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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-16 PC Packet AGENDA MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, November 16, 2010 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. October 19, 2010 b. November 2,2010 (no minutes, meeting was cancelled due to elections) 5. Public Hearings a. Rezoning of 2433 Highwood Avenue from F (farm residential) to R1 (single dwelling residential) 6. New Business a. Parks and Open Space District (POS) Ordinance 7. Unfinished Business 8. Visitor Presentations 9. Commission Presentations a. Commissioner Report: City Council Meeting of October 25, 2010. Commissioner Nuss was scheduled to attend. The item scheduled for review was the rezoning of the properties between Kohlman Lake and County Road C from F to R1. b. Note: There were no planning commission items on the November 8,2010 Council agenda. This would have been Chairperson Fischer's meeting to attend. c. Upcoming City Council Meeting of November 22,2010. Commissioner Martin is scheduled to attend. The anticipated item for review is the first reading of the cellular telephone tower ordinance amendment. 10. Staff Presentations a. Meeting Cancellation: The city council chambers will be closed for sound system repairs the last two weeks of December. There are no time-sensitive items scheduled for review at this time. Staff, therefore, recommends cancelling the December 21, 2010 planning commission meeting. 11. Adjournment DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2010 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the City Council was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Fischer. 2. ROLL CALL AI Bierbaum, Commissioner Joseph Boeser, Commissioner Tushar Desai,Commissioner Lorraine Fischer, Chairperson Robert Martin, Commissioner Tanya Nuss, Commissioner Gary Pearson, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Jeremy Yarwood, Commissioner Present Present Present Present Present Staff Present: Michael Martin, Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Trippler Seconded by Ayes - All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF Commissioner Desai had a correction to the top of page 3, it should read Commissioner Trippler not Cellneilmemeer. Commissioner Trippler said on page 2. under Public Hearing 5. a. 1. it states Matt Smith, 2611 Cypress Street North, Maplewood, addressed the commission regarding the zoning and easements of his property. Commissioner Trippler said it may be helpful to list the concerns Mr. Smith had regarding the zoning and easements of his property for the record. Councilmember Trippler moved to approve the October 5. 2010 minutes as amended. Seconded by Councilmember Desai. Ayes - All The motion passed. 5. PUBLIC HEARING None. October 19,2010 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 1 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Presentation by Nick Carver - City of Maplewood Green Building Program 1. Assistant Building Official/Green Building Manager, Nick Carver gave a power point presentation on the Green Building Program and answered questions of the council. The Planning Commission asked questions regarding the green building program presentation and the building code. Mayor Rossbach addressed and answered questions of the commission. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Cellular Phone Tower Ordinance Amendment 1. Planner, Michael Martin gave the report and ansV{@red questions of the council. Commissioner Boeser moved to accept the chanqestOthe staff report for the proposed cell phone tower ordinance amendment includinq number 1. 3:4, 5. 6 and strikinq item number 2. Commissioner Trippler made a friendlv amendment to modifv number 4., Section 44-1327, 4th line, addinq the word to after the word subiect. Commissioner Boeser agreed to the friendly amendment. Seconded by Councilmember Trippler. Ayes - All The motion passed. This item will go to the city council November 8, 2010. 8. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. 9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commissioner Report: City Council Meeting of October 11, 2010. Commissioner Nuss V{as scheduled to attend. There V{ere no planning commission items requiring Commissioner Nuss's attendance. b. Upcoming City Council Meeting of October 25,2010: Commissioner Nuss volunteered to be the Planning Commission representative. The anticipated item for revieV{ is the Kohlman Lake area rezoning from F (Farm) to R1 (Residential). October 19,2010 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2 10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Clarification of the city council motion about Metro Transit Park & Ride. 1. Planner, Michael Martin stated at the last planning commission meeting there V{as a question regarding the motion made by the city council regarding the correct parking stall V{idth that V{as approved by the city council. It V{as approved at 8% foot V{ide parking stalls not 9 feet V{ide as recommended by staff. Mayor Rossbach addressed the commission regarding the city council's decision to choose the 8% foot V{ide parking stall V{idth as opposed to the staff recommendation of 9 feet V{ide. 11. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Fischer adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. October 19,2010 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 3 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: James Antonen, City Manager Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner Chuck Ahl, Assistant City Manager Rezoning of 2433 Highwood Avenue from F (farm residential) to R1 (single dwelling residential) Simple Majority Required for Approval November 8, 2010 SUBJECT: VOTE REQUIRED: DATE: INTRODUCTION On August 17, 2010, the planning commission evaluated the city's zoning and land use maps for inconsistencies between the two documents and to check for zoning classifications that may not make sense. The zoning issues found are not inconsistencies resulting from the recent 2030 comprehensive plan update, but have existed for many years. One such case is the split zoning of the single dwelling property located at 2433 Highwood Avenue. The planning commission directed staff to proceed with rezoning the front (southerly) half of this lot that is zoned F zoned (farm residence) to R1 (single dwelling residential) to match the R1 zoning of the back half of the property. Refer to the attachments. Request Rezone the F zoned front half of 2433 Highwood Avenue to R 1. BACKGROUND On December 17, 2002, the city approved the division of the "flag shaped" lot west of and behind 2433 Highwood Avenue. That part lying behind 2433 Highwood, once split from its larger portion, was then combined with 2433 Highwood. Refer to the attached map of that lot division. At that time, 2433 Highwood was zoned F and the abutting subdivided property was zoned R1. Once 2433 Highwood was combined with the parcel in back it then had two zoning classifications. DISCUSSION Split Zoning-City Attorney's Comment Alan Kantrud, the city attorney, previously commented to the planning commission about properties with split zones-those having more than one zoning classification. One recent case reviewed by the planning commission was the undeveloped Mogren family property southwest of the