about those units being occupied by people who are at the 50-65% of median income level which is $35,000-$45,000 a year. He knows that includes people who work in his company and it includes many others who are living on a certain income level. Success in school is directly correlated to parental involvement. Mr. Holmes said good and bad parenting can happen with all income levels. It's inappropriate to say that children that live in low income or affordable housing automatically mean problems for the schools in Maplewood. He added that he has children in elementary school. Thank you. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -31- Chairperson Fischer asked if there was anybody else that wanted to voice their opinion that wishes to be heard. Nobody came forward. Chairperson Fischer closed the public hearing at 9:47 p.m. Commissioner Hess asked if the issue of sidewalks and site lighting would be addressed somewhere in the staff report? Would there be some accentuated lighting along Larpenteur Avenue as addressed by the residents who have said it's very dark and could be dangerous for pedestrians? Mr. Ahl said there is no sidewalk planned along Larpenteur Avenue although we foresee and have a policy that as we work forward through the years we try to find funds and cooperate with property owners to add sidewalks when possible. It's a provision that our engineering staff recommend sidewalks along our roadways however; we don't have a well developed sidewalk trail system in Maplewood. He doesn't foresee a sidewalk along Larpenteur Avenue for a number of years. The policy for lighting in Maplewood has been that we light only major intersections. It is a community issue. If the city council states that someone in an area wants additional lighting that can be provided at their own expense the city can agree to that. Maplewood has a policy to not install streetlights so there are not a lot of streetlights in the city. Residents have chosen to put them in but at this point there are no plans to add lighting along Larpenteur Avenue. Commissioner Hess said last time he checked a streetlight ran about $2000 per streetlight. Mr. Ahl said the cost has gone up a little more and now runs about $2,500 per streetlight and typically you put the streetlights every 150 to 200 feet apart. Chairperson Fischer said she didn't know if anyone on the planning commission had received any telephone calls but said she hade received one telephone that was for the project and another call that was against the project that were not included on the petition. Commissioner Pearson said he would have liked to have had information regarding any time there had been another shelter located close to a Junior or Senior High school. He would have also liked to have information regarding how many times women from the Twin Cities area needed to escape a bad situation and were referred to a hotel with a voucher instead of going to a shelter because capacity was taken up with women outside the State of Minnesota. If we are providing shelters in Minnesota he wants to make sure a woman in Minnesota gets precedence and that they are first in line for a spot at a shelter and someone out of state should have to give their spot up. He thinks we should be accommodating women from Minnesota first and it would be unfairto do otherwise. He feels the Tubman Family Alliance program is unfairly being painted by a broad brush because of Emma's Place. He voted for Emma's Place but he had serious reservations about that proposal. He felt that the management was totally inadequate to control it and it certainly had a very disastrous affect on the neighborhood and it's located across the street from the Maplewood Police department. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -32- Commissioner Pearson said there is a lot of anxiety out there with this proposal because people are seeing that the dispatching is no longer going to be in Maplewood and they are concerned how long responses are going to be. Those things shouldn't affect you because you have a different type of operation. He said he has spent the last 30 years providing affordable housing, non-subsidized by anyone and he thinks they do a good job. He is also interested in the fact that the sister's original mission was education and yet there doesn't seem to be a lot of emphasis in any use of the land to continue or expand Hill Murray High School. He said these are informational things he wished he would have had but doesn't have. He has read the letter from the Bloomington letter and he has driven past the operation. He feels you do a good job with it but he has a concern that the building that would house the women and children that the children have adequate space outside to run and play that is totally secure and that they can't be snatched because they went outside to play. Right now he is not sure how he is going to vote on this proposal and he is trying to make up his mind. Commissioner Trippler moved to recommend adoption of the resolution approving a conditional use permit for a planned unit development for the Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Paul's Monastery. This PUD is forthe Sisters to expand the use of their property located at 2675 Larpenteur Avenue with a 50-unit town house development' a 40-unit seniors housing apartment building; the conversion of the existing monastery building as a multi-use family-violence shelter with 37 housing units, offices and support facilities and a future monastery building. Approval is based on the findings required by ordinance and subject to the following conditions: (additions to the motion are underlined and deletions are stricken.) 1. This planned unit development shall follow the concept plans date-stamped January 11, 2007. These plans are considered concept plans because the applicant must submit design plans to the city for approval for the proposed apartments, town houses, future monastery, shelter and any other future use. Staff may approve minor changes. 2. This planned unit development does not give any approvals for Lot 1, Block 1 since this site has not been proposed for any future development and its future use is unknown. The development of this site would require a revision of this planned unit development and must comply with all city development requirements. 3. The proposed construction must be substantially started within one year of council approval or the permit shall become null and void. 4. The city council shall review this permit in one year. 5. The applicant shall agree in writing to dedicate an tile additional right-of-way for an expanded roadway system to serve if necessarv their developing property to lessen the impacts on Larpenteur and Century Avenues. Tho requirod FOad'Nay system concept sholl be like that included in the stoff repert titled "ISO 622 Bus Facility Site Plan Option 2 6.1 Acre Site." The planning and approval for this roadway extension should occur before the new monastery building is constructed. This would be a city-street-construction project. 6. The applicant must obtain all necessary and required permits from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Ramsey County and the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -33- 7. The applicant must provide a right-turn lane on Century Avenue into the site, subject to MnDOTs approval. 8. The applicant shall comply with all requirements of the engineering reports by Michael Thompson dated February 22,2007, and by Charles Ahl dated March 8, 2007. 9. The applicant shall install sidewalks wherever possible alonq Larpenteur Avenue. Commissioner Desai seconded. Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Hess, Pearson, Trippler, Walton, Yarwood Commissioner Trippler moved to approve a preliminary plat for Century Trails Commons located at 2675 Larpenteur Avenue. Approval is subject to: 1. Redesigning the public street right-of-way within the site to be 60 feet wide. 2. Complying with the applicable requirements of the engineering reports by Michael Thompson dated February 22,2007, and by Chuck Ahl dated March 8, 2007. 3. Street lights shall be installed if required by the city engineer, subject to this approval. 4. The applicant shall dedicate any additional right-of-way if required by Ramsey County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Commissioner Desai seconded. Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Hess, Pearson, Trippler, Walton, Yarwood Commissioner Hess was uncomfortable with condition A. 5. because of the way the language is stated. The commission discussed whether condition 5. should either be excluded, made as a separate motion, or revised in some way. Commissioner Trippler and Commissioner Desai agreed to the revisions discussed. The motion passed. This item is scheduled to go before the city council April 9, 2007. The planning commission took a recess from 10:07-10:17 p.m. VI. NEW BUSINESS a. Comprehensive Plan Update - Background Information Mr. Roberts said the Metropolitan Council is requiring all municipalities in the metro area to update their comprehensive plans by December 2008. To meet this schedule, the city will need to submit a complete plan update to the neighboring cities, the watershed district, affected school districts and to the Met Council by June 2008. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -34- Mr. Roberts said this timeline will allow for each of these agencies to review and comment on the proposed plan by December 2008. Staff expects that it will take city staff, the consultants, the planning commission and the city council up to a yearto complete the revisions and to review and adopt the new plan. As such, city staff should start work on the plan update by June 2007 and have significant parts of the plan updated and ready for review by the boards and commissions by January 2008. On March 6, 2007, the planning commission discussed the comprehensive plan update process. The commission, after much discussion, asked staff for background information and date about the planning process, the Metropolitan Council requirements and the system statement for Maplewood. The commission wanted to review and better understand this information before starting their work on the comprehensive plan update. Commissioner Hess said he read through the Regional Development Framework handout and that took him a long time to get through some of that, it's a lot of reading. Chairperson Fischer said she was wondering if that was something we should be having a separate planning commission meeting about. Commissioner Hess said there are about 103 cities in the seven county metro area, 45 are selected for low income. He wondered how that selection was determined? Mr. Roberts asked what page Commissioner Hess found that on. Commissioner Hess said that is located on page 37, in the last paragraph called Local Housing Incentives Account. Mr. Roberts said those are grants that various cities apply to the met council to try and receive. If they are a participant in the Livable Communities Program, which Maplewood is, Chuck Ahl could speak to this. The grant the City of Maplewood received for the Gladstone area was a grant through the met council through one of these various funding programs. It's up to the city to put projects together and apply to the met council. The met council reviews them and awards them based on what they feel are the merits of the individual projects. Chairperson Fischer said they have some very objective criteria that they apply to because when there is free money out there you get many more applications than they will have dollars to hand out. Probably one of the reasons Maplewood received the grant money was because of all the affordable housing we have in the City of Maplewood. Commissioner Pearson said most of what they are doing with subsidizing housing being a percent of the market is not like land embanking or rent banking, it just never changes as the market rates increase, so will those for the units, but they should always be that much below. Mr. Roberts said if we have a lighter planning commission meeting we can put the Regional Framework Document and the System Statement on the agenda and spend some additional time going through those two documents. Staff could spend some more time going through those and highlighting the pages, paragraphs or the points that staff feels are most important and put those in a memo. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -35- Commissioner Hess said highlighting certain ideas that seem more paramount might be more helpful to the commission. Commissioner Trippler said in the Summary Report: Determining Affordable Housing Need in the Twin Cities 2011-2020 on the last page. He was struck by the methodology that the met council used when they determine where affordable housing needs to be. To him it appeared that the Met Council was taking the wrong approach to determine where low-income housing needed to be. Commissioner Trippler asked staff if the planning commission has the ability to change the formula that the Met Council uses to determine where affordable housing is located? Mr. Roberts said he would guess we are stuck with the way formulations are calculated by the Met Council. Staff will go back through the materials and highlight some high points and bring this information back to the planning commission. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Mr. Pearson was the planning commission representative at the March 12, 2007, city council meeting. Items to discuss included the Planning Commission Rules of Procedure, the Resolution of Appreciation for Michael Grover, and the request to hire a consultant for the south Maplewood study, which was all passed by the city council. The second hearing for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the Gladstone Plan (for the English Street and Frost Avenue area) was discussed and the city council decided to break the motion down into two motions and then it did pass. The city council took the high density out of the plan located by Gloucester Park, down by the railroad line, east of English Street and the council added the unit numbers back into other areas on the north side of Frost Avenue. It was a balanced way to move the motion along. Mr. Ahl said to further explain, the 650 units were determined not to be firm but to be a goal and the wording was highlighted to establish it as a goal. In order to remain flexible, the wording within the master plan allowed a range of units in different areas. If you went through the master plan and added up the maximum number you would far exceed the 650 unit count. The discussion really boiled down to the 180 unit proposal at the St. Paul Tourist Cabin site for the assisted living units. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -36- Mr. Ahl said some of the segments would be for memory care and they only have a single bedroom, they have no living room or kitchen and in some cases have shared restrooms, however, that would count as one unit. The question is should that count as one living unit or not. That particular complex, the developer tells the city if we were to count that as a two bedroom apartment unit would be 100 units. Should that count as 180 units off of the 650 units? That was the debate, so the flexibility was built into the plan to allow us to interpret 650 units minus 180 units then we would have 470 units left to put into the area. Now the city is allowed some flexibility to determine the number of units in developing the plan and that will allow the city to proceed with a much better product. c. Ms. Fischer will be the planning cornrnission representative at the March 26, 2007, city council meeting. One item to discuss is the CUP for the Ramsey County Correctional Facility at 297 Century Avenue south. e. Mr. Yarwood will be the planning commission representative at the April 9, 2007, city council meeting. Items to discuss include the St. Paul's Monastery Redevelopment (2675 Larpenteur Avenue East) for a Conditional Use Permit for Planned Unit Development and a Preliminary Plat (Century Trails Commons). f. Mr. Trippler will be the planning commission representative at the April 23, 2007, city council meeting. It is unknown at this time which items will be discussed. g. Ms. Fischer mentioned the grand opening of the Ramsey County Library at 3025 Southlawn Drive in Maplewood on Saturday, March 24, 2007. h. Mr. Yarwood reported on the Second neighborhood meeting regarding the South Maplewood Moratorium that was at the Carver School on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 7:00 until 9:30 p.m. Mr. Yarwood said it was interesting to see the plans Chuck Ahl outlined with the possibility of 140 units with no sewer systems to 853 units fully developed and the cost for those houses at the low end would be $600,000 to $2 million per home to make that plan work. The higher density count would cost per unit $200,000 to $800,000. This is a wide range of density and possibilities here. He said if the Gladstone Redevelopment Plan is any indication of how this plan would go, the density number would probably end up in the middle area. Each property in south Maplewood has its own unique characteristics so each parcel might have to be done one parcel at a time. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-20-07 -37- Mr. Roberts said he was at the meeting along with ChuckAhl, Tom, Ekstrand and about 60 other people. There was about 50-60 people at the first South Maplewood meeting. At this second meeting there were 6 discussion groups and after Chuck Ahl's presentation and the introduction of the consulting company the city has hired to do the study, we broke down into four small groups. He facilitated a meeting on Land Use and Density, there was one group about the Rural Life Style, Public Utilities, and the mayor broke the groups down into four different groups. Staff imagines there will be another meeting coming up but the project has been handed over to the consulting group to do the study. The consulting group is going to start looking at the issues that were outlined in the moratorium, the issues that the neighbors and residents brought up, and it is their charge to sort through all of that and put some recommendations together as far as zoning, land use, comprehensive plan changes, utility plans etc. to determine how that area should develop or not develop over the next 20 to 30 years. Mr. Roberts said that process has to be done by November. The consultants will be having discussions with the Met Council regarding the timing of sewer extensions, where sewers can and can't go. As Mr. Ahl pointed out, the engineers believe that south Maplewood will have sewers eventually, it may be 20 to 50 years but the septic systems there aren't going to last forever. It's in the metro urban service area and the Met Council has defined that the area will eventually have sanitary sewer. X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS None. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:42 p.m. MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: APPLICANT: LOCATION: DATE: Greg Copeland, City Manager Ken Roberts, Planner Land Use Plan and Zoning Map Changes Dr. Peterson 1670 Beam Avenue March 26, 2007 INTRODUCTION Project Description The prospective new owners of the former Ramsey County Library at 1670 Beam A venue are proposing to convert the building into a dental clinic and office space. Dr. Vacharee Peterson, representing the new owners, is proposing changes to the city land use plan and zoning maps to allow for the reuse of the property as a clinic and office building. (Please see the applicant's statement on pages eight and nine and the maps on pages 10 -13.) Requests To proceed with this project, Dr. Peterson is requesting that the city approve the following: 1. A comprehensive plan amendment from L (library) and OS (open space) to BG-M (business commercial modified) for the two properties located at 1670 Beam Avenue. (See the land use plan map on page 12.) 2. A rezoning from F (farm) to BC-M for the south one-half of the property at 1670 Beam Avenue. (See the property line/zoning map on page 13.) In addition, city staff is proposing that the city end the conditional use permit (CUP) that is in place on the site. This CUP was for the use of the property as a library. BACKGROUND On July 22,1991, the city council approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for Ramsey County to establish a library on the site. Sometime after the completion of the library the city changed the land use designation for the north one-half of the site from LBC (limited business commercial) to L (library). DISCUSSION Land Use and Zoning The county constructed the library building in 1991 and 1992 and Ramsey County used the building as a library and for office space for the Ramsey County Health Department until 2006. Ramsey County recently completed the construction of a new library at 3025 Southlawn Drive and 1 the county determined that this building was surplus for their needs. As such, the county has been trying to sell the existing building and property to a private party. As I noted in the introduction, the site now has a mix of land use and zoning designations including L and OS and BC-M and F. It is the request of the applicant and the intention of city staff to change all these designations to BC-M for the entire site. Comprehensive Land Use Plan Change The library site is actually two separate properties (for tax and identification purposes). Unfortunately, the existing building sits over the existing property line and each parcel now has a different land use designation and a different zoning. While it is true that this proposal would change the land use designation for the southerly parcel from OS to BC-M, in reality the southern parcel of this site has always been part of the library site and the city probably should have changed the land use designation for that parcel to L (library) in 1992 after the county built the library. (See the land use plan map on page 12 and the library site plan on page 14.) This current request, along with the proposed zoning map change, will clean up the maps and will reflect the actual use of all the property. The city does not have any specific criteria for comprehensive land use plan changes, but any such change should be consistent with the goals and policies in the comprehensive plan. In this case, there are six land use goals and seven development policies in the plan that the city should consider when reviewing this request. The applicable land use goals include: 1. Provide for orderly development 2. Protect and strengthen neighbortloods. 3. Promote economic development that will expand the property tax base, increase jobs, and provide desirable services. 4. Minimize the land planned for streets. 5. Minimize conflicts between land uses. 6. Prevent premature use, overcrowding, or overuse of land, especially when supportive services and facilities such as utilities, drainage systems, or streets are not available. The applicable development policies (to implement the plan goals) include: 1. The city will not approve new development without providing for adequate facilities and services, such as street, utilities, drainage, parks, and open space. 2. Safe and adequate access will be provided for all properties. 3. Transitions between distinctly differing types of land uses should not create a negative economic, social, or physical impact on adjoining developments. 2 4. Whenever possible, changes in types of land use should occur so that similar uses front on the same street or at borders of areas separated by major man-made or natural baniers. 5. The city coordinates land use changes with the character of each neighborhood. 6. Group compatible businesses in suitable areas. 7. Avoid disruption of adjacent or nearby residential areas. The proposal to change the comprehensive land use plan to BC-M for this site meets all of these goals and development policies. Zoning Map Change In order for the prospective owners to use the property as a dental clinic and an office building, the city must set the land use plan and zoning of the site to BC-M. The city intends the BG-M zoning district to provide for the orderly transition between more intensive commercial uses and low or medium density residential property. The Maplewood Zoning Code considers offices and clinics as permitted uses in the BC-M zoning district. The site now has two zonings - BG-M on the northerly lot and F (farm residence) on the southern lot. (See the property line/zoning map on page 13.) Since the applicant wants to use the entire site for their clinic and business, the city should change the zoning of the southerly lot to BC-M to make it consistent with the proposed use of the property. The city has zoned a majority of the properties along the south side of Beam Avenue, between White Bear and Hazelwood, as BC-M (business commercial - modified). The use of this site for a dental clinic and offICe uses is consistent with the existing land uses and character of the area, including the Beam Avenue conidor. The proposed changes, if approved by the city council, would make the land use and zoning designations for the entire site consistent with each other and with the proposed uses of the property. The proposed zoning map change meets the spirit, purpose, and intent of the zoning code by allowing a new medical related and office use of a property that has several similar uses around it. Conditional Use Penn it Tennination The city approved a CUP for a library on the site in 1991. Section 44-1101 of the city code states that the city may end or terminate a CUP if the use is no longer in effect. Since Ramsey County has moved the library and they are no longer using the property in question for such a use, the city should end the CUP for a library that is in place for the property. Design Approval The applicants have not yet applied to the city for design approval of their project plans. They did provide staff with proposed or expected parking information in their statement. According to the city's parking code, the proposed use of the building for dental and office space is required to have 172 parking stalls. There are now 186 parking spaces on the site. Staff will do a more complete 3 review of the parking needs and the availability of parking when the applicant applies for design approval for the remodeling of the building. Upon inspection of the site, staff found there are a few trees shown on the library site plan (page 14) that are now missing from around the parking lot and from the islands in the parking lot. A condition of design review should include the replacement of all dead, missing or unhealthy existing plants or trees on the site. Other Comments David Fisher, the Maplewood Building Official, reviewed this request and provided staff with a few comments. I have included his memo with his comments on page 15. RECOMMENDATIONS A. Adopt the comprehensive land use plan amendment resolution starting on page 16 (Attachment 8). This resolution changes the comprehensive land use plan from L (library) and OS (open space) to BG-M (business commercial- modified) for the reuse of the former library building at 1670 Beam Avenue into a dental dinic and an offICe building. The city is making this change because it will: 1. Provide for orderly development. 2. Protect and strengthen neighborhoods. 3. Promote economic development that will expand the property tax base, increase jobs and provide desirable services. 4. Minimize the land planned for streets. 5. Minimize conflicts between land uses. 6. Prevent premature use, overcrowcJing, or overuse of land especially when supportive services and facilities, such as utilities, drainage systems, or streets are not available. 7. Help to implement the goals of the comprehensive plan including: 1) The city will not approve new development without providing for adequate facilities and services, such as street, utilities, drainage, parks, and open space. 2) Safe and adequate access will be provided for all properties. 3) Transitions between distinctly differing types of land uses should not create a negative economic, social, or physical impact on adjoining developments. 4 4) Whenever possible, changes in types of land use should occur so that similar uses front on the same street or at borders of areas separated by major man-made or natural barriers. 5) The city coordinates land use changes with the character of each neighborhood. 6) Group compatible businesses in suitable areas. 7) Avoid disruption of adjacent or nearby residential areas. B. Adopt the rezoning resolution on page 18 (Attachment 9). This resolution changes the zoning map from F (farm residence) to BC-M (business commercial - modified) for the south one-half of the former Ramsey County library site at 1670 Beam Avenue. The city is making this change because: 1. The change is consistent with the spirit, purpose and intent of the zoning code. 2. The proposed change will not substantially injure or detract from the use of neighboring property or from the character of the neighborhood, and that the use of the property adjacent to the area included in the proposed change or plan is adequately safeguarded. 3. The proposed change will serve the best interests and conveniences of the community, where applicable, and the public welfare. 4. The proposed change would have no negative effect upon the logical, efficient, and economical extension of publiC services and facilities, such as public water, sewers, police and fire protection and schools. 5. The applicant is proposing to use the property in question for a dental clinic and an office building and not for farming or residential purposes. C. Adopt the conditional use permit termination resolution on page 19 (Attachment 10). This resolution ends the conditional use permit for Ramsey County to have a public library on the property at 1670 Beam Avenue. The city is approving this termination based on the findings and procedures required by the city code and because the use of the property as a library is no longer in effect. 5 CITIZEN COMMENTS City staff surveyed the owners of the ten properties within 500 feet of this site. We did not receive any comments or responses to our survey. REFERENCE INFORMATION SITE DESCRIPTION Site Size: Existing Land Use: 5.5 acres Former library building and associated parking lot SURROUNDING LAND USES North East: South: West: Birch Run Shopping Center across Beam Avenue Undeveloped commercial property and US Bank Hazelwood Park Beam Avenue Professional Building across the Kennard Street driveway PLANNING Existing Land Use Plan: Proposed Land Use: Existing Zoning: Proposed Zoning: L (library) and OS (open space) Business Commercial - Modified (BC-M) BC-M (Business Commercial- Modified) and F (farm residence) BC-M (Business Commercial - Modified) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL 1. Land Use Plan Amendment: There are no specific criteria for land use plan changes. Any change, however, should be consistent with the goals and policies in the Comprehensive Plan. 2. Rezoning: Section 44-1165 of the Zoning Code requires that the city council make the following findings to rezone property: a. The proposed change is consistent with the spirit, purpose and intent of the Zoning Code. b. The proposed change will not substantially injure or detract from the use of neighboring property or from the character of the neighborhood, and that the use of the property adjacent to the area included in the proposed change or plan is adequately safeguarded. c. The proposed change will serve the best interests and conveniences of the community, where applicable, and the publiC welfare. 