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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/17/2008 AGENDA MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, June 17, 2008 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. June 3, 2008 5. Public Hearings 6. New Business a. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - Review and Discussion of Land Use Plan Update b. Election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson 7. Unfinished Business 8. Visitor Presentations 9. Commission Presentations June 9 Council Meeting Follow-up: Mr. Boeser June 23 Council Meeting: Mr. Pearson July 14 Council Meeting: Mr. Trippler July 28 Council Meeting: Mr. Walton 10. Staff Presentations Annual Tour Reminder- June 30, 2008 11. Adjournment DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2008 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioner Joseph Boeser Vice-Chairperson Tushar Desai Chairperson Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Harland Hess Commissioner Robert Martin Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner Dale Trippler Commissioner Joe Walton Commissioner Jeremy Yarwood Present at 7:05 p.m. Present Present. Present Present Present Present Present Absent Staff Present: Ken Roberts. Planner Tom Ekstrand. City Planner Chuck Ahl. Director of Public Works III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Commissioner Hess seconded Ayes - all The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. May 20, 2008 Commissioner Trippler moved approval of the minutes of May 20,2008, as submitted. Commissioner Pearson seconded Ayes - Fischer, Hess, Martin, Pearson, Trippler Abstentions - Desai, Walton The motion passed. . V. PUBLIC HEARING 7:04 p.m. - Gethsemane Senior Housing (south of 241 0 Stillwater Road) . Land Use Plan Amendment (park to high density residential) . Conditional Use Permit for Planned Unit Development . Parking Reduction Authorization . Preliminary Plat City planner Tom Ekstrand presented the staff report for the request submitted for the Gethsemane Senior Housing proposal to build a iii-unit senior housing facility. Planning Commission Minutes of 06-03-08 -2- The commission discussed the need for the city to retain the four acres on the east side of the site for park land and encouraged the city to get the negotiation done. The commission also discussed the diminishing size of senior housing units being built. Commissioner Boeser said that the applicants have most likely done the research to know that the size of the units is marketable and that the applicants will be able to make the project viable. Commissioner Trippler disputed the applicants' proposed unit sizes saying his mother needed to go into a senior facility and it was difficult to find a unit available and they did not have alternatives. Mr. Trippler said this is why there are laws to protect people who cannot protect themselves. The hearing was opened for comments from the public. The following people spoke: 1. Bob Van Slyke of Presbyterian Homes of Minnesota and one of the applicants for the project, 2845 Hamline Avenue N., Roseville, explained that Presbyterian Homes is in a non-profit partnership with Gethsemane Senior Housing. Mr. Van Slyke explained this project will have a full continuum of services including independent living, assisted living, and memory care all in one structure. Mr. Van Slyke said this will be Maplewood's first project with a full continuum of services. Mr. Van Slyke presented basic details of the T.I.F. financing proposal. 2. Ward Isaacson of Pope Architects, 8524 Riverview Lane, Brooklyn Park, the architect of this project, explained the exterior character of the building saying this building is designed and materials proposed to complement the design of the existing Gethsemane Lutheran Church. 3. Rev. Richard White, residing at 440 Harriet Avenue, Shoreview, pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, said the church's vision is to provide a community service to the elderly residents of Maplewood and their families. 4. Lucille Watt, 839 Bartelmy Lane, said she has lived many years by Gethsemane Church and would like the property to remain park or open space land. 5. Sheila Stoerzger, 868 Bartelmy Lane, spoke regarding the proposed land use amendment. 6. Deana Drewes, 882 Bartelmy Lane, spoke positively about Gethsemane Park facilities. 7. Becki O'Brien, 2465 E. Brand, spoke about Presbyterian Homes and having sidewalk facilities. 8. Robert Johnson, 1060 Mary Street, said he does not think there is a demand for this housing. 9. Tony Yocum, 8330 21st Street N., Lake Elmo, spoke in favor of this project. 10. Brian Canfield, 2461 Minnehaha Avenue, spoke against the project. 11. Doug Angrew, 7501 25th Street N., Oakdale, spoke in favor of the project. 12. Debbie Closmore, 2367 Bush Avenue, spoke. 13. Kathleen Peterson, 1085 Mary Street, said she wanted the property to remain a park. 14. Maria Gillan, 770 Mary Street, spoke in favor of the project and suggested that Bartelmy Avenue be closed. Planning Commission Minutes of 06-03-08 -3- 15. Robert Johnson spoke again. 16. Deana Drewes spoke again. 17. Kathleen Peterson spoke again asking Mr. Van Slyke to comment on why there is no skilled nursing included in this proposal. Mr. Van Slyke of Presbyterian Homes responded that even if they wished to build a skilled nursing facility, there is a state moratorium on building new skilled nursing facilities. There were no further comments; the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Pearson asked staff whether it would be possible to close Bartelmy Street north of Brand Street. Director of public works Chuck Ahl responded that this street could not be closed at the church emergency access points, but the city does consider applications by the neighbors for requests for stop signs and road changes annually in the summer. Commissioner Pearson moved to: A. Adopt the resolution approving a comprehensive land use plan amendment from P (park) to R3H (high density residential) for the six-acre site south of Gethsemane Lutheran Church located at 2410 Stillwater Road. The easterly four acres of the original 1 O-acre property is not included in this approval. Approval is based on the following guiding principals and reasons as noted in the comprehensive land use plan: 1. Development with the proposed senior housing project would promote economic development that will expand the property tax base, increase jobs and provide desirable services. 2. The proposed development would provide a wider range of housing types in this neighborhood. 3. The proposed development would be a similar type of use to the apartments across Stillwater Road and would also provide a transitional buffer use between those abutting apartments and the single family homes to the south and east. B. Adopt the resolution approving a conditional use permit for a planned unit development (PUD) for Gethsemane Senior Housing project. This PUD also allows the reduction in living-unit floor area from 580 square feet to 337 square feet for no more than two units for memory-care units and from 580 square feet to 566 square feet for assisted-living units. Approval is based on the findings required by ordinance and subject to the following conditions: 1. All construction shall follow the approved site plan. The planning staff may approve minor changes. 2. The proposed construction must be substantially started within one year of council approval or the permit shall become null and void. 3. The city council shall review this permit in one year. 4. The proposed senior housing development shall remain for use as senior housing unless the city council approves a change in use. Planning Commission Minutes of 06-03-08 -4- 5. The owner/operator of the senior housing development shall obtain a cross easement from Gethsemane Lutheran Church for access and overflow parking before the city will issue a building permit for this development. 6. Compliance with the city's engineering report by Steve Kummer dated February 13, 2008. 7. Explore closure with conditions to the access to Bartelmy Lane at Brand Avenue through y'h Street and to post Bartelmy as "no trucks allowed." C. Approval of a parking waiver to provide 114 fewer parking spaces than are required by ordinance. The applicant shall provide 61 garage spaces and 47 surface parking spaces. This parking waiver is subject to the following conditions: 1. The owners of Gethsemane Senior Housing shall get an access and parking easement from Gethsemane Church to use their parking lot as overflow parking. This written agreement shall be provided prior to the issuance of a building permit. 2. All parking areas shall comply with the dimensional requirements for parking lots that are required by ordinance. D. Approval of the preliminary and final plat for the Gethsemane Addition, subject to the following condition: 1. Compliance with the conditions of the city's engineering report by Steve Kummer dated February 13, 2008. Commissioner Trippler seconded Commissioner Boeser suggested that the most feasible solution to the neighbors' concerns with increased traffic on Bartelmy may be for the church to close their access point during temporary time periods. Commissioner Martin moved to amend the motion striking Condition A.-i. from the original motion, since it is not an item of responsibility for the planning commission's purview. Commissioner Hess seconded Ayes - Hess, Martin, Walton Nays - Boeser, Desai, Fischer, Pearson, Trippler The amendment motion failed. The commission voted on Condition A of the original motion as follows: Ayes - Boeser, Desai, Fischer, Pearson, Trippler Nays - Hess, Martin, Walton The motion passed. The commission voted on Condition B of the original motion as follows: Ayes - Boeser, Desai, Fischer, Martin, Pearson, Trippler Nays - Hess, Walton The motion passed. Planning Commission Minutes of 06-03-08 -5- The commission voted on Condition C of the original motion as follows: Ayes - Boeser, Desai, Fischer, Martin, Pearson, Trippler Nays - Hess, Walton The motion passed. The commission voted on Condition D of the original motion as follows: Ayes - Boeser, Desai, Fischer, Martin, Pearson, Trippler Nays - Hess, Walton The motion passed. Commissioner Walton said he voted nay because it is too much of a radical change for the neighborhood and not a proper use. Commissioner Hess echoed Mr. Walton's comments and added that he felt this is a good project but not for this spot because of the land use. VI. NEW BUSINESS a. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - Review and Discussion of Future Land Use Plan Planner Ken Roberts explained that information requested from the Metropolitan Council on density ranges has not yet been received by the city, so this item needs to be tabled to the next meeting. Mr. Roberts also reported on the comprehensive plan open house meeting held at the community center. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS . June 9 Council Meeting: Mr. Boeser will attend. . June 23 Council Meeting: Mr. Pearson will attend. . July 14 Council Meeting: Mr. Martin will attend. X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Annual Tour Update - June 30, 2008 b. Resignation Announcement Planner Ken Roberts reported his resignation with the city effective June 11, 2008. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:42 p.m. MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: RE: Planning Commission Ginny Gaynor, Open Space Naturalist June 11, 2008 for the June 17, 2008 Planning Commission Meeting Natural Resources Chapter of Comprehensive Plan Background In January 2008, Maplewood contracted Applied Ecological Services (AES) to map natural area greenways in the city and to write the Natural Resources Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. On June 3, 2008, Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) commissioners reviewed and approved the draft natural resources chapter. At the June 17, 2008 Planning Commission meeting, commissioners will review the Natural Resources Chapter. Discussion AES developed the draft Natural Resources Chapter with input from staff, ENR commissioners, residents and commissioners who attended public meetings, comprehensive plan consultants, and local agencies. ENR Commission devoted two meetings to review of the Natural Resources Chapter and approved it on June 3, 2008. Natural resources are a critical component of several sections of the Comprehensive Plan. There will be some overlap in material between sections. . Natural resources chapter. Addresses land and water resources in a comprehensive manner for whole city. Presents goals, explains the city's 4-pronged approach to natural resource, and suggests implementation strategies. It mentions stormwater and surface water but does not address them in detail. It does not address environmental issues such as recycling or energy. . Surface water chapter. Addresses stormwater and surface water. . Parks, Trails, and Open Space chapter. Addresses natural resources issues as they relate to parks. . Land Use chapter. Incorporates greenways, local habitats, parks, trails, and open space. . Sustainability chapter. Addresses sustainability and green development. The Natural Resources Chapter presents a new approach to natural resources in the city that encompasses four levels or focal areas: . Natural Area Greenways . Local Habitats . Active Parks and Trails . City-wide natural resources issues (such as invasive species management) This creates a comprehensive approach that addresses natural resources on both public and private lands. Recommendation Staff requests that Planning commissioners review the Natural Resources Chapter. Attachments: Draft Natural Resources Plan and maps Chapter 7 - Natural Resources Plan - 6/12/08 Draft Protect, Connect, Restore, and Manage Ecosystems, Plant Communities and Species Why a Natural Resources Plan is Needed Maplewood's quality of life depends on how it manages its natural resources. Natural resources are the air, minerals, land, water, and biota that form the foundation to life in Maplewood. For example, the oxygen we breathe comes from plants. Without plants, the atmosphere would be poisonous to people and animals. That is a free ecosystem service that benefits people in Maplewood. There are many others. The benefits of treating natural resources in a sustainable way include: C', . High quality forests, savannas, prairies, wetlands, lakes, and streams will support a variety of life-trees, shrubs, wildflowers, groundcover, fish, birds, and other wildlife. . Lakes, streams, and wetlands will be clean enough to support aquatic life and provide recreational opportunities. . Undeveloped land will provide essential ecosystem services. . Vegetation will help prevent sediment, phosphorus, nitrogen, and contaminants from reaching lakes, streams, and wetlands. . Rainwater infiltrates, which reduces flooding and feeds groundwater. . Groundwater is recharged, which feeds cold, clean water to lakes, streams, and wetlands. . Water levels are more stable, which prevents erosion of shorelines and stream channels. . Beautiful places exist for people to see and visit. There is an economic value to treating natural resources in a sustainable way. Property values are higher near natural areas and open space1, New developments that protect natural resources using conservation design and low-impact development techniques can save an average of 24-27% in construction costs per developmenF. Damage to storm sewer outfalls, shorelines, and buildings due to flooding are reduced in such developments. In addition to the economic and recreational benefits of natural resources, for many people nature and natural resources merit protection and care due to their intrinsic value, regardless of their value to humans. This natural resources plan is a guide for how Maplewood can manage natural resources in a sustainable way. It will help protect and enhance Maplewood's quality of life for current and future generations. It suggests strategies to protect, connect, restore and manage ecosystems, plant communities, and species. This plan can guide zoning and ordinances. It gives city staff and officials information to use when making annual and long-range budgets. This plan will also provide citizens with an understanding of how they can playa role in achieving these goals through wise land use and management of their property. 1 Embrace Open Space study is at: htto://www.embraceooensoace.ondEOSReoortJEconomicValueofOoenSoace.odf. 2 EPA Low Impact Development study is at: htto://www.ena.lZov/owow/nos/1idfcosts07/documents/reducinl2:stonnwatercosts.odf: AES study is at: htto://www.aooliedeco.com/Proiects/ConDevArticleLavout.odf. Natural Resources Plan Page 1 Wise use and management of natural resources is not all that Maplewood needs to be a great place to live in the 21st century: the city also needs good schools, a vital economy, and efficient public services. But heaithy natural resources will help ensure that Maplewood has a high quality of life that can be sustained far into the future. Vision and Goals for Natural Resources in Maplewood The City of Maplewood has led the way in urban natural resource conservation in Minnesota. From a bonding referendum in 1993 to protect forests and wetlands, to a rain garden program for recharging groundwater and purifying runoff to its lakes and streams, Maplewood's citizens and elected leaders quickly adopt new ideas from scientists, businesses, and regulatory agencies. Maplewood has learned that supporting environmental laws and best practices has benefits for city residents. The city also believes that property values and the city's overall marketability will increase over time by improving natural resources and the environment. Maplewood's desire to become sustainable depends on stewardship of its ecosystems, plant communities, and species. Good stewardship protects the functions of ecosystems and the free ecosystems services necessary for a high quality of life. Following its tradition, the City of Maplewood holds the following vision for natural resources: The City of Maplewood, in order to preserve a beautiful, functional, and varied environment for current and future residents, will protect, connect, restore and manage its ecosystems, plant communities, and species. The city will do this by using the best science and striving for the highest ecological standard. To realize this vision, the City of Maplewood has these goals for natural resources: Natural Resources Goal 1. Protect and buffer ecosystems-forests, savannas, prairies, lakes, streams, wetlands-and other natural resources. Natural Resources Goal 2. Connect and enlarge natural areas and wildlife habitat. Natural Resources Goal 3. Restore and manage natural areas, wildlife habitat, and other natural resources for high ecological quality and for diversity of plant and animal species. Natural Resources Goal 4. Restore the natural ecological functions involving water by better managing stormwater runoff. This means vegetation filtering, infiltration, groundwater recharge, and maintaining stable water levels. Natural Resources Goal 5. Fund natural resource programs to achieve the vision and goals. Natural Resources Goal 6. Integrate the city's natural areas, open space, and active parks and trails. Natural Resources Goal 7. Incorporate the vision and goals for natural resources in the city's comprehensive plan, ordinances, policies, development standards, and zoning. Natural resources GoalS. Enhance public understanding of nature, natural systems, and