Regal Car Wash at County Road C and White Bear Avenue. Mr. Kantrud does not. recommend that the city allow properties to have split zonings. Such method of zoning often conflicts with the land use plan depending on the zoning mix, and may make development confusing and encumbered. Why the Proposed Revision to R1? The reason for this proposed rezoning from F to R1 is simply to eliminate the "split zoning" of this property to achieve uniformity. A rezoning to R1 will also be compatible with the city's comprehensive land use plan which classifies 2433 Highwood Avenue as LDR (low density residential) . Impact on Development Potential There would be no affect on the development potential of this property. In actuality, the land use provisions for both the F and R1 zoned properties are the same. There would be no change in the use provisions by this rezoning. Property Taxes The Ramsey County Tax Assessor's office stated that zoning has no affect on property taxes. Tax classifications are based on the use of the property, not on the zoning. The tax classification, along with the market value is used to calculate taxes. If the current use is continued, the tax classification will not change. Zoning changes will not affect taxes. Criteria for Rezoning Section 44-1165 of the zoning ordinance states that, to revise the zoning map, the planning commission and council shall: . Assure itself that the proposed change is consistent with the spirit, purpose and intent of this chapter. . Determine that the proposed change will not substantially injure or detract from the use of neighboring properties or from the character of the neighborhood and that the use of the property adjacent to the area included in the proposed change or plan is adequately safeguarded. . Determine that the proposed change will serve the best interests and conveniences of the community, where applicable, and the public welfare. . Consider the effect of the proposed change upon the logical, efficient and economical extension of public services and facilities, such as public water, sewers, police and fire protection and schools. . Be guided in its study, review and recommendation by sound standards of subdivision practice where applicable. RECOMMENDATION Approve the resolution rezoning the southerly half of 2433 Highwood Avenue from F (farm residential) to R1 (single dwelling residential) for the following reasons: 1. This proposed rezoning would remove the split zoning by replacing the F, farm zoning classification with the R1, single dwelling zoning classification. 2. This change would comply with the comprehensive land use plan low density residential classification. 3. The proposed rezoning would meet the fOllowing five criteria for a zoning map revision as required by city ordinance: a. Assure itself that the proposed change is consistent with the spirit, purpose and intent of this chapter. b. Determine that the proposed change will not substantially injure or detract from the use of neighboring properties or from the character of the neighborhood and that the use of the property adjacent to the area included in the proposed change or plan is adequately safeguarded. c. Determine that the proposed change will serve the best interests and conveniences of the community, where applicable, and the public welfare. d. Consider the effect of the proposed change upon the logical, efficient and economical extension of public services and facilities, such as public water, sewers, police and fire protection and schools. e. Be guided in its study, review and recommendation by sound standards of subdivision practice where applicable. REFERENCE SITE DESCRIPTION Existing Use: Single dwelling property SURROUNDING LAND USES North: Undeveloped property owned by the City of Maplewood South: Highwood Avenue and single dwellings East: Open space property owned by the City of Maplewood West: Single dwellings PLANNING Land Use Plan Designation: LDR Zoning: F and R1 p:Sec13-28\Rezoning 2433 Highwood Avenue Split Zoning PC 1110te Attachments: 1. Location/Zoning Map 2. Land Use Map 3. 2002 Lot Split & Zoning Map 4. Rezoning Resolution "OR rP s ! tEJ g75 8~ G ~5 r--c, t' 8W " o " w ~ '" cr3 ~ [19 o ~ [jJ CSJ N N L..J \ ~""""'" " Z 8" ., '" ("J -< SCHALLER DR r1, ~ The City of Maplewood proposes to rezone the south half of 2433 Highwood Avenue S from F (farm residential) to R1 (single family residential) fO: ZjOning uniformitY,t,With this property. <f-' ~ ~ [JJ 0 ~ ~- N , /' r1 ~~~ N N o "'~LlJCiJ~ ~ N N N N '" '" N ~ ~D~ 00 "" '" N oc;] J o r1 oQ3 , 9~ 9U 98[] 990 10€J o 1021 NEMITZ AVE rL 11038;;; I ~ I iiL I r1l LOCATION I ZONING MAP D D ~J ~ N N "' co ~ [fJ "' N f- '" !d! <t I 9820 99'~ [J 100[] ~Q:<: o :s S: Cl, ~~~ ~~~~ o'W ~ S ". ~ u'" 8 Co CU :E (I) tn => '"0 c: CU ...J ! :::J ...... :::J LL Attachment 2 Q) ~ ~ u ~ <:( U ID ID_<C(:j c.~ID<( r.JJ () c.. L... "" <l:: (/) <Do. c: ~ _ => <D 'c (/) L() a.::J .~ . (/) c: T""":::'O:::> I COOa> L()::J "'r"'" . L... cia'~{) _..": T""" <( _..... . I L... .~ I ~ -: ~ c<O-o C]) N .!2 -- ~ "'0-- -.- ._ _ c - c (/) III <D .!!! => <1>:.o="'C - c::: c: .- c: 0 I <D (/) <D . >. <1>-CT""" "" :g c::: 'iij C"l '"0 t/Jr.JJ>.ID I c:0,)_.......0 <D C:::'iij u.. . o O>.lji"::-!:e._ - <D o ;::'1;;o'iij <D.!!! ljim U ~ Dc: Cr.JJeroEC ctI ;i/JIII ---l Q.) E Q.) ::J Q) 'i:: c: ,2 ~ ~ .c: ~ 0 .~ 0 "'C E en ID "S c:.... g L... S: "'C ..c: Q) E ~ > E -!: Q) 2J:: ~ ...... ~ 0 Q) ,2J.~ o"'C 0 UJ n:s a. n:s..... C> _, c::: --' ::2: I ::2: U -= <.9 -= c.. 0 3:.8::; :E 001111 I I If I Q. <( ::E z <( -I Q. W U) (jj ::;:) "0 '"-0 ~ C (() z :5 o '" o '" o z <ii( 00 , 2l Attachment 3 " H''''' '" J~ ~ CITY OPEN SPACE QU7l0T t\-(' ~ ;J ~ (T1lI~}. ... I A ~ rD.---- -----__ ~ ~ '\. - I ~ ~-~__ " , .. . ORIGINAL LOT CONFIGURATION 1-. T~- '", I ,2371 '" ,. .........-~ .~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ifG~J~{ IJ!!.~-~~ . ~- -~-~12# .,,-...,... 5 ~~- -_ _J 2385 c; 2433 ~ ,J. HIGHWOOD AVENUE I I, ='75" I:'::' ,-"", I I T--------- I ~.1I" ::1 I " H''''' J""N CITY OPEN SPACE - .(1;JJ 3 . OU7l0T A-(' \:J - I "1- APPROVED LOT SPLIT - rD:--- -----__ ~ ~ ~ I '" ~-~ " 1 . ':. -- : .. ~if "'I ,2371 2335 12/17/02 LOT SPLIT/LOT COMBINATION APPROVAL 2433 ~ .-~ I~ 'f_ 2433 COMBINED WITH LOT TO THE NORTH -'-~!2-" "-...,... 5 __I ------ I '" J Z3 :n!J.17S' - '. I I HIGHWOOD AVENUE - ,-------- ~I 1.0 ,_ f """.D1' ~I r .1lJ_ .1 A... E.!.--z. 2002 ZONING MAP 2002 LOT SPLIT & ZONING MAP Attachment 4 REZONING RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the City of Maplewood city staff proposed a change to the city's zoning map from F (farm residential) to R1 (single dwelling residential); WHEREAS, this zoning map change applies to the south half of the property located at 2433 Highwood Avenue. The property identification number for the affected property is: 13-28-22-24-0098 WHEREAS, this rezoning is proposed to eliminate the split zoning of this property and for compatibility with the city's comprehensive land use plan. WHEREAS, the history of this change is as follows: 1. On , 2010, the planning commission held a public hearing to consider this rezoning. The city staff published a hearing notice in the Maplewood Review and sent notices to the surrounding property owners. The planning commission gave everyone at the hearing a chance to speak and present written statements prior to their recommendation. 