6 d. The proposed change would have no negative effect upon the logical, efficient, and economical extension of public services and facilities, such as public water, sewers, police and fire protection and schools. 3. Conditional Use Permit: Section 44-1101 states that the city may suspend or terminate a permit if the use is no longer in effect. Application Date The city received the complete applications and plans for this proposal on March 2, 2007. State law requires that the city take action within 60 days of receiving complete applications for a land use proposal. As such, the city is required to take action on this proposal by April 30, 2007. P:\Sec 3/1670 Beam Avenue - Peterson dental Attachments: 1. Applicant's statement 2. location Map 3. Address Map 4. Land Use Map 5. Proparty Una/Zoning Map 6. Sita Plan 7. March 26, 2007 memo from David Fisher 8. Comprehensive land Use Plan Change Resolution 9. Rezoning Resolution 10. Condttional Use Permtt Termination Resolution 7 Attachment 1 EXHIBIT A Statement Describina Intended Use of the ProDertv Applicant's intended use of the property will be a dental/medical health care facility with core dental practices with complimentary dental specialties and some educational or training space for teaching oral health care to the general public and/or training for students in dental care. Applicant also anticipates potentially using the property for general medical practices, including office space, labs and patient areas for a medical clinic, a chiropractic clinic and an optometry clinic, and a pharmacy, and a physical therapy and a physical fitness space. The upper floor and proposed mezzanine will be remodeled for use as noted above and the lower floor will be occupied by Ramsey County as a public health facility. Applicant requests that the City of Maplewood grant the change to the Maplewood Comprehensive Plan for the following reasons: . The requested land use classification is consistent with that of the surrounding adjacent properties. . The intended health care related use is consistent with a Business Commercial Modified classification and is right in line with the medical related emphasis of the adjacent properties to the north and east. . Maintaining the current designated library use is not tenable. Granting the requested change puts this currently empty building to economic use. . The actual usage of a significant portion-approximately one third-of the building will not differ from its prior use as general office space if Ramsey County exercises their option to lease the lower floor. The medical and health care nature of the intended use of this building will enhance the general economic vitality and stability of the area for several reasons: . It will broaden and expand the services already available and thus enhance the overall value of the area as a medical center. . The quality of jobs represented by a medical professional building is high and the economic return to surrounding business may be correspondingly high. Some preliminary conservative estimations on the impact follow: Parking: The site currently has 186 parking spaces. The City requires 1 parking spot per 200 square feet of office. With the 6000 square foot proposed mezzanine the total area would break down as follows: Area Sq. Ft Area Sq. Ft. Use Spaces parking space required Lower floor 10,000 350 General office 28 7,000 1000 mechanical 7 Upper floor 17,000 200 Medical/dental office 85 Mezzanine 6,000 200 Medical/dental office 30 Total 40,000 Sq. Ft 150 According to the architect, it looks like Maplewood may require five (5) spaces per 1000 square feet GFA APPLICANT'S STATEMENT 8 This kicks the parking space requirement up to 200 spaces if the mezzanine is built. An additional thirteen spaces would need to be created or a waiver obtained. Utilities and services: Of the proposed businesses it is estimated that the dental clinic use will be the most demanding in terms of electricity and water usage. Applicant anticipates water usage for 40,000 square feet to be 329 fixture units on the supply side and 205 fixture units on the discharge (sewer) side. Economic: Again, considering the full upper floor and mezzanine for use as a dental clinic minimum ideal space for a dental clinic for one (1) doctor, two (2) hygiene and four (4) dental auxiliaries is 2000 square feet with five (5) operatories. The 20,000 square foot leasable space for the upper floor would hold the equivalent of ten (10) dental clinics as follows Dentists 10 Dental hygienists 20 Dental auxiliaries 40 Operatories 50 Each operatory serves six (6) patients per day x 50 operatories = 300 patients/day 9 -...., --L-.J'~ .. '" I ~v ~t::- / ..,.. -J - ......, '--/ Attachment 2 Iii ) b 6 i . cCJ " T / B lID! , I I .. Cl , i![IJ~ " ll~O~. :~o , ODDOO I I T r T' I I , /:( ~ I \ G :~//J I I 1<> . \ '~;' ~~':=-::=::M~ K.vtfn ""~ ' ,IS .. " I I: r ill ~ " , r J I . I--" ~ I 1\ ='-_ c:=.. ~.- .-..:;;._..:~ __""'='_:~_ _": _. . .. .,-'-' -- - __[V., \ /c- \ "rl' \ i~i~1 [ '\ .. .-- . 8EAUAI/E.. ==, ~<(1)ft', . , -. 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"" " 1l- . ,!..",:"~;~::-",:,,,:~ . ..~, . .. ; ('f: l :: !i/" : \, " t -:-- ---- .~ ~i " (~..~. '. ~ ^.. .... ~ ~; :' ", I , , m~~E . . ~d!r~ m~ '~ , '..,.....;:'.:... ~ h.. .........._-.-:-,.. . '. :::~.;,~.- :......:. ':::~,' ........ ,",d ---..----...... ., "., : \ ;', : ,'" - ...... ,., ......-' ~~. . - . ....... SITE PLAN 14 o N Attachment 7 MEMO To: Ken Roberts, Planner /7/ From: David Fisher, Building Official ';:<j-Z Re: 1670 Beam Avenue - CUP Change from Library to Dental Office Date: March 26, 2007 Following are my comments about the proposed use change for 1670 Beam Avenue: The Library is an A occupancy (assembly) in the Minnesota State Building Code and the 2000 IBC. The proposed use will be a B occupancy (office). This change in use from assembly to office will require the building to meet the current building code requirements. The building is required to meet Chapter 1341 of the Minnesota State Building Code for accessibility. This may include, but is not limited to, an accessible site approach, door hardware, bathrooms and elevator. Staff recommends the project architect submit a complete building code analysis to the city building inspection department to verify building code compliance. The applicant should be aware there may be a SAC (sewer availability charge), WAC (water availability charge) and PAC (park availability charge) required because of the change in the use of the building. The city collects these fees with the building permit. 15 Attachment 8 COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN CHANGE RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Vacharee Peterson, representing the property owners, applied for a change to the city's comprehensive land use plan from L (library) and OS (open space) to BC-M (Business Commercial - Modified)). WHEREAS, this land use plan change applies to the property known as 1670 Beam Avenue (the former Ramsey County Library). WHEREAS, the property identification numbers for the properties in question are: 1. 03-29-22-41-0011. 2. 03-29-22-41-0010. WHEREAS, the history of this change is as follows: 1. On April 3, 2007, the planning commission held a public hearing. The city staff published a hearing notice in the Maplewood Review and sent notices to the surrounding property owners. The planning commission gave everyone at the hearing a chance to speak and present written statements prior to their recommendation. 2. On April_, 2007, the city council discussed the proposed land use plan change. They considered reports and recommendations from the planning commission and city staff. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the city council approved the above-described change to the land use plan for the following reasons: 1. Provide for orderly development 2. Protect and strengthen neighborhoods. 3. Promote economic development that will expand the property tax base, increase jobs and provide desirable services. 4. Minimize the land planned for streets. 5. Minimize conflicts between land uses. 6. Prevent premature use, overcrowding, or overuse of land especially when supportive services and facilities, such as utilities, drainage systems, or streets are not available. 7. Help to implement the goals of the comprehensive plan including: a) The city will not approve new development without providing for adequate facilities and services, such as street, utilities, drainage, parks, and open space. b) Safe and adequate access will be provided for all properties. 16 c) Transitions between distindly differing types of land uses should not create a negative economic, social, or physical impad on adjoining developments. d) Whenever possible, changes in types of land use should occur so that similar uses front on tihe same street or at borders of areas separated by major man-made or natural barriers. e) The city coordinates land use changes witih tihe character of each neighborflood. f) Group compatible businesses in suitable areas. g) Avoid disruption of adjacent or nearby residential areas. The Maplewood City Council adopted this resolution on April ,2007. 17 Attachment 9 ZONING MAP CHANGE RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Vacharee Peterson, representing the property buyers, applied for a change to the city's zoning map from F (farm residence) to BC-M (Business Commercial). WHEREAS, this zoning map change applies to the south one-half of the property known as 1670 Beam Avenue. WHEREAS, the property identification number for the affected property is 03-29-22-41- 0010. WHEREAS, the legal description for this parcel is: Subject to Road over the West side and except the east 910 feet, the south 356 feet of the North 712 feet of the NE Yo of the SE Yo of Section 3, Township 29, Range 22. WHEREAS, the history of this change is as follows: 1. On April 3, 2007, the planning commission held a public hearing. The city staff published a hearing notice in the Maplewood Review and sent notices to the surrounding property owners. The planning commission gave everyone at the hearing a chance to speak and present written statements prior to their recommendation. 2. On April ,2007, the city council discussed the proposed zoning map change. They considered reports and recommendations from the planning commission and city staff. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the city council approve the above-described change in the zoning map for the following reasons: 1. The proposed change is consistent with the spirit, purpose and intent of the zoning code. 2. The proposed change will not substantially injure or detract from the use of neighboring property or from the character of the neighbortlood, and that the use of the property adjacent to the area included in the proposed change or plan is adequately safeguarded. 3. The proposed change will serve the best interests and conveniences of the community, where applicable, and the public welfare. 4. The proposed change would have no negative effect upon the logical, efficient, and economical extension of public services and facilities, such as public water, sewers, police and fire protection, and schools. The Maplewood City Council approved this resolution on April_, 2007. 18 Attachment 10 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TERMINATION RESOLUTION WHEREAS, in 1991, the Maplewood City Council approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for Ramsey County to construct and operate a public library at 1670 Beam Avenue. WHEREAS, Ramsey County is no longer using the property for a library and is proposing to sell the property to a private owner for other uses. WHEREAS, Vacharee Peterson, representing the property buyers, has applied to Maplewood for a change to the city's land use plan map and zoning map for the property to use it for a dental clinic and an office building. WHEREAS, the original conditional use permit applies to the property at 1670 Beam Avenue. The legal descriptions are: 1. Except the East 910 feet, the North 356 feet of the NE Y. of the SE Y. (Subject to Roads) in Section 3, Township 29, Range 22 (PIN 03-39-33-41-0011) 2. Subject to Road over the West side and except the east 910 feet, the south 356 feet of the North 712 feet of the NE Y. of the SE Y. of Section 3, Township 29, Range 22. (PIN 03-29- 22-41-0010) WHEREAS, the history of this conditional use permit termination is as follows: 1. On April 3, 2007, the planning commission held a public hearing about the reuse of the property. The city staff published a hearing notice in the Maplewood Review and sent notices to the surrounding property owners. The planning commission gave everyone at the hearing a chance to speak and present written statements before making their recommendation. 2. On April_, 2007, the city council discussed the proposed conditional use permit termination. They considered reports and recommendations from the planning commission and city staff. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the city council approve the above-described conditional use permit termination because the use of the property as a library is no longer in effect. : The Maplewood City Council approved this resolution on April_, 2007. 19 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: City Manager Ken Roberts, Planner 2007-2008 Comprehensive Plan Update March 23, 2007 INTRODUCTION The Metropolitan Council is requiring all municipalities in the metro area to update their comprehensive plans by December 2008. To meet this schedule, the city will need to submit a complete plan update to the neighboring cities, the watershed district, affected school districts and to the Met Council by June 2008. This timeline will allow for each of these agencies to review and comment on the proposed plan by December 2008. I expect that it will take city staff, the consultants, the planning commission and the city council up to a year to complete the revisions and to review and adopt the new plan. As such, city staff should start work on the plan update by June 2007 and have significant parts of the plan updated and ready for review by the boards and commissions by January 2008. BACKGROUND On March 6, 2007, the planning commission discussed the comprehensive plan update process. The commission, after much discussion, asked staff for background information and data about the planning process, the Metropolitan Council requirements and the system statement for Maplewood. The commission wanted to review and better understand this information before starting their work on the comprehensive plan update. On March 20,2007, the planning commission started discussing the background information that staff had provided for them to read and study. Because of the late hour of the meeting, the planning commission asked staff to prepare an overview of the 2030 Regional Development Framework and the System Statement for Maplewood as prepared by the Metropolitan Council. The commission wants staff to do these reviews to note and comment on the most important parts of the documents and how these elements will affect Maplewood and its comprehensive plan update efforts. DISCUSSION In response to the commission's requests, city staff reviewed and studied in more detail the following documents and information: 1. The 2030 Regional Framework as adopted by the Met Council. 2. System Statement for the City of Maplewood from the Met Council. Staffs notes and comments from each of these documents are as follows: The 2030 Reaional Framewort< as adoDted by the Met Council The Metropolitan Council adopted this planning document on January 14, 2004. This is the overall guide plan for development in the Twin Cities area through 2030. The Met Council will require all local comprehensive plans to be consistent with the goals, policies and directives in the Regional Framework. The Regional Framework has four chapters and three appendices of supporting information. The chapters include discussion and information on Opportunities and Challenges, Policy Directions and Strategies, Strategies for Planning Areas and a chapter on Implementation. Chapter One In Chapter One, I noted the following items as being important for Maplewood to consider when updating its comprehensive plan. Pages 3 and 4 - New Directions In this discussion the first pOint notes "This Development Framework pays more attention to how development occurs - such as the mix of land use, the number of housing units per acre, the integration of transit and the connection of local streets.. On page 4, two of the bullet points are most applicable to Maplewood. They are "Emphasizing reinvestment in older areas throughout the region" and "Encouraging increased market-based housing production that reflects shifting demographics, employment locations and a diversity of incomes." Chapter Two Chapter Two, Policy Directions and Strategies, starts on page six of the framework. The document lists four broad policies and then provides details of how the Met Council expects the local governments to use each of the policies. In these discussions the Met Council has labeled Maplewood as a "Developed Community". As such, the city should pay close attention to any part of the document that references developed communities. Pages 7, 19, 20 and 21 of the Framework provide specific information about the policies and the community roles for developed communities. Policy 2 on page 10 of the Framework does not appear to have a major impact on Maplewood as the city is already served by a very complete network of arterial, collector and local streets. I would expect that the city would welcome any improvements to the freeway system in the area or to relieve congestion issues (White Bear Avenue and 1~94, for example). Policy 3 on page 12 and Policy 4 on page 14 of the Framework are both important areas of discussion and consideration for Maplewood. The availability of housing choices (in locations and types) and the need to conserve, protect and enhance natural resources have been, and I expect will continue to be, important issues and policies for the city going forward through the planning process. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 of the Framework starts on page 16. This chapter, Strategies for Geographic Planning Areas, divides and expands the discussion of the various policies by Met Council role and by community role. My sense in reviewing the bullet points on pages 17 - 21 (Tables 1 and 2) is that the city could and should use many of the points listed as community roles as goals and policies in the comprehensive plan update. It is staffs opinion that the city has already adopted or is following in practice many of the items listed under community role. 2 Chapter 4 Implementation is the title of Chapter 4 of the Framework. This chapter starts on page 30 and, as one might expect, it discusses what actions are necessary to implement the goals listed in the Framework. While this information is informative and helpful to read and know, there is nothing in this chapter that is specific to Maplewood. Maplewood Svstem Statement As noted in the Maplewood System Statement, the Metropolitan Council prepares a system statement for each of the cities in the metropolitan area. As the document explains, the system statements explain the implication of metropolitan system plans for each community in the area. The Met Council intends these statements to help the cities prepare the comprehensive plan updates as is required by state law. It is important to note that the Met Council reviews local comprehensive plans to ensure that each plan is in conformance with the metropolitan system plans, consistent with Met Council policies and so they are compatible with adjacent and affected governmental agencies. As such, the city has little or no discretion in trying to deviate from or not acknowledge the goals, policies and requirements listed in the system statement for Maplewood. In other words, the city must include everything directly relevant to Maplewood from the system statement in the updated comprehensive plan. As for the system statement, it includes forecasts on population, housing and employment for Maplewood through 2030, a standard or expectation on growth management and a discussion about Maplewood being a "developed Community" and what that means in a regional context. The system statement also has updates on transportation (pages T-1 through T-20), the wastewater system (pages W-1 through W-8) and regional parks (P-1 through P-8). As for transportation, the plan identifies 1-35E and 1-894 as regional highways in Maplewood that should be expanded by the year 2030. Figure 4-2 on page T-4 shows the 2030 transitway corridors for the region. This plan shows the Rush Line Corridor and a transitway on a dedicated right-of-way. This transitway will be something that the city will have to acknowledge in the plan update. On page W-2 of the wastewater system statement, the plan notes that Maplewood must decide the location and staging of development and then design our local collection system to serve this development. This planning effort will be most critical in the area of the moratorium and study that the city is now doing in southern Maplewood. This system statement also notes specific requirements the city will need to include for the sewer element and for surface water management as part of the comprehensive plan update. The Regional Parks System statement notes the regional parks and trails in Maplewood - Battle Creek, Phalen, the Bruce Vento Trail and the Afton Bluffs Regional Trail. They have identified Afton Bluffs trail as a regional trail crossing Maplewood and Woodbury between Battle Creek Park in Saint Paul and Afton to the east The plan shows the general alignment of this trail as following Lower Afton and Valley Creek Roads. The city will have to acknowledge the general location of this trail in our plan update and on our parks and trail maps. 3 RECOMMENDATION Review and study the attached documents from the Metropolitan Council and be prepared to discuss the material at the next planning commission meeting. P:Plan update memo 4 Attachments: 1. 2030 Regional Framework 2. System Statement for Maplewood 4 Attachment 1 ~ 2030 ~ Regional Development FRAMEWORK - Adopted January 14, 2004- ~ MetropoUtaD Council W Metropolitan Council n Mears Park Centre, 230 East Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 Metropolitan Council Members Peter Bell Chair Roger Scherer District 1 Tony Pistilli District 2 Mary Hill Smith District 3 Julius C. Smith District 4 Russ Susag District 5 Peggy Leppik District 6 Annette Meeks District 7 Lynette Wittsack District 8 Natalie Haas Steffen District 9 Marcel Eibensteiner District 10 Georgeanne Hilker District] 1 Chris Georgacas District 12 Rick Aguilar District 13 Song Lo Fawcett District 14 Tom Egan District 15 Brian McDaniel District 16 (During their service on the Council in 2003, Glen Skovholt and Duane Arens contributed to the development of this Framework.) General phone Data Center TTY Metro Info Line E-mail Web site 651 602-1000 651-602-1140 651291-0904 651 602-1888 data. center@metc.state.mn.us www.metrocouncil.org Publication no. 78-03-048 Printed on recycled paper with at least 20% post-consumer waste. On request, this publication will be made available in alternative formats to people with disabilities. Call the Metropolitan Council Data Center at 651 602-1140 or TTY 651 291-0904. Foreword In the mid-1960s, the Twin Cities metropolitan area faced a host of serious urban challenges. Inadequately treated sewage was being released into public waters and contaminating groundwater supplies. The region's privately owned bus system was rapidly deteriorating - a victim of rising fares, declining ridership and an aging fleet. Development was threatening vital open spaces, a central feature of this region's prized quality oflife. And growing fiscal disparities among communities were making it difficult for some cities to provide essential public services. With some 272 separate local units of government - including seven counties and 188 cities and townships - the region was ill equipped to deal with problems that transcended local boundaries. The Minnesota Legislature responded in 1967 by creating the Metropolitan Council to plan and coordinate the orderly development of the seven-county area. In quick order, the Legislature also created regional wastewater and transit systems, strengthened the region's land-use planning process and enacted a unique tax-base sharing law to reduce fiscal disparities among communities. More than three decades later, this region is confronted with a new set of challenges revolving around growth, transportation, housing and resource protection. While the Legislature has provided important tools and resources to meet these challenges, the Twin Cities metropolitan area will need the same kind of unity. commitment and spirit of innovation that led to the creation of the Council and our regional systems. Table of Contents Chapter 1/0pportunities and Challenges Our Forecast ................... Our Goals....... New Directions.. Learning from our partners.. Working with our neighbors ..................................................~.....~...................~......1 ..........2 ...........2 .....3 .......4 .........5 Chapter 2/Policy Directions and Strategies Policy 1/Growth and land use Policy 2/Transportation .... Policy 3/Housing . ............... Policy 4/Natural Resources...... ~~...~~.......~.6 .6 ......10 ..12 .14 Chapter 3/Strategies for Geographic Planning Areas All communities........ Developed communities. Developing communities. Rural centers Rural residential areas ..... Diversified rural communities...... Agricultural areas ................. .....................................~..................16 ...17 .......19 .....21 ...24 ............25 ....27 ...28 Chapter 4/1mplementation Local planning process ... Regional investments... Regional grants. Measuring our progress Next steps ............. Glossary. .................. ~-~~~~....~..~..~~ .....31 ....................33 .....36 .....38 .....42 ...43 Appendices A. Population, household and employment forecasts. B. Land supply.. C. Supplementary maps...... 2030 Framework strategy map Comprehensive plan composite map .......A-1 .....B-1 ......C-1 Chapter 1/0pportunities and Challenges Our Region During the I 990s. the Twin Cities metropolitan area gained more population - 353,000 people - than in any previous decade in its history. With this growth has come increased prosperity - new jobs, rising incomes, added tax revenue, higher property values and the highest rate of home ownership in the nation. But, as many Twin Citians have already discovered, accommodating growth is not always easy. Traffic congestion and commuting times have increased. Prices for new and existing housing have risen faster than incomes. And new development has meant increased demand for costly urban services and increased pressure on vital natural resources. And the Twin Cities will keep growing. By the year 2030, we expect the region to add nearly I million people - the equivalent of two Denvers plunked down within the boundaries of the seven-county metro area. From Woodbury to Waconia and Lino Lakes to Lakeville, this growth will bring opportunities and challenges. How do we accommodate growth while maintaining the quality of life for the 2.6 million people who already live and work here? How do we preserve and revitalize the communities and neighborhoods we prize - the buildings, parks, shared spaces and streets that tell us we're "home" - while building new communities with their own character and sense of place? How do we capitalize on our opportunities for economic development while preserving our vital natural assets and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation? The purpose of this 2030 Regional Development Framework is to provide a plan for how the Metropolitan Council and its regional partners can address these challenges. The Framework is prepared under the authority of state statutes, which direct the Council to: ... prepare and adopt... a comprehensive development guide for the metropolitan area. It shall consist of a compilation of policy statements, goals, standards, programs, and maps prescribing guides for the orderly and economical development, public and private, of the metropolitan area. The comprehensive development guide shall recognize and encompass physical, social, or economic needs of the metropolitan area and those future developments which will have an impact on the entire area including but not limited to such matters as land use, parks and open space land needs, the necessity for and location of airports, highways, transit facilities, public hospitals, libraries, schools, and other public buildings.... (Minnesota Statutes, section 473.145) The Development Framework is the initial "chapter" and the unifying theme of the Council's Metropolitan Development Guide. It is the umbrella statement of regional policies, goals and strategies that will inform the Council's metropolitan system plans for airports, transportation, regional parks and wastewater service, as well as other policy plans adopted by the Council. Under state law, each city and township in the seven-country metropolitan area is required at least every 10 years to prepare and submit to the Metropolitan Council a local comprehensive plan that is consistent with the Council's metropolitan system plans (Minn. Stat. 473.864). The next round of updated plans will be due in 2008. Our Forecast During the last three decades, the Twin Cities metropolitan area grew by nearly 800,000 people. By the year 2030, we forecast that the region will add another 966,000 people and 471.000 households. However, we expect to see a slower rate of job growth as large numbers of Baby Boomers retire. MetroDolitan Area Growth, 1970-2030 1970.-2000 2000.