environmental issues by providing programs, information, and interpretive facilities. Natural Resources Plan Page 2 Natural Resources Goal 9. Promote a culture of stewardship on public and private land through access to natural areas and education and volunteer opportunities in natural areas restoration and management. Natural Resources Goal 1 O. Seek cost savings by using natural systems to provide services such as heating, cooling, stormwater management and water conservation. The Natural Environment of Maplewood Prior to settlement in 1851, most of Maplewood was covered by oak savanna, a plant community with scattered oak trees or oak groves and a ground cover of grasses, sedges, and wildflowers. Hazelnut, chokecherry, juneberry, nannyberry, and wild plum grew in the savanna and at wetland edges. Low, wet areas contained wet prairies, sedge meadows, and marshes. Forests grew on the Mississippi River bluffs in south Maplewood and in valleys where fires were not severe. Some forests were mainly oak and in others sugar maple and basswood mingled with oaks. Lakes were smaller at the time, and were later enlarged by excavating wetland vegetation from the shorelines. Nearly every year the Mdewakanton Dakota Indians ignited fires in the region; the fires had bumed the savannas and wetlands for thousands of years. As a result, most of the plants and animals living in the natural areas of Maplewood were residents of savannas, marshes, wet prairies, and sedge meadows. Plants and animals of forest settings lived in the small forest areas of the Mississippi bluffs and in ravines with flowing streams. After settlement, many changes took place in Maplewood: . Natural lands were developed with farms, houses, and businesses. . Large savannas and forests were broken into small separated parcels. . Remaining savannas became overgrown with trees and shrubs. . Many wetlands were drained, excavated, and filled. . Plant life was altered by grazing and the introduction of non-native plan.!s. . Trees from river floodplains seeded into uplands and wetlands. . Erosion occurred in streams, at shorelines, and on steep slopes. . More sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen reached lakes, streams, and wetlands than historically. . Some wildlife was eliminated by hunting. . Some wildlife left or died out because there was not enough habitat to successfully breed. . More water flowed directly into lakes, streams, and wetlands after rainstorms. . Water levels in groundwater fell, and water levels in lakes, streams, and wetlands rose and fell more often and more quickly than historically. One example of what these changes mean is wildlife that has disappeared or is declining. Generalist species, such as raccoon and deer, are species that can adapt to different types of habitat, including urban habitats. Many generalist species thrive in Maplewood. But specialist species, such as the ovenbird and Blanding's turtle, are more particular about habitat and often need large, connected habitat to persist. These species have declined, or are in danger of declining locally. Many of the species in Table 7.1 are specialists. Natural Resources Plan Page 3 Table 7.1. Status of Selected Historical and Current Species in Maplewood. These species are on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' list of species in greatest conservation need and are found in the east Twin Cities region. The list is for illustration only and was not checked by field surveys. , Once Present, Now Gone American Woodcock Black-crowned Night-heron Eastern Meadowlark Red-headed Woodpecker Red-shouldered Hawk Sedge Wren Trumpeter Swan Upland Sandpiper Wood Thrush Persius Duskywing Regal Fritillary American Badger Franklin's Ground Squirrel Prairie Vole Blanding's Turtle Gopher Snake Western Hognose Snake Possibly Present, In Decline? Common Mudpuppy Brown Thrasher Common Nighthawk Eastern Wood-pewee Field Sparrow Least Flycatcher Northern Rough-winged Swallow Ovenbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Swamp Sparrow Virginia Rail Yellow-bellied Sapsucker American Brook Lamprey Least Weasel Common Snapping Turtle Smooth Green Snake Eastern Fox Snake Eastern Hognose Snake Species Restored Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon Today, Maplewood is a patchwork of developed land and undeveloped natural areas (Figure 7.1). Maplewood has several lakes and ponds in the north, fringed by small amounts of wetland vegetation. The urban watershed that feeds the lakes provides poor water quality. There are many wetlands, but aggressive cattails and reed canary-grass cover most. " South Maplewood has large forests. The once large expanses of savanna and prairie no longer exist-remaining grasslands are small and support only a few species. Three streams-Battle Creek, Fish Creek, and Snake Creek- flow from Woodbury through Maplewood and then to the Mississippi. In places their banks are eroding and water quality is poor because the headwaters are in developed areas. Despite the problems they support a variety of aquatic insect and fish life. There are few natural areas of high quality in Maplewood. Most have lost plant and animal species because they are small and suffer serious edge effects-invasion by non-native species, for example. However, in several places in the city there are large, continuous habitats well-suited to preserving a wide variety of wildlife and plants if restored and managed. In many local habitats native plants and animals persist despite the small size of the habitat. Maplewood faces the following challenges in managing its natural resources: 1. How to integrate a developed city and dense population with natural resource conservation. 2. How to protect and restore ecosystems in the city so that ecosystem services will continue. 3. How to retain and attract animal species that need high quality or large habitats (e.g., specialist species). 4. How to protect and restore the quality of upland and lowland plant communities, wildlife habitats, lakes, and streams. 5. How to generate funding for natural resources and associated infrastructure. 6. How to prioritize projects. Natural Resources Plan Page 4 7. How to involve city residents and businesses with city staff and officials in carrying out the vision and goals for natural resources. Natural Resources in Maplewood The City of Maplewood intends to achieve its vision and goals for natural resources using a comprehensive approach. Maplewood's framework for protecting and managing natural resources focuses on four levels. . Natural Area Greenways. Natural Area Greenways are large contiguous areas of habitat that cross ownership boundaries. They protect and expand ecosystem services and habitat. Because they are large they have the potential to provide habitat for both generalist and specialist species. Maplewood has identified four greenways. . Local Habitats. Local Habitats are individual natural areas and backyard habitat connections. They serve the needs of people wanting to enjoy and learn about wild habitat near their homes and also provide ecosystem services and wildlife habitat locally. Because they are relatively small, they are typically not able to provide habitat for specialist species. Local habitats may be public or private lands. . Active Parks and Trails. Active Parks and Trails connect Natural Area Greenways and Local Habitats and give peopie places to play sports, picnic, and bike. . Natural Resource Issues. Some natural resource issues are addressed city-wide through individual programs, such as stormwater management. Natural Area Greenways Maplewood defines Natural Area Greenways as large contiguous areas of habitat that cross ownership boundaries. The purpose of Natural Area Greenways is to protect, connect, and restore large scale ecosystems and ecosystem services and provide habitat for species that need large natural areas. Greenways contain large natural areas, high quality plant communities and wildlife habitat, and provide a wide, continuous corridor for animal movement. In general, a corridor in a greenway should not be narrower than the habitat size for a species that needs the corridor. Scientific studies vary tremendously in their recommendations for corridor width. For Maplewood a reasonable minimum corridor width in a greenway is 660 feet (200 meters). This width tries to balance the limitations on natural resources in cities with the needs of animals that use corridors to survive. Four Natural Area Greenways exist in Maplewood (Figure 7.2). They were selected by mapping and connecting large, better quality natural areas and avoiding major roads and watershed divides that are barriers to many species (Appendix 7.1). The two northern greenways are mostly lowland ecosystems (lakes and wetlands) north of 1-94. The two southern greenways consist mostly of upland ecosystems (forests, grasslands) with small wetlands and streams south of 1-94. Greenways provide stopovers for the hundreds of bird species that migrate through Maplewood each spring and fall. But birds also use Local Habitats and backyards if food and shelter are present. Bird and insect migrants (e.g., monarch butterfly) move through Maplewood along a broad front. They may concentrate in some places due to local geography and vegetation. The Mississippi Flyway, for example, is wider than the Mississippi River. Waterfowl, waterbirds, and shorebirds generally orient to it and use its open water in the spring while waiting for ice to melt on Natural Resources Plan Page 5 lakes and wetlands in the surrounding area. Once in Maplewood, these birds choose migratory stopover habitat based on size, quality, and isolation, not geographic location. Migrating songbirds from the tropics and subtropics also move on a broad front, but descend from flight elevations and move through vegetation eating insects as they journey north. As they move through Maplewood, these birds concentrate in woodlots, dense tree patches in developments, grasslands and brushland, and in the vegetated edges of wetlands and lakes. The more patches of permanent vegetation there are, the more opportunities these birds have to feed as they migrate. 1. Phalen-Casey Chain-of-Lakes Greenway composition and regional barriers This large, lowland greenway consists of a chain of lakes in formerly extensive wetlands. Stretching from Phalen Lake to Casey Lake, it includes Round, Keller, Gervais, Kohlman Lakes and Kohlman Creek. Most of the greenway is open water with a narrow wetland fringe. More wetlands are east of Kohiman Lake. This greenway extends into North St. Paul, Little Canada, and St. Paul. :" Regional barriers to the movement of fish, freshwater mussels, crayfish, and some other aquatic life are the urban development south and west of the greenway, and the major watershed divides to the north and east. Water leaves this greenway from Phalen Lake and travels in a large storm sewer until it discharges to the Mississippi River at Mounds Park, St. Paul. One of the last few records of Blanding's Turtle in the city was in this greenway. Eleven constrictions (pinch points) with greenway width of <660 feet (Figure 7.2) restrict wildlife movement in the greenway. Pinch points are mainly at road crossings (Frost Avenue at Round Lake, Highway 61 at Keller Lake, Highway 36 at Keller Lake, Highway 61 east of Kohlman Lake, west side of Hazelwood Park, and White Bear Avenue). Other pinch points are the outlet of Lake Gervais, the outlet of Kohlman Lake, a narrow wetland west of Hazelwood Park, and a drop structure at the outlet of Casey Lake. Greenway challenges . Reduced infiltration due to high percentage of impervious surface in the watershed causes a lower water table and reduces groundwater inflow to lakes and wetlands. . Poor water quality in lakes and wetlands due to large amount of surface runoff from impervious surfaces and turf grass brings sediment, nutrients, and pollutants to waters. . Narrow lake and wetland buffers reduce the filtering and cleansing effect of vegetation at the water-upland edge. . The small size of upland habitats next to lakes and wetlands prevents some wetland animals from completing a life cycle that includes using uplands (e.g., Blanding's Turtle). . Over-abundance of reed-canary grass and cattail degrades wetland habitat. . Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has designated several lakes in this greenway as impaired: Kohlman, Gervais, Spoon, Keller, Round, and Phalen. 2. Holloway-Beaver Lake Wetlands Greenway composition and regional barriers This large, lowland greenway is more or less continuous wetland habitat from the marsh lands north of Holloway Avenue, southwest to wetlands and uplands at Priory Neighborhood Preserve, and continuing southwest along wetlands and Beaver Creek to Beaver Lake. This greenway extends into North St. Paul, Oakdale, and St. Paul. Beaver Lake has a narrow wetland fringe. This is a historical wetland area, containing wet prairie, wet meadow, and Natural Resources Plan Page 6 marsh. The lowland forests with ash, elm, cottonwood, and silver maple that exist in this greenway were not here historically. Regional barriers include a major watershed at the east edge, dense urban development in St. Paul, and minor watershed divides to the north and south. The greenway drains out of Beaver Lake and the water flows in a large storm sewer west to Phalen Creek. The movement of fish, freshwater mussels, crayfish, and some other aquatic species are restricted by these barriers. One of the last few records of Blanding's turtles in the city was in this greenway. Seven pinch points with greenway width of <660 feet (Figure 7.2) restrict wildlife movement in the greenway. Pinch points are where roads (Century Avenue, Maryland Avenue, and Lakewood Drive) and a railroad cross the greenway. The narrow wetland between Maryland Avenue and Lakewood Drive is also a pinch point. Greenway challenges The challenges are the same as for Phalen-Casey Chain of Lakes above. 3. Battle Creek Forests Greenway composition and regional barriers This large, mostly forested greenway includes Battle Creek Regional Park and connects to the Mississippi River bluffs in St. Paul. This greenway includes the Ponds at Battle Creek Golf Course, the forested portion of Highwood neighborhood, and Applewood Neighborhood Preserve. The largest, best quality forests are in Battle Creek Regional Park. Battle Creek is part of this corridor and begins in Tanner's Lake in Landfall, then flows to Battle Creek Lake in Woodbury, and then through a narrow stream valley to Battle Creek Park. This is a historical forest area of oak forest, oak-maple-basswood forest, and aspen-oak woodland. Regional barriers around this upland greenway are the major divided highways: US61, 1-494, and 1-94. These highways prevent the movement of small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and ground-dwelling insects that are an important part of the forest's food chain. They also pose a significant risk to other mammals, birds, and flying insects (e.g., butterflies, dragonflies) attempting to cross them. Two pinch points in the continuous forest are on Battle Creek and Lower Alton Road west of McKnight Road. A pinch point in the greenway exists at Lower Alton Road between Battle Creek Regional Park and the golf course. Battle Creek is pinched where it crosses under 1-94 between Tanner's and Battle Creek Lake, at the outlet of Battle Creek Lake, and at Century Avenue. Only two pinch points are within the City. Greenway challenges . The large forests are far from each other and connected by poor quality corridors. . Development at the edges of the large forests affects habitat quality inside the forests. Edge effects shrink the actual size of interior forest habitat, reducing breeding area for forest songbirds (e.g., warblers, vireos) and other forest animals. . Low quality forest habitat is due to over-abundance of European buckthorn and invasion by other non-native plants (e.g., garlic mustard). . Groundcover plants, trees, and shrubs were affected by cattle grazing in the past, and are today affected by abundant white-tailed deer. Grazing and browsing affects some plant species but not others, reducing forest plant diversity. . The forests were protected from severe fires historically, but not from all fire. . Feral and free-roaming cats affect small mammal populations and shrub nesting birds. Natural Resources Plan Page 7 . TWQ- and four-lane roads inside the greenway prevent movement of some species. . The challenges described for the lowland greenways affect Battle Creek, a mostly developed 11.4 square mile watershed. Battle Creek is a typical urban stream, with very low flows at times and with very high flows after rainstorms3, but water quality and aquatic life are fair to good. 4. Fish Creek Forests Greenway composition and regional barriers This large, mostly forested greenway includes four units of Ramsey County's Fish Creek Open Space. It is at the north end of a large, mostly forested greenway that includes forests in Newport, St. Paul, and Cottage Grove. Fish Creek is part of this corridor and begins at Carver Lake in Woodbury, then flows through the Fish Creek Open Space and beneath 1-494 and US61 to the Mississippi River. A smaller creek, Snake Creek, begins in the Bailey Nursery grounds and also flows to the Mississippi. This is a historical forest area of oak forest, oak-maple-basswood forest, and aspen-oak woodland. A portion of this greenway is in the Mississippi River Critical Area and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The Critical Area was designated and established by two governors and the Metropolitan Council between 1976 and 1979. Executive Order 79-19 requires that municipalities and agencies coordinate planning and management in the Critical Area using common guidelines4 In 1991 the legislature made the National River and Recreation Area (part of the National Park Service) a critical area under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 116G. The legislation also made the boundaries of the Critical Area and the National River and Recreation Area the same. Regional barriers to this upland greenway are the major divided highway 1-494 and development to the east in Woodbury. These barriers prevent the movement of small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and ground-dwelling insects that are an important part of the forest's food chain. The highway poses a significant risk to other mammals, birds, and flying insects (e.g., butterflies, dragonflies) attempting to cross it. The main pinch points in the continuous forest are near Sterling Street at 1-494 and on the Bailey property. Greenway challenges . The challenges are the same as the challenges for Battle Creek Forests above. . Loss of private land to development will decrease the amount of natural land in this greenway. . Unplanned or unwise development may degrade habitat. . Developers and landowners are often not knowledgeable about or are not receptive to conservation design strategies. . Fish Creek and Snake Creek are reported to have eroding banks and beds. Local Habitats Local Habitats are individual natural areas and backyard habitat connections (Figure 7-3). The purpose of Local Habitats is to protect, buffer, and manage small, isolated wild habitats and protect local ecosystem services outside the Greenways. Local Habitats will be difficult to enlarge and connect and will usually benefit generalist species but 3 See Met Council monitoring reports for 2001 and 2003 at: httu:/ Iwww.metrocouncil.orwenvironment!Riverslakes/Streams/RenortslBattIe.pdf. http://www.metrocouncil.org/environmentlRiversLakes/StreamslReports/2003_ Reportl03Battle. pdf 4 For guidelines see: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_ sectionlcritical_ arealexecord.pdf. Natural Resources Plan Page 8 not specialist species. These lands may be private or public. Private lands are included to show the natural resources that exist in the city. These private lands are not open for public use and these sites may be developed someday. Many of the public sites provide access and opportunities for people to enjoy and learn about wild habitats. Local Habitats include: . Some Maplewood Neighborhood Preserves; . Natural areas within active parks; . Neighborhoods that have contiguous backyard habitat; . Naturai areas that are used for stormwater management; . County and city open space sites that have natural vegetation; . Private sites that have natural vegetation. Two Local Habitats are significant because of their size and arrangement. 