2. On ,2010, the city council discussed the proposed zoning map change. They considered reports and recommendations from the planning commission and city staff. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the city council described change in the zoning map for the following reasons: the above- 1. This proposed rezoning would remove the split zoning by replacing the F, farm zoning classification with the R1, single dwelling zoning classification. 2. This change would comply with the comprehensive land use plan low density residential classification. 3. The proposed rezoning would meet the following five criteria for a zoning map revision as required by city ordinance: a. Assure itself that the proposed change is consistent with the spirit, purpose and intent of this chapter. b. Determine that the proposed change will not substantially injure or detract from the use of neighboring properties or from the character of the neighborhood and that the use of the property adjacent to the area included in the proposed change or plan is adequately safeguarded. c. Determine that the proposed change will serve the best interests and conveniences of the community, where applicable, and the public welfare. d. Consider the effect of the proposed change upon the logical, efficient and economical extension of public services and facilities, such as public water, sewers, police and fire protection and schools. e. Be guided in its study, review and recommendation by sound standards of subdivision practice where applicable. The Maplew.ood City Council approved this resolution on ,2010. MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: James Antonen, City Manager Michael Martin, AICP, Planner Charles Ahl, Assistant City Manager Parks and Open Space District (POS) Ordinance (simple-majority vote required for approval) November 8, 2010 SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION At a council/manager workshop held on August 23, 2010, the city council directed staff to develop a zoning district specifically for parks and open space. The council sought to have the official zoning map be more clear in the zoning and intended use of parks and open spaces. Presently, parks and open spaces are not zoned to a single district and are typically zoned the same as adjacent properties. With the establishment of the parks and open space district (POS) ordinance all city and county properties used as parks or open space will be rezoned. This also includes golf courses owned by Ramsey County. The creation of the POS zoning district and subsequent rezoning is not in response to the Metropolitan Council's requirement of zoning code updates after the city's adoption of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Parks are presently permitted in all zoning districts so the city is in compliance with the comprehensive plan. This effort is solely derived from the city council's desire to have a clearer and more defined official zoning map. DISCUSSION Staff developed the POS ordinance to clearly identify a parcel as park or open space, and to rely on the city's adopted comprehensive plan to guide the use. The 2030 Comprehensive Plan's parks, trails and open space chapter clearly classifies each park and open space area in the city. For example, Joy Park in the Maplewood Heights neighborhood is classified as a "community park." Community park is defined as follows: The Community Parks selVe a broader purpose and function than neighborhood parks Focus is on meeting community-based recreational needs, as well as preselVing unique landscapes and open spaces. The parks, trails and open space chapter from the comprehensive plan has been attached to this report. The future land use plan also guides each parcel as either parks or open space. To amend the parks, trails and open space chapter or the future land use plan it would take a super-majority approval from the city council. The POS zoning district would permit a parcel to be used as a park or open space but then the comprehensive plan would dictate the specific use or programming of said park or open space. The design and setback requirements for structures within the POS district would be regulated by sections 44-19 (landscaping and screening) and 44-20 (additional design standards) in the zoning code, which is currently the case. The creation of the POS district mainly serves as a method for the city to clearly identify the parks and open spaces parcels under its own category and color on the official zoning map. Sec 44-101 regulates the permitted uses within the R1 (single dwelling) district and allows "public parks/playgrounds." Staff recommends leaving this permitted use as stated because it is possible for a residential development to include a playground which would not be on a city- owned parcel. Staff is also recommending amending Sec. 44-6 to add definitions for "parks" and "open space" and amending Sec. 44-9 to add the POS district to the list of zoning districts. RECOMMENDATION Approve or suggest revisions to the attached parks and open space district ordinance. pord\Parks and Open Space\POS_Zoning_11161 O_PC Attachments: 1. Parks and Open Space District (POS) Ordinance 2. 2030 Comprehensive Plan - Parks, Trails, and Open Space Chapter 3. 2030 Future Land Use Map Attachment 1 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MAPLEWOOD ZONING CODE TO CREATE A PARKS AND OPEN SPACE (POS) ZONING DISTRICT Section 1. This amendment revises Section 44-6, Definitions, to read as follows (additions are underlined): Section 44-6. Definitions. Parks means properties owned bv the City of Maplewood or Ramsev County used as active or passive plav areas. Some uses are informal recreation areas while others are more formal with qroomed fields. Open Space means undeveloped properties owned bv the City of Maplewood or Ramsev Countv used for recreational needs, habitat restoration, or as a neiqhborhood preserve. Section 2. This amendment revises Section 44-9 to read as follows (additions are underlined): Section 44-9. Zoning Districts. POS Parks and Open Space District F Farm Residence District R-1 Residence District (Single Dwelling) R-1 R Rural Conservation Dwelling District R-1S Small-Lot Single-Dwelling District R-2 Residence District (Double Dwelling) R-3 Residence District (Multiple Dwelling) R-E Residence Estate District NC Neighborhood Commercial District CO Commercial Office District BC Business Commercial District LBC Limited Business Commercial District BCM Business Commercial Modified District SC Shopping Center District M1 Light Manufacturing District M2 Heavy Manufacturing District MU Mixed Use Zoning District Attachment 1 Section 3. This amendment revises Article II, District Regulations, by changing Division 1 of the District Regulations to read as follows (additions are underlined and deletions are crossed out): ARTICLE II. DISTRICT REGULATIONS DIVISION 1. G15N15RALL Y PARKS AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT CPOS) Section 4446. Purpose and Intent. The POS district is desiqned to be a public park and open space district. Public parks and open space mav be owned or operated bv the citv or the countv. All improvements within these districts must be consistent with the adopted Maplewood Comprehensive Plan. Section 4447. Permitted Uses The onlv uses permitted in the POS, parks and open space district, are the followinq: (1) Public park and open space lands. (2) Improvements and structures within public parks and open space lands owned and operated bv the citv or countv qovernmental units, with recreational facilities and structures consistent with the adopted Maplewood Comprehensive Plan. Sections 4448 - 44-70. Reserved. Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect upon publication. The Maplewood City Council approved this ordinance on ,2011. Mayor Attest: City Clerk P:Ordl Parks and Open SpacelPOS Zoning_11 081 0 Attachment 2 Chapter 6: Parks, Trails and Open Space Chapter Introduction The city of Maplewood has an extensive park, open space and trail system that requires extensive management, maintenance and planning. The City's park system provides a high quality of life for all residents and contributes to the overall appeal of the City as a desirable place for people to live and recreate. The system includes approximately 860 acres of City owned and managed parks and open space land, and residents also have access to an additional 1,175 acres of county, state, and agency owned park land. The recent Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) prepared by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stated that, "About two-thirds of all recreation use in the state occurs within a half hour of home." Maplewood provides recreational opportunities throughout the entire City, thereby providing residents with opportunities well within a half an hour of their homes, and in most cases within a half-mile of their homes. The following plan provides an update to the existing Parks, Open Space and Trail System component of the Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in December 1999. The previous plan provided an extensive inventory of the entire parks system, and while some changes or additions have been made to the system, the overall plan remains valid for purposes of this plan. The summary includes a set of new goals, objectives and future plans for the parks, trails and open space systems A change from the previous plan is the separation of the natural resources section into an independent chapter. This change was made due to the rising significance of the natural resources system in the community. Maplewood also wanted natural resources to be a building block for all other sections of the 2010 Comprehensive Plan Update. Background The Parks, Trails and Open Space chapter is an important component of the City's overall comprehensive Plan. This chapter is included in the City's Comprehensive Plan to ensure good planning of Maplewood's parks system, as well as to meet the requirements of the Metropolitan Council. The City used the existing Parks, Trails and Open Space plan as a baseline for updating this plan component Since the last comprehensive plan update some significant changes have been made and are reflected in this plan. From a document structural perspective, the City placed increased significance and focus on the City's natural resources. As a result, that component has been placed in its own chapter to ensure the appropriate attention and significance is placed on that component of the plan. The Plan also includes additional focus on clear and concise action oriented goals to help guide future planning efforts. Finally, a shift in focus from active parks to trail development and connections is presented in this plan. Because the City is almost fully developed, further park acquisition in most neighborhoods is not necessary, but the trail system will require acquisition and development to adequately support the parks system already in place. Parks, Trails, and Open Space Advisory Panel The Parks, Trails and Open Space update included the participation of an Advisory Panel that was assembled with participants from the City's various commissions and a few members of the public at large. The purpose of the Advisory Panel was to review the parks, trails and open space system considering all of the other components of the PTOS 6-1 Comprehensive Plan. The Advisory Panel reviewed the system and made recommendations on this plan, and subsequently passed the recommendations along to the responsible commissions. The meetings held by the Advisory Panel included the following topic areas . Goals and objective setting, development, and refinement . Natural Resources and Natural Area Greenways . Trails . Land Use . South Maplewood - Special Area Discussion The meetings covered general topic areas of the Comprehensive Plan to give the Panel context for making recommendations. At the time of th is document, the South Maplewood Area (described as area south of Carver Avenue) was one of the few relatively undeveloped areas in the community. Additionally, in the previous plan a parks, trails and open space plan had not been prepared for this area. As a result the Advisory Panel spent a great deal of time discussing this area and understanding its unique attributes. The Advisory Panel concluded their efforts by reviewing this document and making recommendations to the Parks Commission and Planning Commission. Community Demographics As mentioned in previous chapters, the demographics in the community are changing. (See Chapter 2 for more detailed information). Understanding who lives in the community, and how many people are projected to live in the community helps the City understand potential park and trail needs. According to the Metropolitan Council, the Twin Cities and greater metropolitan area is projected to grow by over a million people by 2030, and the vast majority of those people will move into the 7 -county area. Although the area will grow, because Maplewood is largely developed, only an additional 2,500 people are projected to move to Maplewood. Even with a small growth rate, the demands on the system are likely to increase, particularly for parks or trails that serve the region. Special attention to commuting trails and regional parks should be considered and monitored as growth occurs. Another consideration is the changing demographics in the community. The baby-boomer generation is the fastest and largest growing population throughout the region. This demographic is an active population that enjoys walking, nature hiking, fishing and other passive recreational activities. New residents are also changing and different cultures can be seen throughout the community. Although a full survey was not completed for this plan document, understanding the population in the community will continue to be important to ensure that residents' needs are being met. Regional Studies Over the past 15 years several studies have been completed with respect to regional planning for parks, trails, and open space. The following discussion highlights some of those studies to provide additional perspective on planning for the City's system PTOS 6-2 University of Minnesota - Leisure Trends in the Twin Cities In 1996, the University of Minnesota's Survey Research Center published a study of leisure trends entitled, "Leisure Trends in the Twin Cities". The study looked at resident's desires for a variety of recreational opportunities and their perceptions on current facilities and future needs. I n the previous Parks Comprehensive Plan dated December 1999 a thorough study was completed for the City. Although an extensive survey was not completed for this update, many of the trends highlighted in the survey will carryover into the current planning effort In many respects, study findings parallel those of the Maplewood survey, with natural area preservation and walking areas being high on the list of priorities. This plan builds on those principles to help create a strong park, trails and open space system The Regional study identified the following trends and generalizations . Walking around the neighborhood and in large, natural parks. . Individual sports over organized sports, at least at the adult level. . People valuing parks even if they didn't use them. . Especially strong desire to set aside land for nature areas/open space, bike paths, and general use trails. Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCaRP) The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources prepares the Statewide Comprehensive Plan every five years to keep apprised of recreation trends across the state. Because the City of Maplewood does not have the resources to prepare a survey every time it prepares a comprehensive plan update, the SCaRP plan and associated surveys can serve as a good interim survey of needs in the community. The DNR administered a survey in 2004 entitled; Outdoor Recreation Survey 2004 which revealed similar trends to those identified in Maplewood's 1998 survey. Respondents identified walking, boating, swimming, picnicking and biking as their top outdoor recreation activities. Additionally, the survey identified changes in demographics, an increasing metro area population (additional one million residents in the area by 2030), and rising obesity rates as contributors to the state's mission of increasing overall activity in the outdoor recreation system. Ramsey County - Active Livinq Ramsey County (ALRC) The Active Living program is administered at a county level through the Active Living Ramsey County program. The program has actively solicited participation by local governments to introduce Active Living and Healthy Living infrastructure into their city and subsequent planning efforts. Studies have been performed at a state and national level to help support the need for Active Living characteristics throughout a community. Such principles include well connected walking paths and bike trails, clearly delineated and signed trails, and pedestrian friendly environments, to name a few Several programs and grants are available throughout the County and State. These studies were used directly to help support the parks and trails plan identified in this plan. PTOS 6-3 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Goals and Objectives General Parks, Open Space, and Trail System Plan Goals The following goal and objective statements apply to the parks, trails, and open space plan holistically These topics cover many issues that are important to the community including the function of the system, the protection of natural resources, and city staff More detailed goals are identified by topic in subsequent sections. General Goal 1 : To prepare and implement a comprehensive park, open space, and trail system plan. Objectives o Inventory and evaluate the existing park and trail system, recreational needs of the community, park and trail classifications and standards, and acquisition/development guidelines to ensure adequate active and passive parks and trails are provided in the City. o Prioritize and preserve high quality natural resources that support a diverse system plan. o Prioritize and preserve areas of historic value. o Implement the plan for the purpose of guiding active and passive parks, trails, open space and recreational facility development in the forthcoming years. o Develop a means for ongoing and systematic evaluation of park and trail system components, thus allowing for actual and perceived changes in community needs to be reflected in the system plan. o Enhance the community's and public agencies' understanding of the park, trail and natural resources system and development objectives. o Create and establish a strong vision and marketing plan that encourages residents to use the parks system and participate in associated programming. o Develop and create clear, concise information about the parks and natural areas system within the community that is accessible to all residents, policy makers and staff. General Goal 2: To maintain and support the natural resources system as an integral part of the parks system Objectives o Enhance the community's understanding of biodiversity and natural systems as a part of the overall parks system o Prioritize natural areas within the community that should be preserved and maintained as a part of the parks system o Support the Natural Area Greenways as a part of the parks and natural resource system o Explore opportunities to support the natural resource system as a part of the parks system General Goal 3: To maintain and support a professionally trained, highly motivated, staff to carry out the City of Maplewood's mission of developing a quality park, natural resource and recreation system Objectives: o Support and provide professional staffing to manage and direct the park system and programs in a professional, effective, and efficient manner. o Promote and support a parks department staff that through successful communication and coordination can maintain and manage the diverse parks, open space and trails system o Support staff and policy makers through effective long-range planning initiatives. o Effectively and efficiently coordinate efforts between staff, City and adjacent jurisdictions. o Create and establish a strong vision and marketing plan that attracts high quality staff and commission members. PTOS 6-4 Community and Partnerships Relationship building and commitment to working with our neighbors and residents will help ensure successful implementation of this plan. The following goals and objectives identify ways in which we should conduct business internally and how we should work with other regulatory agencies Community Goal 1 : To establish effective communication and interactions with residents about parks, open space and trails. Objectives: . Update and distribute park system map and information. . Create signage to educate park users. . Promote active and ongoing interaction between the City and residents. . Actively engage with under-represented members of the community. . Promote ongoing communication between the Park and Recreation Commission and city residents. . Develop and support volunteer programs and other organizations that encourage residents and community organizations to assist in park and natural resources improvements, maintenance, recreation programs, and educational programs. . Explore and develop new methods and technologies that promote more effective communication and accessible information. Community Goal 2: To maximize the recreational opportunities available to city residents through the development of fair and equitable working partnerships between the City and the local school district, adjacent cities, county, churches and civic organizations. Objectives: . Communicate and promote the City of Maplewood facilities internally and externally to potential users. . Fairly and equitably integrate the City of Maplewood programs with those of the other