-2030 1970 2000 2030 Increase Projected ] ncrease Households 573.634 1.021.454 1.492.000 448.000 471.000 Population 1.874.612 2.642.056 3.608.000 767.000 966.000 .lobs 779.000 1.563.245 2.126.000 784.000 563.000 This growth will mean further changes in the demographic makeup of the metropolitan area. The number of people per household, which has been shrinking since 1950, will continue to drop. The average, which was 2.75 in 1980 and 2.59 in 2000, is expected to dip to 2.41 by 2030. The region's population also will continue to age. Between 2000 and 2030, the population under age 55 is expected to increase by 19 percent while the number ages 55 and over is expected to grow by 111 percent. Finally, the population is likely to grow more diverse. In the 1990s, the minority population in the region grew from 9.2 percent to about 16 percent and accounted for about 60 percent of the region's total population growth. While such growth and demographic changes will bring challenges, this metropolitan area - with its well-established system of regional and local planning - is better prepared than many regions to meet these challenges. Our Goals The Metropolitan Council was created in 1967 to help ensure the "coordinated, orderly and economical development" of the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area - consisting of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington Counties (1967 Minnesota Laws, chapter 896). Our goals are very much in keeping with that legislative directive: . Working collaboratively with regional partners to accommodate growth within the metropolitan area. This Framework recognizes that "one size does not fit all" _ 2 that different communities have different opportunities, needs and aspirations. But it also is grounded in the belief that all communities have a shared responsibility to help accommodate the region's growth, use market forces to help expand housing choices and ensure connected, efficient land-use patterns. . Maximizing the effectiveness and valne of regional services, infrastructure investments and incentives. We must take full advantage of the enormous investment we have made in regional systems - transportation, airports, wastewater treatment and regional parks - as well as ensure that future resources are used in a cost-effective manner. . Enhancing transportation choices and improving the ability of Minnesotans to travel safely and efficiently throughout the region. Traffic congestion is worsening at a disturbing rate, affecting all modes of travel, making it more difficult for workers to get to their jobs and more costly to get goods to market. Meanwhile, highway and transit funding are falling far short of the needs. We need to make the most of available resources to improve mobility and avoid gridlock. . Preserving vital natural areas and resources for future generations. This metropolitan area boasts a unique combination of assets: three majestic rivers, 950 lakes, rolling hills, extensive wetlands, native prairies and woodlands, aggregate and a multi-layered aquifer system - assets that are essential to our region's quality of life and continued economic well-being. Maintaining compliance with federal air quality standards will ensure that citizens will benefit from cleaner air and avoid costly federal pollution control requirements. New Directions Our region cannot rely solely on what has made it a success in the past. We need new approaches that are shaped by emerging trends, market forces, community values and current, accurate regional data - all integrated into an overall, comprehensive strategy. This effort means: . Focusing attention on the pattern of land uses. Previously, the regional growth strategy focused on how much development occurred in growing communities at the region's developing edge. This Development Framework pays more attention to how development occurs - such as the mix ofland uses, the number of housing units per acre, the integration of transit and the connection of local streets. . Recognizing that transportation and land use influence each other. The Framework emphasizes the need for intensified development in centers with convenient access to transportation corridors and in rural centers that want to grow and that lie along major highways. Regional investments can create a transportation system that includes transit solutions that support attractive, walkable neighborhoods with homes, green space, public places and other amenities. 3 . Offering greater flexibility in the location of new development in growing communities. This Framework will provide growing cities the flexibility to decide where development occurs within broader areas that are planned and staged for development, consistent with regional perspectives. It is vital that these cities will make efficient use of infrastructure and develop in a manner that conserves natural features and provides transportation options. This is intended to help local officials build communities in a more strategic and holistic way. . Emphasizing reinvestment in older areas throughout the region. By reinvesting in underused land and maintaining existing infrastructure, the region can accommodate growth on a smaller urban "footprint," slow the rate of increase in traffic congestion, ease development pressures on rural land, save billions of dollars in local sewer, water and road construction costs, maintain the housing stock and strengthen the vitality of older areas. . Enconraging increased market-based housing production that reflects shifting demographics, employment locations and a diversity of incomes. New home construction has been skewed in favor of single-family housing over such alternatives as townhomes and condominiums. But the oldest baby-boomers are now in their 50s, and newcomers to the metropolitan area are likely to expect a variety of housing types and prices. The market demand for single-family detached housing is expected to decline in the next 30 years, even as the overall demand for housing remains strong. A mix of housing types and prices enables more people to work, raise a family and retire in the same community, attracts jobs and improves local economic competitiveness. Affordable units, incorporated into attractive market-rate developments, can expand housing opportunities for lower-income families and households. · Encouraging the use of the metro-wide natural resources inventory and assessment to foster development that is more sensitive to the environment. An inventory and assessment of the region's natural resources, now documented in overlays of computerized maps, can help local governments plan development that respects the integrity of natural areas and incorporates environmental features into development projects. Conserving and restoring natural resources of regional or local importance contributes to a healthy natural environment and enhances our quality of life. Connecting regional and local features by natural-resource corridors helps sustain wildlife and plant habitat and shapes how development looks on the ground. Learning from Our Partners The Metropolitan Council doesn't have a monopoly on new ideas for guiding growth and development. Many of the policies and strategies contained in this Framework grew out of efforts already underway in communities throughout the region - many of which the Council has participated in through the Livable Communities grants program. Cities such as Brooklyn Park, Burnsville. Maple Grove, Plymouth, Ramsey and St. Louis Park are working to create town centers with a mix of housing, commercial and civic uses to provide a gathering place and focal point for their community. Meanwhile, 4 older suburbs such as Chaska, Hopkins, New Brighton, Robbinsdale and White Bear Lake have brought new life to their more traditional downtowns through similar development efforts. St. Paul and Minneapolis both have been working aggressively to reclaim their riverfronts, protect a prized natural asset and respond to market demands for a range of housing types located near job, entertainment and recreational opportunities. Similarly, both the Phalen corridor project in St. Paul and the Heritage Park project in Minneapolis are restoring natural features - a wetlands area and a creek - as essential components of redevelopment projects that also include housing, infrastructure improvements and other revitalization efforts. And coalitions of communities along the Interstate 494 and 35W corridors have been actively exploring the connections between transportation and land use as part of their efforts to deal with traffic concerns. The Metropolitan Council is learning from such initiatives, and will share that information with other communities in the region and provide technical assistance as local officials respond to the opportunities and challenges posed by the growth that is taking place in our region. Working with Our Neighbors Partnerships with neighboring communities and counties will be crucial to the region's future success. The Twin Cities are part of a larger regional economy, one that extends well beyond the seven-county metropolitan area. While the seven-county share of households within the larger 19-county region has remained around 85 percent since 1970, there have been some notable changes. Much of the growth in the adjacent counties can be attributed to their proximity to the Twin Cities area. For example, 39 percent ofrespondents to a Council survey of residents in Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne and Wright Counties reported that they worked near or inside of the 1- 494/1-694 beltway. Most of the growth in adjacent counties has occurred in areas just outside the borders of the seven metro counties. For example, Elk River, St. Michael and Hudson are the three fastest growing cities in the adjacent counties. The Metropolitan Council and regional partners must build closer relationships with local governments and their associations in the adjacent counties. We need to be sensitive to mutual impacts of decisions relating to development, transportation, water quality and other natural resources. 5 Chapter 2/Policy Directions and Strategies Decisions relating to transportation, sewers, housing, natural resources and other land uses cannot be made in isolation from one another. Transportation and sewers help shape growth patterns; housing location and types affect mobility options and travel patterns; unplanned growth can put a strain on natural areas, groundwater quality and other resources. This Framework seeks to carefully integrate growth, transportation, housing and natural resource policies - to achieve regional goals in each area and avoid working at cross-purposes. Our policies also acknowledge the partnerships that will be essential to our success and continued economic vitality. Policy 1: Work with local communities to accommodate growth in a flexible, connected and efficient manner. Strategiesfor all communities . Support land-use patterns that efficiently connect housing, jobs, retail centers and civic uses within and among neighborhoods. · Encourage growth and reinvestment in adequately sewered urban and rural centers with convenient access to transportation corridors. · Promote development strategies that help protect and sustain the regional water supply. Discussion The full potential of investments in transportation, housing, natural resource preservation and other factors is best realized when they are considered together in well- conceived land use patterns. For example, ifmore communities have mixed uses-retail and commercial. as well as residential-more people have the option of working in the same community in which they live. If the land use patterns cluster housing, businesses, retail and services in walkable, transit-oriented centers along transportation corridors, the benefits increase: Improved access to jobs, open space, cultural amenities and other services and opportunities. Fewer-and shorter-auto trips, more housing options and more choices for reaching local and regional destinations. A significant reduction in the number of vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled, slower growth in traffic congestion, improved air quality and a healthier environment compared with a more spread-out, single-use pattern of development. There are personal benefits as well-shorter daily commutes provide more time for personal or family activities. Transit connections among home, work and other destinations mean cost savings for many households. There is also a hard-edged practical aspect to these land use strategies-they will save public money. For the metropolitan transit and transportation system. putting growth 6 where the infrastructure to support it already exists means roads that don'l have 10 he huill. Providing transportation options that include fast, convenient transit services means freeway lanes that don'l have to be added. And, where new infrastructure is necessary, investments in more connected land-use patterns will be the most fiscally responsible use of limited public resources for transportation. Efficient use of capacity in the metropolitan wastewater disposal system, which provides wastewater treatment services to 90% of the region's population and most of its commerce and industry, will ensure the most cost-effective operation of both the current wastewater system and the service provided to future urban areas. The system is an essential ingredient for urban development. An adequate supply of water is another essential ingredient for growth. The region currently uses 400 million gallons of water per day for drinking and other personal uses, irrigation, commercial and industrial needs, as well as other miscellaneous purposes. An additional 774 million gallons per day are used for cooling power plants. (The water used for cooling power plants is considered a non-consumptive use, since most of the water is returned directly to the source at a slightly higher temperature.) The regional groundwater aquifer system and the Mississippi River provide a relatively abundant water supply, but there are questions about the ability of that supply to meet increasing demands. Both the Council and all communities with a municipal water supply system are required to develop plans to address those concerns (Minn. Stat. 473.156-.157; 473.859). Cities must consider the implications oftheir water supply for future growth and indicate how they will protect the current and planned supply source that provides the community with water. Land use patterns affect water supply. For instance, incorporating natural areas in the mix of land uses will help reduce surface water runoff and recharge aquifers for water supply. While the above strategies for accommodating growth apply to all of the region's communities, implementing the Regional Development Framework is not a one-size-fits- all process. The Council has tailored growth strategies for different community types- Developed Communities, Developing Communities and four types of communities within Rural Areas (see further detail in the chapter "Strategies for Geographic Planning Areas," beginning on page 16). Stralegies for Developed Communities . Work in partnership with developed communities to encourage reinvestment and revitalization. . Provide grants and other incentives to cities and businesses to reclaim, infill and redevelop underutilized lands and structures. Discussion The Developed Communities are the cities where more than 85% of the land is developed, infrastructure is well established and efforts must go toward keeping it in good repair. These communities have the greatest opportunities to adapt or replace 7 obsolete buildings, improve community amenities, and remodel or replace infrastructure to increase their economic competitiveness and enhance their quality of life. Developed Communities are taking advantage of their assets. New households and jobs are being added in Minneapolis, St. Paul and adjacent older suburbs, and these communities are identifying opportunities to attract more such investment. Their plans indicate potential sites, they have proven market interest and they concur with-and, in some instances, have requested increases in--council forecasts for continued growth. Developed Communities are now the expected locations for approximately 30 percent of new households and about half of new jobs through 2030. It makes economic sense for the Council to make investments in and offer incentives for reinvestment and infill to these communities to assist them with their efforts. Strategiesfor Developing Communities . Invest in regional systems (wastewater treatment, transportation, parks and open space, and airports) to help ensure adequate services to communities as they grow. · Implement standards for extending urban services to help local governments plan for and stage development within a rolling 20-year land supply (local plan evaluation to be based on inclusion of measures that address transportation connections, housing production, surface water management and natural resource conservation). · Encourage communities to plan for post-2030 areas for future urban services. . Use natural resource conservation strategies to help protect environmentally sensitive areas and shape development. Discussion Developing Communities are the cities where the most substantial amount of new growth-about 60 percent of new households and 40 percent of new jobs-will occur. The amount of infill and redevelopment and the way in which new areas are developed directly influence when and how much additional land in Developing Communities will need urban services-services that will call for substantial new regional and local investments. Local comprehensive plans for Developing Communities already designate sufficient land to accommodate forecasted growth through 2020. Within the 20-year land supply, the Council will support flexible staging of growth, recognizing that development opportunities do not always occur in a contiguous manner. The community must demonstrate that the development will support a connected land use pattern and can be served in an efficient and economical manner. When a change in urban service area staging is requested, the Council will expedite the review through a comprehensive plan amendment. Standards for changing the staging of urban services will be identified in the Council's Local Planning Handbook. The 2020 metropolitan urban service area was established through the 1998 comprehensive plan review process. During the next comprehensive plan update process, the Council will work with local communities to ensure there is enough land to accommodate forecasted 2030 growth, developing plans that extend staging to continue 8 to maintain a 20-year land supply over time. Developing Communities should consider their entire jurisdiction when proposing long-term staging and development patterns, protecting land for post-2030 urbanization. The Council will determine its ability to provide needed regional services such as interceptor and treatment plant capacity. Each city, in turn, will need to consider how it will locally serve the planned-for growth. The flexibility to stage growth locally also offers Developing Communities the opportunity to incorporate natural resources into their local plans. They can build on the regional Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment by identifying additional locally important resources. Then staging plans can incorporate these regional and local resources, developing local infrastructure (wastewater systems, roads, parks and open space, and airports) in a way that conserves natural resources and avoids or protects sensitive natural areas. Strategies for Rural Areas . Support rural growth centers in their efforts to concentrate growth as a way to relieve development pressure in rural parts of the metropolitan area. . Provide technical and/or financial support for wastewater services in rural growth centers where feasible. . Support development in rural areas in clusters or at low densities to preserve these areas for future growth and to protect the natural environment. Discussion Roughly half of the 3,000 square miles in the seven-county Twin Cities area are rural. That includes cultivated farmland, nurseries, tree farms, orchards and vineyards, scattered individual home sites or clusters of houses, hobby farms, small towns, gravel mines, woodlands, and many of the region's remaining important natural resources. About 5% to 8% of new growth is forecast for the rural area-most of it in Rural Growth Centers. To acknowledge its diversity, the rural area is categorized into four geographic planning areas: . Rural Centers are the small towns, like Belle Plaine and St. Francis, located throughout the rural area. Rural Growth Centers are those Rural Centers both interested in and showing a potential for growth. Growth in Rural Centers offers the opportunity to take advantage of existing infrastructure, provides municipal services as an alternative to individual wells and septic systems whose continued proliferation causes environmental concerns. and provides more households with the opportunity for small-town living. 9 . Rural Residential Areas are those places in Ham Lake, Andover, Inver Grove Heights and Credit River Township that are currently developed at one unit per 2 to 2 \12 acres or less, with no plans to provide urban infrastructure such as centralized wastewater treatment. Additional development of this type will increase the potential for damage to the environment from many individual sewage treatment systems located close together, and will preclude providing urban infrastructure in efficient ways. It should be limited to infill or carefully considered expansion only within the boundaries of communities where it already exists. · Diversified Rural Communities are the sparsely developed parts of the region, such as Burns Township and Stillwater Township, that host the widest variety offann and non-farm land uses. They include a mix of a limited amount oflarge-Iot residential and clustered housing, agriculture, and facilities and services requiring a rural location. Continuing the diversified rural land use pattern in the region saves the costs of extending infrastructure, protects the natura] environment and provides groundwater aquifer recharge areas. Currently, lands in the Diversified Rura] Communities are not needed for urban development, but should be preserved for post-2030 development. Therefore, only limited growth is forecast for this planning area. Wastewater services to these areas will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine feasibility. . Agricultural Areas are large contiguous land areas planned and zoned to maintain agriculture as the primary land use. They are found mostly in Dakota, Scott and Carver Counties in communities such as Greenvale Township and San Francisco Township and total about a half-million acres of the region's best soils. Many of these communities have taken additional steps to preserve agricultura] lands. The Council supports local efforts by forecasting only very small amounts of household and employment growth for agricultural areas and by strictly limiting its investments in regional infrastructure in those areas, focusing instead on investing in efficient and fiscally prudent urban growth. Policy 2: Plan and invest in multi-modal transportation choices, based on the full range of costs and benefits, to slow the growth of congestion and serve the region's economic needs. Strategies . Focus highway investments on maintaining and managing the existing system, removing bottlenecks and adding capacity. . Make more efficient use of the regional transportation system by encouraging flexible work hours, telecommuting, ridesharing and other traffic management efforts, and by employing a variety of pricing techniques such as FAST lanes and HOT lanes. . Expand the transit system, add bus-only lanes on highway shoulders, provide more park-and-ride lots and develop a network oftransitways. ]0 . Encourage local governments to implement a system of fully interconnected arterial and local streets, pathways and bikeways. . Promote the development and preservation of various freight modes and modal connections to adequately serve the movement of freight within the region and provide effective linkages that serve statewide, national and international markets. . Support airport facilities investments to keep pace with market needs and maintain the region's economic vitality. Discussion To a growing number of metropolitan area residents, highway congestion ranks as the region's No. I concern. The average daily commute in the I 990s grew from 21 minutes to 23 minutes, with a 62 percent increase in commutes requiring 40 minutes or longer. The portion of peak-period travel occurring under congested conditions increased more than fivefold between 1982 and 2000 - an increase that tied with Atlanta's for the second fastest rate of congestion growth in the nation. In 2000, traffic tieups cost the average Twin Cities commuter more than $ I ,000 a year in wasted fuel and lost time, and cost the business community more than $300 million in comparable penalties for distribution of goods. The region's congestion problems will continue to worsen in the coming decades. The nearly I million new residents projected by 2030 are expected to generate an additional 4 million daily trips, and the number of congested highway miles is expected to double during the same period. The enormous costs associated with building new transportation facilities mean that the region will have to make targeted investments, recognizing that "'one size does not fit all" and carefully weighing the options in every corridor. The first priority for highway improvements must be to maintain the existing metro highway and roadway system, reducing the dozens of bottlenecks that impede travel, implementing new strategies to improve the efficiency of the system and adding capacity where possible. But the region also must look for new ways to make more effective use of the existing system. This means stretching out peak-period travel through flexible work hours, exploring pricing strategies that discourage unnecessary freeway travel in peak periods, providing greater incentives for transit use, and reducing travel demand through expanded ridesharing, telecommuting and other measures. Various pricing techniques recently employed around the world have been successful in maximizing the use of the existing highway capacity, adding capacity and raising revenue to pay for implementation and operations. These strategies also can be a new source of revenue for transit, as well as help make transit more cost-competitive and more efficient if operating in mixed traffic conditions. Transit will continue to playa critical role in many individuals' daily lives, and can significantly relieve the need to expand highways and local streets. By investing in improved transit, the region can provide more people with realistic alternatives to traveling by car. This requires expanding the existing system of regular-route and express bus service. adding more bus-only lanes on highway shoulders and park-and-ride lots. supporting more local circulator bus service, and continuing the effort to develop a 1] network oftransitways in heavily traveled corridors. This network should include a range of possibilities -light rail, commuter rail and exclusive busways - making mode selections based on a thorough cost-benefit analysis. In making transit investment decisions, the Council will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of LRT, commuter rail and busways, using data from the operation of the Hiawatha LRT line and the cost- effectiveness index developed by the Federal Transit Administration. In the longer term, the region also can slow the growth in congestion by encouraging development and reinvestment in urban and rural centers that combine transit, housing, offices, retail, services, open space and connected streets that support walking and bicycie use. Such development enables those who wish to reduce their automobile use to meet their daily needs and makes it possible for those who are unable to drive to live more independently. We also must pay greater attention to the challenges of moving resources and goods within and through the region to North American and world markets. The importance of a coordinated regional and state system is key for increasing the economic competitiveness of businesses, industries and their customers. Regional transportation investments- coordinated with investments by local governments and the private sector where feasible - must provide sufficient access to freight facilities, business and industrial concentrations, and distribution centers. The aviation industry is suffering from the lingering effects of a poor economy, the 9/1] attacks, the SARS scare and structural changes within the industry. To remain economically competitive, our region must continue to implement the MSP 20 I 0 improvement plan to increase runway and terminal capacity at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, as well as maintain, improve and expand our system of reliever airports. At the same time, we must carefully monitor changes within the industry to ensure that adequate airport capacity is available in the years ahead. In addition, we must work with local communities to mitigate the adverse impacts of airports and ensure compatible land uses in adjacent areas. Policy 3: Encourage expanded choices in housing location and types, and improved access to jobs and opportunities. Strategies · Work to ensure an adequate supply of serviced, developable land to meet regional needs and respond to demographic trends. . Work with regional partners to increase housing options that meet changing market preferences. . Support the production and preservation of lifecycie and affordable housing with links to jobs, services and amenities accessible by auto, transit, biking and walking. Discussion The challenge of maintaining a sufficient supply of urban-serviced land is to balance the costs of providing services to new development while not unduly restricting available 12 land supply. Achieving this balance means that the region needs to monitor its land supply, make the best use of existing infrastructure as it develops, and increase the supply to accommodate efficient development. The public and the private sectors are committed to regularly monitoring available land supply and comparing actual land uses with those indicated in regional and local plans-including designation of urban reserve lands for development post-2030-to respond appropriately to changing markets. New housing developments will need transportation, sewers and water supply; and providing these services requires continued coordination of planning and implementation between regional and local governments. The marketplace. supplemented by public-private partnerships, is key to this effort. Since the year 2000, the market has produced both rental and ownership units in response to heavy consumer demand, boosted by changes in state tax policy. At the same time, the expansion of low-income housing tax credits and increased state authority to issue housing revenue bonds has eased the market squeeze on affordable rental units. Somewhat fewer renter households now bear an inordinate housing-cost burden than in 1990. even though the region saw a large increase in total households. But the situation for lower-income households