3M Lake Wetlands 'i> This is the largest concentration of Local Habitat in Maplewood. It contains 3M Lake and wetlands identified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as regionally significant. It is at the top of a watershed and runoff comes from nearby. This improves chances to manage runoff and protect or restore water quality in the lake and wetlands. Highwood-Vista Hills Wetlands The Highwood and Vista Hills neighborhoods are unique in Maplewood due to the dozens of small, kettlehole wetlands formed by the glaciers melting in place here (I.e., an ice-stagnation moraine). It is at the top of a watershed and runoff comes from nearby lawns, driveways, and streets. This improves the chances to manage runoff and protect or restore water quality in the wetlands. The Highwood-Vista Hills Wetlands overlap with the Battle Creek Forest Greenway. Small forested wetlands provide excellent habitat for frogs and other aquatic life. Local Habitat Challenges . Small habitats are affected more than large habitats by edge effects. Edge effects include invasion by non- native plants (e.g., European buckthom, garlic mustard) and animals (e.g., European Starling, House Sparrow) and predation on wildlife by feral and free-roaming cats. . Many native species do not survive in small habitats for very long because they have small populations, and small populations can easily go extinct. . Small habitats can be over-used by people because the impacts are concentrated in a small area. In small habitats vegetation is easily trampled and lost, erosion is quick to start, and dumping of trash, lawn clippings, leaves, and debris often happens. . Small lakes and wetlands are easily polluted because the runoff from impervious surfaces and turf grass is large and overwhelms the ecosystem's ability to absorb and treat it. When they are at the top of a watershed, small lakes and wetlands tend to have better water quality because less runoff reaches them. Active Parks and Trails The purpose of active parks and trails is to provide easy access for people's recreational enjoyment. These places provide fewer ecosystem services than greenways and Local Habitats because they usually have turf grass, compacted soils, and impervious surfaces, and are poor wildlife habitat. However, some parts of active parks, trails, and golf courses could be used to expand habitat and reduce edge effects in greenways and Local Habitats. In Natural Resources Plan Page 9 .c addition, areas within active parks that are not needed for active recreation may be restored to native plant communities. The Parks Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan covers parks in detail. Challenges in Active Parks and Trails . It is necessary to understand which parts of active parks and trails have an effect on greenways and Local Habitats, positive and negative. . Some specialist wildlife is disturbed by human activity. This is more important in greenways than in Local Habitats. . Wheels, shoes, and dogs spread seeds of non-native plants to natural areas (e.g., garlic mustard). . Maintenance activities in parks and along trails can affect greenways and Local Habitats. Herbicide drift is one example. Special Natural Resource Issues Some natural resources issues are widespread in the city and are addressed by topic through city-wide programs. Existing programs include: . Stormwater Management Program; . Maplewood Tree Program; . Buckthom Management Program. Additional programs should be established to address natural resources issues such as: . Invasive plants and animals (other than buckthorn); . Wetland buffer improvements; . Sustainable landscaping and yard care; . Toxic waste sites; . Impaired waters. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has designated the following Maplewood Lakes as impaired: Kohlman, Gervais, Spoon, Keller, Round, Phalen, Wakefield, and Beaver; . Stream restoration. .' This natural resources plan provides a new framework for protecting natural resources in Maplewood. It addresses regional, city-wide, neighborhood, and site levels. It encompasses both public and private lands. This comprehensive approach will enable Maplewood to protect and manage natural resources. Implementation strategies are discussed in the following section. Natural Resources Plan Page 10 Implementation Strategies for Natural Resources The city's present and future residents will benefit by using Maplewood's natural resources in a sustainable way. The city's reputation and its quality of life will be enhanced, residents and visitors will see beauty and variety in the environment, and healthy ecosystems will provide services and benefits that keep the city's lakes and streams clean and its wildlife populations diverse. This is a large vision with many ambitious goals for protecting, restoring and managing natural resources in the city. It will take many years of discussion, planning, budgeting, and other work to make it a reality. The five-year plan for natural resources has the following strategies. The city will amend the plan in the next five years as the city's priorities and resources change, as new strategies and opportunities arise, and as staff and officials learn about new approaches to sustainability. " Education . Educate residents about nature, natural resources, and protection and management of resources. . Adopt both city-wide and neighborhood-based educational programming. . Give annual progress report to city council. . Organize public tours of the greenways and Local Habitats. . Develop educational materials and create a natural resources page on the city's website. Post natural resources plan, maps of greenways and Local Habitats, brochures, technical information for stewardship work by residents, etc. . Present workshops to explain the natural resources plan. Answer questions: What are greenways and Local Habitats, why are they needed, where are they, and how do they affect residents? . Organize city-wide species counts for wildlife and plants through event such as "BioBlitz Day." . Provide training on natural resources management for staff. City Planning and Zoning . Integrate natural resources (e.g., greenways and Local Habitats) into the city's comprehensive plan, zoning, ordinances, development review, daily operations, capital budgeting, and bonding initiatives. . Consider adopting zoning overlay for Natural Area Greenways to encourage preservation and management. The overlay would consist of the greenways plus a 300-660 foot buffer. The overlay can provide incentives or mandate landowners to adopt certain approaches to construction and land treatment that improve naturai resources in the greenway. . Modify city's operating procedures and annual budgets to implement feasible strategies identified above. . Hold brain-storming session with city leadership to identify strategies for implementing the natural resources plan. Discussion should focus on three things: 1) integrating all public lands, across all uses and owners; 2) integrating the public and private use of land and waters, where feasible; and 3) integrating the existing stormwater infrastructure and management approach with the vision for natural resources. Ideas for stormwater may include: . Wetland and Floodplain Buffers. Set water quality buffer width using best available science and incorporate in city ordinances and standards. A change in buffer width is being implemented in 2008. Natural Resources Plan Page 11 . Stormwater Utility. Incorporate in the city's stormwater utility the locations for stormwater management that benefit greenways and Local Habitats. Implementation is ongoing, but focus should include regional view and the integration of greenways and Local Habitats. . Update the city's zoning and ordinances to implement win-win strategies such as: . Conservation Design Ordinance. Create an ordinance or zoning overlays that encourage low impact development and conservation design practices. Examples include City of Uno Lakes, rural residential cluster development ordinance of Chisago City and Marine on St. Croix, and St. Croix County, WI. Examples of conservation development designs and approaches are widely available.' This type of ordinance preserves large natural areas, manages stormwater ecologicaily, minimizes land clearing and grading, reduces infrastructure costs (sewers, curb and gutter, irrigated turf grass, pavement extent, utility run lengths), and promotes stewardship of natural resources. Incentives to landowners might include accelerated permitting, variances, and increased density. . Alternative Stormwater Standards. This tool is part of a conservation design ordinance or can stand alone. Its focus is to promote low impact development practices for stormwater management, and integrate these practices with existing stormwater management infrastructure operations and maintenance. Many examples exist.6 Protection and Restoration Inventory and Evaluate Natural Resources . Conduct land cover inventory for city using Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS). At a minimum, MLCCS should be done for the greenways and for ail city-owned Local Habitats. . Identify parcels with high ecological quality that need protection. . Identify areas in active parks that could be restored to natural habitat. . Identify locations in active parks, golf courses, and recreational trails that are part of greenways and Local Habitats and their buffers. . Identify locations in active parks, golf courses, and recreational trails useable for alternative, ecological stormwater management. These areas can manage runoff from the parks, golf courses, and trails, or can intercept and manage runoff from other land. . Identify other locations on public land (e.g., school property, county land, City Hail) that benefit greenways and Local Habitats. . Assess natural resources city-wide, identify opportunities, and prioritize conservation and management initiatives. Protect Natural Areas . Develop and adopt a land protection plan for Fish Creek Forests Greenway using strategies outlined in this section and the section below on Protect Natural Areas on Private Land. . Pursue protection options initiated in 2007-2008 for city-owned parks and natural areas, including: ordinances, no-net loss policy, zoning, conservation easements, and Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan should define special land use conditions for 5 Applied Ecological Services: htto://www.aooliedeco.com/ConservationDev.cfm: Urban Land Institute: htto://minnesotauli.orgfContentINavil!ationMenu 18/ConservationDesign/ConservationDeveloomentFramework.odf 6 Low Impact Development Center, Inc.: htto:/lwww.lowimoactdevelooment.ofl!;National Stonnwater Center: htto://www.stormwatercenter.org; USEP A NPDES Stormwater Program: htto:/lcfoub.eoa.l!ov/uodes/stonnwatermonth.cfm; Minnesota Erosion Control Association: htto://www.mnerosion.oflZ:; Applied Ecological Services: htto://www.aooliedeco.com/StonnWaterMct.cfm. Natural Resources Plan Page 12 the Maplewood Neighborhood Preserves, active parks, and other city open spaces. The Comprehensive Plan should also define conditions and policies such as no-net loss in Neighborhood Preserve acreage. . Convene a budgeting session with city leadership to identify the strategies to fund protection and restoration of greenways, Local Habitats, and their buffers. Budget for the 5-year and longer term planning horizons. Strategies include: . Park Dedication. Transfer dedications from other parts of city to greenways and Local Habitats. Increase amount of park dedication required. . Grants. Seek grants for greenways. (E.g., Minnesota Department of Natural Resource's (MNDNR) Regional Park or Naturai and Scenic Areas grant with 40% match for Regional Park or 50% for Natural and Scenic Areas'. MNDNR Environmental & Conservation Partnerships Grant program for up to $20,000, with 50% municipal in-kind/cash match.) . Private Easements. Encourage private landowners to enter into conservation easements with a group such as Minnesota Land Trust. . Donation of Land or Easement. Seek donation of land or donation of conservation easement. Trust for Public Land can be intermediary. Donations can reduce federal and state taxes. .~ Identify key messages and incentives to landowners on tax benefits of donation. . Acquisition. Consider a bonding initiative for greenway and Local Habitat acquisition8. . Collaboration. Collaborate with adjacent communities, county, and agencies in development and Implementation of plans for Natural Area Greenways. Protect Natural Areas on Private Land Protecting natural areas on private land is complicated and requires a willing landowner. Each property needs a different approach. Implementing the natural resources plan will lay the groundwork for approaching landowners with ideas for protecting natural areas in greenways and Local Habitats. There are several tools for approaching landowners: . Educate landowners about the resources on their particular site and in their neighborhood. . Provide stewardship training to residents. . Encourage landowners to enter into conservation easements with a group such as Minnesota Land Trust. . Develop incentives for landowners to donate cOnservation land to city. . Adopt zoning and development ordinances with incentives to protect open space. Natural Resources Management Plans . Develop and implement management plans for Natural Area Greenways and city-owned Local Habitats. . Develop and implement site-specific management plans for each Maplewood Neighborhood Preserve. . Develop and implement management plans addressing city-wide management issues such as invasive species. . Develop and implement a Maplewood Tree Plan to cover boulevard trees, park trees, woodlots and forests. . Modify park and trail operations to adopt environmentally friendly maintenance practices and to minimize edge effects to nearby greenways and Local Habitats. 7 See htto;l/www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/tandlnatural scenic.htrnl 8 See http;//conservationcampaign.org Natural Resources Plan Page 13 City-wide Natural Resources Issues Stormwater Management . Altemative Stormwater Standards. Discussed above. . Identify Target Locations. Complete a study to identify and prioritize areas with existing conditions that create problems for downstream lakes, streams, and wetlands in the city. . Blue Stormwater Program for Existing Developments. Create a program to deliver technical advice and assistance about low impact retrofit practices to improve ecosystem services involving stormwater (vegetation filtration, infiltration, recharge, and water level stability). These include rain gardens, bioswales, infiltration plantings (e.g., butterfly and botanical gardens, prairies), tree boxes, created wetlands, cisterns, and many more practices. Street and Boulevard Design and Maintenance :i-; . Investigate alternative road de-icing options. Options range from new formulations of calcium chloride to a solution containing sugar beet juice. . Sweep streets on annual schedule. This is being implemented. . Identify erosion-prone street shoulders at lakeshores, streams, and wetland edges and take corrective action. This is being implemented, and will include a focus on Natural Area Greenways and Local Habitats. . Develop guidelines for environmentally friendly street design such as plantings in cul-de-sac center islands, tree boxes in boulevards, and innovations such as Portland's Green Street program9. Urban Tree Management . Develop and implement an Urban Tree Management Plan for the city that addresses boulevard trees, park trees, and woodlands. . Monitor tree disease and pest outbreaks and implement control program (Dutch elm, oak wilt, emerald ash borer, etc.). Being implemented. Expand to include other diseases and pests as they occur. . Consider adapting the Minnesota Forest Stewardship whole-site planning model for the city1o. Non-native Invasive Species Management . Educate city staff and residents on threat of invasive species and management options. . Develop a volunteer program to help monitor city-owned land for new invasions. . Partner with adjacent cities and agencies in controlling invasive species regionally. . Monitor developments in control methods for buckthorn, garlic mustard, reed canary-grass, Siberian elm, and other target species and revise outreach materials as needed. Urban Wildlife Management . Educate residents about the value and stewardship of urban wildlife. . Participate in Ramsey County's deer management program. 9 See http://www.portlandonline.comIBES/index.cfin?c=!4407 & 10 http://na.fs.fed.ns/stewardship/index.shtm Natural Resources Plan Page 14 . Explore options to reduce populations of bird and mammai species that compete with or prey on native songbird populations (feral and free-roaming cats, raccoons, starlings, house sparrows, crows and grackles, etc.). Mississippi River Critical Area Corridor and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area . Update city's planning, development review, zoning and ordinances to be consistent with guidelines for these areas. . Identify parcels of land in these areas that have high ecological quality and need protection. . Educate landowners in these areas about the designations and what they mean. :i, Natural Resources Plan Page 15 Implementation Schedule for Natural Resources Plan The Natural Resources Plan proposes a new approach to managing Maplewood's natural resources. One of the first steps in achieving the goals is to gain a better understanding of Maplewood's resources. To do this, the implementation plan recommends that Maplewood conducts a land cover classification survey of the whole city. This work will lay the foundation for planning and management. It should be completed before the city attempts to prioritize protection and restoration projects. Therefore, the implementation schedule focuses on planning, not on specific restoration and management projects. Category Date Ke Activities Cost Estimate Planning 2008 1. Develop policies, zoning, and ordinances to Staff implement natural resources plan 2. Develop land protection strategies for south Staff Maplewood Staff 3. Determine staffing needs for implementation of .