members of the partnership. . Effectively communicate programming and facilities available to residents and the region through these partnerships. . Work with adjacent jurisdictions and regulatory agencies to provide an efficient and accessible parks and recreational system that encourages activity throughout the community and region. Ecological Resources, Restoration and Management Some key components of the parks, trails and open space plan are the preservation, acquisition and management of important natural areas in the community These goals and objectives supporl the creation of environmental corridors and providing natural areas for the enjoyment of city residents. More detailed natural resource goals can be found in the Natural Resources Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan Ecological Goal 1 : To preserve and protect ecological systems and natural resources within the City. Objectives: . Preserve and protect significant natural resources within the City. . Identify, prioritize, and protect sites of high ecological value or sites within Natural Area Greenways that increase habitat value of the greenway. . Engage in a comprehensive approach to natural resources planning that includes parks, neighborhood preserves, Natural Area Greenways, city open space, and other public and private lands. . Enhance the character and appeal of the community by connecting natural resource areas. PTOS 6-5 . Increase the value of public natural areas by encouraging adjacent landowners and others in the neighborhood to maintain natural vegetation on private lands. . Identify and protect natural areas within active parks. . Identify opportunities to convert turf grass in active parks to natural vegetation. . Identify, prioritize and restore elements of the natural systems of Maplewood that have been degraded or lost through development Ecological Goal 2: To maintain and enhance ecological systems and natural resources within the City. Objectives: . Inventory and evaluate natural areas. . Prioritize, manage and restore natural areas including neighborhood preserves, natural areas at active parks, wetland systems, and other city open space sites. . Develop restoration and management plans for city natural areas including neighborhood preserves, natural areas at active parks, wetland systems, and other city open space sites. . Ensure restoration and management plans are economically and ecologically feasible, are sustainable long- term, and are based on science and up-to-date restoration methods. . Adjust natural resource plans as new information on climate change becomes available. . Increase diversity of plant communities and diversity of species in Maplewood. . Enhance enjoyment of the natural world and understanding of biodiversity and natural systems within the community. . Promote environmental stewardship of public and private lands. . Educate and engage residents in restoration and management activities on public and private lands. . Promote environmentally sensitive stewardship of active parklands and other city land that reduces amount of turf grass and minimizes use of pesticide, fertilizer, and irrigation. Park Land Management, Acquisition and Development The City has a strong parks system that includes various types and sizes serving neighborhoods throughout the community The City is largely developed, with some exceptions, and therefore the following goals and objectives are focused on maintenance, management and development or redevelopment activities for the future of the system Park Land Goal 1 : To maintain and enhance existing active parks and passive parks to provide a high quality of life for all residents. Objectives: . Promote the parks system (including open space, and natural areas) as the foundation of the character, ambience, appearance, and history of the community. . Create and follow an implementation program that provides for the adequate maintenance and enhancement of the park and natural system throughout the community. . Enhance and improve the quality of life within the city by providing adequate parkland and natural resource areas to fulfill the present and future physical and psychological needs of residents. Park Land Goal 2: To adequately provide and maintain open spaces and natural areas to ensure each resident has access to green spaces and nature. Objectives . Use the parks and natural resource areas and interconnecting trail corridors as significant factors in shaping the future of Maplewood. PTOS 6-6 . Maintain and connect active and passive parks with neighborhoods, community facilities and schools to ensure accessibility. . Enhance and maintain environmental corridors, natural areas and open spaces to provide access and educational opportunities to all residents. . Create and implement plans for the neighborhood preserves. Park Land Goal 3: To acquire land for parks, natural areas and open spaces, that can be maintained and used by the community and the City. Objectives . Maintain and enhance the character and aesthetic appeal of the community through the provision of parks. . Provide access and space to all residents to escape the hard surfacing of the urban environment and to provide the opportunity to enjoy nature and the City's park system . Maintain and enhance areas in the community that support the character, ambience, appearance, history and archaeological history of the community. . Plan for the system holistically and in conjunction with adjacent jurisdictions to provide opportunities to complete a regional open space and natural resources network. . Prioritize acquisition of land that supports the overall natural greenway corridors, natural resources, recreation, park, education and trail objectives. . Promote and support design standards for the development of the parks system focusing on green design. Trail Corridors/Right-of-Way Acquisition and Development The City is committed to providing trail connections that encourage residents to bike, walk and stay active. The following goals and objectives support the development of a trail system for recreational and transporlation purposes and are intended to support the overall system Trails Goal 1 : Acquire, develop and maintain an interconnected trail system for transportation, recreation and educational purposes. Objectives: . Provide a trail system that emphasizes harmony with the bu ilt and natural environment . Create a network of relatively uninterrupted hiking, walking and biking trails. . Effectively tie parks together into a comprehensive park and trail system - with an emphasis on enhancing the recreational experience of the user. . Create trails with an awareness of safety. . Work with other local, state and federal entities to effectively tie the City trail system with those of adjacent cities and the county . Work with private landowners to identify potential easements where land acquisition is not possible. . Delineate trail use categories to improve accessibility and efficiency of the system (For example clearly identify bikeways, hiking trails, walkways, etc.) PTOS 6-7 Trails Goal 2: Promote and encourage residents to be active through the development of an efficient and accessible trail system Objectives: . Create signage to provide directions and educate users. . Encourage residents to commute and access natural, commercial and