has improved little - eight out of 10 continue to pay more than they can afford for housing costs, while the 2003 study The Next Decade of Housing presents data suggesting the affordability problem for many of the region's lower income households may not be resolved during this decade. The region will, of course, need much more housing in the next 30 years, but population changes are shifting consumer preferences for various types of units. During the I 990s, the leading edge of the baby-boom generation moved into the 45-to-54-year- old age group, producing the biggest gain in any age category. The new-housing market, which has historically favored single-family housing, is responding with a shift toward attached homes, such as townhouses and condominiums. The trend will strengthen in future years as baby-boomers grow older. The growing share of attached housing-attractive to singles, young couples without children, "empty nesters" and others--enriches the stock of available housing, makes available single- family homes to first-time and "move-up" buyers, and offers opportunities to improve connections with work places, retail, services and entertainment. A growing number of employers - including Best Buy, Medtronic, Wells Fargo and US Bank - have demonstrated that they recognize the benefits of linking job sites and housing by easily accessible transportation options. Cities are seeing the economic advantages of encouraging a mix of housing that provides choices for a range of ages and incomes. Many cities are planning for mixed-use areas in their comprehensive plans and making changes to local ordinances and official controls to encourage those types of land uses. The result can be shorter daily commutes, reduced business costs related to congestion delays and less strain on the transportation system during peak-travel periods. Coalitions of interested organizations, public agencies, businesses and foundations continue to strive to expand housing choices. Promising approaches include streamlining approval processes for new construction techniques, residential re-use and rehabilitation; providing cities with more information about land trusts and other ways of preserving housing affordability; creating more local options for funding affordable housing; 13 supporting information-sharing among cities; and encouraging them to review land use controls and regulations, zoning policies and practices, and approval processes to foster development, preservation and rehabilitation of more affordable housing. For its part, the Council will use its programs and resources-including negotiated housing goals. planning and technical assistance, regional investments, and incentive programs-to encourage communities to provide for a diversity of housing types and costs. In addition, the Council will give funding priority to communities and community projects that increase the variety of housing types and costs, appropriately mix land uses, increase transportation choices and leverage private investment. Policy 4: Work with local and regional partners to reclaim, conserve, protect and enhance the region's vital natural resources. Strategies . Encourage the integration of natural-resource conservation strategies in regional and local land-use planning decisions. . Work with other regional partners to protect regionally important natural resources identified as unprotected in the Natural Resources Inventory and Assessment. . Work to preserve the quality of the region's water resources. · Work with our regional partners to remain in compliance with federal air quality standards for carbon monoxide, ground level ozone and fine particulate pollution. . Designate additional areas for the regional park system that enhance outdoor recreation opportunities and serve important natural-resource functions. Discussion Our region is endowed with rich natural assets that enhance its quality of life and provide significant economic benefits. Natura] areas recharge aquifers for water supply. They clean stormwater runoff and slow its flow, reducing flood damage and improving the quality ofrivers, lakes and streams. They clean the air by "filtering" it through tree and vegetative cover. Taking advantage of natural air- and water-filtration systems is far less expensive than replacing lost natural functions with costly technology. Natura] areas also increase the local tax base by providing amenities that raise the value of nearby properties, and they boost the economic attractiveness of the area. The 2002 Twin Cities Area Survey reported that 92 percent of those polled agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, "As areas develop, governments should do more to protect natural features, such as wetlands, woodlands, lakes and streams." Making natural resources an integra] part of the planning and development process will help protect highly prized natural features for current and future generations. The Council and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have completed an initial inventory and assessment of regionally important natural resources-the Natural Resources Inventory and Assessment (NRI/A). Local governments can use this large database as a starting point to identify locally important resources and then take ]4 appropriate conservation measures. New development can be located and designed in a way that preserves and benefits from the natural environment. The regional parks and open space system represents a major, well-established conservation effort for land and water resources. The system includes about 55,000 acres within park boundaries, drawing more than 30 million visits a year (2002). But the area's growing population will need additional large-scale park and open space lands in the future. The region needs to identify natural areas that could be added to the regional park system and plan for their acquisition before the opportunity is lost. Although the region is a water-rich area, the quality of its rivers. lakes and streams is affected by stormwater runoff containing phosphorus, other nutrients, oils, road salt and other pollutants. Loss of natural areas contributes to increased runoff and lowered water quality. Best management practices are needed to keep pollutants out of the region's surface- and groundwater. Proper management of on-site septic systems is needed to minimize impacts on groundwater. Air quality is a key indicator of the quality of life in the region. Maintaining and improving air quality will enhance the region's ability to continue growing economically. Aggregate-sand, gravel and crushed rock-is another resource vital to the area. The regional transportation systems and the building industry need large volumes of aggregate for construction and maintenance. But the metropolitan area is losing access to its aggregate resources and rapidly depleting the supply. Development located on or near aggregate deposits has shut off access to about 45% of the aggregate originally available in the metropolitan area. To deal with this issue, the Minnesota Legislature directed each local unit of government in the metropolitan area to amend its local comprehensive plan to address issues related to aggregate, when such resources are present in the community (Minn. Stat. 473.859). This is a step toward preserving sources of aggregate for the future, but additional protections and incentives are needed to ensure their continued availability. Prime agricultural soils are important not only to farming communities but also to the region as a whole. They have been identified in the Natural Resources Inventory. About a half-million acres in the region are planned and zoned to maintain agriculture as the primary long-term land use, most of it located in a crescent-shaped arc through the region's southern and southwestern counties-Dakota, Scott and Carver. For many rural communities, these soils are an important natural resource. The Council supports local communities in their determination of how best to use this land. (Minn. Stat. 473.859). 15 Chapter 3/Strategies for Geographic Planning Areas Implementing the Regional Development Framework is not a one-size-fits-all process. There are different strategies for communities based on the types of growth that are expected. These variations are reflected in "Geographic Planning Areas" designated by the Council and illustrated on the Regional Growth Strategy Map (attached at the end of this document). This map, which incorporates the current land use plans of the region's communities, also will serve as the foundation for the next round of comprehensive plan updates. It identifies an urban area and a rural area, each of which occupies approximately half of the region. The urban area is divided into two specific geographic planning areas: the Developing Communities and the Developed Communities. The rural area is divided into four specific geographic planning areas: Rural Centers/Rural Growth Centers, the Diversified Rural Communities, the Rural Residential Areas and the Agricultural Areas. One of the primary differences among these planning areas is the density at which they develop. The Council has established benchmarks indicating the overall densities that planned development patterns in each ofthe geographic planning areas can be expected to achieve. The Council negotiates a share of the regional forecasts with each community based on its geographic planning area designation(s), development trends, expected densities, available land, local interests and Council policies. The cumulative results of the community-accepted distribution of the forecasts among planning areas becomes the basis for determining the required land supply, and for the Council's plans for and investments in regional systems such as highways and wastewater service. Approximately 9 I % to 95% of new growth is forecast to be located in the urban area-in land use patterns that make efficient use of regional infrastructure-with the rest, 5% to 9%, in the rural area, particularly in small towns to be designated as Rural Growth Centers. The Regional Growth Strategy Map - together with the overall strategies in Table I and the Geographic Planning Area Table specific to each planning area shown on the map - outlines the roles of individual communities and strategies for accommodating expected growth. At times, planning area designations may change. The Council will work with communities through the comprehensive planning process and within the parameters of the Framework to implement such changes. Each community will determine how to implement the strategies in the geographic planning area tables. The range of choices provides considerable local flexibility. For example, a Developed Community could-as the table for Developed Communities states-accommodate growth forecasts through reinvestment at appropriate densities by adopting innovative zoning techniques for compatible mixed-use development or shaping new projects at an appropriate scale. In addition, a community in any part of the region may choose to develop and/or expand centers that work for their city. Centers vary in scale - from the downtowns of the region's two central cities to small centers that provide services to neighborhoods or rural areas. Centers integrate land-use patterns, mixing jobs, housing, retail, services and - potentially - open space and connect them 16 with streets, sidewalks and trails. They can be planned as part of new development or created incrementally by adding the "missing pieces" - be they housing, jobs, services or street connections-to existing places in all parts of the region. The Council will provide technical assistance, such as the Local Planning Handbook, to help local governments implement community-appropriate practices like these to achieve regional objectives rather than using a checklist of expectations every community must meet. Many of the Council's tools for helping communities accommodate growth apply to all communities. For example, the Council works with all communities to plan and stage regional services. The regional infrastructure becomes the framework upon which communities add local services. The Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment provides a valuable database of natural resources of regional importance across the metro area. Every community can use the infonnation as a starting point from which to build more detailed maps of local resources. The first table in this chapter summarizes the strategies that apply to all the region's communities. Table 2 addresses the Developed Communities, Table 3 the Developing Communities and Tables 4-7 the Rural Areas. Table I: Growth Accommodation in All Communities Policv 1: \\lurk with communities to accommodate o-rowth in a flexible, connected and efficient manner. Council Role 0 Invest Council resources-infrastructure improvements, grant programs and technical assistance - to accommodate regional growth while using regional systems and land efficiently. 0 Conserve natural resources-particularly water resources--and protect vital natural areas when planning and constructing regional infrastructure (wastewater systems, roads, transit, parks and open space, and airports). 0 Update regional plan for water supply and coordinate with public and private entities on regional water supply issues, source protection and conservation practices. 0 Pursue environmentally sound and cooperative water use practices, conservation initiatives. and joint planning and implementation efforts to maximize surface water infiltration to recharge groundwater supplies. 0 Maintain or replace regional wastewater facilities as they age or become obsolete. 0 Promote the inclusion of best practices for storm water management, habitat restoration, and natural resource conservation in development plans and projects. 0 Promote proper management of individual sewage treatment systems (consistent with Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080). Community Role 0 Plan for development that accommodates growth forecasts at appropriate densities. 0 Adopt and implement a Council-approved comprehensive plan. 0 Maintain, replace or expand local facilities and infrastructure to meet growth and development needs. 0 Conserve natural resources~particularly water resources~ and protect vital natural areas when designing and constructing local infrastructure and planning land use patterns. 0 Prepare local water supply and wellhead protection plans as required by the MLP A. 0 Develop and implement environmentally sound and cooperative water use practices. conservation initiatives. and joint planning and implementation efforts, including wellhead protection plans. designed to protect and ensure an adequate supply of water for the region. 0 Incorporate innovative storm water management techniques, natural resources conservation practices. and habitat restoration projects into development plans and projects. 0 Adopt Individual Sewage Treatment System (ISTS) management ordinances and implement a maintenance program (consistent with Minnesota Rules Chanter 7080). 17 Policy 2: Plan and invest in multi-modal transportation choices based on the full range of costs and benefits, to slow the !!rowth of congestion and serve the reuion's economic needs. Council Role . Plan a multi-modal, interconnected transportation system in cooperation with state agencies, counties and local governments. . Expand the capacity of the regional transportation system to slow the growth of congestion. Support improvements to principal arterials and A-minor arterials, including county roads. Expand the regional trails system. . Support implementation of the most appropriate and cost effective techologies to manage and optimize the use of both the highway and transit systems (examples: HOT lanes, ramp metering). . Support a variety of freight transport modes to link the region with state, national and international markets. . Help communities comply with MN/DOT's access management guidelines. . Coordinate with communities, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, and the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure planned land uses in areas surrounding airports are compatible with Land Use Compatibilitv Guidelines for Aircraft Noise. Community Role . Plan and develop an interconnected local transportation system that is integrated with the regional system. . Develop local land uses linked to the local and regional transportation systems. . Plan for connections between housing and centers of employment, education, retail and recreation uses. . Coordinate with business and other public agencies congestion-reduction measures such as collaboration with employers, provision of information or incentives to minimize or decrease peak-period impacts. . Adopt improved design principles to support better access and traffic management. . Use MN/DOT's access management guidelines to prepare local plans and ordinances. . Use Land Use Compatibility Guidelinesfor Aircrqft Noise to plan appropriate land uses for areas surrounding airports. Policy 3: Encourage expanded choices in housing location and types, and improved access to jobs and opportunities. Council Role . Provide guidance and negotiate Iifecycle and affordable housing goals in implementing the Livable Communities Act (LCA) and Metropolitan Land Planning Act (MLPA). . Invest Council resources to assist communities and community projects that increase the variety of housing types and costs, appropriately mix land uses, increase transportation choices, and leverage private investment. Community Role . Develop and implement comprehensive plans that provide land appropriate for a variety of affordable and life-cycle housing options. . Adopt local housing goals and implementation plans. . Use local official controls and resources to facilitate development ofa range of housing densities, types and costs. . Approve and permit proposed housing developments in light of population forecasts, existing housing stock, and current and future community and regional needs, as appropriate. 18 Policy 4: \\lork with local and regional partners to conserve, protect and enhance the region's vital natural resources. Council Role . Partner with state agencies, counties, communities, builders and developers, and non-profits to conserve, maintain and restore natural resources identified in regional and local natural resource inventories. Integrate natural resource conservation strategies into regional system plans for infrastructure improvements and development and to restore degraded natural resources of regional importance to support an interconnected network of natural resources. . Coordinate and provide technical assistance to communities as they develop local stormwater management plans consistent with Minnesota Rules Chapter 8410 and the MLPA. . Expand the regional park system, as appropriate, to conserve, maintain and connect natural resources identified as high quality or of regional importance. Invest in acquisition and development of land for the regional park system. . Develop and promote the use of best management practices for abating, preventing and removing point and nonpoint source pollution; reducing soil erosion; protecting and improving water quality; and maximizing groundwater recharge. . Provide technical assistance to communities regarding the adoption and enforcement of environmental preservation and conservation techniques and ordinances. . Work with Dublic and orivate entities to maintain the aualitv of regional water resources. Community Role . Complete local natural resource inventories as they deem appropriate. Give strong consideration to integrating natural resources, including aggregate, identified in regional and local natural resources inventories into local land use decision-making. . Adopt and enforce erosion control ordinances and other environmental preservation and conservation techniques and ordinances. . Prepare and implement local stormwater management plans consistent with Minnesota Rules Chapter 8410 and the MLPA. . Include as a part oflocal park systems natural resources that are identified as high quality or oflocal and regional importance. . Implement surface water management practices geared to protecting and maintaining the quality oflocal water resources. . Adopt and implement best management practices for abating, preventing and removing point and non point source pollution; reducing soil erosion; protecting and improving water quality; and maximizing groundwater recharge through surface water infiltration. Developed Communities Council investments in regional systems and incentives for the Developed Communities are to maintain current infrastructure; renew and improve infrastructure, buildings and land to provide for additional growth, particularly at centers along transit corridors; and support developments that integrate land uses. Developed Communities Anoka County: Anoka Circle Pines. Columbia Heights. Coon Rapids. Fridley. Hilltop. Lexington. Spring Lake Park Dakota County: Apple Valley. Burnsville. Lilydale. Mendota Mendota Heights. South St. Paul. 'h"est St. Paul Hennepin County: Bloomington. Brooklyn Center. Champlin. Crystal. Deephaven. Edina Excelsior. Fort Snelling. Golden Valley. Greenwood. Hopkins. Long Lake. Loretta. Medicine Lake. Minneapolis. Minnetonka Minnetonka Beach. Mound. New Hope. Osseo. Richfield. Robbinsdale. St. Anthony. S1. Louis Park. Spring Park. Tonka Bay. Wayzata Woodland Ramse)' County: Arden Hills. Falcon Heights. Gem Lake. Lauderdale. Little Canada, Maplewood. Mounds Vie\\. Nev.' Brighton. North S1. PauL Roseville. Saint Paul. Shoreview. Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake. \\ihite Bear Township Washington County: Birchwood. Landfall. Mahtomedi. Ne"vport. S1. Paul Park. Stillwater. Willernie 19 Table 2: Growth Accommodation in Developed Communities Policy 1: Work with communities to accommodate 2rowth in a flexible, connected and efficient manner. Council Role . Invest Council resources to facilitate reinvestment (infill, adaptive reuse and redevelopment). . Maintain and expand existing regional infrastructure to adequately support reinvestment as identified in local comprehensive plans. . Reduce infiltration and inflow into the regional wastewater treatment system. Community Role . Accommodate growth forecasts through reinvestment at appropriate densities (5 units plus in developed areas and target higher density in locations with convenient access to transportation corridors and with adequate sewer capacity). . Approve and permit reinvestment projects that make cost effective use of infrastructure and increase density. . Adopt ordinances to accommodate growth and use land and infrastructure efficiently (examples; innovative zoning techniques for mixed use development, transit oriented development. overlay districts, planned unit development provisions, and traditional neighborhood development overlay zones.) . Support the conversion or reuse of under utilized lands in order to accommodate growth forecasts, ensure efficient utilization of existing infrastructure investments and meet community needs. . Reduce infiltration and inflow into the local and regional wastewater treatment system. Policy 2: Plan and invest in multi~modal transportation choices based on the full range of costs and benefits, to slow the l!rowth of cOJ!gestion and serve the r~on's economic needs. Council Role . Plan regional highway and transit systems, pedestrian and bicycle investments to improve connections between workplaces, residences, retail, services and entertainment activities to accommodate growth and reinvestment. . Plan to complete 6-lane ring route, eliminate bottlenecks, make select capacity improvements and improve system management. . Provide and improve transit connections by coordinating planning for infill and redevelopment projects with state agencies, counties and local communities. . Implement, maintain and operate (along with the opt-outs) transitways, transit stations and transit service; plan appropriate station-area land uses with local governments and business. Community Role . Make local transportation, transit, pedestrian and bicycle investments to improve connections between workplaces, residences, retail, services and entertainment activities. . Identify opportunities to improve transportation connections and address transportation issues such as travel demand management, access management, safety and mobility when planning infill and redevelopment projects. . Plan land use patterns that support transit service and development. . Adopt ordinances to support integrated land use (examples: ordinances encouraging or allowing shared parking; centers, transit oriented developments). . Coordinate with business and other public agencies congestion-reduction measures such as collaboration with emDlovers. provision of information or incentives to minimize or decrease peak-period impacts. 20 Table 2: Growth Accommodation in DeveloDed Communities Policy 3: Encourage expanded choices in housing location and types, and improved access to jobs and opportunities. Council Role . Use regional system investments and incentives to help developed communities maintain and preserve the existing housing stock and to add new higher density housing that responds to changing demographic and market trends. . Maintain and exoand existino regional infrastructure to adeauatelv support reinvestment. Community Role . Plan for and guide infill development, redevelopment, and adaptive reuse of structures to diversify housing. connect housing and jobs. and integrate new development into existing neighborhoods. . Adopt and pursue reinvestment strategies to achieve MLP A/LeA housing goals. . Encourage the preservation of existing neighborhoods and expansion of housing choices within the city.. . Adopt ordinances to increase lifecycle and affordable housing (examples: increased multi-family use, reduced front and interior setback reQuirements; cluster develonment ordinances). Policy 4: \\'ork with local and regional partners to conserve, protect and enhance the region's vital natural resources. Council Role . Support the reclamation of contaminated lands for redevelopment and restore natural resources. . Work with communities to implement best management practices to control and treat stormwater as redevelooment oooortunities arise. Community Role . Approve and permit projects designed to reclaim contaminated lands and restore natural resources where appropriate. . Imolement best manal!ement oractices to control and treat storm water as redevelooment oODortunities arise. Developing Communities Council investments in regional systems and incentives for the Developing Communities focus on accommodating growth, supporting centers along corridors, encouraging connected land use patterns for new development and encouraging the development of communities where shopping, jobs and a variety of housing choices co- exist by design. Local 2020 comprehensive plans already designate sufficient land to accommodate this growth through 2020. However, to accommodate household growth projected to 2030, assuming 30% of regional residential growth will occur in the Developed Communities, the region will need to add 15,000 residential acres. Further, the Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment identifies approximately 5,000 acres of unprotected natural resources of regional importance in areas planned for development. Protection of these natural resource lands would require the designation of additional acres for residential development. Finally, the region will also need to provide urban services to an estimated 14,000 acres (about 40% of the total land demand) to accommodate other land uses such as commercial and industrial development. Based on these numbers, the Council must plan regional infrastructure to provide services to 35,000 acres. in addition to the existing 2020 staged development as shown in local plans. 