~" natural resources Ian 2009 1. Conduct MLCCS inventory for entire city ($10,000 $25,000 grant received) 2. Assess and prioritize protection and management Staff projects 3. Develop funding strategies Staff 4. Develop Maplewood Tree Plan Staff 2010 1. Develop management plan for each greenway $40,000 2. Develop general management plan for Local $10,000 Habitats 2010+ 1. Develop individual management plans for individual $30,000 Neighborhood Preserves when funding is available to begin restoration at site 2. Develop programs that address naturai resources staff city-wide (ex: wetland buffers, sustainable landsca in Education, 2008 1. Develop natural resources workshop focusing on $5,000 grant Outreach, protection and stewardship of neighborhood Community resources. Present in one neighborhood and to Engagement businesses. Staff 2. Enhance natural resources section of website Staff 3. Present community-wide programs on sustainable landsca in to ics 2009 1. Present natural resources workshop for four Staff neighborhoods 2. Present community-wide natural resources programs 3. Conduct "BioBlilz" for one site 2010 1. Present natural resources workshop for four Staff neighborhoods 2. Present community-wide natural resources programs 3. Conduct "BioBlilz" for one site Natural Resources Plan Page 16 Natural Resources Plan Page 17 6. Figures Figure 7.1. Natural and Semi-Natural Land in Maplewood Figure 7.2. Natural Area Greenways Figure 7.3. Local Habitats Figure 7.4. Maplewood's Natural Resources, Parks, Trails, and Open Space 7. Tables Table 7.1. Status of Selected Historical and Current Species in Maplewood Table 7.2. Acres in Natural Area Greenways and Local Habitats - NOT YET AVAILABLE 8. Glossary- NOT YET AVAILABLE. Natural Resources Plan Page 18 2030 Comprehensive Plan City of Maplewood MEMORANDUM To: From: Subject: Date: Acting City Manager Rose Lorsung and Michael Martin, MFRA Comprehensive Plan - Land Use Plan June 11, 2008 INTRODUCTION The Planning Commission has finished its work on making policy and land use plan changes and will now be moving into review and editing mode of the Draft Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission will conduct its review over the next two meetings. At the June 17 meeting, the Planning Commission will be reviewing the Introduction, Community Profile, Land Use, Natural Resources and Historical Resources chapters. The Planning Commission will review the Parks, Trails and Open Space, Housing, Transportation and Water Resources chapters at its July 1 meeting, After the Planning Commission reviews, the City Council will have the chapters introduced to them at a workshop setting. The Planning Commission has a tentative Public Hearing set for July 15. DISCUSSION The text in the Introduction and Community Profile chapters largely come from the Background Report, which the Planning Commission received at the beginning of the Comprehensive Planning process. The Planning Commission had commented and recommended edits to the Background Report. The Introduction and Community Profile chapters reflect those requested adjustments. The Land Use chapter is derived mainly from the work conducted by the Planning Commission. The Land Use chapter reflects the simplified Future Land Use classification system as well as all of the Future Land Use changes that the Planning Commission recommended. The most significant Future Land Use changes include, but are limited to, guiding the U.S Highway 61 and MN Highway 36 corridprs for Commercial and the establishment of the new Rural/Low Density Residential classification that is mostly used in the southern portion of the city, A large part of the Planning Commission's work was clean up in nature - finding parcels in the city that have had the wrong guide designation in the past. This chapter reflects the updated land use guides. The Natural Resources chapter works to establish the city's significant and valuable natural entities as a major driving force for shaping the city's future. The city hired an ecologist consultant to prepare the Natural Resources chapter. RECOMMENDATION Please review the five chapters before the June 17 Planning Commission meeting. Also, be prepared to share your thoughts and comments on each of the chapters. The Final Draft Comprehensive Plan will incorporate the feedback received on Tuesday. Each of the chapters will be presented and discussed at the June 17 meeting. If you have any questions about the comprehensive planning process, please contact Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner, at 651-249-2302 or Tom.Ekstrand@ci.maplewood.mn,us. '1M , ...........roo. CITrOFMAPLEWVOn 2030 COlIlPREHENSrr'E PIAN Introduction The City of Maplewood has initiated an update of its Comprehensive Plan in accordance with Minnesota Statues 473.864, Subd. 2. The update of the City of Maplewood Comprehensive Plan is an opportunity to review the community's established development related goals and policies to ensure continued orderly, managed growth through the year 2030. The Comprehensive Plan update must also respond to the regional system statements affecting the City outlined as part of the Metropolitan Council's 2030 Regional Framework. Although the emphasis is on land use, the Comprehensive Plan is comprised of several interrelated elements addressing the natural environment, land use, transportation and community facilities and infrastructure. To ensure the integration of these various components, the 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan identifies current issues to be considered as part of the planning process and establishes broadly defined goals and policies of the community in response to continued growth. A summary of Maplewood's current demographic profile is provided in the next chapter. The documents of the Maplewood Comprehensive Plan are to be used collectively by City officials, residents and developers as a guide for the continued growth that is to occur in Maplewood to the year 2030. Purpose The purpose of the 2030 Maplewood Comprehensive Plan is to help the public and private sector in planning for physical, social and economic development. The 2030 Comprehensive Plan will: . Guide future growth and development in an orderly manner. . Define the proper functional relationships between different types of land uses. . Help to coordinate public and private sector decisions. . Encourage orderliness and economy in city government. . Provide for a sense of community and neighborhood identity. Metropolitan Council In 1967, the Minnesota Legislature created the Metropolitan Council to plan and coordinate the orderly development of the seven-county metropolitan area. Minnesota law requires every municipality and county within the metropolitan area to prepare and submit a comprehensive plan to the Metropolitan Council that addresses all required components of the 2030 Regional Development Framework. The City's plan must be consistent with the Metropolitan Council's system plans. To assist local governments in this effort, the Metropolitan Council issues a "Systems Statement" to each community that describes the specific areas that must be addressed as part of the local comprehensive plan. The City of Maplewood received its revised Systems Statement September 12, 2005, and is required to submit its 2030 Comprehensive Plan to the Metropolitan Council by the end of 2008. The City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan will focus on conformance with metropolitan plans for transportation, water resources, wastewater services, housing, land use, regional parks and open space. The City's plan will be reviewed for consistency with Metropolitan Council poiicies and plans and compatibility with adjacent and affected government units such as Ramsey and Washington counties, cities of Saint Paul, Roseville, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, North Saint Paul, Oakdale, and Newport, school districts, and watershed management organizations. The City also will need to coordinate planning efforts with other government agencies such as the Introduction 1-1 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The City of Maplewood is classified by the Metropolitan Council as a "Developed" community (Figure 1.1). Developed communities are generally 85 percent or more developed by the end of 2000, and contiguous to one another. New developments should be 3 - 5+ units per acre, with higher densities near transportation corridors. As part of this planning process, Maplewood needs to plan for 20 years of growth and identify post-2030 growth areas. Maplewood also needs to plan for a community-wide transportation system. The City needs to make connections between transportation, transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities and land uses. Introduction 1-2 2030 Framework Planning Areas Maplewood - Developed Community o o 5 10 15 2'J Jillik$ AJ'P'DY"d Janua>yJ 4, 2004 PlmiliigmllS .Am.e:rided Dei:ew.'ber2000 NOTE: Please refer to the 'Comprehensive PlansCornposite rnapor the Re@onalSj"stemsmapsfarthemost: recent-information - These rn eps are' available ,at the Met:ropolitan Gouncil Data Center (651)602~1140. Geographic Planning Areas Additional Information Uroalt pla:tttd:ng Areas ThvelDping Area Developed Area R1Ir.ll Planning Areas RuialCenter AgricultUl'al Diversified'Rural 1i&'.0'- Regional Natural ~ Resource Are.. (htlns-Temstrillhrd WE!1:lW,mli) SOURCE: I\Wro DNRiicoo:rditmbn wiIh t:h!: :M.rtrop:JIhn .Co.m:il, _ RegionalPark ~ Propo",d Regional Park _"n _n Regia"'l Tmil Transit 2025 Corridor Princil"l Arterial Op.n WOW! RUl'al Re sidential ~l!Il_I"'_~ Figure 1.1 Introduction 1-3 Communities must plan to accommodate lifecycle and affordable housing. Lifecycle housing refers to the mix of housing types that meet the housing demands of individuals and families throughout their lives, such as single family detached, townhomes, condominiums, manufactured housing, apartments, and senior housing. Affordable housing refers to housing that a low- to moderate income household can afford without spending more than 30 percent of its household income. The Metropolitan Council's definition of low to moderate income household is a household that makes 80 percent of the Twin Cities metropolitan area median income for owner occupied housing and 60 percent of the Twin Cities metropolitan area median income for rental housing. In 2000, the Twin Cities metropolitan area median income was $54,304; therefore, 80 percent of the median income is $43,443, which translates into a $201,800 owner-occupied home. The Metropolitan Council prepared a report in 2006 that determines the affordable housing need in the region between 2011 and 2020 based on household growth potential, ratio of low-wage jobs to low-wage works, current provision of affordable housing, and transit service. Based on this methodology, the Metropolitan Council's affordable c, housing goal for Maplewood is for the city to accommodate another 388 affordable housing units between 2011 and 2020. The Metropolitan Council will then review the City's plan to make sure it conforms to all metropolitan system plans, is consistent with requirements of the Metropolitan Land Planning Act and is compatible with the plans of adjacent jurisdictions, including school districts. About Maplewood The City of Maplewood is located in the eastern portion of Ramsey County (Figure 1.2). Maplewood is about 19 square miles and is approximately 6 miles north of the Saint Paul Central Business District (CBD) and 15 miles from the Minneapolis CBD. Maplewood Is bordered on the south by the cities of Saint Paul and Newport. Saint Paul, Roseville and Little Canada form Maplewood's western border. Vadnais Heights and White Bear Lake border Maplewood to the north. Oakdale, North Saint Paul, and Woodbury are to the east of Maplewood. The City of Maplewood also has several major roads within its. borders. Interstate 694, 94, and 494 all run east-west through the City, as does Minnesota Highway 36. Interstate 35E and Highway 61 provides north-shout routes in Maplewood. Also, White Bear Avenue and McKnight Road are significant transportation corridors in Maplewood. Introduction 1-4 Introduction 1-5 History of Maplewood The land in what is now Maplewood was originally under the control of the Sioux Indian nation, This land became available to settles after 1837 when the United States government purchases all the Sioux lands east of the Mississippi River. However, development was slow in the area. The 1849 Census of Little Canada and SI. Anthony (Minneapolis) reported: males, 352; females, 219, The first recorded settler in Maplewood was Benjamin Gervais, who farmed and built a gristmill on Gervais Creek in 1844. So many other French Canadians followed him that, in 1858, when Minnesota became a state and the townships were organized, the one north of SI. Paul was called New Canada Township. This included parts of Maplewood. The settlers' farms, for which they had paid the government $2 an acre, were scattered along Maple Street (now called County Road C), and near the old Indian Trail (now called Hazelwood Street). They built a log schoolhouse in c, 1850 at County Road C and White Bear Avenue, and they hired a teacher, Eliza La Boure. However, the Sioux warned off four families who tried to fell trees and build cabins in 1850. The Sioux insisted the land was still theirs. The settlers were not able to return until after the Battle Creek fight in 1853, when the Chippewa drove the Sioux south to Newport. Between 1850 and 1870, New Canada Township became setlled with pioneers of French and German decenl. In 1870, the industrial revolution came to New Canada Township when the SI. Paul and Duluth railroad was built from SI. Paul to Duluth. In 1887 the first real estate developers arrived; firm called Gladstone Land Company. They platted the Gladstone area for dwellings and for commercial and industrial uses. At that time, two railroads ran through Gladstone; the Wisconsin Central and the SI. Paui and Duluth, which built its train repair shops there. The other industry was the SI. Paul Agricultural Works (a plow factory), The township that was to be Maplewood got its distinctive shape in 1887. The pa'rt of McLeod Township lying north of SI. Paul and south of New Canada was divided between the two communities, with the new boundary at Larpenteur Avenue, This left a mile-wide strip of McLeod Township (McKnight to Century) that was incorporated into New Canada. Also, the residents of the northeast corner withdrew from the township to organize into the village of North SI. Paul. The first school was built in Maplewood in 1889 - a two story, four-room brick buiiding costing $15,000. The first North SI. Paul High School was built in 1902, four years later graduating a class of four, In 1948 the school district west of Arcade Street and south of State Highway 36 became a part of Consolidated School District 623 (Roseville). The rest of New Canada Township, North SI. Paul and parts of Washington County formed Consolidated School District 622 in 1952, Change was in the air in the 1950s, Little Canada incorporated in 1953, leaving New Canada Township with 11,400 acres with 14,200 people - too many to attend annual town meetings. Rapid growth had already led to the appointment of a planning commission, adoption of a building code and the enlargement of the two-constable police force. The urbanization was creating pressing problems with sanitary sewer service. The township was making efforts to connect to the SI. Paul sewer system to get relief from the sewer probiems. In 1955, 3M Company built its Central Research Laboratory on 150 acres along what was Highway 12. This is the nucleus of its world-wide headquarters that now cover 420 acres north of Interstate 94 and employs about 12,000 people. Additionally, a plan was afoot for SI. Paul to annex this area, Introduction 1-6 As a result of this threat, the residents voted to incorporate all of the unincorporated land in the Township of New Canada into the village of Maplewood. The city is spread out over about 19 square miles to the north and east of St. Paul. The action kept 3M property as part of its tax base, the village was eligible for a share of the state gasoline tax, and the residents finally got their sewer services. Waldo Luebben, a resident since the early 1930s, and Chair of the Township Board, automatically became Maplewood's first mayor in 1958. Gerald Berger, who became a member of the first elected council, first proposed the village name and insignia. Maplewood was originally incorporated under Minnesota's Plan A of government, with the council responsible for administrative as well as legislative functions. In 1968, the residents adopted the present Plan B form of government, the council-manager system, by a referendum. , Planning Process Initial work sessions were held with the City Council and Planning Commission in January 2008 to develop a work program and schedule for the Maplewood Comprehensive Plan update. The City Council designated the Planning Commission as the steering committee with responsibility for guiding the process for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update and making recommendations as to the related goals, policies and plans to be established. The effectiveness of a comprehensive plan as a development and redevelopment tool is greatest when the community sets the agenda for development of the document. At the beginning of the planning process a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) exercise was conducted with the City's boards and commissions as well as City Staff. This information was compiled and utilized in shaping the major issues for this comprehensive planning process and developing the goals and objectives within this plan. As the City Council and Planning Commission continued on with the Comprehensive Plan update, additional public meetings were held to "check" the course of the work done to date. An April 2008 community open house held at Carver Elementary School was the first presentation of proposed new land use designations and the 2030 Future Land Use Plan. These plans were refined based on feedback from the community open house and a second community open house was held in May 2008. The purpose of the second community open house was to again present information regarding the draft plan update in advance of a formal public hearing held in prior to distribution of the draft 2030 Comprehensive Plan for review and submission to Council. The City Council and Planning Commission emphasized that the availability and distribution of information throughout the planning process would be critical to encourage a high level of public participation and input. To this end, the City Staff created and maintained a page on the City website that was updated by City staff with information regarding the process, draft text and maps, and meeting/open house schedules. To increase awareness of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update project, the City direct mailed post cards with information regarding the community open house meetings. Finally, the City used required legal postings for meeting dates and times and the Messages page of the Official City Newspaper to release information regarding the Comprehensive Plan update. Introduction 1-7 City-wide Goals Maplewood has developed a set of city-wide goals. They are the basis for the city's planning and development efforts. The goals are: . Human Rights Goal: The city will positively identify itself as a community that includes and respects all individuals and groups within it. There should not be limitations or discrimination based on religion, age, income, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background or political belief. The city will protect each citizen's rights and encourage them to exercise their responsibilities as citizens. . Citizen Involvement Goal: The decisions and actions of city government should consider the needs and desires of its citizens. The city will provide a wide range of opportunities