cultural resources using non- motorized modes of transportation. . Create user-friendly trail and transit connections to promote transit and trail use in Maplewood and adjoining communities. . Promote use of the trail system through creative and innovative tools such as GPS or other technologies that improve efficiency of the system Recreation and Education Programs A critical component of the parks system is the ability to provide recreational, educational and fine arts programs to the residents These facilities and programs help improve the quality of life for all residents and provide opportunities to residents to participate in a more active lifestyle. Goal Statement: Provide the opportunity for all community residents to participate in recreation, education, and arts activities through the implementation of well-designed, cost effective and interesting programs. Objectives: . Develop and provide recreational programs that adequately address the recreational desires of all segments of the community including children, teens, adults, elderly, and the disabled. . Develop and provide recreation and outdoor education programs that teach people about nature and environmental issues and empower citizens to be good stewards of the environment. . Promote and encourage programs that take place out of doors in nature. . Provide opportunities for artistic and cultural activities throughout the City. . Find and execute programming and facilities to support a broad diversity of cultures. . Administer programs on a fair and equitable basis to ensure all individuals and groups receive adequate representation and opportunity. . Create and provide programming for up and coming activities and opportunities. . Continue to support and provide options for all residents to participate in organized programming though efforts such as the city's Scholarship Program Funding The City acknowledges that a robust parks, trails, and open space system requires significant funding and planning to be sustainable. The following goal and objectives identifies broadly how the City intends to continue managing, enhancing and supporting the system Goal Statement: To secure the funding necessary to carry out the mission of the Maplewood Parks, Open Space and Trail System Objectives: . Identify and define the funding options that are available for parks land acquisition and development. . Identify and establish a sustainable funding source to adequately support the parks, trails and open space system . Research and evaluate available grants that could support the goals and objectives identified for parks, trails and open space. PTOS 6-8 . Maintain and improve the existing parks, trails and natural systems . Prepare a parkland acquisition and development implementation plan for South Maplewood that depicts the relative timing and extent of future parkland acquisition and development . Create and refine a parks and trails programming plan that responds to current recreation trends and the changing community demographic. . Create and prioritize parks, trails and open space initiatives to ensure adequate and available funding. . Develop and maintain a systematic, proactive approach to management of the park system to ensure a balanced and cost-effective system PTOS 6-9 Existing Conditions A critical component of the Parks, Trails, and Open Space planning effort is to understand the existing system and to establish a baseline. Understanding the system as it exists today helps to identify areas where we have improved since the last comprehensive plan update, areas that continue to need improvement and emerging issues and opportunities. The following table provides some definitions of Park Classifications to aide in the future plan and analysis Table 6.1 Park and Open Space Classifications Classification Function General Description Size Criteria Mini Park Active Used to address limited, isolated or unique Less than an acre recreational needs, typically at the neighborhood level Neighborhood Park Active with Passive Neighborhood park remains the basic unit of Typically 5 acres or Areas the park system and serves as the social more, with 3 acres as a recreational focus of the neighborhood. The minimum size focus is on informal active and passive recreation. Community Park Active The Community Parks serve a broader Varies, depending on purpose and function than neighborhood function parks. Focus is on meeting community- based recreational needs, as well as preserving unique landscapes and open spaces. Youth Athletic Park Active Consolidates programmed youth athletic Varies, with 20 acres or fields and associated facilities to fewer more most desirable strategically located sites within the community. Also provides neighborhood-use functions. Community Athletic Active Consolidates programmed adult and youth Varies, with 20 acres or Complex athletic fields and associated facilities to one more most desirable or a limited number of sites. Tournament level facilities, also provides neighborhood- use functions. Park-School Active Combines parks with school sites to be used Varies in conjunction with or in lieu of other classes of parks, such as neighborhood, community, athletic complex and special use Special Use Active/Passive Covers a broad range of parks and Varies recreation facilities. The facilities may be oriented toward single-purpose use, such as a nature center, historic sites, plazas or may have a portion of a park or open space area dedicated to a special use. Neighborhood Passive Lands set aside for preservation of natural Varies, depends on Preserve resources, remnant landscapes, open space, resource opportunities and visual aestheticsibuffering. Also and qualities provides passive use opportunities (i.e., nature type trails, overlooks, interpretive program, etc.) PTOS 6-10 Classification Function General Description Size Criteria Natural Area Passive A full description and analysis of the Natural Large patches of habitat Greenway Area Greenway system can be found in the over 200 acres Natural Resources Chapter City Open Space Passive Natural areas owned by the City that are not Varies part of the Neighborhood Preserve system These may be lowlands or uplands. Some are appropriate for uses such as hiking or picnicking. Some are used for storm ponding or other functions. County Open Passive Natural areas owned and managed by Varies Space Ramsey County. Some are appropriate for uses such as hiking and picnicking. Some are used for storm ponding or other functions. Agency Open Passive Natural areas or open space owned by Varies Space agencies. County/Regional Active/Passive Parks and recreational facilities owned by Varies Park Ramsey County. (Includes Golf Courses, regional facilities, etc.) Table 6.2 Trail Classification Classification General Description Description of Each Type Park Trail Multipurpose trails or sidewalks located within Separate/single-purpose hard surfaced trails parks and natural resource areas. Focus is on for pedestrians and bicyclists/in-line skaters. recreational value and harmony with the Multipurpose hard surfaced trails for natural environment pedestrians and bicyclists/in-line skaters. Nature trails for pedestrians. May be hard surfaced or soft surfaced. Connector Trail/ Multipurpose trails that emphasize safe travel Separate/ single-purpose hard surfaced trails