21 Residential Residential Not Replacement Residential Assumptions Affected by for Natural Natural Resource Areas Commercial, Total Resource Areas Needing Protection Industrial, Other Expected housing mix. land patterns. Upto reinvestment achieved 15.000 acres 5.000 acres 14.000 acres 34.000 acres Additional Land Needed for 2030 Metropolitan Urban Service Area Flexibility will be a hallmark of the Council and Developing Communities' long-term growth planning and staging. Achieving connected land use patterns that can be served efficiently and economically with urban services will be more important than adherence to regulatory requirements such as making new growth contiguous with existing development. Decisions to extend regional infrastructure for Developing Communities will be made based on evidence of efforts to mix and connect land use patterns at appropriate densities. Communities can choose among a variety of actions to do that. For instance, they could adopt innovative zoning techniques (e.g. overlay districts or planned unit development provisions), implement context sensitive designs or adopt conservation subdivision ordinances. Many Developing Communities contain older, developed areas where strategies listed for the Developed Communities are more appropriate to address land use changes. In addition, Developing Communities are encouraged to plan for the entire communities and, as appropriate, use strategies to preserve areas for Diversified Rural or Agricultural to maintain areas for post-2030 urbanization. (Appropriate additional geographic planning areas and strategies are shown in parenthesis after each community name.) Developing Communities Anoka County: Andover (urban reserve, Rural Residential), Blaine. Centerville (urban reserve).Lino Lakes (urban reserve), Ramsey (urban reserve) Caner County: Chanhassen, Chaska Laketown Tovvnship (urban reserve, Diversified Rural), Victoria (urban reserve). Waconia Dakota Count)': Coates (Agricultural Preservation). Eagan. Empire Township ,(urban reserve, Agricultural Area). Farmington (urban reserve), Hastings (urban reserve). lnver Grove Heights (Rural Residential). Lakeville (urban reserve), Rosemount (urban reserve. Agricultural Area), Sunfish Lake Hennepin County: Brooklyn Park. Corcoran (urban reserve. Diversified Rural), Dayton (urban reserve), Eden Prairie, Hassan TO\vnship (urban reserve, Diversified Rural). Maple Grove. Maple Plain. Medina (urban reserve. Diversified Rural), Minnetrista (urban reserve, Agricultural Area. Diversified Rural). Orono (urban reserve. Diversified Rural), Plymouth (urban reserve). Rogers (urban reserve). S1. Bonifacius, Shorewood Ramsey Count)': North Oaks Scott County: Prior Lake (urban reserve). Savage, Shakopee (urban reserve) \Vashington Coun1)': Bayport. Cottage Grove (urban reserve. Agricultural Area). Forest Lake (Diversified Rural). Grey Cloud Township (Diversified Rural). Hugo (urban reserve, Diversified Rural). Lake Elmo (urban reserve. Diversified Rural), Oakdale. Oak Park Heights. Woodbury (urban reserve) 22 Table 3: Growth Accommodation in Develoninl! Communities Policy 1: 'York with communities to accommodate (Jrowth in a flexible. connected and efficient manner. Council Role . Plan, coordinate and invest in regional infrastructure (roads, transit. wastewater treatment, airports, and parks and open space) and resources to support staged development, and centers with convenient access to transportation and transit corridors. . Commit to provide regional system infrastructure to support local development consistent with approved local comprehensive plans. . Reduce infiltration and inflow into the regional wastewater treatment system. . Promote development practices and patterns that protect natural resource areas and the integrity of the region's water supply. . Work with communities to identify and protect an adequate supply of land within the region to accommodate urban development that will occur after 2030. . Provide technical assistance to developing communities to establish and implement strategies to protect lands for future urban development. Community Role . Plan and stage development that accommodates the forecasts for local growth through 2030 at appropriate densities (3-5 units plus per acre overall in developing communities for areas outside the current staged development as shown in local plans and target higher density in locations with convenient access to transportation corridors and with adequate sewer capacity). . Stage local infrastructure and development plans to accommodate 20 years worth of forecasted growth. . Select and implement local controls and tools for timing and staging of development throughout the community. . Reduce infiltration and inflow into the local and regional wastewater treatment system. . Adopt ordinances to accommodate growth and use land and inrrastructure efficiently (examples: innovative zoning techniques for mixed use development, transit oriented development, overlay districts, planned unit development provisions, adequate public facilities ordinances, community impact statements and traditional neighborhood development overlay zones.) . Plan for the conversion or reuse of declining or underutilized lands in order to accommodate growth forecasts, ensure efficient utilization of infrastructure investments and meet community needs. . Plan for the entire community and consider the need for additional serviceable land for growth beyond 2030. . Identify areas reserved for future urban development and develop strategies to minimize development in those areas that could preclude future urban development. . Plan land use patterns that will facilitate groundwater recharge to protect the region's water supply. . Plan for necessary infrastructure improvements including, as appropriate, executing orderly annexation aoreements. Policy 2: Plan and invest in multi-modal transportation choices based on the full range of costs and benefits, to slow the f!rowth of conp'estion and serve the rep'ion's economic needs. Council Role . Plan for regional highway and transit systems, pedestrian and bicycle investments to improve connections between workplaces, residences, retail, services and entertainment activities and to accommodate growth. . Work with the Transportation Advisory Board to ensure the efforts of cities and counties that coordinate their development and transportation planning are recognized in the comoetition for federal transportation funds. 23 Table 3: Growth Accommodation in Develovinl!: Communities Community Role . Make local transportation, transit, pedestrian and bicycle investments to build connections between workplaces, residences, retail, services and entertainment activities and to support the transportation needs of the planned build out of the community. . Identiry opportunities to improve transportation connections and address transportation issues such as commuting (park and rides, express bus service), access management, safety and mobility when planning new development. . Coordinate development planning with the county to ensure highway capacity is available when and where needed. . Plan land use patterns to support transit development and service expansion. . Adopt ordinances to support integrated land use (examples: ordinances encouraging or allowing shared parking; centers; transit oriented developments). Policy 3: Encourage expanded choices in housing location and types, and improved access to jobs and ~ortunities. Council Role . Provide technical assistance to assist developing communities to devise ordinances and projects for lifecycle and affordable housin.g that respond to changin.g market and demographic trends. Community Role . Evaluate proposed housing developments in light of population forecasts, existing housing stock, and current and future community and regional needs; approve and permit developments as appropriate. . Adopt ordinances designed to encourage lifecycle and affordable housing (examples: increased multi-family zoning, reduced front and interior setback requirements; cluster develooment ordinances). Policy 4: Work with local and regional partners to conserve, protect and enhance the region's vital natural resources. See Table I. Rural Area: Rural Centers and Rural Growth Centers Rural Centers are the small towns located throughout the Rural Area. The 16 Rural Centers include residential neighborhoods surrounding a center that provides basic consumer services and community activities. These are older communities, many of them established more than a century ago to serve surrounding farms. Rural Centers that are interested in growing are identified as Rural Growth Centers. Council will use regional investments and incentives to help Rural Growth Centers accommodate growth as an alternative to scattered development in the rural area. (Appropriate additional geographic planning areas are shown in parenthesis after each community name.) Rural Centers Anoka County: Bethel (Diversified Rural), St. Francis (Diversified Rural) Carver County: Carver (Agricultural Area). Cologne. Hamburg, Mayer (Agricultural Area), New Germany. Norwood Young America Watertown Dakota Coun!)': Hampton (Agricultural Area). Vcnnillion (Agricultural Area) Scott County: Belle Plaine. Elko, Jordan. Nc\\.' Market Washington Count}': Marine on St. Croix (Diversified Rural) 24 Table 4: Growth Accommodation in Rnral Centers and Rural Growth Centers Polirv 1: Work with communities to accommodate o-rowth in a flexible~ connected and efficient manner. Council Role Rural Growth Centers . Work with Rural Growth Centers. surrounding townships and counties to provide for the orderly expansion of these cities and to preserve low densities in the surrounding rural areas (e.g., not to exceed 1 unit per 40 acres in agricultural areas and 1 unit per 10 acres in diversified rural areas. . Plan for improvements to regional infrastructure to support expected gro\\1h at residential densities of 3-5 plus units per acre; for wastewater services consider acquiring and operating the plant if doing so would be more efficient and cost effective, and provide other regional benefits. Rural Centers . Provide technical assistance to Rural Centers to nreserve and maintain existing development. Community Role Rural Growth Centers . Request the Council to consider acquiring and operating its wastewater treatment plant if doing so would be more efficient and cost effective, and provide other regional benefits. . Execute orderly annexation agreements. . Identify areas that will accommodate post-2030 growth forecasts and implement strategies to preserve these areas for future gro\\1h (e.g. clustered development not to exceed 1 unit per 10 acres in Diversified Rural Areas and clustered development not to exceed 1 unit per 40 acres in agricultural preservation areas). Plan for necessary infrastructure improvements. . Adopt ordinances that time development with infrastructure availability. Rural Centers . Plan for the oreservation and maintenance of the communitv. Policy 2: Plan and invest in multi-modal transportation choices based on the full range of costs and benefits, to slow the 2.rowth of conpestion and serve the repion's economic needs. Council Role Rural Growth Centers . Provide park-and-pool or park-and-ride and express-bus links to urban areas based on demand and the availability of resources. Community Role . Plan for an interconnected system oflocal streets, nedestrian and bicycle facilities. Policy 3: Encourage expanded choices in housing location and types, and improved access to jobs and oDDortunities. See Table 1. Policy 4: Work with local and regional partners to conserve, protect and enhance the region's vital natural resources. See Table I. Rural Area: Rural Residential Areas Rural Residential Areas are immediately adjacent to Developing Areas and have large numbers of individual sewage treatment systems at densities of 2.5 acres or less. Rural Residential Areas face challenges in making the transition from rural unsewered development to sewered development. As the Council updates its system plans, the feasibility of providing regional wastewater services, in conjunction with local water supply and transportation system improvements, will be examined. The Council will partner with each community to explore strategies that would allow some or all existing Rural Residential Areas to make the transition to densities that can be served efficiently with public services. 25 Four communities have areas designated as the Rural Residential Area. As the four communities consider providing for current and future residents, they should focus on protecting the environment and natural resources, ensuring sufficient public infrastructure, and discouraging this type of land USe pattern. Infill development should be carefully considered. Rural Residential AreasAnoka Count)'; Ham Lake Scott Count)': Credit River TOWTlship Portions of Andoycr and lover Grove Heights are designated Rural Residential. Table 5: Growth Accommodation in Rural Residential Areas Policy 1: Work with communities to accommodate ~rowth in a flexible, connected and efficient manner. Council Role . Within available resources, provide technical assistance to communities to plan for adequate infrastructure to address current needs and to accommodate forecast growth using development practices that protect the integrity of the region's water supply and natural resources identified in regional or local inventories. . Discourage rural residential patterns (unsewered areas of 2 ~ acre lots) elsewhere in the region. . Within available resources, provide technical assistance about alternative wastewater treatment systems and share specific information, as it becomes available, about the performance of such systems in the region. . Support the MPCA's regulatory approach to community treatment systems, which requires permits for systems that generate at least 10,000 gallons per day of wastewater (about 35 homes) on a case-by-case basis. . Advocate that the local government should be the permit holder for alternative wastewater treatment systems to ensure accountability for the proper functioning and maintenance of the systems. Community Role . Plan and develop interconnected local streets, adequate water supply, and properly managed individual sewage treatment systems to accommodate local growth forecasts. . Plan land use patterns that will facilitate groundwater recharge to protect the region's water supply. . Protect the rural environment. Locally oversee the management and maintenance of alternative wastewater treatment systems such as community drainfields to avoid the environmental and economic costs from failed systems. . Ensure financial and environmental accountability for installation, maintenance, remediation and management of any permitted private wastewater treatment systems. Policy 2: Plan and invest in multi-modal transportation choices based on the full range of costs and benefits, to slow the !!rowth of congestion. Council Role . Plan for regional transportation infrastructure consistent with a rural level of service. . Support the limiting of access points to state and county roads systems (consistent with state and county access management policies) and emphasize construction of an interconnected local public street system. Community Role . Plan for and construct local transportation infrastructure sufficient to serve local needs. . Construct an interconnected local public street system. . Adopt imoroved design techniques for access management. Policy 3: Encourage expanded choices in housing location and types, and improved access to jobs and .Qpportunities. See Table 1. Policy 4: Work with local and regional partners to conserve, protect and enhance the region's vital natural resources. Council Role See Table 1. Community Role . Adopt conservation subdivision ordinances, cluster development ordinances, or environmental protection provisions in land use ordinances. 26 Rural Area: Diversified Rural Communities The Diversified Rural Communities host the widest variety of farm and non-farm land uses in patterns that include a mix of a limited amount of large-lot residential and clustered housing with agriculture and other uses, including facilities and services requiring a rural location. Regional infrastructure investments in the Diversified Rural Communities will consist of expenditures for parks, open spaces and green corridor connections-including acquisition and development of regional parkland to serve the residents of the region. Investments in wastewater treatment and transportation infrastructure will be consistent with the Council's intent to limit the amount of development occurring in the Diversified Rural Communities and serve broader regional needs. Growth in Diversified Rural Communities should be consistent with regional forecasts. Diversified Rural Communities Anoka County: Burns Township, Columbus Township (Developing Community). East Bethel. Linwood To\\.nship. Oak Grove Dakota Count)': Miesville (Agricultural Area), New Trier (Agricultural Area). Randolph (Agricultural Area), Ravenna Township (Agricultural Area) Hennepin County: Greenfield. Independence (Agricultural Area), Scott Couol)': Cedar Lake Township. Helena TO\\TIship (urban reserve. Agricultural Area). Jackson Tovmship (urban reserve). Louisville Township (urban reserve). Nc\v Market Township. (urban reserve). St. Lawrence Tovvnship (urhan reserve, Agricultural Area). Sand Creek Tov.mship (urban reserve. Agricultural Area), Spring Lake Township (urban reservc) \\'ashington Count)': Afton (Agricultural Area). Baytov.m To"mship, Dcllwood, Denmark Township (Agricultural Area), Grant (Agricultural Area), Lakeland. Lakeland Shores. Lake 51. Croix Bcach, May Township (Agricultural Area), Nevv Scandia Township. Pine Springs. 51. Mary's Point Stilhvater Tov.'11ship, West Lakcland Township Table 6: Com rehensive ptannin Strate ies for Diversified Rural Areas Polic 1: Work with communities to accommodate rowth in a flexible, connected and efficient manner. Council Role . Work with communities to plan development patterns that will: protect natural resources; preserve areas where post-1030 growth can be provided with cost-effective and efficient urban infrastructure; and accommodate forecasted grov.1h through 2030 without requiring the provision of regional urban services. . Within available resources, provide technical assistance about alternative wastewater treatment systems and share specific information, as it becomes available, about the performance of such systems in the region. . Support the MPCA's regulatory approach to community treatment systems. which requires permits for systems that generate at least 10,000 gallons per day of wastewater (about 35 homes) on a case-by-case basis. . Advocate that the local government should be the permit holder for alternative wastewater treatment systems to ensure accountability for the proper functioning and maintenance of the systems. . Promote develo ment ractices and atterns that rotect the inteorit of the region's water su 27 Table 6: Comprehensive Planninl! Strategies for Diversified Rural Areas Policy 1: Work with communities to accommodate 2:rowth in a flexible, connected and efficient manner. Community Role . Accommodate growth not to exceed forecasts at clustered development not to exceed I unit per 10 acres. . Plan development patterns that will protect natural resources. Preserve areas where post-2030 growth can be provided with cost-effective and efficient urban infrastructure and accommodate growth without requiring the provision of regional urban services. . Protect the rural environment. Locally oversee the management and maintenance of alternative wastewater treatment systems such as community draintields to avoid the environmental and economic costs 'lTom failed systems. . Ensure financial and environmental accountability for installation, maintenance, remediation and management of any permitted private wastewater treatment systems. . Adopt conservation subdivision ordinances, cluster development ordinances, or environmental protection provisions in land use ordinances Policy 2: Plan and invest in multi-modal transportation choices based on the full range of costs and benefits, to slow the prowth of coneeslion. Council Role . Plan re.gional transportation infrastructure consistent with a rural level of service. Community Role . Plan for and construct local transportation infrastructure including trails sufficient to serve local needs. Policy 3: Encourage expanded choices in housing location and types, and improved access to jobs and opportunities. See Table I. Policy 4: Work with local and regional partners to conserve, protect and enhance the region's vital natural resources. Council Role . Partner with state agencies, counties and communities to conserve, maintain and restore natural resources identified in regional and local natural resource inventories. Integrate natural resource conservation strategies into plans for infrastructure improvements and development . DeveloD additional tools for resource orotection including model conservation easements. Community Role . Conserve, maintain and restore natural resources identified in regional and local natural resource inventories. Integrate natural resource conservation strategies into development plans. Rural Area: Agricultural Areas The Agricultural Areas-found mostly in Dakota, Scott and Carver Counties- contains about half a million acres planned and zoned by local communities to maintain agriculture as the primary long-tenn land use. In the Agricultural Areas, the Council will focus existing regional incentives and assist with local initiatives to preserve high-quality soils for existing or future agricultural use. Investments in regional infrastructure such as roads, wastewater treatment, and parks and open space will be for rural levels of service consistent with the intent to maintain agriculture. Growth in the Agricultural Areas should be consistent with regional forecasts. As the Council updates its system plans, the feasibility of providing regional services in response to potential development of agricultural areas post-2030 will be examined. The Council will partner with these communities to ensure that the feasibility analysis meets community and regional needs. 28 Agricultural Areas Carver County: Benton TO\vnship, Camden Township_ Chaska To\vnship, Dahlgren TO\-\11Ship (urban reserve), Hancock Township, Hollywood Tmvnship. San Francisco TO\\TIship, Waconia Township. Watertown Township (urban reserve). Young America Township (urban reserve) Dakota County: Castle Rock Township. Douglas TOVVTIship_ Eureka Township_ Grcenvale TO\\TIship_ Hampton Township_ Marshan Township. Nininger Township. Randolph Township (Diversified Rural). Sciota Township. Vermillion Township. Waterford Township Scott County: Belle Plaine To\vnship (urban reserve. Diversified Rural). Blakeley Township (urban reserve. Diversilicd Rural) Table 7: Comorehensive Planninl! Stratel!ies for the Al!ricultural Areas Policv 1: Work with communities to accommodate 2:rowth in a flexible, connected and efficient manner. Council Role . Support local efforts to preserve prime agricultural soils and land uses by supporting township and county activities that maintain agricultural land uses through at least 2030. Should post-2030 growth forecasts indicate a need to develop some agricultural lands at urban densities, agricultural land uses will enable the efficient expansion of regional urban infrastructure. Wastewater services to these areas will be reviewed on a case-by- case basis to determine feasibility. . Promote agricultural practices that protect the integrity of the region's water supply. Community Role . Maintain agricultural land uses through at least 2030 to preserve prime agricultural lands and to preserve land for efficient expansion ofpost-2030 regional urban infrastructure, limit residential development. . Promote best management practices for agricultural activities in order to protect the integrity of the region's water supply. . Adopt zoning ordinances and/or other official controls to maintain densities of no more than 1 housing unit per 40 acres in areas designated for agricultural use. . Develop and implement strategies for protecting farmlands, such as exclusive agricultural zoning, agricultural security districts, and lower densities such as I housing unit per 80 acres. . Minimize conflicts between a2:ricultural and non-farm land uses through local ordinances and official controls. Policy 2: Plan and invest in multi-modal transportation choices based on the full range of costs and benefits, to slow the 2:fowth of con2estion and serve the reo-ion's economic needs. Council Role . Plan regional transDortation infrastructure consistent with market access and the agribusiness needs of the area. Community Role . Plan for and construct local transDortation infrastructure sufficient to serve local and agricultural needs. Policy 3: Encourage expanded choices in housing location and types, and improved access to jobs and opportunities. See Table I. Policy 4: Work with local and regional partners to conserve, protect and enhance the region's vital natural resou rces. Council Role . Promote agricultural practices that protect the quality of the region's water resources. . Partner with state agencies, counties and communities to conserve, maintain and restore natural resources identified in regional and local natural resource inventories. Integrate natural resource conservation strategies into plans for infrastructure improvements and development. . Provide information to communities about how to incorporate environmentally sensitive development techniaues into farm-related construction. Community Role . Promote best management practices for agricultural activities in order to protect the quality of the local and regional water resources. . Conserve, maintain and restore natural resources identified in regional and local natural resource inventories. Integrate natural resource conservation strategies into development plans. . Encourage the use of environmentally sensitive development techniques in farm-related construction, such as surface water management that includes using natural systems to drain, filter and retain stonnwater. 29 Chapter 4/1mplementation The Metropolitan Council has a number of important tools to help shape the future growth of the seven-county metropolitan area and pursue the goals established in this Regional Development Framework. These tools include: . The comprehensive planning process. Under the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, local communities are required to adopt comprehensive plans that are consistent with the Council's Development Framework and its four metropolitan system plans - for transportation, aviation, wastewater treatment and regional parks (Minn. Stat. 473.858-.859; 473.864). · The technical assistance the Council offers to local communities through our forecasts, loca] planning handbook, comprehensive plan reviews, sector representatives and various targeted programs (Minn. Stat. 473.] 75; 473.854; 473.867). . The Council's responsibilities for guiding capital investments in the four regional systems (Minn. Stat. 473.146), which are supplemented by federally mandated integrated planning for wastewater and stormwater (33 U.S.C. ]288) and transportation and air quality (42 U.S.C 7408). . The Council's incentive programs that provide grants to communities seeking to expand housing choices, promote connected development and clean up contaminated land for redevelopment (Minn. Stat. 473.25-.255). But the success of these efforts hinges on the Council's partnerships - with loca] communities, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, other state and federal agencies, and stakeholder groups such as builders, environmentalists, housing advocates and philanthropic organizations. Insofar as state law permits, the Council also will strive to build closer working relationships with ]ocal officials in the counties immediately surrounding the metropolitan area, working with them on a voluntary basis to share information about plans and projects of mutual concern. The Council will invite the participation of policy and technical representatives from the adjacent counties in advisory committees, and seek other opportunities to work in partnership with representatives of the adjacent counties and the region. The Council can playa key role as a convenor on regional issues in support of Development Framework policies. But ]ocal governments hold the key to land use decisions that make the difference "on the ground," And state and federal resources and participation are essential in a wide range of areas - from highways and transit to park land acquisition and groundwater protection. 30 , , Local Planning Process Metropolitan Land Planning Act As communities in the Twin Cities area plan for their future, they are guided by the Development Framework and related plans and policies for regional systems. In this process, the Council and communities share responsibilities under the Metropolitan Land Planning Act. The Council prepares forecasts of regional growth based on such information as U.S. Census data, regional growth trends and demographics (Minn. Stat. 473.] 46). With each community, the Council negotiates the share of growth for which that community will plan, taking into account Council policies, local land-use patterns, developable land supply and the community's current comprehensive plan. The Council then revises its Development Framework to include regional policies and plans to accommodate the forecasted growth, with the participation of local governments, area organizations and citizens. The Framework sets the parameters for plans that guide the future development of the metropolitan systems-transportation, wastewater, airports and parks. Each local government is provided with a summary of how those regional plans will affect that individual community. The local government, in turn, takes responsibility for meeting local needs within the regional framework. If changes to the local plan are needed. the community undertakes a process to make those changes (Minn. Stat. 473.856-.857; 473.864-.865). Once it revises its local plan. the community sends its plan to adjacent municipalities for them to consider the plan's impact and to the Council for its review based on requirements of the Land Planning Act and other state and federal guidelines, such as those dealing with transportation and the environment (Minn. Stat. 473.858). The Land Planning Act requires the Council to consider a plan's compatibility with the plans of other communities and its consistency with adopted Council policy plans, as well as its conformity with metropolitan system plans (Minn. Stat. 473.175). ]fthe Council finds that a community's plan is more likely than not to have a substantial impact on or contain a substantial departure from metropolitan system plans, the Council can require the community to modify its local plan to assure conformance with the metropolitan system plans (Minn. Stat. 473.] 75). Once a community adopts its comprehensive plan, state law does not allow it to adopt any zoning ordinance, fiscal device or other official control that conflicts with its comprehensive plan or which permits activity in conflict with metropolitan system plans (Minn. Stat. 473.858; 473.865). Any local zoning ordinance or other local control that conflicts with the community's local comprehensive plan or metropolitan system plans must be brought into conformance with the plan within nine months (Minn. Stat. 473.865). 3] Metropolitan Significance Sometimes a single development proposal might be large enough to cause a substantial impact on one or more regional systems or on an existing or planned land use of another local government. In such cases, the Metropolitan Significance Review process, established by state statute, can be initiated to review issues and consider possible solutions. A local unit of government, a state agency, a regional commission or a citizen petition can request the Council to undertake a review of the project. The Council itself may also initiate a review (Minn. Stat. 473.173). If the process detennines that the proposed project is of metropolitan significance, the Council is authorized to suspend the proposed project for up to one year. But the Council may also consider whether an amendment to a regional policy or a modification of proposed project will eliminate the determination of metropolitan significance (Minn. Rules part 5800.0130). Technical Assistance The Council offers assistance to communities as they update, amend and implement their local comprehensive plans: Sector Representative Program. This program is staffed by experienced and knowledgeable planners familiar with the Council and its various programs. They provide communities with planning and technical assistance as communities update, amend and implement their local comprehensive plans. These Council planners also help foster cooperative relationships with governmental units and other organizations in the metropolitan area (Minn. Stat. 473.191; 473.867). Watershed Coordinator Program. This program is staffed by experienced and knowledgeable environmental planners. They provide communities, watershed organizations, and state agencies with planning and technical assistance related to watershed issues such as storm water management. They work with local governments and watershed organizations during the development phase of their local surface water management plans and watershed plans (Minn. Stat. 473.191). Handbooks and Information Materials. The Council's Local Planning Handbook guides communities through the Council's comprehensive plan review process. The Council's Urban Small Sites Best Management Practices Manual offers specific examples of how to develop and maintain various land uses to limit adverse effects such as soil erosion on the natural environment. Planning More Livable Communities with Transit-Oriented Development is a guidebook that shows how development can be organized around transit hubs (Minn. Stat. 473.854; 473.867). Model Ordinances. Local ordinances are a primary means by which local governments implement their plans. Council staff can share information with communities about successful ordinances used elsewhere and provide copies of model ordinances prepared by the Council (Minn. Stat. 473.867). 