for citizen participation and community involvement in local decisions. . Communication Goals: The city will encourage and promote communication with the public to achieve a high level of citizen participation and community involvement. . City Implementation Goal: The city will use a rational and democratic system to help the citizens, council and management decide about the use of resources. These decisions should help the city achieve its goals. In order to accomplish the goals listed above, the city has developed the following additional goals: . Cultural-Leisure Activity Goal: The city will encourage or provide opportunities for cultural and leisure activities for all citizens. . Economic Goal: The city will provide a supportive climate for business consistent with orderly development and planning. . Employee Goal: The City will provide and develop highly-motivated, professional, experienced, productive and weli-trained employees with high morale and with a stake in the city's future. . Finance Goal: The city will finance its activities so that they foster the city's growth, improve the citizen's lives and assure the city's financial stability. . Housing Goal: The city will encourage a variety of housing which provides for a choice of type, location, price and ownership versus renting. Housing should be safe, sanitary, secure, comfortable, free from blight, with access to public streets, utilities, schools and parks. . Metropolitan Goal: The city will actively participate in finding solutions to metropolitan problems that affect the city or its citizens. . Public Services and Infrastructure Goal: The city will provide and maintain comprehensive, high- quality and cost-effective pubiic services. The city will provide these services in a fair and democratic way. . Safety and Social Order Goal: The city will provide an environment to enjoy life in peace and freedom from criminal acts and preventable disasters. . Significant Natural Features Goal: The city will preserve, protect, conserve and use wisely its significant natural features. Introduction 1-8 . Transportation Goal; The city will have a transportation system that is safe, efficient, minimizes disruption, promotes better land development, improves the aesthetic appearance of the city and reduces air pollution. This system should provide transportation opportunities for citizens without cars. . Urban Design Goal; The city will strive to improve the appearance of the city, maintain compatible land uses, and encourage a sensitive integration among activities, man-made facilities and the natural environment. These are the city's overall goals. There also are specific goals and objectives in each of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan's chapters. Introduction 1-9 Community Profile The purpose of the community profile chapter of the 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan is to document the current demographic conditions and trends to aid in the identification of issues to be addressed as part of the planning process. Demographics The demographic information was collected by using information from the 2002 Comprehensive Plan, Metropolitan Council forecasts and 2000 Census data. Information is gathered and displayed in a number of tables. Table 2.1 shows historical Census population of the City. The table also contains Metropolitan Council population forecasts made in April 2006 for 2010, 2020 and 2030. Table 2.2 shows the age breakdown of the City's and County's population. ODU atlon IstOrv an orecasts Actual Estimate Forecasts 1970 1980 1990 2000 2006 2010 2020 2030 Maplewood 25.186 26.990 30.954 35,258 36,397 37,500 38.100 39,300 Change x 7.16% 14.69% 13.90% 3.23% 3.03% 1.60% 3.15% Ramsey Co. 476,255 459,784 485,765 511.035 515.059 547,700 570,860 598,900 Change x -3.46% 5.65% 5.20% 0.79% 6.34% 4.23% 4.91% Table 2.1 PI' H' d F Source: U.S. Census. 2000; . Metropolitan Council forecast estimates. April 1 , 2006 Maplewood's population grew by 4,304 persons during the 1990s. Historically, the City has outpaced the County percentage. It is forecasted that that an additional 2,903 people will move into Maplewood between 2006 and 2030. ,oeo ot u a lon, 0-4 5.12 13.17 18-24 25.34 35.44 45.54 55-59 60-64 65.74 75+ Total Maplewood 2,262 4.108 2,293 2.603 4,515 5,975 4.884 1.807 1,215 2,662 2.618 34.942 6.5% 11.8% 6.6% 7.4% 12.9% 17.1% 14.0% 5.2% 3.5% 7.6% 7.5% 100% Ramsey Co. 35,021 59.804 35,804 57,192 76,976 81,547 67,266 21,412 16,461 29,063 30,489 511,035 6.9% 11.7% 7.0% 11.2% 15.1% 16.0% 13.2% 4.2% 3.2% 5.7% 6.0% 100% Table 2.2 A IP If 2000 Source: U.S. Census, 2000 Community Profile 2-1 About 60 percent of Maplewood's population is between the ages of 18 and 64. People ages 0 through 17 make up about 25 percent of the population. Seniors, ages 65 and up make up 15 percent of Maplewood. The age distribution in Maplewood is relatively similar to the distribution to the rest of Ramsey County. Table 2.3 outlines the historical household growth of the community and the county and like Table 2.1, includes a 2006 estimate and forecasts for 2010, 2020, 2030 as determined by the Metropolitan Council. Household istorv an orecasts Actual Estimate Forecasts 1970 1980 1990 2000 2006 2010 2020 2030 Maplewood 6,459 8.806 11,496 13,758 14,643 15.600 16,500 17,500 Change x 36.34% 30.55% 19.68% 6.43% 6.54% 5.77% 6.06% Ramsey Co. - 170.505 190.500 201,236 206,149 219.170 231,670 246.290 Change x x 11.73% 5.64% 2.44% 6.32% 5.70% 6.31% Table 2.3 H dF Source: Metropolitan Council Each new household added to a city requires an additional housing unit and results in increasing residential land uses. Historically, Maplewood has had a faster household growth rate than Ramsey County. Maplewood is forecasted to increase its amount of households at a similar rate as the County. Table 2.4 displays the racial makeup of Maplewood and Ramsey County. The city is predominately white with 88 percent of the population identifying themselves as white. Maplewood Ramsey County Race Number Percent Number Percent White 30.899 88.4% 395,740 77.4% Asian 1,358 3.9% 44,030 8.6% Two or more races 1,091 3.1% 16,532 3.2% Black or African American 992 2.8% 37,414 7.3% Some other race 385 1.1% 12.468 2.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 217 0.6% 4.581 0.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% 270 0.1% Table 2.4 Race Source: U.S. Census. 2000 Community Profile 2-2 In addition to the age of persons in the city, the educational attainment level also influences the community. Table 2.5 shows the educational attainment levels in Maplewood. This information contributesto the local economy, influences economic development and also suggests potential demands of current residents. About 32 percent of the population has only a high school diploma. Nearly 25 percent of the population went on after high school and attended some college. Another 17 percent, after high school, completed a bachelor's degree. Table 2.5 Education Attainment Maplewood Ramsey County Population 25 years and over Population Percent Population Percent Less than 9th grade 824 3.5% 16,531 5.1% 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 1,529 6.5% 23,483 7.3% High school graduate (includes equivalency) 7,576 32.0% 81,763 25.3% Some college, no degree 5.996 25.3% 70,054 21.7% Associate degree 1,701 7.2% 20,411 6.3% Bachelor's degree 4,088 17.3% 70,537 21.8% Graduate or professional degree 1.962 8.3% 40,435 12.5% Total 23,676 100% 323,214 100% Percent high school graduate or higher x 90.1% x 87.6% Percent bachelor's degree or higher x 25.6% x 34.3% Source: U.S. Census. 2000 Economic Overview The economic health of a community plays a critical role to encourage and maintain a high standard of living and how desirable it is to live for existing residents but even more importantly for attracting new residents. The City has experienced continued employment growth which is forecasted to continue. The following information and tables identifies current employment trends and other applicable factors. Community Profile 2-3 Employee and Employers Table 2.6 illustrates historical and forecasted employment figures for Maplewood. The City can expect its employment numbers to grow incrementally through 2030. Table 2.6 Employment Numbers 2000 2010 2020 2030 Maplewood 29.259 36.600 41.000 44,500 Change x 25.1% 12.0% 8.5% Ramsey 333,305 372.030 404,380 429,440 Change x 11.6% 8.7% 6.2% Source: Metropolitan Council Community Profile 2-4 There are several major employers with in the community as shown in Table 2.7. alor mOlovers, Employer Products/Services Total Employees 3M Company Diversified Production 11,960 Health East General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 950 Macy's Department Stores 450 Maplewood School District Education 400 Sears Roebuck Department Stores 350 Cub Foods East Grocery Stores 250 Cub Foods West Grocery Stores 250 Volunteers of America Community Care Facilities 190 Home Depot Building Materials 185 Menard's Building Materials 180 Kohl's Department Stores 160 Health Partners Offices of Physicians 150 Rainbow Foods Grocery Stores 130 Hermanson Dental Service Medical Equipment and Supplies 125 Table 2.7 M'E12006 Source: State of Minnesota. 2006 Community Profile 2-5 In 2000 the amount of population over age 16 in Maplewood was 27,298, and of that population 18,925 were in the civilian labor force. Of the 18,925 people in the civilian labor force, over the age of 16,18,354 were employed. Approximately 97 percent of the civilian labor force population was employed and approximately 67 percent of the population over 16 years of age was employed in 2000. Table 2.8 demonstrates the number of employees per industry. The industries that most heavily employ Maplewood residents include education, health and social services (17.9%), manufacturing (16.3%), and retail trade (12%). urn ero mDlovees DV In ustrv, Number of Industry Employees Percentage Educational. health and social services: 3,286 17.9% Manufacturing 2,995 16.3% Retail trade 2.196 12.0% Finance. insurance, real estate and rental and leasing: 1,590 8.7% Professional. scientific, management. administrative, and waste management services: 1,545 8.4% Arts. entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services: 1,190 6.5% Transportation and warehousing. and utilities: 1,137 6.2% Public administration 1.117 6.1% Construction 1,077 5.9% Other services (except public administration) 986 5.4% Information 600 3.3% Wholesale trade 597 3.3% Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. and mining: 38 0.2% Total Employed Citizens over 16 18,354 100% Table 2.8 N b IE I bid t 2000 Source: U.S. Census. 2000 Community Profiie 2-6 Many of Maplewood's residents find their employment outside of the city, resulting in considerable commuting time. Table 2.9 identifies the mode of transportation that employees use to access their jobs. o eo ranspo alon Number of Means of Transportation Workers Percent Car, truck, or van - drove alone 14,771 81.7% Car, truck, or van - carpooled 2,048 11.3% Public transportation 552 3.1% Worked at home 474 2.6% Walked 145 0.8% Other means 67 0.4% Motorcycle 14 0.1% Bicycle 0 0.0% Table 2.9 Md IT rtf Source: U.S. Census, 2000 The majority of residents travel to work alone and access employment by car, truck or van. However, more than 11 percent of residents carpool to work, 3.1 percent took public transportation and 2.6 percent work from home. Community Profile 2-7 Of the 18,354 employees in Maplewood, 17,597 did not work at home. Table 2.10 demonstrates the travel time to work for each of those workers. Table 2.10 Commute Time Travel Time to Work Number of Workers Percent Did not work at home: 17,597 100.0% Less than 5 minutes 345 2.0% 5 to 9 minutes 1,429 8.1% 10 to 14 minutes 2.996 17.0% 15 to 19 minutes 3,230 18.4% 20 to 24 minutes 3,790 21.5% 25 to 29 minutes 1,481 8.4% 30 to 34 minutes 2.056 11.7% 35 to 39 minutes 493 2.8% 40 to 44 minutes 463 2.6% 45 to 59 minutes 664 3.8% 60 to 89 minutes 380 2.2% 90 or more minutes 270 1.5% Mean travel time to work (minutes) 22.6 minutes Source: U.S. Census, 2000 On average, commuters spend nearly 23 minutes commuting to their place of employment. However 54 percent drive more than 20 minutes and 24 percent drive more than 30 minutes. Community Profile 2-8 Household Income The following tables describe the income levels of households in Maplewood. As shown in Table 2.11, 19.6 percent of households in Maplewood make less than $25,000 a year, 38.5 percent make between $25,000 and $60,000, and 41.8 percent make more than $60,000 a year. Table 2.11 Median Income Income Households Percentage Less than $10,000 621 4.5% $10,000 to $14,999 636 4.6% $15,000 to $19,999 682 4.9% $20,000 to $24,999 768 5.6% $25.000 to $29.999 724 5.2% $30,000 to $34.999 748 5.4% $35,000 to $39,999 865 6.3% $40.000 to $44.999 756 5.5% $45,000 to $49,999 758 5.5% $50,000 to $59,999 1,456 10.6% $60.000 to $74.999 2.006 14.5% . $75,000 to $99,999 1,879 13.6% $100,000 to $124,999 915 6.6% . $125.000 to $149.999 416 3.0% $150,000 to $199,999 363 2.6% $200,000 or more 201 1.5% Total: 13,794 100% Source: U.S. Census, 2000 Community Profile 2-9 As demonstrated in Table 2.12, the median househoid income in Maplewood is $51,596 which is 112.8 percent of the Ramsey County median, 95 percent of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area median, and 109.5 percent of the state median. Table 2.12 Cit", County, Metro, and State Median Income Income Maplewood Ramsey Co. % of County Twin Cities %ofTC State of MN %ofMN Median Income $51.596 $45,722 112.8% $54,304 95.0% $47.111 109.5% Source: U.S. Census, 2000 land Use and Growth Management , The purpose of the land use inventory is to identify existing development in the City. From this inventory, and the other background information that is compiled, the City can analyze areas of potential development or redevelopment can be analyzed. The inventory also can help the City classify areas. revealing development patterns, densities, and trends that can provide direction for future development and redevelopment. Community Profile 2-10 Existing Land Use The current acreage of the City is approximately 11,563 acres. The majority of the city has already been developed. Table 2.13 and Figure 2.1 identify the current land uses within the city and the percentage of the overall land which is dedicated to that specific use. The table gives the gross acreage of each land use and the net acreage, which takes into account wetlands. Table 2.13 Existing Land Use, 2005 Land Use Acres Percentage Single-Family Residential 4,416 38% Parks and Recreation 2,106 18% Undeveloped 1,076 9% Commercial 790 7% Institutional 707 6% Multi-Family Residential 542 5% Industrial 529 5% Open Water Bodies 458 4% Major 4-Lane Highway 456 4% Wetlands 304 3% Agricultural 152 1% Steep Slopes 27 0% Total 11,563 100% . Source: Metropolitan CounCil Figure 2.1 shows existing land use. Single-Family Residential is the largest land use in Maplewood at 38 percent. Parks and Recreation make up the second largest land use in the City, with 18 percent. Nine percent of the City is undeveloped and 1 percent is dedicated to Agriculture uses. Community Profile 2-11 """" "'~,<> ;r 'S'ffr%1.::ifJ1Jl ~ ~ '" , 0 "'0 ",0 Haplewood Land Use Hap As of May 24th, 2G07 Residential Classification Small Lot Single Dwelling c:J Single Dwelling Double Dwelling Low Multiple Dwelling .. Medium Multiple Dwelling _ High Multiple Dwelling Residential Estate (30,000 sqft) _ Residential Estate (40,000 sqft) Commercial Classification ~MixedUse Light Manufacturing 11III Heavy Manufacturing Neigbhorhood Commercial Commercial Office Public Classification Open Space Pa'" City _ Government _ Fire Station School Library Limited Business Commercial III Business Commercial Modified _ Business Commercial . Church . Cemetery Mississippi River Critical Area Zoning Districts Maplewood's current zoning ordinance establishes 14 zoning districts. The districts are discussed below under general categories. Rural The City's one rural district is the Farm Residence District (F). Permitted uses in this district include any uses permitted in the R-1 District (discussed below), commercial farming or gardening, commercial greenhouses, and stands for the sale of agricultural products produced on the premises. Residential The City has five different residential zoning districts. The Residence District (R-1) is intended for single-family homes. The Residence Estate District (R-E) is intended to protect and enhance the character of single-family neighborhoods, where lots are generally larger than required in R-1. The Small-Lot Single Dwelling District (R-1 S) is for single-family homes on smaller lots. The Residence (Double Dwelling) District (R-2) is intended to allow for double dwellings and any permitted use in the R-1 District. The Residence District (Multiple Dwelling) (R-3) is intended for apartments, double dwellings and any allowable use in the R-1 District. except for single-family homes. Within the R-3 District there are three subdivisions that deal with buildings that have three to 17 units, 17 or more units. Commercial The Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) is intended to preserve land for the use of businesses that are compatible with adjacent residential land uses. The Commercial Office District (CO) is intended to provide areas for the development of professional and administrative offices, related uses together. with supportive, low-intensity commercial uses in locations in close proximity to residential areas where such uses can conveniently serve the public. The Business Commercial District (BC) is intended for general commercial use. The Limited Business Commercial District (LBC) is intended for professional offices and day cares. The Commercial District (Modified) (BC(M)) is intended to provide for the orderly transition between more intensive commercial uses and low or medium density residential areas. The Shopping Center District (SC) is intended to provide an area for larger retail uses. Industrial The Light Manufacturing District (M-1) is intended for any permitted use in the BC District, whoiesale business establishments and light industrial uses. The Heavy Manufacturing District (M-2) is intended for heavier industrial uses. Natural Resources The City has an abundance of natural resources within its border. The City has several notable lakes partially or wholly located within the City. The southern portion of the City has valuable natural resources and part of AES's work with the city will be to conduct a natural resources inventory for the City which will be used in the formulation of the land use plan for this Comprehensive Plan. Community Profile 2-13 Community Facilities The City provides 35 parks that vary in function and size. The City has roughly 268 acres in neighborhood preserves. The Maplewood Nature Center boasts one and a half miles of scenic traiis winding through ideal habitats for birding and wildflower watching. The Center also has a 620-foot floating boardwalk and observation decks that give visitors close views of waterfowl, muskrats, turtles, and aquatic vegetation. The Maplewood Community Center provides the community with a place to swim indoors, and other fitness opportunities. The Community Center also has space to rent for meetings and parties. In addition to the City's recreational and open space amenities the City has full-service police and fire departments. The police department has 67 full-time dedicated employees who are available to provide professional community- oriented police services 24 hours a day. Maplewood's fire department is a combination of paid-per-call and full-time department employees. There are 80 paid-per-call firefighters that respond from their homes to answer c, approximately 3,200 medical, fire and rescue calls per year. There are five stations with an average of 16 firefighters per station. There are also 12 full-time firefighters. Ramsey County Library operates a branch in Maplewood at 3025 Southlawn Drive. There are two public elementary schools in the City, in addition to two public middle schools. The Harmony Learning Center is located in Maplewood which provides a variety of programs for people of all ages - from teen parents to adults learning English as a second language. Gladstone Community Center and the Beaver Lake School in Maplewood provide early childhood education opportunities. Maplewood also has six private schools that serve students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade as well as a private high school. Water Supply Most of the City Maplewood is part of and customers of the Saint Paul Regional Water System (SPRWS). The main treatment and processing plant for the SPRWS is in Maplewood near Rice Street and Sylvan, between Larpenteur and Roselawn avenues. There are small parts of the south end of the City that get water from Woodbury and the northeast corner of the city (east of Ariel Street) gets water from the North Saint Paul system. There are a few homes on private well systems, as well as dual systems. Sanitary Sewer The City of Maplewood adopted an updated Comprehensive Sanitary Sewer Plan Update in the spring of 2003. The updated plan was prepared to address some inconsistencies in the City's previous 2000 update and to consider anticipated future development and redevelopment in the City. The update was also required as a result of the Alternative Urban Areawide Review that was completed for the Legacy Village at Maplewood development. This plan will be used by reference throughout the entire Comprehensive Plan. Community Profile 2-14 lMI1J,._;&;IHiSll1i...""1tt ~r-:' Cil:1iof~ ~ s..