32 Workshops and Practicums. The Council cosponsors workshops based on the theme of "learning by experience"" that bring together loca] government representatives and others to discuss success stories around the region. The sessions have highlighted successful mixed-use developments, models of redeveloped retail strips, projects using innovative stormwater management and design of "livable streets." The Council also holds workshops providing information to local officials on how to apply for grants under the Livable Communities program (Minn. Stat. 473.] 9]; 473.867). Data from the Natural Resources Iuventory and Assessment. The Council and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources gathered and assessed data about land and water resources of regional importance in the seven-county area. The information is compiled into maps that are available to assist local governments with their plans to preserve natural resources while accommodating growth (Minn. Stat. 473.] 9]). Geographic Information System Data. The Geographic Infonnation System (GIS) department of the Council facilitates the sharing of G]S data among government agencies in the region. G]S is a computerized system for creating and analyzing maps using digital data. The GIS department produces web-based maps. graphs, and tables to assist loca] communities with land use planning and implementation. It also provides staff support for the MetroGIS initiative, created to promote data-sharing among government organizations in the region (Minn. Stat. 473.]91). Regional Investments The Council's responsibilities vary for the four regional systems-wastewater, transportation, regional parks and open space, and airports. The Council has the most direct control over the wastewater treatment and transit systems. Through the Transportation Advisory Board process, the Council works closely with MnDOT and loca] communities in planning the regional highway system. The Council plans the regional recreation open space system, approves park master plans by the] 0 regional park implementing agencies, seeks funds from the Legislature to support capital and operating needs for the parks, and awards Council bond funds for regional park capita] needs. The Council provides long-term planning for the regional airports system and approves major capital projects proposed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates most of the system. 33 The following table indicates the funding currently anticipated for the next 10 years for each of these systems: R IS C 't I I 10 Y PI eglOna system apJ a nvestments: - ear an Current Planned Regional Systems Development Programs to-Year Funding Regional wastewater system $J,150M Transit $1.400 M Regional highways $4,210 M Parks and open space $135 M Airports $1.076 M Table Notes: Regional wastewater system - Most recent Council Capital Improvement Program Transit - Most recent Council Capital Improvement Program. extrapolated to 10 years. Highw3)'S - 2003-2006 Transportation Improvement Program. extrapolated to 10 years (includes prinicipal and A minor roads). Parks - Most recent Council Capital Improvement Program. extrapolated to 10 years. Airports - Estimates based on Metropolitan Airports Commission (preliminary) 2004- 20 I 0 Capital Improvement Program, extrapolated to 10 years. Wastewater. The region is in a strong position to keep pace with its needs in the areas of wastewater collection and treatment. The Metropolitan Council owns and maintains 600 miles of regional sewers and eight regional plants that collect and treat up to 300 million gallons of wastewater per day from 103 communities. The system is funded entirely through user fees, with 78% of the revenues coming from municipal treatment charges (passed on by communities to homeowners and businesses), 16% from sewer availablity charges paid by all new connections or businesses requiring increased capacity, and the remainder from other sources. At present, our sewer rates are lower than 83 percent of other U.S. cities with similar- sized treatment systems, according to industry figures published in 2002. For the decade 2004-2013, the Council plans a capital improvement program totaling slightly more than $1.1 billion to accommodate the region's projected growth, meet more stringent wastewater treatment requirements, and rehabilitate and repair facilities as they age. In addition, the Council is working with local communities to reduce the amount of infiltration and inflow of stonnwater and ground water into the sanitary sewer system. Removal of excessive infiltration and inflow is necessary to avoid capacity problems in the regional waterwater system. Highways. Over the next decade, the region is expected to receive about $4.2 billion to preserve the existing metro highway system, improve the management of the system with the goal of moving more people on it, reduce the number of bottlenecks and fund modest expansions. Of the total highway revenues, about 60% comes from the federal government and 40% from the state, most of it from taxes dedicated to highway purposes. 34 These projected revenues fall far short of the region's highway needs. Just to keep pace with these needs would add $4.7 billion to current plans for the next decade. Looking out 25 years, the region lacks funding for improvements that will be needed to alleviate anticipated congestion on such principal arterial highways as 1-94 both east and west of the beltway, 1-35W south of 1-494, 1-35E north of 1-694, Highway 13 in Dakota and Scott Counties, and Highways 10,65 and 242 in Anoka County. In addition, the region will need about approximately $50 million annually, or $500 million over 10 years, for improvements to the "A" minor arterial system. Transit. In previous transportation plans, the Council set a goal of doubling the bus system by 2020, expanding its capacity by 3.5% a year. Since then, the base ridership has declined due to service cuts and a weak economy. As a result, the goal of doubling the bus system must be pushed back to 2030. Previous plans also envisioned developing a network oftransitways - busways, LRT lines and commuter rail lines. Corridors identified as possible candidates for busways included Riverview, Minneapolis Northwest, St. Paul Northeast and Minneapolis East, and Cedar Avenue. Potential corridors for LRT included Central or any transitway with enough ridership to justify LRT. Potential corridors for commuter rail included Northstar and Red Rock. The Minneapolis Southwest/Midtown Greenway corridor also is identified as a potential transitway with vehicle technology unspecified. (These goals and objectives are subject to review and change when the Transportation System Plan is revised following the adoption of this Framework.) Over the next decade, the Council anticipates having $ 1.4 billion available for transit capital investments. This would be sufficient to maintain the existing bus system, begin to purchase the vehicles needed expand the bus system and complete the construction of the LRT line in the Hiawatha corridor. Additional federal, state and local resources would be needed to undertake the construction of any new transitways. However, the operating funds currently provided for transit would not be adequate to expand the system. Currently, state resources fund about 62% of all regional transit operating costs, with 26 percent coming from fare box revenues, 9% from the federal government and 3% from other sources. Both the transit and highway systems suffer from the lack of an adequate, consistent source of funding to meet the needs ofa growing region. The Council will work with the Governor, Legislature, business groups and other stakeholders in an effort to define adequate funding levels and develop funding solutions to help keep pace with these needs and achieve the benchmarks contained in the Framework. Regional Parks. Over the next decade, the regional park system is expected to receive $135 million in funding for its Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Of that amount. 40% ($54 million) would be funded through Council bonds, and the remaining 60% ($81 million) would be funded through a combination of state and federal funds. The CIP funds land acquisition of in-holdings and planned park lands, new development and rehabilitation of existing facilities and natural resources. 35 The Council distributes funds to the 10 implementing agencies based on park visitation and other factors to help rank the funding priorities. While the Council and the state will provide significant support for the regional park system, the 10 implementing agencies have indicated that their actual capital improvement funding need is about $400 million over the next decade. Their need estimate includes $44 million for acquisition, $164 million for development, and $192 million for rehabilitation. Some of the additional projects will be funded through the implementing agencies themselves, and/or through public/private partnerships. Other projects will be delayed beyond the I O-year time frame until funding is available. Looking to the future, the Natural Resources Inventory and Assessment has identified resources of regional importance. As funding and opportunities become available, the Council and the implementing agencies will seek to incorporate some of these lands in the regional parks and trails. Airports. The Metropolitan Airports Commission is in the process of implementing its $3. I billion MSP 2010 plan, which includes major improvements to terminal, runway and other facilities at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Projects now underway include the addition of a new north/south runway, cargo facilities, a fire station, tunnels and a new tower. The timing of additional improvements could change depending upon developments in the airline industry, which is struggling to recover from a poor economy, 9/1 1, the SARS scare and other factors. Funding for airport operations and improvements comes entirely from user fees and federal grants. In 2003, about 42 percent of revenues came from airline rates and charges, 40 percent from parking and concessions, and 18 percent from other sources, such as building and ground rents and utilities. These revenue sources may not be adequate to help the MAC keep pace with its capital investment program, estimated at $ 1.076 billion for the next 10 years. Some projects have been delayed at MSP while others have benefited from current low interest rates for bonding. Substantial changes in the airline industry and poor economy, however, have resulted in the need for cost reduction and reallocation of resources. Funding for reliever airport development needs is being questioned; funding philosophy and rates-and-charges at MAC airports are being re- examined, and potential system effects will be reviewed further as part of the update in the Council's transportation policy plan. Regional Grants The programs authorized under the state Livable Communities Act are the Council's primary tool to support local communities in their efforts to grow efficiently and to reinvest to keep themselves vital. Working in partnership with cities, counties and municipal development authorities, the Council awards grants to projects that (I) clean up contaminated land for redevelopment; (2) promote efficient, connected development; and (3) support the development and preservation of affordable and lifecyle housing (Minn. Stat. 473.25- .255). It's estimated that, since the launch of the program in 1996, Council grants totaling about $]00 million (as of July 2003) have resulted in commitments of $3 billion in 36 private and other public investment. The source of funds is a state-authorized levy on the region's tax base (Minn. Stat. 473.252-.254). Communities that apply for funding through the program must first agree to participate in the Livable Communities housing incentives program and must work toward housing goals negotiated with the Council (Minn. Stat. 473.252-.255). As of 2003, 106 metropolitan area communities are participating in the local housing incentives program. The programs and their annual funding levels are listed in the following table: Livable Communities Annual Funding Prol'rams Levels Tax-Base Revitalization Account $5.000.000' Livable Communities Demonstration Account $8.200.000+ Local Housing Incentive Account $1.500.000' · Does not include dollars carried over year to year. +Total for 2003. Amount varies annually. Tax-Base Revitalization Account. This program helps cities clean up contaminated urban land and buildings for subsequent redevelopment. Since 1996, the Council has awarded 127 grants from this fund that total $44.5 million to help clean up and redevelop 996 acres of contaminated land. These projects. in 26 communities, are expected to leverage an additional $1.5 billion in private investment, potentially include more than 12,000 new and retained jobs. and increase net tax capacity in the region by an estimated $29 million. Requests for well-qualified projects total roughly twice the available amount. and have been growing about nine percent each year. Livable Communities Demonstration Account. This account funds grants for development and redevelopment projects that link housing, jobs and services. The Council has awarded 92 grants totaling $42 million to projects in 36 cities and three multi-city coalitions since 1996. The grants are expected to leverage more than $994 million in private investment and $396 million in other public investment. It's anticipated that the projects will include 6,860 new and 400 rehabilitated housing units. Under the Demonstration Account, the Council awards Development Grants. which account for most of the funds in this account, and Opportunity Grants, which make up a fraction of the total. Development Grants are awarded to cities to support construction of projects that cities have planned. Opportunity Grants help cities prepare projects in the predevelopment phase that could evolve into development projects. The number of well- qualified applications, which is growing at 20 percent per year, far exceeds the available funds. Local Housing Incentives Account. This account provides grants that help expand lifecycle rental and ownership housing development and preservation. The Council has awarded 70 grants totaling $11 million to help 45 communities foster the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing. The grants are expected to leverage $284 million in total investments, with an estimated 1,414 new rental units, including 995 affordable to households with low incomes and 195 public housing units for people with very low 37 incomes. Other expected accomplishments include rehabilitation of 539 affordable rental units, development of up to 434 new affordable ownership units. rehabilitation of between 219 and 237 affordable ownership units, and home improvement loans to 1,] 00- plus homeowners. Annual funds in the Local Housing Incentive Account are the Council's contribution to the larger overall funding pool made available by the Metropolitan Housing Implementation Group. There are always more qualified projects than available funds to support them. Measuring Our Progress Many of the goals and objectives established in the Regional Development Framework are ambitious. Our success will hinge on the efforts not only of the Metropolitan Council, but also those of local communities and our other regional partners. They also will require the commitment of additional resources - particularly in the areas of highways and transit - in the coming years. Nonetheless, the Council is committed to tracking and measuring our progress toward the achievement of our goals relating to shaping development patterns, improving transportation and slowing the growth of congestion, expanding the housing supply and choices, and preserving vital natural resources. The Council intends to refine the benchmarks and issue annual updates on our progress. Regional Benchmarks Accommodating Growth . Housing Unit Production 2000 Baseline: 2030 Target: Annual Indicator: 1,047,240 housing units 1.537,000 housing units 16,000- 18,000 units per year . Housing Unit Location - 2030 Growth Targets Developed Area: 133,000 units Annual Indicator: 4,400 per year Developing Area: 285,000 units Annual Indicator: 9,500 per year Rural Growth Centers: 27,000 units Annual Indicator: 900 per year Remaining Rural Area: 40,000 units Annual Indicator: 1.300 per year . Land Planned for Urban Services 2000 Baseline: 668.000 acres in 2020 urban service area 2030 Target: No more than 702,000 acres in 2030 urban service area Annual Indicator: Acres added to MUSA (updated comprehensive plans) 38 Transportation . Highway Capacity 2000 Baseline: 2030 Trend Line: 2030 Target: Annual Indicator: . Roadway Usage 2000 Baseline: 2030 Trend Line: 2030 Target: Annual Indicator: . Highway Congestion 2001 Baseline: 2030 Trend Line: 2030 Target: Annual Indicator: . Transit Service 2002 Baseline: 2030 Trend Line: 2030 Target: Annual Indicator: 1.485 lane-miles of freeway 300 additional lane-miles of freeway 1,786 lane miles offreeway 10 lane-miles constructed per year. 23.1 vehicle miles per capita per day 25.15 vehicle miles 24.55 vehicle miles Less than .02% growth per year 28 hours spent in congestion per year 40 hours 37 hours 1 % growth per year 42.4 million vehicle revenue miles per year 42 million miles (assuming no growth) 89 million miles 3% growth per year (starting in 2006) . Peak Hour Transit Capacity 2002 Baseline: 2.34 million peak-hour seat miles 2030 Trend Line: 2.34 million peak-hour seat miles (assuming no growth) 2030 Target: 4.68 million peak-hour seat miles Annual Indicator: 3% growth per year (starting in 2006) . Transit Ridership 2002 Baseline: 2030 Trend Line: 2030 Target: Annual Indicator: 74.9 million riders per year 75 million riders (assuming no growth) 150 million riders 3% annual ridership growth (starting in 2006) . MSP Airport Runway Congestion 2002 Baseline: 7 minutes average annual aircraft delay 2030 Trend Line: 3.2% average annual increase 2030 Target: 2 minutes average annual aircraft delay Annual Indicator: 39 Housing Choices . Housing Units by Type - 2030 Growth Target Single Family: 242.500 units Annual Indicator: 8,000 to 9,000 per year Townhouse/Multi-family: 242.500 units Annual Indicator: 8,000 to 9,000 per year · Affordable Housing - 2010 Goals (negotiated with local communties) Affordable Owner: 60,000 units added Annual Indicator: 4,000 per year Affordable Renter: 12.000 units added Annual Indicator: 800 per year Environment Water Quality: The water quality leaving the metro area is as good as the water quality entering the metro area, and in compliance with federal and state regulations. . Our benchmark indicators are deterrnined by taking the sum of the loads from the Minnesota River at Jordan. the Rum River in Anoka, the Mississippi River in Anoka, and the St. Croix River in Stillwater and comparing them to the load at the Mississippi River at Red Wing. The indicators are based on a rolling I O-year median annual load and acknowledge sampling variability and the effects of natural processes, such as solids settling upstream of dams. . Total Phosphorus 2000 Baseline Input: 4,380 tons per year 2000 Baseline Output: 3,840 tons per year 2000 Baseline Difference: -540 tons (-12%) 2030 Target: Output relative to inputs consistent with 2000 Baseline. Annual Indicator: Council will measure the rolling 10-year median annual load for total phosphorus to deterrnine where we are at in relation to our target. · Total Nitrogen 2000 Baseline Input: 80,800 tons per year 2000 Baseline Output: 80,900 tons per year 2000 Baseline Difference: I 00 tons per year (0%) 2030 Target: Output relative to inputs consistent with 2000 Baseline. Annual Indicator: Council will measure the rolling I O-year median annual load for total nitrogen to determine where we are at in relation to our target. 40 . Total Suspended Solids 2000 Baseline Input: 1.320,000 tons per year 2000 Baseline Output: 956,000 tons per year 2000 Baseline Difference:-364,000 tons per year (-28%) 2030 Target: Output relative to inputs consistent with 2000 Baseline. Annual Indicator: Council will measure the rolling 1 O-year median annual load for total suspended solids to determine where we are at in relation to our target. Annual Indicator: The metropolitan area's water resources are adequate to supply future water demands without adverse impacts. Past water use information will be used to project future demand and assess the ability ofthe resource to supply that demand. Assessment of water supplies available to each community has been initiated for parts of the region and needs to be completed for the entire region. Assessment of the volume of water available to meet the long-terrn demands without adverse impacts to the aquifer system, surface water bodies or other users of the supply. Assessment of alternatives for meeting water demands in areas where there is a potential for adverse impact from future withdrawals. Assessment of long-terrn impact of increasing impervious surface on reducing recharge to the ground water system. Development of an institutional framework for coordinated regional and subregional water supply planning and management. Continuation of regional planning for drought and emergency conditions. The Council will assess water usage annually to measure progress on achieving the benchmark. In addition, the Council will assess progress on the work efforts identified above and determine additional work needed to address the adequacy of the region's water supply to meet future water use demands. . Water Supply: Baseline Input: Water Needs: 2002 Baseline: 2030 Target: Maintain federal ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone and fine particulates. Zero violations Zero violations . Air Quality: 41 Next Steps Adoption of the Regional Development Framework concludes a significant regional policy development effort. However, because regional and local land use planning is cyclical, completion of the Framework isjust one milestone in a process repeated at least once every 10 years. Following the adoption of the Framework in January 2004, the Council will revise systems plans for the transportation and aviation, wastewater, and parks and open space systems. These plans will be adopted in the late 2004 to mid 2005 timeframe. Systems statements, based upon the revised systems plans, will be issued to local communities in mid 2005 to assist them in preparing their 2008 comprehensive plans. Comprehensive plans and amendments are reviewed by the Council for consistency with the Framework's policies, as well as the systems plans. Since the development of new systems plans follows adoption of the Framework, there will be a "transition period" during which the new 2030 Framework will apply, but the previous systems plans will still be in place. During the transition, the Council will review comprehensive plans and plan amendments for conformity with the existing system plans and their consistency with the adopted 2030 Framework, as provided for under Minn. Stat. 473.] 75. Any inconsistencies between the existing systems plans and the 2030 Framework can be resolved by amending the systems plans to conform with the policies of the Framework. The Council will narrowly focus any system plan amendments to deal with the needs of specific communities and avoid triggering another round of comprehensive plan updates before 2008. Other steps in the process will include: . Revising the Local Planning Handbook to assist communities with the preparation of local comprehensive plan amendments and the updates due in 2008. . Providing each community in the region with specific information about how the new Development Framework and revised metropolitan system plans will affect that community. · Offering technical assistance to communities as they review, revise and implement their local comprehensive plans and their plan updates. · Continuing Council incentives, such as Livable Communities Act funding, to support local projects to expand affordable and lifecycle housing choices, clean up contaminated land for redevelopment. and implement projects that efficiently connect housing. jobs, services and amenities. 42 Glossary adaptive reuse - rehabilitation or renovation of existing buildings or structures for uses other than the current ones. adjacent counties - counties bordering or lying near the seven-county metropolitan area: Chisago. Isanti, Sherburne, Wright, McLeod. Sibley, Le Sueur, Rice, Goodhue, Polk, St. Croix and Pierce. affordable housing - housing that a low- or moderate-income household can occupy without spending more than 30% of household income. Also incorporates the idea of quality (safe and decent dwelling). choice of location, and an adequate supply. aggregate - hard inert materials (such as sand, gravel, or crushed rock) used for mixing with cement to form concrete. aquifer - a water-bearing underground formation that yields a sufficient quantity of water to serve as a private or public water supply. benchmark - an indicator that shows progress toward meeting Framework goals. best management practices - recommendations pertaining to the development and maintenance of varied land uses aimed at limiting the effects of development. such as soil erosion and stormwater runoff, on the natural environment. See the Council's Urban Small Sites Best Management Practices Manual for specific examples of best management practices. brown field - a piece of industrial or commercial property that is abandoned or underused and environmentally contaminated, especially one considered as a potential site for redevelopment. center - a place of sufficient scale, density and mix of uses, where there is convenient access to housing, jobs, daily services, shopping and recreation. (See transit-oriented development.) clustering - a technique to allow a reasonable amount of land for development while conserving rural character. such as farmland. natural areas, and open views. commuter rail- a mode of public transportation that uses passenger-type trains operating on railroad right-of-way. Generally, commuter rail systems are integrated with other regional transit providers to permit transfers throughout the metropolitan region. context sensitive design - roadway standards and development practices that are flexible and sensitiveto community values, balancing economic. social, aesthetic and environmental objectives. density - the number of dwelling units per net residential acre of land. FAST (Freeing Alternatives for Speedy Transportation) lanes - New. publicly owned highway lanes built by private entities, which are repaid by motorists who opt to drive on them. 43 groundwater - the supply of freshwater in an aquifer. HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes - Underutilized bus and carpool lanes that single- occupant vehicles can use by paying a fee. household - the group that consists of all the people who occupy a housing unit. individual sewage treatment system (ISTS), on-site septic treatment system - a system for disposing and treating human and domestic waste, such as a septic tank and soil absorption system or other system allowed by the state and city. This includes community drainfields, where a common on-site system serves several properties. infill - development or redevelopment of land that has been bypassed, remained vacant, and/or is underused. infiltration - the seepage of groundwater and into sewers pipes through cracks or joints. inflow - typically flow from a single point into sewer pipes, such as discharges from sump pumps and foundation drains. or stormwater that enters openings in sewer access covers. infrastructure - fixed facilities such as sewer lines and roadways that serve existing and new development and redevelopment. Land Planning Act, Metropolitan Land Planning Act - the sections of Minnesota Statutes directing the Council to adopt long-range, comprehensive policy plans for transportation, airports, wastewater services, and parks and open space. It authorizes the Council to review the comprehensive plans of local governments. Iifecycle housing - varied housing options that meet people's preferences and circumstances at all of life's stages, providing a balance of single-family homes, apartments, condominiums, townhomes, and senior housing for independent living or with a range of assisted-living services. local comprehensive plan - plans prepared by cities, townships and, in some cases, counties, for local land use and infrastructure. low income - household income that is 50% or less ($38.350 for 2003, adjusted for family size) of the area median income, as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. median income, area median income - an income measure used by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development to define income categories. The 2003 area median income for the Twin Cities metropolitan area is $75,300. Metropolitan Development Guide - the collection of regional plans that includes the Regional Development Framework and the plans for the four regional systems: transportation, wastewater service, airports, and parks and open space. 44 Metropolitan Urban Service Area, MUSA - the area, in which the Metropolitan Council ensures that regional services and facilities under its jurisdiction are provided. "A" minor arterials - roadways within the metropolitan area that supplement the major highways in the region. mixed use - a single building containing more than one type of land use or a single development of more than one building and use, where the different land uses are in close proximity, planned as a unified, complementary whole, and functionally integrated with transit. pedestrian access and parking areas. moderate income - household income that is 80% ($61,360 for 2003, adjusted for family size) of the area median income, as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Natural Resources Inventory and Assessment, NRI/A - a database that catalogs natural resources of regional importance, such as major water bodies, habitat areas, regional parks and aquifers. natural resources of regional importance - resources identified by the NRI/ A that are particularly important in sustaining the region's ecology, providing area residents with nature-based experiences, or supplying essential materials such as aggregate and water. park and ride - an arrangement whereby people can drive an automobile to a transit hub, transfer station or terminal. park in the designated lot, and use a transit vehicle for their ultimate destinations. principal arterial - the high-capacity highways. including freeways and expressways, that make up the metropolitan highway system. (See the appendix of the Council's Transportation Policy Plan for functional classification criteria and characteristics.) redevelopment - the process by which an existing building. structure or developed area is adaptively reused, rehabilitated, restored, renovated and/or expanded. regional systems - systems for which the Metropolitan Council is the responsible planning and/or operating authority. Consist of wastewater services, transportation. parks and open space, and airports. reinvestment - an investment in redevelopment, infill or adaptive reuse. residential acre - an acre of residential land that includes local streets. alleys, parks and locally protected natural resources. Does not major transportation rights-of-way. major parks and open space, wetlands identified in the National Wetlands Inventory, and steep slopes steeper than an 18% grade. stormwater - surplus surface water generated by rainfall and snow melt that does not seep into the earth but flows overland to rivers, lakes or streams. system plans - long-range comprehensive plans for the regional systems-transporta- tion. airports. wastewater services, and parks and open space. 45 transit-oriented development - the concentration of jobs and housing around transit hubs and daily conveniences. (Additional information about transit-oriented development can be found in the handbook published by the Council, Planning More Livable Communities with Transit-Oriented Development.) transitway - corridors or lanes dedicated exclusively for transit use, such as bus-only shoulders on highways. high-occupancy vehicle lanes, exclusive busways, light rail transit, or commuter rail. Urban Area - the area consisting of two Framework-defined planning areas- Developed Communities and Developing Communities---occupying about 50% of the region's land area. urban reserve - a transition area beyond the current MUSA line identified in a local comprehensive plan that is being held in a rural condition until it is included in the urban area. very low income - household income that is 30% or less ($23,010 for 2003, adjusted for family size) ofthe area median income. as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. wastewater - water carrying waste from homes and commercial and industrial facilities. 46 Attachment 2 System Statement City of Maplewood Following the January 2004 adoption of the 2030 Regional Development Framework, and the more recent adoptions of the Transportation Policy Plan, the Water Resources Management Poli(v Plan. and the Regional Parks Policy Plan. the Metropolitan Council is issuing system statements pursuant to state statute. Receipt of this system statement and the metropolitan system plans triggers communities' obligations to review and. as necessary, amend their comprehensive plans within the next three years. The complete text of the 2030 Regional Development Framework as well as complete copies of the recently adopted metropolitan system plans are available for viewing and downloading at .b..t:tQ:llwww.me1LoJ:;Q!Jm;il.ora/Dlannina/framework/timeline.htIl!. Paper copies are available by calling the Council's Data Center at 65 I -602-1140. Metropolitan system plans are long-range comprehensive plans for the regional systems - transportation and airports, wastewater services. and parks and open space, along with the capital budgets for metropolitan wastewater service. transportation and regional recreation open space. System statements explain the implications of metropolitan system plans for each individual community in the metropolitan area. They are intended to help communities prepare or update their comprehensive plan, as required by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act: Within three yearslollowing the receipt of the metropolitan system statement, every local governmental unit shall have prepared a comprehensive plan in accordance with sections 462.355, subdivision 4.473.175, and 473.85110473.871 and the applicable planning statute and shall have submitted the plan to the Metropolitan Councillor review pursuant to section 473.175. Local comprehensive plans will be reviewed by the Council for conformance with metropolitan system plans, consistency with Council policies and compatibility with adjacent and affected governmental units. The system statement includes forecasts at densities that assure regional growth is achieved consistent with adopted policies. These forecasted densities help ensure regional services and costly regional infrastructure can be provided efficiently and cost- effectively, and that development and growth within the metropolitan area occur in a coordinated manner. The system statement also contains an overview of the transportation and aviation. transit, wastewater, and regional parks system plan updates. and system changes affecting each community. Forecasts. The following forecasts are part of the 2030 Regional Development Framework (adopted January 14,2004 and updated on August 24. 2005). They are used by the Council to plan for its regional systems. Communities should base their planning work on these forecasts. However, given the nature of long-range forecasting, the Council will maintain an on- going dialogue with communities to consider any changes in growth trends or community expectations about growth that may have an impact on regional systems. Forecast of population, households and employment: Revised Development Framework 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Population 30.954 35,258 37.500 38,100 39.300 Households 11.496 ] 3,758 15.600 16,500 17,500 Employment 25,068 29,961 36,600 41,000 44,500 The Council forecasts growth at appropriate densities for communities in order to protect the efficiency of wastewater, transportation and other regional system investments, and to help ensure the metropolitan area can accommodate its projected growth by the year 2030. Growth management. The Regional Development Framework sets an overall minimum residential density standard of 3 to 5 units per acre in developed and developing areas where urban service is located or planned. The average minimum standard of 3 units per acre is important to the efficient use of regional systems, including wastewater system investments. Communities that significantly over-utilize or under-utilize regional systems can cause inefficiencies in the use of regional resources. Additionally, achieving housing at these density levels may help communities meet their obligations under the Metropolitan Land Planning Act to plan for and address their housing needs. Geographic planning area. The city of Maplewood is designated as a "developed community" geographic planning area in the 2030 Regional Development Framework. Geographic planning areas are shown on the 2030 Planning Area map. The planning area sets overall densities that the planned development patterns in your community can be expected to achieve. (If there are discrepancies between the 2030 Framework Planning Area map, and the metropolitan systems plans because of adjustments that occurred subsequent to the adoption of the 2030 Regional Development Framework document, communities should follow the specific guidance contained in this system statement.) As Maplewood plans for current and future residents, it should focus on protecting natural resources. ensuring sufficient public infrastructure. and developing transition strategies to increase density and encourage infill development. Specific strategies for developed communities are found on pages 24-25 of the 2030 Regional Development Framework. 2 System statement review process. If your community disagrees with elements of this system statement, or has any questions about this system statement, we urge you to contact your sector representative, Bob Mazanec, 651 602- 1330, to review and discuss potential issues or concerns. The Council and local units and districts have historically resolved questions about forecasts and other components of the system statement through discussions. Request for hearing. If a local governmental unit or school district and the Council are unable to resolve disagreements over the content of a system statement. the unit or district may by resolution request that a hearing be conducted by the Council's Land Use Advisory Committee or by the state Office of Administrative Hearings for the purpose of considering amendments to the system statement. According to Minnesota Statutes section 473.857, the request shall be made by the local unit or district within 60 days after receipt ofthe system statement. Ifno request for a hearing is received by the Council within 60 days, the statement becomes final. Svstem statement issue date: The official date of the issuance ofthis system statement is September 12,2005. , .' Transportation System Statement -- Maplewood Key Changes in the Plan The revised Transportation Policy Plan adopted by the Metropolitan Council in December 2004, is the metropolitan system plan for airports and transportation with which local comprehensive plans must conform. This system statement summarizes significant elements of the metropolitan system plan and highlights those elements that apply specifically to your community. In addition to reviewing this system statement, your community should consult the entire Transportation Policy Plan, the 2030 Regional Development Framework and other pertinent regional planning and policy documents, including the Aviation Policy Plan, to ensure your community's local comprehensive plan and plan amendments conform to the metropolitan system plans. A PDF file of the entire revised Transportation Policy Plan, the 2030 Regional Development Framework, the Local Planning Handbook and other regional planning and policy documents ofthe Metropolitan Council are available online at the Metropolitan Council's Web site: http://www.metrocounciI.org/planning/framework/timeline.htm. The Aviation Policy Plan. adopted in 1996, is not available electronically, but a copy can be obtained by contacting the Metropolitan Council's Data Center at 651-602-1140. The revised Transportation Policy Plan incorporates the following changes: . The planning period has been extended from 2025 to 2030 . No significant increase in the level of transportation funding was assumed. . The expenditures shown in the Transportation Policy Plan must be constrained by the level of funding that is anticipated. However, the revised plan also examined two alternative scenarios- what could be built if highway revenues were increased by 30% over the next 25 years, and what it would cost to provide enough additional capacity to hold congestion to the 1998 levels. . The highway expansion projects shown in the plan have changed little since the 2001 plan, due to this lack of additional resources. (See Fig 4- I I for highway expansion proposals.) Metropolitan Highway System Plan investment priorities no longer contain the "Improvements" category. Most improvement corridors are now designated "'Management" corridors. . The new investment timing provisions are contained in the Plan. Table 4-] 1 contains projects in Mn/DOT's Highway Work Plan (scheduled in 2009-2013) construction, reconstruction. and bridge replacement greater $10 million. Table 4-12 contains Regional Priority Project to move into the 10- Year Highway Work Plan, if there are resources available in the 2005-2009 time period. · Funds have also been allocated to obtain right of way for new crossings of the Mississippi River between NW Hennepin and Anoka Counties and of the Minnesota River in the vicinity of Chaska. Construction dollars for these projects are not foreseen before 2030. · Chapter 5 contains new policies and procedures on managing the scope, cost and revenue sources of projects to insure that sufficient resources are available to implement the region's transportation priorities as shown in this plan. This includes procedures to manage the use of Federal High Priority Project (HPP) funds and matching funds for these federal dollars. The T-I Council and Mn/DOT will monitor scope and costs to ensure major projects continue to meet regional objectives in a cost effective manner. . The plan envisions significant improvements in the bus system, including new express bus routes. arterial corridor enhancements, suburb-to-suburb service, transit stations, park-and-ride lots and other features. The goal is to increase transit ridership 50 percent by 2020 and double it by 2030. . The plan proposes additional express commuter bus corridors as well as enhancement and expansion of existing bus service in freeway corridors. Within each corridor, express bus routes will be supported by park-and-ride facilities, circulator networks, and "transit advantages." . The plan includes construction offive new "transitways" on dedicated rights-of-way by 2020 to help slow the growth in traffic congestion and improve mobility, and three additional transitways by 2030. Unlike the 200 I plan, the technology for each corridor was not identified in the Plan; rather the most appropriate and cost-effective mode for any given corridor is best determined after extensive study of the individual corridor. Figure 4-2 (attached) shows the 2030 Transitway System and Express Commuter Bus System. . The plan now includes detailed information on the facilities needed for transit passengers, such as stations and park and ride lots, as well as facilities needed to support the transit system, such as garages and bus layover sites (Figures 4-5 and 4-6). Communities should plan for development and redevelopment around stations and park-and-ride lots. . Policy 18 (previously policy 17) on transportation and land use elements in local comprehensive plans was rewritten and more detail provided in some strategies as to what the Council expects in local comprehensive plans. . The TPP now includes references to the regional aviation system as defined in the Aviation PoliC)' Plan. The 1996 Aviation Policy Plan remains in effect with the exception of the Land Use Compatibility Guidelinesfor Aircrqft Noise. These guidelines have been updated and included in the TPP as Appendix H. System Plan Considerations Affecting Your Community 1. Metropolitan Highways Metropolitan highways and regional highway investment priorities for 2030 are shown in Figure 4- 11. The city should refer to Tables 4-9 through 4-12 for major highway projects and proposed timing. The following metropolitan highways located within Maplewood are planned for expansion: . 1-35E . 1-694 2. Transit Routes and Facilities Maplewood is within the Metropolitan Transit Taxing District. The central portion of Maplewood is within Market Area II; the remaining portion is in Market Area III. Service options for Market Area II include regular-route locals. all-day expresses, small vehicle circulators. special needs paratransit (ADA, seniors). and ridesharing. Service options for Market Area III include peak-only T-2 express, small vehicle circulators, midday circulators, special needs paratransit (ADA, seniors), and ridesharing. Maplewood should identify existing transit service (available on the Council's website) and desired future transit service options consistent with the Transportation Policy Plan's transit system service areas (Table 4-1 and Appendix M). Maplewood should list transit corridors (express commuter bus corridors and dedicated right-of- way corridors) and identify opportunities to promote higher density initiatives along dedicated transit corridors (see Figure 4-2). Maplewood is located along the Rush Line Corridor. Maplewood should identify existing transit passenger and support facilities and future improvements to and expansion of these facilities. Passenger and support facilities include shelters, transit centers, stations, and park-and-ride lots. Existing park-and-ride lots are located at Aldrich Arena, Highway 61 & Country Road C, Maplewood Mall, and Hmong Church. 3. Aviation Plan and Facilities The TPP/APP includes policies and text on protection of the region's airspace resources. The airspace policy states that both Federal Aviation administration (FAA) and MnDOT Aeronautics safety standards must be a major consideration in the planning, design, maintenance and operation of air transportation facilities and services. There are no existing or planned aviation facilities within Maplewood. However, each community has a responsibility to include airspace protection in its comprehensive plan. The protection is for potential hazards to air navigation including electronic interference. Airspace protection should be included in local codes/ordinances to control height of structures, especially when conditional use permits would apply. The comprehensive plan should include policy/text on notification to the FAA as defined under code offederal regulations CFR - Part 77, using the FAA Form 7460-1 "Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration". Instructions can be found at viww.faa.Qov/aro/ace/part77.cfm. T-3 Transitways on Dedicated ROW Tier 1 Northstar Northwest Cedar Avenue 1-35W Central Tie, 2 Southwest Rush Line Red Rock ~Tran5itways on Dedicated ROW Express Commuter Bus System Figure 4-2 2030 Transitwav Corridors Augu~t 2004 T-4 Figure 4-5 Transit Passenger Facilities Active Park & Ride Capacity (1212004) .) Less than 100 Q 100-500 QGrealerthan500 (~i Programmed Park & Ride (2005-2008) Transit Centers & Stations o Curreri: ~t- PI anne d @)Tr<lnsitCenlerandPark&RideFacilitY Custom Shetters () Existing o Future Online Stations . Existing 131 Future T\'\Iin CttiesCBDs Q Bus Station Downtown Minneapolis' " ^ T-5 Figure 4-6 Transit Support Facilities Lege'" Downtown Minneapolis "-,\ . '},\::t'~ ' o 113lor~~u.rf30lIllll. El F.tlll'Ual",rl"l"",rf3:'lIlllo. GillCIg!" t:i F,...,.Gal3g<Expallt>. Ell F'1l"NH'(;a~. . 1.IiI111..".ct""" &R"I~ "* nU,IlCOllroIOlIt!r -f>- .......,ilVP"'. -SIO'D.,l>l.. f,llrtSIO,nerLa" --lVI/I". F.'tlfllHOV1.3l1' &"La,. .....nCII.'CU' ~.,.,/ ,(... ..;. ~t-'"'h . ..!~ ~ " ""',1'-'/' ~,,,./ >.... /4</,""<, ~p . 0;///: =;:. ! i"'f ""i I '.... . . !. ..~1 .~ l ."ft~,~,-- ~"":'-' ,'" ~ 'i.i ". ~ J / !Downtown 81. Paul, .,OJ -.-.------- ~~.;:~~~~ ~ oI!/f "~~"~"'~" '. .. ,/ ~ /,,'~ --- ~tr' ,;,"/ #/ .FiE] .' ,,/_i j' .. '\ \ ~- ~/" .....\ \ ,"-,0 E] f!" ./ . -' T-6 Figure 4-11 2030 Constrained Metropolitan Highway System Plan Investment Priorities ~ . ::?I~, 5"", """"" ~" , jt "1?' " "'" ; l --'" ", '~ f '\,. " ' '~ I ~ ,,~, , '~1 J '. ) 1..1 , "'^~~ ''"'-" -"",- ~"'-----""-'" l r~ L ~,~,/l ,!j ",//*'~ " 4"" ( ,/,,-,/' h { " " ,." f Highway Investment Priorities """'"' 2005 - 2008 TIP Projects ........... Management ""'"' Expansion ""'"' FfOW Preservat10n AU~5t 2004 o 3 6 12 Miles I I T-7 Table 4-9 Major Highway Projects Under Way or Included in 2005-2008 Transportation Improvement Program Proiect Cust Current Assumed Project Desrriptiun Status in Status and Other Hi!!hw8\' and Brid~e Estimates pro~ram year 2001 Comments (000,) :ycars open to TPP traffic I. TH 12 $60.000 2003 2006 Construct ue\',' limited access 2-lane In 2001- Contracts let highway between V-,layzata Blvd. to CR 2004 TIP 6 in Orono. Parallel to existing TH 12. 2. 1-35E, from TH 13 $33.000 2002 2005 Replace and Expand Miss. River Bridge in Contracts let to Shepard Rd. Bridge. Project let. 200]- 2004 TIP 3. ]-35W, HOY lane. $206,000 2006 20]0 Reconstruct TH 62 and 1-35W and add In 20(1l- Project redesign required by from 66th 51. to 42nd S1. the HOV lane. Stage 1 (1-494 to 60lh 2004 TIP legislature, to he let 2006 St.) contracts let 4/99 4.. TH 36, 5t. Croix $5,O()(J Nev.,. 4-lane bridge and approaches. In 2001- $5M placeholder in '05- '08 Bridge Negotiation process undervvay. 2004 TIP T]P. Mediation process Request for high priority funding has underway. been made MN cost estimates from $150-$227 M The cost recorded here is 1j2 of the average. 5. TH 55, Hiawatha $129.000 2003 2004 Reconstruct the 4-lane arterial from In 2001- Contracts let Av. Crosstown to 1-94 2004 TIP 6. TH 100, from $146.000 2003 2004 Construction underway to rehui1d as 6 In 2001- Contracts let Glen\'wod Av. to lane freeway 2004 TIP CSAJI152 7. 1-494rrH 6] $250.000 2002 2009 Replace and widen 1-494 hridge. In 2001. Contracts let. interchange, TH 61/ reconstruct interchange, reconstruct TH 2004 T] r local access 61. Provide local access. First contract let '1-8 Table 4-9 (continued) Major Highway Projects Under Way or Included in 2005-2008 Transportation Improvement Program Proiect Cost Current Assumed Project I>escription Status in 2001 Status and Other Hil!hwav and Bridl!f Estimates program year TPP Comments (000,) years open to traffic 8. 1-94. from W caver $80.000 2001 2005 Reconstruct, add general use In 2001-2004 Contracts let Lake Rd. to 3,d lane from Hemlock to TIP Humboldt Av. Brooklvn Blvd. 9. 1-94 from McKnight $11.000 2005 2007 j'd'lane. bridge widening Ruth Expansion to TH 120 St. to Ramse\.' Co. line Corridor 10. 1-494 from TH 5 to $74.000 2003 2005 Add3 lane, first contract let 1n 2001.2004 Contract let TH 100 TIP Described as 1-494, from TH 212toTH 100 11. TH6lOfromTH $26.750 2004 2005 Continue construction of new Expansion 169 to CR 130 4-1ane freeway on new Corridor alignment 12. TH ]69 from $104.000 2005 2008 Reconstruct three intersections Corridor study Minnesota River to as interchanges and recommended Valley View Road reconstruct interchange with 1. '03-'06 494 ]3. 1-494 from TH 2]2 $130.000 2004 2006 Widen ]-494 to six lanes Expansion Described as ].494, from TH toTH 55 Corridor 212101-394 14. TH 212 from $259.000 2004 2006 Construct new four lane Expansion Described a, TH 212, from CSAH 4 to Y4 mile west freeway on new alignment Corridor CSAH 4 to old alignment ofCSAH 147 15. ]-694 from west to $137.000 2004 2007 Reconstruct and add lanes to Expansion Described as 1-694, from W east Junction ].35E eliminate bottleneck Corridor jct. ].35E to Ejct. ].35E (unweave the weave) TOTAL $] ,650,750 T-9 Table 4-10 Metropolitan Highway System Expansion Projects 2009-2030 Highwa~' From To Length Total 2001 TPP Comment Recommended Facilit}' Improvement (miles) (millions) ]-35E TH 1]0 TH5 ,- Improvement to he Defined Bridge Under Construction _.0 Add 3'd Lane. 1-35E** 1-94 ]-694 5.6 Subarea Stud)' Needed Add 3' and 4t Lane. Connect Phalen Corridor, Recon:'>truct Cayuga Bridge 1-35W** 46' SL 1-94 5.3 Improvement Corridor Add HOV! transit priority lane and Lake Street interchange 1-494 TH 55 1-94 55 Description wa:,> 1-394 to 1-94 Add 3m Lane ]-494 TH 77 I'll 100 5.1 Dc:'>cription was from TH 77 to Build in Accordance \\'ith E]S Completed in 1997 TH 100 , ]-694** 1-35W W. Jet 1- 5.6 Add 3' [.ane 35E 1-694 EJcU- TH 36 5.5 Corridor Study Needed Add 3m Lane 35E TH 36 51. Croix Nev,' four lane bridge and mitigation BridDe* 10 TH 36** ]35W 1-35E 53 Description \-vas ]35W to I35E Add 3' Lane . i TH41 TH 169 TH 212 3,0 Right-of 'oVay Preservation New Bridge, New Right-or-Way defined in on-going study New Miss River TH 10 ]-940rTI-I 2.0 River crossing need recorded Preserve RNv' after alignment is defined Crossing 610 TH 100** 36th St Cedar 1.0 Add 3' Lane , Lake Rd TH 252 73m TH 610 2.9 Corridor Needs Unclear Com'en to 4-Lane Freeway Av. I , TH 610 CR 130 1-94 5.0 Complete 4-Lane Frec\\'ay i TOTAL 46.8 $2,035 i '" The region assumes it is responsible for one-half of the state's share. *'" All or pan of these projects are in the MnDOT 10-~'ear (2004-2013) Work Plan T-IO Table 4-1t MnDOT Highway Work Plan, 2009-2013 Maior Construction, Reconstruction and Brid!!e ReDlacement Greater Than $10 Million Pro' eet Cost Estimates Design RIW Year-or- Construction Total Project Construction Estimate Estimate Construction Engineering Project Highwa Description Program Fiscal Year ($000) ($000) Estimate Estimate Cost v ($000\ ($000) 1$000) 35E 1-94 to Maryland MC 2010 7,687 Limited 76.755 6,140 90,571 A ve. in St. Paul, grading, surfacing, brs., etc., including Cayuga Br. and Phalen Blvd. connection 35W At Lake St. in MC 2009 1,160 Contin- 11,600 928 13,688 Minneapolis, uous/ reconstruct inter- Major chan~e (Ph. 1) 35W At Lake St. in MC 2010 1,785 Contin- 17,850 1,428 21.063 Minneapolis, UOllS/ reconstruct inter- Major chanpe (Ph, 2) 36 At Lexington Ave.. MC 2009 1,380 Limited 13.804 1,104 16,289 in Roseville, replace Br. 5723 and reconstruct interchanve 100 36'" St. to Cedar MC 2011 6,150 Contin- 61,500 4,920 72,570 Lake Rd. in St. uous/ Louis Park, Major grading, surfacing, Brs., etc. for 6-lane freeway 169 Near CSAH 6 in MC 2010 1,904 Limited 19,040 1,523 22.467 Belle Plaine, grading, surfacing, Br., etc. for new interchanl!e 694 E of 135W in MC 2012 6.960 Minimall 69,596 5,568 82,123 Arden Hills to E of Spot Lexington Ave.. in Shoreview, grading, surfacing, Brs., etc. to add third lane and correct weave at TH 10151 TOTALS 27,015 270.145 21,611 318.771 T-II Table 4-12 Regional Priority Projects to Move into 10-Year Highway Work Plan, 2005-2009 T-12 Market Areas 11 III IV Table 4-1 Transit Market Area Features and Improvements Land Use Pattern Highest concen- trations of activity, housing and jobs Moderate concen- trations of jobs, housing and activities Generally lower concentrations with intermittent pockets of moderate concentrations (pockets would receive highest service levels) Lowest concentrations of housing and jobs Service Options Regular-route locals. all- day expresses, special needs paratransit (ADA, seniors,) ridesharillg Regular-route locals, all- day expresses, small- vehicle circulators, special needs paratransit (ADA, seniors,). ridesharing Peak-only express, small vehicle dial-a-ride, midday circulators, special needs paratransit (ADA. seniors,), ridesharing Dial-a-ride, volunteer driver programs, ridesharing T-l3 Service Characteristics Frequencies: 5-15 minute local and circulator Span of Service: 18-24 hours, 7 days per week Access: Locals spaced 0.25-0.5 mile apart with 8-10 bus stops per mile Frequencies: 15-30 minute or 30-60 minute depending on land use pattern Span of Service: 12-20 hours per day, 7 days per week Access: Locals spaced 0.5-1.0 mile apart with 6-8 bus stops per mile Frequencies: Peak-period-only expresses, 1-2 hour midday frequencies, dial-a-ride advance registration Span of Service: 10-14 hours per day, weekdays and limited weekends Access: Services tied to park-and- ride lots and hubs Frequencies: As needed Span of Service: 8-10 hours per days, weekdays Spacing: Services tied to park-and- ride and park-and-poollots Appendix M. Regional Transit Standards Transit Market Areas While severalfactors i,?/zuence the propensity to use transit. the primary predictors of transit productivity are densiZV of origination and destination. There arefour categories of transit markets in the metropolitan area. Transit markets in the Twin Cities are identified usingfour primary criteria: I) population density. 2) employment concentration andjob density. 3) trip volumes and pal/erns, and 4) transit dependent segments of the population. Different types and levels o{transit services should be usedfor each transit market area. The region hasfour distinct market areas. Transit Market Area 1 has the highest density of population and employment. and is able to effectively supportfi'equent regular route transit service. Because this is the most productive transit service area in the region, it should also be the area that receives a prioritized investment of transit resources. Transit Market Area Area Characteristics Area I Population Density - 15 or more persons/acre (or) .lob Density = 50 or more iobs/acre and 10,000 more contiguous jobs Area 11 Population Density ~ 9 to 14.9 persons/acre augmented by contiguous High Transit Dependencv areas Area III Population Density = 5 to 8.9 persons/acre (excluding isolated pockets) augmented by: (a) Contiguous areas with .lob Density = 10 to 49 jobs/acre and 3,000 or more contiguous jobs Or (b) Contiguous areas with Major Travel destinations: 50 or more non-home bound trips/acre Area IV Population Densitv less than 5 nersons/acre Pockets Areas meeting at least one of the following: 1. Population Density = more than 5 persons/acre (isolated pockets only) 2. Job Density = 10 to 49 jobs/acre and 3,000 or more contiguous jobs (isolated pockets only) 3. Major Travel destinations: 50 or more non-home bound trips/acre (isolated pockets only) 4. High Transit Dependencv areas (isolated pockets onlv) Transit Market Area 11 has high to moderate population and employment densities yielding a market area that is conducive to regular route operations and also other forms of transit service delivery. The lower population and employment densities of Transit Market Areas III, IV, and Pocket areas increase the complexity and challenge of matching transit service to transit need. Due to the lower concentrated demand. it becomes more difficult to provide efficient transit service at reasonable costs in these areas. In the longer term to meet transit needs in suburban and rural settings. we need to promote the right type ofland use and development densities that can sustain transit operations. T-14 Transit Markets/Service Options The table below identifies transit strategies that appear to be most appropriate for the different transit markets that are in the metropolitan area. The service delivery strategies presented are only illustrative and not exhaustive. Detailed analysis of specific communities within the metropolitan area may generate other creative means of delivering effective transit services. Transit Suggested Service Type Suggested Service Characteristics Market Area Area I Primary emphasis on big bus/regular route Orientation ~ Focus on both CBD's service complemented by paratransit Availability ~ Up to 24 hours/day and 7 service. Downtown area circulators days/week possible. Access ~ Route spacing (.25 ~ .50 miles) with 8-10 bus stops per mile Frequencv - Generallv 5 - 15 minutes Area 11 Primary emphasis on big bus/regular route Orientation - Link CBD's/suburban service complemented by paratransit transit stations and centers service. Neighborhood circulators should Availability - Up to 20 hours/day and 7 tie in with limited stop regular route days/week service. Access - Route spacing (0.5 - 1.0 miles) with 6-10 stops per mile Frequencv - Generallv 15 - 30 minutes Area 111 A mix of big and small bus/regular route Orientation - Link CBD's/suburban and community circulator service transit stations and centers complemented by paratransit service. Availability - Up to 18 hours/day and Up Community circulators should tie into to 7 days/week regular route regional service at a transfer Access - Route spacing (0.5 - 1.5 miles) point. with 6-10 stops per mile Freauencv - Generallv 30 - 60 minutes Area IV Primary emphasis on: 1) small bus/dial-a- Orientation - Suburb to suburb and central ride service providing county or rural cities circulation. and 2) community bus service Availability - Peak-period express and tied to major park-and-ride facilities to midday circulators; weekday only create travel volumes. Access - Express routes tied to major park-and-rides/circulators link to transit stations and centers Frequency - Advance registration for dial- a-ride services Pockets Primary emphasis on 1) small bus service Orientation - Local ized providing community local or dial-a-ride Availability- Varies by pocket; primarily circulation, and 2) commuter bus service weekday service may have localized service in addition to Access - Door-to-door or modified linking with major park-and-ride facilities circulation; express routes primarily tied to create travel volumes. to park-and-ride facilities Frequency - Up to 2 hours for circulator services. Advance registration for dial-a- ride T-15 Transit Service Design Standards A consistent set of transit service de.