-rl'l"" tIjldate (Jill!' i!N~ Q~ Jume ~ Sewer Di5tJirt Map LD'OiIllIWd ~..L.,~IIt\d~~~ ~i!l!t:g.;~:ts-.r ~ 1Jl!~ ~:l!~NiiIit o M:VSJhiki'~ =~~~;".";'''';'"4 """" NOTe t.MIp~IM,~~h~<IlIitIbi'~ilHfo!Jll'~, ~~,..,.~1~!!L :;',~dk'flrluti1~~~~_~~~ ~~~,'m:Hh'mU1il:"llif!,Rdtt<tw~_l!htm:~bI ~lAl~h~_'trMilililm-~I[U1I'lllI~ n~~~ (iUf; ~apPl ('tJ)Vi.~~' ni) UL'PlWI (C<jI~; tW'~~ 'iL~~~__~~~t~fu:m~~ ~,:f~~~;~;iIim~'lhifI_j.1nJ:H>.:ilWi. ~~tdfJIif~Ii<Jh!ikd~~bton~b~.: ~ihU;IID~~~c - - - Figure 2-2 Surface Water SEH will be completing the surface water section of the Comprehensive Plan, per Metropolitan Council mandate. Major issues affecting the 2030 plan includes reducing the amount of phosphorous running into the City's water bodies. Transportation The transportation network in Maplewood is almost fully developed. Challenges the City will be facing is planning for possible MnDOT expansions to freeways, supporting the development of additional trails and increasing the use and opportunities for transit Kimley-Horn will be updating the City's transportation plan for the Comprehensive Plan. Community Profile 2-16 Land Use Plan The City of Maplewood's land use plan plays a key role in guiding development and redevelopment in Maplewood. The future land use plan identifies the location and intensity of future development and redevelopment within the city, and establishes a framework in which future development will occur. This plan is intended to guide redevelopment of the existing developed or urbanized area of the city as well as future development and growth to achieve the community's objectives for balanced and efficient growth and protection of natural resources. The city is unique among it suburban counterparts in the Twin Cities in that it is almost fully developed. There are still areas of undeveloped land throughout the city but the majority of growth opportunities will come through redevelopment. It is this blend of oid and new opportunities in both the mature and developing areas of the community that will shape the Future Land Use (FLU) plan and guide areas for continued residential and commercial/industrial growth, shaping the future of Maplewood. The City also has an abundant amount of natural resources that it desires to protect and preserve to maintain and enhance the rural character of the City. This Land Use chapter combined with the Natural Resources and Park, Trails and Open Space chapters define ways to allow for development and growth to continue but intelligent ways to preserve these important resources. It is anticipated that development and redevelopment will occur within the MN Highway 36 and U.S. Highway 61 corridors. Within the 2030 planning time frame, the majority of this growth will be commercial mainly within the view shed and access of the two highway corridors. The southern portion of the city remains largely undeveloped and has been designated for future residential growth. This area will either remain undeveloped or at low, rural densities. All future projections discussed within the chapter are based on "net" calculations allowing for wetlands to be protected from development and not included in potential development scenarios. During its planning process, the City focused its efforts on planning for future growth and development staging in a contiguous and well timed sequence for 2030, while maintaining important natural resource areas. Preservation of these valuable areas is further accomplished by increasing density and deveiopment potential within the existing residential areas in the city. Several mixed use designation in the city will provide for a variety of uses at a higher density. This iand use designation provides for additional opportunity to accommodate forecasted growth, including potential affordable housing, while managing the extension of new growth. Purpose The Land Use plan interrelated with all the elements, goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of the Land Use plan is to designate the type, location and density of land uses in the city. In doing this, the city considered the following items: . Community goals and objectives. . Natural resources. . Supportive elements, such as transportation drainage systems and utilities. . Existing and future problems. . Coordination with surrounding communities and metropolitan facilities. Land Use Plan 5-1 Goals and Objectives The City of Maplewood developed land use goals and objectives. The goals and objectives are the foundation of the plan, as they define what the community should look like in the future. The city's future land use plan is based on these goals and objectives. Further discussion in the chapter will address how certain future land use decisions, types of land uses, and styles of development will achieve these goals and objectives. The goals and objectives are organized according to topic area, and are listed below. Community, Residential and Neighborhood Goals Goal 1 : Create a unified vision and future for the city, promote a well-planned community, prevent development and redevelopment from fragmenting neighborhoods, and address the impacts of development and redevelopment on natural aesthetics and view corridors. Objectives: 1. Ensure the comprehensive plan is kept current and provides a rationale for all land use decisions with city- wide implications. 2. Work closely with neighboring communities to ensure the development of an integrated plan that is consistent with the Metropolitan Council's requirements and compatible with adjacent jurisdictions. 3. Transitions between distinctly differing types of land uses should not create a negative economic, social or physical impact on adjoining developments. 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. Goal 2: Ensure that city zoning and subdivision ordinances and official maps are.consistent with the intent and specific direction provided within the land-use plan. Objectives: 1. Provide a clear and concise guide so that developers and builders meet the standards specified within the land-use plan and official controls, including zoning and subdivision ordinances and official maps. 2. Identify and streamline the current permitting and development processes needed to facilitate the type of development and redevelopment desired. 3. Ensure compatibility of adjacent land uses. 4. Create a staging plan for future development, namely in south Maplewood. 5. Update the city's zoning map to be consistent with the adopted city land use map. Goal 3: Improve availability of affordable and life-cycle housing. Objectives: 1. Identify innovative strategies for providing more and affordable life cycle housing. Land Use Plan 5-2 2. Include a variety of housing types in the City, which includes meeting the Metropolitan Council's goals for affordable housing through the use of apartments, townhouses, manufactured housing, single family housing, public-assisted housing, low- and moderate-income housing, and rental and owner-occupied housing. 3. Use redevelopment tools to revitalize aging residential properties, made possible by various federal, state, local government, and non-profit programs. 4. Provide expanded opportunities for housing ownership made available by various federal, state, local government and non-profit agencies. 5. Streamline permitting and development processes to ease the rehabilitation or improvement of existing homes and reduce unwarranted cost impacts on the price of entry-Ievei homes. 6. Provide for and designate appropriate areas for high-density and mixed-use development. Goal 4: Establish neighborhood identity through subdivision design, preservation of significant natural resources, public improvements and parks. Objectives: 1. Create distinct, identifiable neighborhoods with neighborhood focal points where practical. 2. Support the quality of residential development and redevelopment throughout the City by using education, design review and code enforcement. 3. Require and maintain buffering and visual separation between differing land uses, when possible. 4. Support neighborhood groups interested in neighborhood design. 5. Provide appropriate locations for neighborhood business nodes that provide goods/services for the surrounding area. 6. Encourage developers to identify and protect existing natural resources. Goal 5: Maintain Maplewood as a separate and distinct city from the larger metropolitan area. Objectives: 1. Create, strengthen and maintain the appearance of the city's gateways and key transportation corridors through streetscapes, design standards, trails, lighting, signage and other tools. 2. Create new, interesting, quality designed neighborhoods that relate to their natural settings and surroundings, protect natural resources, provide central parks and open spaces and are interconnected by traiis to neighborhoods and community destinations. 3. Coordinate roads, water, sewer and storm drainage systems. 4. Require that new development and redevelopment pay for its share of parks, trails and infrastructure improvements. 5. Maintain high-quality public facilities to meet existing City needs and for new development areas. Land Use Plan 5-3 6. Phase the installation of public infrastructure improvements to minimize the City's financial risk while accommodating development and redevelopment. Goal 6: Encourage innovative concepts in either new development or redevelopment areas that provide access to a variety of transportation systems, link life-cycle housing to employment and shopping opportunities, and protect natural resources and open space. Objectives: 1. Support the use of planned unit development for sites with development challenges including significant natural features to allow for creative design and site preservation. 2. Support multifamily residential development in locations accessibie to public transportation and community services and facilities. 3. Encourage more intense development and redevelopment along existing transit corridors. Goal 7: Coordinate land use planning with transportation. Objectives: 1. Analyze the traffic generation characteristics of proposed land uses to avoid exceeding the capacity of local, county, and regional roadways. 2. Consider the impacts to neighborhoods, especially to residential land uses, when planning new or upgrading existing roadways. 3. Plan for alternative modes of transportation. GoalS: Maintain and upgrade environmental quality and, where needed, reclassify land uses. Objectives: 1. Require all new development and redevelopment to meet state and federal laws, including Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regulations, unless a variance is obtained from the regulating agency. 2. Use best management practices to reduce non-point source pollution in stormwater 3. Carefully regulate development and redevelopment that is near to or alters natural drainage systems. 4. Use Ramsey County's Soil Survey to identify possible areas with soils not suitable for building sites. 5. Coordinate with Watershed Districts in the review of development and redevelopment requests. 6. Encourage the use of rain gardens in residential areas. 7. Utilize best management practices to protect and enhance natural resources during development and redevelopment. Land Use Plan 5-4 .''> Economic Development and Commercial Goals Goal 9: Promote efficient. planned commercial and industrial expansion within the City. Objectives: 1. Identify key commercial and industrial development opportunities within the City's planned growth areas in locations with access to major transportation systems and to the public infrastructure systems. 2. Encourage compact commercial development that will make efficient use of infrastructure and resources. 3. Promote the rehabilitation and redevelopment of existing commercial facilities by continuing to pursue and use financial programs and assistance. 4. Encourage the continued success of the City's major regional commercial center that includes various types of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment venues for both adults and children. 5. Review and clearly define design standards to promote the consistent application and timely approvals for commercial and industrial development. 6. Encourage the use of "Green" building techniques in new land development and construction. Goal 10: Promote Maplewood's location within the metropolitan region as an advantage in doing business. Objectives: 1. Work to actively market Maplewood as a great place to live and work. 2. Collaborate with business support organizations to serve the needs of current and future businesses. 3. Use available financial incentives (i.e TIF/tax abatements/grants, etc.) to attract businesses to relocate or start up in Maplewood or to help existing businesses to expand their operations in the city. Goal 11 : Expand and diversify the city's tax base by encouraging the development of high-quality and attractive commercial businesses. Objectives: 1. Encourage developers and builders to take advantage of opportunities provided by mixed-use and nodal development design standards especially within designated redevelopment areas. 2. Establish guidelines for the inclusion of green spaces, paths. sidewalks and other people-oriented amenities in commercial areas and throughout the city. 3. Ensure commercial development is dispersed appropriateiy throughout the community and in designated commercial development areas. 4. Integrate those retail and service commercial activities that serve the neighborhood. 5. Discourage the removal of land from the tax rolls unless it is in the public interest. Land Use Plan 5-5 Goal 12: Encourage attractive commercial and industrial development while limiting its Impacts on surrounding uses. Objectives: 1. Require adequate off-street parking and loading facilities, while also promoting the use of sharing such facilities between neighboring parcels. 2. Require adequate screening or buffering of new or expanded commercial areas from any adjacent existing or planned residential development. 3. Avoid disruption of adjacent or nearby residential uses by commercial or industrial land uses. 4. Develop walkable neighborhoods with commercial nodes and amenities for residents. 5. Encourage businesses to incorporate green spaces at their campuses. Existing Land Use Maplewood's existing land use contains a variety of uses including mature single family and multifamily residential areas, commercial and industrial uses in close proximity to highways 36 and 61, new suburban style residential in the southern portion of the city, lake lots, rural residential areas. Many lakes and wetland features are present in the city. The City's existing land use is defined by the following categories and locations displayed on following Figure 5.1, Existing Land Use. This figure displays the actual use of the land at the time of preparation of the map. Land Use Plan 5-6 ~ ~ 5' ~ ,:II m~ ~ c "- ~ " ~~ " - ClTYQFMAl'LEWOOD 2030 CQIIJPREfTTiNSIVTi PIAN Maplewood Existing Land Use 1.5 Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential _ High Density Residentiai Mixed Use _ Commercial Industrial _ Parks and Open Space _ Government Institutional Water - - Neighborhoods Juna11,2008 Generalized Land Use Definitions Below are the generalized land use definitions as described by the Metropolitan Council. The Metropolitan Council established existing generalized land use for the entire seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. Rural Residential: Residential purposes, including mostly one-family homes. May include some two-family homes, and land used for agricuitural purposes. The Rural Residential designation comprises areas that are difficult to serve with municipal wastewater treatment systems and that will be so in the foreseeable future, This area includes the southern portion of the city. Rural residential areas lends itself well to conservation practices as they start to redeveloped with intensified density. Sinqle Famllv Residential: Residential purposes, including mostly one-family homes. May include some two-family , homes, and open space within or adjacent to or related to a residential development. This designation iis the most prominent in the city. Multi-Familv/Townhome Residential: Residential purposes, including duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, apartment buildings, mobile home parks and condominiums. May include open space within or adjacent to or related to a residential development. This designation is applied to older apartment communities and to newer town home developments mainly located south of Interstate 694, Commercial: This category provides for general retail, service and office uses that serve the whole community. It may also include office (predominately administrative, professional, or clerical services), Industrial: This category allows primarily manufacturing and/or processing of products; could include light or heavy industrial land use, or large warehouse facilities. Institutional: This category includes lands owned by the government for public use such as schools, library, city hall or fire stations and semi-public institutions such as churches and cemeteries, Park and Recreation: Primarily for public active recreation activities improved with playfields/ground or exercise equipment, or other similar areas and passive open space park amenities. Typical uses include tot lots, neighborhood parks, community parks, ball fields, public golf courses, public gardens, greenways and trail corridors, beaches, and community centers. Undeveloped: Undeveloped