\'ign standards ensure,':.' regional coordination and cOn':;isfenc.v. Regional design standards are custom-tailoredfor each transit market area. Area I Area II Area III Area IV Transit Service Options Re ular Route Services Considered: Express Yes Yes Yes Yes Radial Yes Yes Yes No Crosstown Yes Yes Yes No Circulator Downtown Neighborhood Community Specific Limited Sto Yes Yes Yes No Paratransit General Public No No Specific Yes Metro Mobilit Yes Yes Yes No Service Span Re ular Route Days and Times of Service: * General Availability Up to 24 hours Up to 20 hours Up to 18 hours Up to 14 hours Express Pk/DayfNt/Wkend Peak/Specific Peak/Specific Peak Only Radial Pk/DayfNt/Wkend Pk/Day fNtlWkend Pk/DayfNtlSpecific N/A Crosstown/Circulator Pk/Day fNt/Wkend Pk/Day fNt/Wkend Pk/Day/Specific Specific Limited Sto Peak/S ecific Peak/S ecific Peak/S ecific N/A Para transit General Public N/A N/A Specific Pk/Day/Specific Metro Mobilit Pk/Da fNt/Wkend Pk/Da fNt/Wkend Pk/Da fNtlWkend S ecific Service Levels Re ular Route Express Radial Crosstown/Circulator Limited Sto Paratransit General Public Metro Mobili Route Spacing Re ular Route Express Radial Crosstown/Circulator Limited Sto Paratransit General Public Metro Mobilit Bus Stop Spacing (Miinimum Frequencyfor New/Existing Routes: *+ 15" Peak/60" Day 15" Day/30" Night 30" Day/60" Night S ecifich 3 Pk Trips/60" Day 30" Day/60" Night 30" Day/60" Night S ecific 3 Pk Trips/Specific 60" Day/Specific 60" Day/Specific S ecific 2 Peak Trips N/A 60" Day/Specific N/A N/A N/A Specific Specific S ecific S ecific S ecific S ecific * Minimum service levels must be justified; with loading standards/connectivity dictating frequer + In services with 15 minute or less frequency, clocked headways (or consistent departure times) Area I I Area" I Area III I Area IV l Acceptable Range: Specific .25-.50 Miles .50-1.0 Miles S ecific Specific .50-1.0 Miles 1.0-2.0 Miles S ecific Specific .50-1.5 Miles Specific S ecific Specific N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Relates to local pick-up portion of the route T-16 Re ular Route Express Radial Crosstown/Circulator Limited Sto Paratransit General Public Metro Mobilit Maximum Allowable,* 8 per Mile 8 per Mile 8 per Mile S ecific 8 per Mile 8 per Mile 8 per Mile S ecific 8 per Mile 8 per Mile 8 per Mile S ecific P&R or 8 per Mile N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A * An allowable exception to standards may be CBD's and major traffic generators. Bus Sto Sitin Regular Roule Near side stops are preferred in most areas. In CBD's and other high commercial density areas, when are major impediments to smooth bus operations, far-side/mid-block stops are generally preferred. In, must be evaluated for, 1) traffic conditions in area (i.e., right turns, merging, etc.); 2) curb availability table below; and 3) eneral suitabilit for sto (i.e.. curb cuts, ADA considerations, obstructions, etc. Bus Sto Dimensions+ Mixed Use Sto Small Bus Onl Sto Near-side Stop 100 ft. 75 ft. Far-side Stop 120 ft. 90 ft. Mid-Block Sto 150 ft. 110 ft. + Bus stops which have multiple buses stopping at the same time require more space. Passenger Waiting Shelter Warrant Central Cities All Other Areas I Reoular Route >40 peak hour boardings >25 peak hour boardings T-17 Branch Warrant Re ular Route Express Radial Crosstown/Circulator Limited Sto Paratransit General Public Metro Mobilit Directness Re ular Route Express Radial Crosstown/Circulator Limited Sto Area I Area II Area III Area IV Route productivity measured as passengers per revenue hour for express and pass. Per revenue m: Minimum Re uirement: Specific 15 PPRH & 30" 1.5 rte, prod. & 30" 1.0 rte. prod. & 30" 1.5 rte. Prod. & 30" 1.0 rte. prod. & 30" 30" Peak Fre uenc 15 PPRH & 30" 15 PPRH & 30" N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Express service is measured from beginning of route and compared with average auto travel time remote parking time). Local service is measured using passenger boardings per mile operated. Minimum Requirement: 1.35 Avg Auto Time* 1.35 Avg Auto Time* 1.35 A vg Auto Time* 1.0 route product. + 1.0 route product. + 0.5 route product. + 1.0 route product. + 1.0 route product. + 0.5 route product. + 1.0 route roduct. + 1.0 route roduct. + 0.5 route roduct. + * A vg. auto time includes assumption of 10 minute remote parking related time. + Increase in trip rides must be greater that thru rides inconvenienced (i.e.: new rides>thru rides). than 3 minutes, new trip rides must exceed extra time for thru riders (i.e., new rides>(thru riders) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 15 PPRH & 30" 0.5 rte. prod. & 60" 0.5 rte. prod. & 60" 15 PPRH & 30" N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 1.25 A vg Auto Time* N/A N/A N/A Para transit General Publ ic Metro Mobilitv Network Transfer Connectivity Re ular Route New Route Design Consideration: (includes peak and midday service onl.v) Express 3-15" w/ all others Specific Specific 3-10" at hubs & P&R Radial 3-15" w/ all others 3-10" at hubs 3-10" at hubs N/ A Crosstown/Circulator 3-15" w/ all others 3-10" at hubs 3-10" at hubs 3-10" at hubs Limited Sto S ecific S ecific 3-10" at hubs & P&R N/ A Paratransit General Public Metro Mobilit N/A N/A N/A N/A 3-10" at hubs N/A N/A N/A 3-10" at hubs N/A T-18 Area III Area I Customer "Peak Period" Load Guidelines Re ular Route Express Radial Crosstown/Circulator Limited Sto Paratransit Genera] Public Metro Mobilit Area II Area IV Guidelines are based on maximum load point of route and would be somewhat more flexible on fi Minimum and Maximum Tar ets on a Consistent Basis:* 70-100% of Seat Cap. 70-100% of Seat Cap. 70-100% of Seat Cap. 85-125% of Seat Cap. 85-125% of Seat Cap. N/ A 75-115% of Seat Cap. 50-100% of Seat Cap. N/A 80-110% of Seat Ca. 80-] 10% of Seat Ca . N/A * Maximum customer load average over 15 minute period. N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Customer "Off-Peak" Load Guidelines Guidelines are based on maximum load point of route. Minimum and Maximum Tar ets on a Consistent Basis:+ 65-100% of Seat Cap. 60-100% of Seat Cap. 50-100% of Seat Cap. 60-100% of Seat Cap. 60-100% of Seat Cap. N/A 50-100% of Seat Cap. 50-100% of Seat Cap. N/ A 65-100% of Seat Ca. 60-100% of Seat Ca. 50-100% of Seat Ca + Maximum customer load average over 30 minute period. Re ular Route Express Radial Crosstown/Circulator Limited Sto Paratransit General Public Metro Mobilit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A T-19 70-100% of Seat Cap. N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 50-100% of Seat Cap. N/A N/A 50-100% of Seat Ca N/A N/A Transit Performance Standards The primary performance standards to measure service are Subsidy per Passenger and Passengers per In-Service Hour. Performance standards are used to evaluate the relative productivity and efficiency of the services provided. To be responsible and dynamic, a transit system must consistentZv measure and adjust service in unproductive routes and address insufficient service in productive areas. The use of two regional pelfiJrmance standards provides better insight into the operational and financial performance of individual routes and services. Subsidy per Passenger Subsidy or net cost is the difference between the total cost of providing service offset by revenue .fi-om passenger fares. Subsidy per passenger represents the net cost divided by the number of passengers using the service. This standard identifies services that are not operating within efficiency ranges andfocuses corrective actionsfor those services. Subsidy thresholds are determined by calculating the non-weighted subsidy per passenger average within each service classification plusfixed percentage deviationsfrom that average. Threshold No. Level of Subsity per Monitoring Goal Possible Action PassenaerPertormance 1 20 to 35% over Deer averal'e For Quick Review Minor Modifications 2 36 to 60% over Deer averal'e For Intense Review Maior Changes 3 More than 60% over oeer averal'e For Sil'nificant Chanl'e Restructure/EI im i nate Passengers per In-Service Hour The passenger per in-service hour standard establishes a minimum threshold of performancefiJr light rail transit, big bus fixed route service. small busfixed route service and paratransit operations. Passengers per in-service hour represents the total passengers carried divided by the in-senJice time. This measure is most often calculated at the route level, but can also be measured less rigidly at a trip level. Type of Service Average Passengers per Minimum Passengers per In-Service Hour In-Service Hour Liuht Rail Transit >70 >50 Biu Bus Fixed Route - All Dav >20 >15 Biu Bus Fixed Route - Peak Onlv >20 N/A Small Bus Fixed Route >9 >5 Small Bus Non-Fixed Route >3 >2 Other/Rideshare/Shared Ride Taxi <2 N/A T-20 Wastewater System Statement -- Maplewood Key Changes in the Plan The revised Wafer Resources Management Policy Plan, adopted by the Metropolitan Council in March 2005, is the metropolitan system plan for metropolitan wastewater services with which local comprehensive plans must conform. This system statement summarizes significant elements of the metropolitan system plan and highlights those elements that apply specifically to your community. In addition to reviewing this system statement, your community should consult the entire Water Resources Management Policy Plan, the 2030 Regional Development Framework and other pertinent regional planning and policy documents to ensure your community's local comprehensive plan and plan amendments conform to the metropolitan system plans. A PDF file of the entire Water Resources Management Policy Plan, the 2030 Regional Development Framework, the Local Planning Handbook and other regional planning and policy documents of the Metropolitan Council are available online at the Metropolitan Council's Web site: http://www.metrocounciI.org/planning/frameworkloverview.htm. The revised Water Resources Management Policy Plan incorporates the following changes: · A coordinated approach to water supply planning in the metropolitan area with the goal of providing for a sustainable, reliable and secure supply of high quality water to support orderly economic growth and maintain the region's high quality oflife. . An approach to surface water management that ties together the control of pollution from point and nonpoint sources. Local surface water management plans will be reviewed for impacts on the regional wastewater system. . A policy under which the Council will consider acquiring and operating local wastewater treatment plants in rural growth centers upon request where enough growth is projected to make it economically feasible for the Council to become involved. . A plan that provides for cities to reduce excessive inflow and infiltration (III) of clear water into the metropolitan sewer system. A financial assistance/surcharge program is included that will provide a funding mechanism to help solve the 1/1 problem. . A policy that continues to require inspections of individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS) at least once every three years by trained individuals. In addition, the Council has added further clarification on what is needed in a community's local ISTS management program. W- ] System Plan Considerations Affecting Your Community 1. Metropolitan Sewer Service Forecasts: The forecasts of population, households. employment, and wastewater flows for Maplewood as contained in the adopted Water Resources Management Policy Plan are listed below. These forecasts are for sewered development. The sewered housing forecasts were estimated based on SAC data. annual city reports, current trends and other information relating to your community. The wastewater flows are based on historical wastewater flow data and the projected sewered housing and employment data. Year 2010 2020 2030 Sewered Ponulation 37,500 38.1 00 39300 Sewered Households 15,600 16.500 17,500 Sewered Emnlovment 36,600 4 I. 000 44,500 AveraQe Annual Wastewater Flow (MGD\ 4.57 4.62 4.69 Allowable Peak Hourlv Flow (MGD\ 10.97 11.09 11.26 Table I The flow projections represent the Council's commitment to a level of service, assuming that the Council's underlying demographic forecasts are maintained. Adjustments may be required based on verified growth or lack of growth. The city should contact Council staff to discuss any proposed adjustments. Flow projections do not represent an allocation of interceptor capacity except in the event a temporary system constraint occurs. The community must strive to keep its wet weather flows within the allowable peak hourly rate. At a minimum the Council will reevaluate flow projections every five years. Moreover, the Council will also continue to monitor each city's flow on a continuous basis and note any significant changes. The Council will use these growth and wastewater flow forecasts to plan all future interceptors and treatment work needed to serve your community. The Council will not design future interceptor improvements or treatment facilities to handle peak hourly flows in excess ofthe allowable rate for your city. Maplewood, through its comprehensive planning process, must decide the location and staging of development and then plan and design its local wastewater collection system to serve this development. If you plan a total wastewater flow from your community in excess of the Council's forecasts, your assumptions will be analyzed by the Council for their potential adverse effects on the capacity or operation of the metropolitan system. *- You should also note that urban development at overall densities that are substantially W- 2 lower than identified for your community in the Council's Growth Management Strategy Section of the Systems Information Statement will also be analyzed by the Council for their potential adverse effects on the cost of providing metropolitan sewer service. Description of Metropolitan Disposal System Serving your Community: The attached map shows the location of the Metropolitan Disposal System (MDS) serving your community. The following paragraphs contain information on the existing and planned metropolitan facilities serving your community. The wastewater flow from the City of Maplewood is treated at the Metropolitan WWTP located within St. Paul, MN. There are many projects scheduled for the Metropolitan WWTP through 2030. These projects will provide additional capacity at the plant as well as improve its ability to meet required permit standards. As can be seen from the attached map, the City of Maplewood is served by a multitude of interceptors. Based on the city's 2004 Comprehensive Sewer Plan, the interceptor system serving the city has adequate capacity to provide for the long-term needs of the city. The Council has several proposed interceptor improvement projects scheduled to support the long-term needs of the city. The Middle Beltline Interceptor relief to expand the capacity within the system is scheduled for construction between 2005 -2010. The rehabilitation of the North St. Paul Interceptor is scheduled to be completed in 2010. Finally, the rehabilitation of the Battle Creek Interceptor in St. Paul is scheduled to be designed and constructed within the 2005 -20 10 time period. The city needs to verify its long-term needs as part of its comprehensive plan update. Ifnecessary, detailed information regarding metropolitan facilities is available from the Council's Municipal Services Section by calling the staff at (65 I) 602- 1005. Increases in growth rates and resulting increases in flow beyond those shown in Table I may result in short-term capacity limitations within the MDS. Inflow/Infiltration Reduction Goal The Council's Water Resources Management Policy Plan states that the Council will establish 1/1 goals for all communities discharging wastewater to the MDS. Communities that have excessive 1/1 in their sanitary sewer systems will be required to eliminate the excessive 1/1 by 20 I 2. The Council will begin the implementation of an 1/1 assistance/surcharge program in 2007. The money collected from the communities with excessive 1/1 may be used by those communities to remove 1/1 from their systems. The Council will limit increases in service within those communities that have not met their 1/1 goal(s) starting in 2013. The Council will meet with the community and discuss this alternative before it is implemented. This time period may be shorter if excessive 1/1 jeopardizes the Council's ability to convey wastewater without an overflow occurring. In this case the Council may limit increases in service within those communities that have excessive 1/1 immediately upon notification to the community. The Council plans to W- 3 implement a wastewater rate demand charge program. starting in 2013, for those communities that have not met their III goals. These revenues will be used to help defray the cost of providing attenuation within the MDS to recover the capacity lost to excessive III. The III goal established for the City of Maplewood is the allowable peak hourly flow rate and varies based on annual average flow. The Council's metering program shows that the city's 2004 annual average flow at meter M004 was 0.22 mgd. The current III goal for your community at this location is an allowable peak hourly flow of 0.84 mgd. At meter M005. the 2004 annual average flow was 0.24 mgd. The current 1/1 goal for your community at this location is an allowable peak hourly flow of 0.91 mgd. At meter M007, the 2004 annual average flow was O. I 3 mgd. The current 1/1 goal for your community at this location is an allowable peak hourly flow of 0.5 I mgd. At meter M007 A, the 2004 annual average flow was 0.7 mgd. The current III goal for your community at this location is an allowable peak hourly flow of 2.3 1 mgd. At meter M008, the 2004 annual average flow was 0.32 mgd. The current III goal for your community at this location is an allowable peak hourly flow of I.] 5 mgd. At meter MO 11. the 2004 annual average flow was 0.67 mgd. The current III goal for your community at this location is an allowable peak hourly flow of 2.2 mgd. At meter MO 15A, the 2004 annual average flow was 0.29 mgd. The current III goal for your community at this location is an allowable peak hourly flow of 1.07 mgd. At meter M016, the 2004 annual average flow was 0.35 mgd. The current III goal for your community at this location is an allowable peak hourly flow of 1.26 mgd. At meter M25A, the 2004 annual average flow was 0.38 mgd. The current III goal for your community at this location is an allowable peak hourly flow of I .37 mgd. Specific Requirements for the Sewer Element of the City's Comprehensive Plan The Council has completed a review of the current information in the city's existing comprehensive plan and has determined that the following information is needed to update the sewer element of the city's comprehensive plan/local sewer policy plan: . A sewer map showing the city's existing service area and proposed trunk sewer system through 2030 and ultimate sewer service area. . A table showing the projected population. households, employment and flow forecasts by interceptor for the city for 20 I 0, 2020 and 2030. . A description of the city's III program. What efforts does the city make in the maintenance of its sanitary disposal system? Does the city prohibit the connection of sump pumps, rain leaders and passive drain tile from the sanitary sewer system? 2. Management of Individual Sewage Treatment Systems The Metropolitan Land Planning Act requires the sewer element (local sewer policy plan) of the local comprehensive plan to describe the standards and conditions under which the W- 4 installation of individual sewage treatment systems will be permitted and to the extent practicable, the areas not suitable for public or private systems. The new Water Resources Management Policy Plan states that the appropriate density for development with individual sewage treatment systems depends on the suitability of the soils to treat wastewater and whether space is available for a primary and back up drainfield. It is the Council's position that all municipalities and counties allowing individual sewage treatment systems should incorporate current MPCA regulations (M inn. Rules Chapter 7080) as part of a program for managing individual sewage treatment systems in the sewer element of their local comprehensive plan and implement the standards in issuing permits. Maplewood should adopt a management program consistent with state rules. An overview of Maplewood's management program must be included in the community's local comprehensive plan update. If adequate information on the management program is not included; the comprehensive plan will be found incomplete for review until the required information is provided to the Council. 3. Surface Water Management In 1995. Minnesota Statutes section 473.859, subd. 2, was amended to make the local surface water management plan required by Minnesota Statutes section I 03B.235 a part of the land use plan of the local comprehensive plan. Section 103B.235 provides that a local surface water management plan should be prepared once a watershed plan for the area has been approved. Section 1 03B.235 also generally identifies the content requirements for the plan. The local surface water management plan must be submitted to both the watershed management organization(s) within whose watershed the community is located and to the Metropolitan Council for its review. For guidelines on the contents oflocal surface water management plans, please refer to Appendix B2-b of the Water Resources Management Policy Plan. Council records indicate that Maplewood is in the Ramsey Washington Metro, Capitol Region, Valley Branch and South Washington Watershed Districts (see attached map). The Ramsey Washington Metro and Capitol Region watershed plans were approved by BWSR in 1997 and 2000. The South Washington watershed plan was approved by BWSR in 1997. Only recently was the East Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization merged into the South Washington Watershed District. The South Washington Watershed District is updating its plan to include the area formerly in the East Mississippi Watershed. Finally, Valley Branch is updating its watershed plan and should have an approved plan in 2006. Therefore, Maplewood should be required to update its local surface water management plan by the end of 2008. The plan should be submitted to the Council for its review concurrent with the review by the watershed management organizations. Failure to have an updated local surface water management plan consistent with the local surface water management plan content requirements found in Appendix B2- b of the Water Resources Management Policy Plan will result in a metropolitan system impact. W- 5 The Council also updated its priority lake list that was first developed in the 19805 as part of the Wafer Resources Management Po!i(,V Plan update. There is I priority lake, Phalen, in Maplewood. The Council uses the priority lake list to focus its limited resources. The list is also used in the environmental review process. Where a proposed development may impact a priority lake, the project proposer must complete a nutrient budget analysis for the lake as part of the environmental review process. W - 6 o MCES Meter - MCES Interceptor Meter Shed M002 M004 M005 M007 M007A M008 MOlD MOil MOl5A MOl8 U038 Frarn eworl< 2030 Developed Area w*, , Maplewood I 1 ! I J!I "'. ~I &1 b , I" <it . E 1-" ,~. J::. ~r ~ I , 'I " ill !,f c: G #:) !ii' ";1 West St. Paul ? i h nOsh Newporl Wood " W - 7 Maplewood . I #_~ ~ Y'~ r- 'm ~< ~. (). 'J: t CAPITOL REGION I i I . I' I ... I , RAMSEY-W"'NGTO~ METRO T .... I .. I ! ~ '" ... '" . '- n -r-'" l.._____ I i I /' LOWEh ~ISSISSIPPI~I~ER :f I . I ~ I West St. Paul I. ~ I . I i I . ,. I South St. Paul j , I I::er Grove Ii 'Its ..' D VVatershed Management [==--i PriontyWater Features ....----, L____.! Community Boundary Parcel Bound ary Set\!jce .t..rea w- 8 Regional Parks System Statement City of Maplewood Key Changes in the Plan The 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan adopted by the Metropolitan Council in June 2005 is the metropolitan system plan for regional recreation open space with which local comprehensive plans must conform. This system statement summarizes significant elements of the metropolitan system plan and highlights those elements that apply specifically to your community. In addition to reviewing this system statement, your community should consult the entire 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan, the 2030 Regional Development Framework and other pertinent regional planning and policy documents to ensure your community's local comprehensive plan and plan amendments conforrn to the metropolitan system plans. A PDF file of the entire 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan, the 2030 Regional Development Framework, the Local Planning Handbook and other regional planning and policy documents of the Metropolitan Council are available online at the Metropolitan Council's website: http://www.me(rocouncil.org/planning/frameworkltimeline.htm . To meet the needs of the region in 2030, the 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan includes the following changes to the current regional parks system. 0/ Designate two existing county parks and three trails as "regional." · In Washington County, Pine Point Park · In Ramsey County, Tony Schmidt Park · In Ramsey County/St. Paul, three regional trails - Trout Brook, Summit Avenue, and Lexington Parkway 0/ Acquire and develop three new parks. Search areas include: · Northwestern Anoka County · Empire Township in Dakota County. Please note that the Metropolitan Council approved a park master plan and a boundary for the park has been established. · Blakeley Township in Scott County 0/ Acquire and develop seven new trails. Search areas include: · The Crow River, in Carver County and Three Rivers Park District . Both a north/south and an east/west trail traversing Dakota County · An east/west trail traversing Scott County · In Three Rivers Park District, a trail connecting parts of Baker Park Reserve; a trail connecting Baker and Crow-Hassan Park Reserves; and a trail connecting Crow-Hassan and Elm Creek Park Reserves 0/ Acquire land within the current boundaries of 30 existing parks and four trails. 0/ Acquire natural-resource lands adjacent to six existing parks and six existing trails. P-I To meet the needs of the region beyond 2030. the Council proposes four new regional parks or reserves and three new trails be acquired. These parks and trails would not be developed until after 2030. but the opportunity to acquire them will likely be lost if the lands aren't identified and purchased before 2030. The goal is to complete the acquisition of the regional park system and secure opportunities for future generations. Search areas include: ./ Parks - Miller Lake area and Minnesota River Bluff and Ravines in Carver County; southwestern Dakota County; and Cedar Lake area in Scott County. ./ Trails - northwestern Anoka County; central to south Carver County; and Minnesota River to Spring Lake in Scott County. P-1 Figure t: All additions and changes to Regional Park System Plan Figure 1. Regional Parks System Statement ,Jl,Jly200S 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan Req'Orull P"fll Se.lIch A.reas." R~ion;1.l 1,.,11 S~o:h Corridors. o o &>und(llyAdi""'\"'~nl Bound;lf}Ad)wlOOnt P3rks..ndPfeserv~s F"d<lmllllml Privati:rN.;>fl-P,,,lh Fm~onal st:JleLand L"~",, and MaiO! Ri~m5 2020MUS~. A..~Mib~ <'If Reg"'"Il! Status R"'O:>9nihCln of Ro:.llHHlal Stal"" i1~ l'kwUIllt NewUnil RII!'!.Iional Trails Ev;stiog PlJOt'l.:.(\ P""p"wd Stal'oExi"ting e Com,>O'"..S,,,.,,, C<lf"pl..,llt\Il~SySl(!m Cuundl P-3 1. Regional Park System Plan Considerations Affecting Your Community Regional parks and trails in your community The following regional parks and trails within Maplewood as contained in the adopted 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan are listed below. Table 1: Regional Parks and Trails in Maplewood Regional Park or Trail Unit Master plan boundary of Master plan boundary is not Name unit is set. Comprehensive set. Comprehensive plan plan should acknowledge should acknowledge general boundary location with final boundary or alignment subject to park or trail master nlan Battle Creek-Indian Mounds X Regional Park Phalen-Keller Revional Park X Bruce Vento Regional Trail X Afton Bluffs Regional Trail X Battle Creek-Indian Mounds Regional Park ~ This is an existing regional park with an established park boundary. The park boundary as shown in Figure 2 should be acknowledged in the city's comprehensive plan. Greg Mack is the contact person for Regional Park System facilities in Maplewood. He can be reached at 65 I -748-2500. Phalen-Keller Regional Park - This is an existing regional park with an established park boundary. The proposed park boundary as shown in Figure 2 should be acknowledged in the city's comprehensive plan. Greg Mack is the contact person for Regional Park System facilities in Maplewood. He can be reached at 65] -748-2500. Bruce Vento Regional Trail- This regional trail is partially complete and open to the public. The section in the northern part of the city of Maplewood is to be completed in 2005. The trail alignment as shown in Figure 2 should be acknowledged in the city's comprehensive plan. Greg Mack is the contact person for Regional Park System facilities in Maplewood. He can be reached at 65 I -748-2500. Afton Bluffs Regional Trail ~ This is a proposed trail that would connect Battle Creek-Indian Mounds Regional Park to the east with regional park facilities in Washington County. No master plan has been prepared for this trail yet. Consequently. the general trail alignment as shown in Figure 2 should be acknowledged in the city's comprehensive plan. Greg Mack is the contact person for Regional Park System facilities in Maplewood. He can be reached at 65 I -748-2500. P-4 State lands The Gateway State Trail, managed by the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources provides outdoor recreation opportunities and natural resource conservation for the public and is considered part ofthe regional recreation open space system. This facility as shown in Figure 2 should be acknowledged in the County's comprehensive plan. For more information about this DNR site call 651-296-6157. Figure 2 shows the location of a II parks and trails listed above in Maplewood, plus any parks and trails adjacent to the city's border. 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