areas that do not serve a commercial, industrial, institutional, or residential purpose. Aqricultural: Vacant lands are used for agricultural purposes. Land Use Plan 5-8 Steep Slopes: Steep slopes that are greater than 18 percent. Open Water: Permanently flooded open water, rivers and streams, not including wetlands or periodically flooded areas. Riaht-of-Wav: Public or private vehicular, transit, and/or pedestrian rights-ol-way. The current acreage 01 the City is approximately 11,695 acres. The majority 01 the city has already been developed. Table 5.1 identifies the current land uses within the city and the percentage 01 the overall land which is dedicated to that specific use. The table gives the net acreage of each land use, which takes into account wetlands. XIS mo I an se, Land Use Acres Percentage Single-Family Residential 4,416 38% Parks and Recreation 2,106 18% Undeveloped 1.076 9% Commercial 790 7% Institutional 707 6% Multi-Family Residential 542 5% Industrial 529 5% Open Water Bodies 458 4% Major 4-Lane Highway 456 4% Wetlands 304 3% Agricultural 152 1% Right-at-way 132 1% Steep Slopes 27 0% Total 11,695 100% Table 5.1 E'!, L dU 2005 Source: Metropolitan Council Single-Family Residential is the largest land use in Maplewood at 38 percent. Parks and Recreation make up the second largest land use in the City, with 18 percent. Nine percent 01 the City is undeveloped and 1 percent is dedicated to Agriculture uses. Land Use Plan 5-9 Mississippi River Critical Area Since 1976, Minnesota state law has required communities with land in the metropolitan Mississippi River corridor to manage that land according to the Critical Areas Act of 1973 and Executive Order 79-19. This includes having a Critical Area Plan to guide development for the land within the river corridor. Maplewood adopted a critical area plan in 1979 (and updated it in 1981) to meet this requirement. The intention of this plan is to manage development to protect resources and to protect the scenic qualities of the river corridor, including the bluffs within the Mississippi River corridor. The area south of Carver Avenue and west of Interstate 494 in south Maplewood is the part of the city that is in the Mississippi River Critical Area. This area is about 166 acres, of which, about 59 acres (35 percent) are owned by Ramsey County for open space. This open space includes Fish Creek and some of the land on either side of the creek. The other land use that Maplewood is planning for this area is Rural/Low Density Residential. Single dwelling , are on or will occupy about 107 acres of the critical area. Many of these properties are already developed while others are vacant or underdeveloped. The properties near Carver Avenue have city sewer and water services while the parcels farther south do not have city utility service. Since 1981, the city has adopted several ordinances to help protect all sensitive areas and natural feature in Maplewood. These included consolidating the Critical Area Ordinance with the Environmental Protection Ordinance in 1984, updating the Environmental Protection Ordinance in 1989, 1995 and 1996, updating the Floodplain Ordinance in 1991, updating the Shoreland Protection Ordinance in 1996 (consistent with the DNR's request) and adding a Wetland and Stream Protection Ordinance in 1996. As part of the city's last Comprehensive Plan, the Metropolitan Council requested that the city add the following information about the Mississippi River Critical Area Plan. Maplewood hereby incorporates the goals on the 1976 designation of the Mississippi River Critical Area. On November 19,1988, Public Law 100-69 established the Mississippi National river and Recreation Area (MNRRA) as a unit of the National Park System. The MNRRA was established by Congress to: . Protect. preserve and enhance the significant vaiues of the Mississippi River corridor through the Twin Cities. . Encourage coordination of federal, state and local programs. . Provide a management framework to assist the State of Minnesota and local governments in the development and implementation of integrated resource management programs and to ensure the orderly public and private development in the area. The Secretary of the Interior approved a Comprehensive Management Plan for the MNRAA in 1995. This plan lays out a policy level framework for the management of the Mississippi River corridor. The responsibility for the administration of the Mississippi River Critical Area Program, as described in Minnesota Statues and Executive Order 79-19, was transferred from the EQC/EQB (the Environmentai Quality Board) to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 1995. Maplewood acknowledges that the Mississippi River Critical Area in the city has been designated as "Urban Diversified District." This district has the following goals: Land Use Plan 5-10 . The lands and waters shall be used as developed to maintain the present diversity of commercial, industrial, residential and public uses of the lands, including the existing transportation uses of the river. . Protect historical sites and areas, and the natural scenic and environmental resources. . Expand public access to and enjoyment of the river. The city may allow new residential development and other uses in this area if they are compatible with these goals. In addition, Maplewood will require that building and development applications in the Critical Area have enough information to ensure that the new construction is compatible with the character of the Urban Diversified District. The following are the city's additional policies for the Mississippi River Critical Area: . The city shall ensure that the location and siting of new structure will keep bluffs and scenic overlooks in their natural state. . Maplewood will work with the Department of Natural Resources on possible ordinance changes that would affect lands within the Critical Area. . The city will ensure that future development and construction in the Critical Area will meet or exceed the development standards set by Maplewood ordinances and policies. . Maplewood requires all new development in the Critical Area to minimize and adverse effects on the environment and to maximize all possible beneficial effects. The city will review these effects when approving site plans or when approving building permits, except for permits for single-family homes. . Maplewood requires all development in the Critical Area to meet all state regulations for Individual Sewage Treatment Systems (ISTS). . Maplewood will notify the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources whenever the city received a development or subdivision application for land within the Critical Area. . The City shall ensure that new development and construction in the Critical Area minimizes direct runoff onto adjoining streets and watercourses. . The City shall ensure that new development and construction in the Critical Area improves the quality of runoff onto adjoining streets and watercourses. . The city encourages the clustering of structure and the use of designs that wili reduce public facility costs, which will provide more open space and will improve scenic designs. Future Land Use The City of Maplewood, while mostly developed, still has numerous opportunities for development and redevelopment. ,The city has experienced a slower pattern in residential development recently due to the slowdown in the housing market that has affected the entire region. With this plan, the city seeks to ensure continued investment and reinvestment in the community, while maintaining the existing and unique neighborhood character that exists throughout the city. The city has identified future land use designations to guide the location and intensity of future development in the city. The city has considered a number of factors in determining these designations, including the location of existing development and infrastructure, forecasts of househoids and employment growth, environmental considerations and Land Use Plan 5-11 constraints, regional growth strategies, the compatibiiity of land uses with one other, and other community goals. The ultimate outcome of this process is plan identifying compatibie future land uses that adequately serve the needs of the existing community and anticipates the future needs of the community. This plan also identified areas for future growth. Developable land is still availabie within the growth area identified in this plan, although the amount of vacant developable land is decreasing. The land use designations in this growth management plan preserve existing residential areas, allow additional urban residential development, expand commercial areas, encourage contiguous development in order to minimize the cost of infrastructure expansion to the City, and preserve most rural areas through the year 2030. The Future Land Use Plan will provide a guide for managing future development pressure and growth by identifying future land uses and intensity, in addition to the identification of environmental protection areas. The city supports new development but desires to ensure that growth can be accommodated wisely and in an orderly fashion, while protecting the many natural resources that make up Maplewood. The City's future land use categories and , corresponding 2030 acreages are presented in Table 5.2. The City's Future Land Use Plan (FLU) is presented in Figure 5.2. Table 5.2 Future land Use, 2008 land Use Acres Percenla~e Rural/Low Densitv Residential 49 0.4% Low Density Residential 9,104 77.8% Medium Densitv Residential 1,103 9.4% Hiah Densitv Residentiai 411 3.5% Mixed Use 120 .1.0% Commercial 408 3.5% Industrial 19 0.2% Government 65 0.6% Parks 139 1.2% Open Space 237 2.0% Institutionai 40 0.3% Total 11695 100.0% Land Use Plan 5-12 ." c e- m rI! ..~ ~ c ~~ '" ~91 "'''' ClTI'OPMAPLEWOOD 2030 lX),UPRf:UfiNSlVR PlAN Maplewood Future Land Use 1.5 - - Rural! Low Density Residential Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential _ High Density Residential Mixed Use _ Commercial Limited Commercial Industriai _ Government Institutional _Park Open Space Water Neighborhoods June 11,2000 From the table above 5.12 it is evident that the City is planning adequately for accommodation of new housing growth, as a variety of densities are identified to support life-cycle housing options. The largest residential category, in terms of acreage, is Low Density residential. This category makes up 78 percent of the city's acres. The purpose of the Rural/Low Density Residential classification of land use is to ensure that areas of the city are protected for their rural and natural character. This classification is primarily, but not exclusively, in the south Maplewood area. To further the goal of providing for new growth without premature expansion and without disrupting natural resource planning and preservation, the bulk of new growth and accommodation of density is in the developed area of the City where the Mixed Use classifications will support a density of 6 to 31 dwelling units per acre. The City will consider densities at the high end of this range while monitoring growth forecasts and sewer capacity to ensure that adequate infrastructure can be provided. The higher densities in these mixed use areas encourages the use of existing infrastructure rather then the premature extension of growth to support density. Future Land Use Classifications Detailed descriptions of 2030 future land use classifications are presented in the discussion below. Linkages to how these future land use classifications address and achieve the community's land use goals and objectives is also included. Residential Land Use Classifications Currently the majority of Maplewood's residential land use consists of a variety of single family and multi-family residential development in the developed portions of the city and new suburban style development in the southern portion of the city. The City has seen an increase in the development of multi-family residential uses through the construction of townhomes and condominiums. Maplewood's wide variety of housing options appeals to many existing and future residents, as the city can accommodate residents seeking a wide variety of housing products. The city's higher density housing allows for the provision of life-cycle housing in the community to accommodate residents of all ages. This will also create opportunities for more affordable and workforce housing units that will allow those who work in Maplewood to reside in the city as well. Parks and traiis within residential areas will also be required based on the iocations indicated on the Parks and Trails Pian found in Chapter 6. Through subdivision administration, the City will work with developers on the required park and trail dedication to ensure the adopted plan is implemented. It will be important to evaluate plans to strategically establish parks, trails and open spaces, and connections to these features to ensure full access by residents of the development and the rest of the community. The FLU Plan provides for the Metropolitan Council's forecasted figure of 17,500 households by the year 2030, based on land use designations for 2030. Each residential land use is tied to a density range. Household growth is calculated by multiplying residential land use categories by the appropriate housing density identified for that land use category. It is important to understand that these numbers represent the potential for residential development, and are not a guarantee that maximum potential development will be achieved in each residential area. To ensure that infrastructure is provided in an efficient and cost effective manner, the Met Council has established a minimum overall average density requirement of 3 units per net acre for new growth between 2020 and 2030 for developed communities. Maplewood's plan provides for enough residential land at appropriate densities to achieve this goal, as the city's average minimum net density is more than 6 units per acre. Land Use Plan 5-14 Rural/Low Density Residential (0.5 -1.0 units per net acre) The city intends the Rural/Low Density Residential classification to offer a rural residential setting and to help protect the City's natural resources. Future land uses and development shall maintain and embrace the existing rural character as an essential element of neighborhood planning and design. Rural, not urban. planning and servicing principles will apply to these areas. Maplewood intends the rural-style and low density housing to be a long-term and enduring land use in this area. The city may allow the use of density bonuses if the applicant or property owners show how their proposal meets the city's highest development standards. This classification is intended to have a mix of sewered and non-sewered developments. The City's sewer plan (contained within the Comprehensive Plan) will be used to determine when and where urban services are appropriate. For developments that will have on-site systems the Individual Sewage Treatment System (ISTS) standards must be met and will have to provide for adequate acreage. Low Density Residential (2.6 - 6.0 units per net acre) Low Density Residential is by far Maplewood's largest residential classification. The city intends for residential densities of 1.1 to 4.1 units per net acre in this land use category. Maplewood intends to continue this classification for the City's present practice of mixing attached and detached single-family housing types (including traditional single-family detached homes. detached town houses and two-family homes). Medium Density Residentiat (6.1 -10.0 units per net acre) The city intends the Medium Density Residential land use for moderately higher densities ranging from 4.2 to 8 units per acre. Housing types in this land use category would typically include lower density attached housing, manufactured housing and higher density single family detached housing units. Some forms of stacked housing (condominiums and apartments) could be integrated into Medium Density areas, but would need to be surrounded by additional green space. High Density Residential (10.1- 25 units per net acre) Maplewood intends the High Density Residential land use for higher housing densities ranging from 8.1 to 22 units per net acre. Housing types in this category would include higher density town home, condominium and apartment deveiopments in stacked or attached configuration. These housing areas are often located aiong the freeway and major road corridors and near major shopping and employment areas. Also of importance to the location of High Density Residential is proximity to the parks and open space system, employment, goods and services and transit. B'11()tQtQ1b$ad.de~ Mixed Use (6 - 31 units per net acre) The city intends the Mixed Use classification for commercial retail or service businesses. offices and high-density housing. Commercial and residential deveiopment may be combined vertically in the same building. Parking may be in structures to maximize land development intensity. Park space should be small and intimate and may occur in the Land Use Plan 5-15 form of plazas, The intensity of Mixed Use development will vary depending on its location within the city and surrounding uses. Commercial Land Use Classification The city's land use classification system has one commercial land use categories, which works for any development intended for the provision of goods and services. The city has planned for a total 408 acres of commercial land in 2030 to meet to increased employment opportunities and to provide areas for commercial and retail services to meet the needs of the city's growing population. Commercial The Commercial classification includes a wide variety of commercial land uses. The city may allow high-intensity uses such as shopping center, business parks, fast-food restaurants, motor fuel stations, vehicle maintenance shops in this area, subject to performance guidelines. This classification could also provide areas for offices and related uses together with supportive, low-intensity commercial uses, such as clinics, child care facilities, and smaller retail uses that cater to convenience shopping. This land use classification will also work to provide for a transition between high-intensity commercial uses and medium and high-density residential districts. Industrial Land Use Classification The City's Future Land Use Plan designates one Industrial classification for the city. The largest area of Industrial is the 3M complex located near Interstate 94 and McKnight Road. Industrial The Industrial classification includes warehouses, laboratories, wholesale businesses, offices, cartage, and express facilities, radio and television stations and other manufacturing and industrial uses. In addition, compatible and supportive office and business uses may be allowed to provide an integrated and attractive employment center. Supportive Land Use Classifications The four land use classifications below are more supportive in nature to the above land use classifications. They offer places for citizens to access public and semi-public services and also piaces for recreations and open space. Government The Government classification includes uses such as public schools, fire stations. libraries, water-system facilities and other city-used and owned properties. Land Use Plan 5-16 Park Maplewood intends the Parks classification to represent active or passive play areas. Some uses are informal recreation areas while others are more formal with groomed fields. Open Space The city intends the Open Space classification to reflect lands that are either undevelopable or that city intends to not develop. Maplewood wants these areas to be used for passive recreational needs, habitat restoration, or as a neighborhood preserve. Institutional The Industrial classification includes all religious institutions, cemeteries and private schools. There is currently no zoning district designated for institutional uses. The city requires the approval of a conditional use permit for Institutional land uses in all zoning districts in Mapiewood. Energy Conservation and Solar Access Solar Access State legislation requires that local comprehensive plans include a solar access protection element. Solar energy can supply a significant portion of the space heating and cooling and water heating requirements of the individual home or business, through the use of active or passive solar energy systems. Maplewood is well-suited for solar energy utilization, since a large number of its streets run east-west, giving many houses a southern orientation. However, the City's extensive mature tree cover partially shades the typicai house. The city can protect solar access on individual properties by: . Requiring that builders of buildings two or more stories in height demonstrate that their proposals will not reduce winter solar access to the second story or roof of the adjacent building to the north. Solar access should be explicitly reviewed in each development. . Exempting solar collectors from height restrictions if necessary, provided that they do not block solar access to the adjacent building's roof. LEED-Cerlified Buildings In addition to protecting solar access, the City endorses the use of building design techniques that conform with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System or the Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide (MSDG), which provide tools for the design, construction, and operation of high performance and environmentally sustainable buildings and sites. These systems give building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED and MSDG promote a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and Land Use Plan 5-17 environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. These systems provide a road map for measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of a building's lifecycle. 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Before that it existed as the Township of New Canada and endured for 99 years since its founding in 1858. Historical Resources (properties and structures of historical significance and importance as well as archeological sites and elements of cultural and traditional importance) contribute to the city by providing information about its past. They provide evidence of the way Maplewood was settles and the people's contributions made to our society. They also are a reflection of the values that formed Maplewood. Preserving historic sites and resources benefits the city, both economically and socially. Historic preservation goes beyond the primary concern of understanding the significance of historic and cultural resources. It also focuses on integrating historic preservation into the broader planning and decision-making arena, so it can be relevant to social and economic concerns. , The Maplewood Comprehensive Plan will, among other things: . Guide future growth and development in an orderly manner. . Define the proper functional relationships between different types of land uses. . Help to coordinate public and private sector decisions. . Establish a framework to guide and involve citizen participation in city government. . Provide for a sense of community and neighborhood identity. All of the above listed purposed of the city's Comprehensive Plan can be supported by an effective Historical Resources Plan, and by citizens and decision-makers who use the guidance of this plan chapter to preserve historic, cultural, and archeological resources in Maplewood. The Historical Resources Plan also is connected to many of the goals of the City.of Maplewood, as described elsewhere in the Comprehensive Plan. It its efforts to preserve and protect historic resources in Maplewood, the city will make decisions to plan and implement programs consistent with those goals and objectives, and with the goals and objectives in this pan chapter for historical resources. Purposes This Historical Resources Plan is to support and interrelate with all elements, goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of the Historical Resources Plan is to: . Guide the city in a comprehensive program of historic preservation and historic resource management. . Describe the existing historic resources and historic preservation activities in Maplewood. . Evaluate the historic preservation and historic resources needs of Maplewood's residents and to set standards for measuring the meeting of those needs. . Promote the use and conservation of historic properties in Maplewood for the education, inspiration, pleasure and enrichment of area citizens. . Pian for adequate support and understanding of the historic resources in Maplewood. Historical Resources 9-1 . Designate the goals, policies and actions that Maplewood will use to help preserve the historic resources in the city. Discussion, Challenges and Issues Maplewood began to be settles by those of European descent more than 100 years ago, and for many years, little had been done at the city level about the preservation of its historic resources. The city is now interested in identifying its historic resources, but the development of a historic preservation program will be chalienging for the foliowing reasons: . The aging of our citizens who have knowledge of historic places. . The limits in public funding support for historic preservation programs. . The development or redeveiopment of sites that might have historic resources. . The fact that the city does not have a program encouraging historical interest and private owner acceptance of properties that have historic resources. However, there are opportunities available. Maplewood could build on these opportunities to deveiop a program to help preserve the city's heritage. These opportunities include: . Completing an inventory of historic resources in Maplewood and setting priorities of importance. . Working with preservation-oriented organizations with members that have historical knowledge of preservation expertise. . Working with county, state and federal agencies that have knowledge of historic resources and programs. The Metropolitan Council's "Local Planning Handbook" has several suggested guidelines for a historic preservation plan element. They include standards about the establishment of Heritage Preservation Commissions and the practices to foliow when doing with on historic properties. Specificaliy, the Local Planning Handbook says person should foliow the Secretary of Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. These include the following: Historical Resources 9-2 . Standards for Preservation Planning o Preservation Planning Historic Contexts 1. Decisions about historic properties are most reliably made when the relationship of individual properties to other similar properties is understood. Information about historic properties which represent aspects of history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture must be collected and organized to define these relationships. This organizational framework is called a historic context." The historic context organizes information based on a cultural theme and its geographical and chronological limits. Contexts describe the significant broad patterns of development in an area that may be represented by historic properties. The development of historic contexts is the foundation for decisions about identification. evaluation. registration, and treatment of historic properties. 2. Develop goals, policies and priorities for the identification, registration, and treatment of historic properties. This task should be pursued be the city, the Historical Preservation Commission, and the Maplewood Area Historical Society after the City Council adopts this plan. . Guidelines and Activities for a Preservation Planning Program o These guidelines are to include a development of Historic Contexts. That is, a comprehensive summary of Maplewood's history can be created by developing a set of historic contexts that will include all significant historic and cultural properties (and sites) in the city. Maplewood should coordinate any efforts about this through the State Historic Preservation Office since it generally has the most complete information and us usually in the best position to coordinate the use and development of historic contexts. o Once the city and the Historical Preservation Commission or the Maplewood Area Historical Society has finished the inventory of Heritage Resources, they should be organized into historic contexts. This organization should be based on a cultural theme, geography and chronoiogy. o The designation of Maplewood Heritage Landmarks should be given to those historically or culturally significant objects, structure, buildings, sites and districts in the city. To be designated a heritage landmark; a property must meet specific criteria for determining historical significance. Besides local registration, certain properties may qualify for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Properties on the National Register are recognized for their historical significance. The creation of a register of significant historical properties is a critical step in planning historic preservation. Conflicts between Maplewood's requirements and standards for historic preservation and those of the state or federal government shall be decided by the City Council. o Maplewood is eligible to apply to the State Historical Preservation Office to be a Certified Local Government (CLG) if the city has a Heritage Preservation Commission. If the city does become a certified local government, then Maplewood may participate in the CLG preservation partnership that the National Historic Preservation Ace established. Federal funding is available through a grants-in-aid-program to finance activities such as the local inventory of historic resources. historic preservation planning and education. Historical Resources 9-3 Historic Preservation Goals The following are the city's overall historic preservation goals: 1. Maplewood supports the protection of the city's heritage by preserving, protecting, conserving, and wisely using the significant historical, cultural, architectural, or archeological objects, structure, buildings, sites, resources and districts in the city. 2. Maplewood encourages community identity and civic pride be preserving and protecting historic properties, structures, sites and resources in Maplewood. 3. Maplewood will develop a historic preservation program and will integrate the program with other planning programs in the city, 4. Maplewood will establish a comprehensive framework for all decisions and actions related to historic preservation. 5. Maplewood will encourage broad citizen participation in historic preservation activities, in order to obtain the knowledge, insights, and support of city residents, Historic Preservation Policies The following are the city's historic preservation policies: 1. The Historical Preservation Commission will advise, assist and make recommendations to the City Council, and city staff about historic preservation and resource matters. 2. Maplewood will implement the historic preservation goals and policies by linking and integrating with other city programs and activities, including but now limited to planning, zoning, code enforcement, housing, economic development and public works. 3. Maplewood will work with county, state and federal agencies and other organizations, including the State Historic Preservation Office of the Minnesota Historical Society, when implementing this plan. 4. Maplewood will work with the Historical Preservation Commission to identity, document, and evaluate the historical significance of objects, structures, buildings, sites, resources and districts in Maplewood, and consider their preservation potential. 5. Maplewood will protect, preserve, and enhance the significant heritage resources in the city by designating them as Mapiewood Heritage Landmarks, and where appropriate, by nominating them to the National Register of Historic Places. 6. Maplewood will have the Historical Preservation Commission, with assistance from city staff, prepare and maintain the Maplewood Heritage Resources Inventory. 7. In cooperation with city staff and the Maplewood Planning Commission, the Historical Preservation Commission may comment on all development proposals that would affect properties on the historic properties list. 8. Maplewood may issue permits or approve development plans that include conditions for historic preservation, based upon the recommendations of the Historical Preservation Commission. Historical Resources 9-4 9. Maplewood supports research, community awareness and public education on the value and importance of preservation, protection, and the use of heritage resources in the city. 10. Maplewood encourages the establishment of an accessible location where historic documents and artifacts can be stored and protected. 11. Maplewood supports those who seek outside funding to support further historic preservation efforts 12. Maplewood should make an effort to incorporate local history into present development by using historic names for streets, parks and geographical features. Historic Preservation Action Plan The following is a list of activities that the city should follow in the coming years to carry out the goals and policies of c, the historic resources management plan. The city will periodically review and update this list. 1. Adopt and implement a historic resources management plan. (To be done by the city.) 2. Advise, assist, and make recommendations about historic preservation and resources matter. (To be done by the Historical Preservation Commission) 3. Identify, document, evaluate and maintain an inventory of historically significant objects, structures, buildings, sites, resources and districts in Maplewood. (To be done by the Historical Preservation Commission.) 4. Complete a preservation planning report before the City Council designates a property as a Maplewood Heritage Landmark. (To be done by the Historical Preservation Commission.) 5. Issue a finding of significance for individual objects, structures, buildings, sites, resources and districts to determine whether they are eligible for designation as Maplewood Heritage Landmarks. (To be done by the Historical Preservation Commission.) 6. Designate significant historic or cultural properties or resources as Maplewood Heritage landmarks, and nominate appropriate properties or resources for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. (To be done by the city and the Historical Preservation Commission.) 7. Place properties designated as Maplewood Heritage Landmarks on the official Maplewood Zoning Map, or on another map specifically created for this purpose. (To be done by city staff.) 8. Use and follow the Secretary of Interior's standards and guidelines: a. When advising the owners of historic properties about maintenance and restoration work. (To be done by the city and the Historical Preservation Commission.) b. For design review decisions about Heritage Landmarks and Historically Significant Structures and for archeology and historic preservation. (To be done by the city.) 9. Review city ordinances and amend them as needed to reflect the goals and policies for historic preservation. (To be done by the city.) Historical Resources 9-5 10. Establish a program of local historical markers and plaques that identifies and informs the public about historic sites. (To be done by the City and the Use and the Historical Preservation Commission.) 11. Provide information and education about historic preservation and about properties, sites or resources that are historically or culturally significant to property owners and to the general public. (To be done by the city and the Historical Preservation Commission.) 12. Participate in education and communication programs to increase the visibility and understanding of the city's historic resources. (To be done by the Historical Preservation Commission.) 13. Advise schools and teachers in the development of curricula and teaching aids about history and historic preservation in Maplewood. (To be done by the Historical Preservation Commission.) 14. Incorporate local history into present development by using historic names for streets, parks and geographical features. To be done by the city.) 15. Comment on all development proposals that would affect properties of the historic properties list. (To be done by the Historical Preservation Commission, in cooperation with city staff and the Maplewood Planning Commission.) 16. Review all applications or permits for the demolition, moving, or remodeling of Heritage Landmarks or Historically Significant Structures in Maplewood to determine the possible impacts on significant heritage resources. (To be done by the Historical Preservation Commission.) 17. Work with and encourage property owners to help preserve the heritage resources value and historical integrity of significant historical or cultural resources. (To be done by the city and the Historical Preservation Commission.) 18. Encourage property owners to meet historic preservation standards and guidelines when working on historic properties. (To be done by the city.) 19. Work with the Historical Preservation Commission to apply to the State Historical Preservation Office for certification as a Certified Local Government (CLG).(To be done by the city.) 20. Seek outside funding sources and participate where feasible on historic preservation projects. (To be done by the city and the Historical Preservation Commission.) 21. Work with county, state and federal agencies and other organizations when impiementing this plan (including the State Historic Preservation Office of the Minnesota Historical Society). (To be done by the city.) Historical Resources 9-6 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: Acting City Manager Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner Planning Commission Elections June 10,2008 INTRODUCTION On September 10, 2007, the city council amended the city ordinance governing the planning commission's schedule for the election of a chair and vice chair. This used to be done in January of each year. The amended ordinance requires elections in June. DISCUSSION The city ordinance regarding the election of chair and vice chair reads as follows: Sec. 2-249. Chairperson and vice chairperson. The planning commission shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson each year during the first planning commission meeting in June. The chairperson shall be responsible for calling and presiding at meetings and shall have an equal vote with other members of the commission. If the chairperson is not at a meeting, the vice-chairperson shall assume the duties of the chairperson for that meeting. If the chairperson resigns from or is otherwise no longer on the planning commission, the vice-chairperson shall become the acting chairperson until the planning commission can hold an election for new officers. RECOMMENDATION Elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson to serve through June 2009. p:com_dvptlplanning commissionlpc elections 6 08