Independent for pedestrians to and from parks and around for pedestrians and bicyclist/in-line skaters. Bikeways the community. Focus is placed equally on Typically located within road ROW transportation and recreation. On-Street Bikeway Paved segments of roadways that serve as a Bike Lane Designated portions of the means to safely separate bicyclists from roadway for the preferential or exclusive use vehicular traffic. of bicyclists. Bike Route Shared portions of the roadway that provide separation between motor vehicles and bicyclists, such as paved shoulders. The existing parks, open space, and trails were evaluated to determine their existing condition and establish a baseline for system planning. Parks and trails are classified based on their dominant use, unless otherwise notated. While it was found that some parks function very well, others clearly showed the wear of time and no longer effectively served the intended purpose. In a number of cases, existing park features were simply worn out and needed replacement As with many park systems within a maturing city, it was evident that the design for individual PTOS 6-11 parks needs to be reevaluated in light of current community and regional needs. Table 6.3 describes a summary assessment for the overall system. Table 6.3 Summary Assessment of Park System Issue Summary Assessment Overall Park Land Area The general land area set aside for parks, and open space is adequate and well positioned to serve the present and future needs of the City. The neighborhood preserve sites coupled with the City's active park areas greatly strengthen the City's capacity to meet emerging recreational needs and trends. With the park land largely in place, most of the future development initiatives will be focused on redevelopment of existing properties to service community needs. Overall Design Design quality varies widely throughout the system In general, parks developed or redeveloped in recent years are often well designed and go beyond simple function to create a pleasant park setting. Pleasantview is a good example of a neighborhood-level park that serves the neighborhood needs well. On the other hand, many of the older parks lack a strong design theme and often only offer a collection of amenities that mayor may not serve neighborhood or community needs. Many of these parks followed the same general blueprint and offer little in the way of an individual sense of place or overall park-like appeal. Aesthetic Quality A visually appealing setting is lacking in many parks, resulting in a feel that is functional rather than inviting. This lack of design character does not entice people to use the park nor develop a level of comfort when they do visit Since the last Comprehensive Plan update the City has begun to identify parks in need of upgrades and is slowly improving parks for aesthetic quality. These initiatives will continue into the future. Outdoor Recreation Facility Current facilities need to be evaluated against definable community needs. The Mix extensive use of neighborhood parks for programmed activities in an example of where short-term solutions for servicing new demands for athletic fields has turned into a long-term expectation that is hard to change. The challenge is in determining how and if this may be affecting the overall quality and accessibility of the neighborhood facilities. Natural Resource Quality Signs of degradation can be found within the natural resource areas spread throughout the City. Examples include invasive non-native plants (European Buckthorn) out-competing native plant species (oaks, maples, etc.); surface erosion in areas lacking native ground cover, and siltation of wetlands and pond/lake edges resulting in changes in water quality and vegetation diversity. Restoration and management of these resources is critical to the overall success of the system. In response to growing demand for protection, and management the City is initiating a full MLCCS study of the natural areas in the community. A full analysis and discussion can be found in the newly created Natural Resources Chapter of this Comprehensive Plan. Trail System Development The State and Regional trails are highlights of the trail system and are vital to the system plan when considering demand and regional connections. At the local level, the trail system is slowly being developed and better improvements and connections are being made as development and redevelopment occurs in the community. A primary initiative of this Plan will be to improve the existing trail system for increased accessibility, interconnectedness, and efficiency. PTOS 6-12 The general assessment in Table 6.3 describes the general existing conditions of facilities in the City. While performing the plan update, an assessment and review of the parks system was completed based on the city's neighborhood structure to determine existing conditions as well as identify deficiencies or excess areas in the system. The neighborhood structure became an important element for evaluation because the overall system was originally developed on principles related to the neighborhood boundaries. To evaluate park needs, both passive and active, the following goals were followed . All residents should be within a Y, mile of a park, which could be active or passive and is independent of ownership (city, county, state, etc.) . For every 1,000 people approximately 5 acres of park land should be provided to serve the residents. These parameters were the standards used to evaluate the existing park system, and were the standards applied to future planning efforts. Table 6.4 Existing and Future Parks/Open Space (table found in Proposed Plan section) identifies the existing parks and open spaces by neighborhood, a more detailed inventory of equipment can be found in Section V of the overall park system plan. Changes and Improvements Since the Last Plan Several changes and improvements to the system have occurred over the past ten years. The following information highlights some of the major improvements and projects that have been completed. These improvements directly support the goals and objectives that were identified in the previous comprehensive plan. Development and redevelopment has occurred in the past ten years ensuring that the appropriate amount of park land was available and functional was essential to the overall success of the neighborhoods. Legacy Park was developed as a part of the Legacy Village master planned development. Applewood Park, Alton Heights Park, Sterling Oaks Park and Edgerton Park were all updated to more adequately serve residents of each neighborhood. Finally planning efforts for the Joy Park Master Plan were completed and the redevelopment of the park is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2008. Several trail improvements have been completed including several segments of the Lake Links Trail, a full sidewalk and trail along Century Avenue as well as trail along Lower Alton Road. In addition to the trails along major road corridors and the regional system, nature trails in the Priory Neighborhood Preserve have been developed to offer another trail option to residents. Significant progress in the Neighborhood Preserves has also occurred Site analyses has been completed for 12 preserves in the community and Master Plans have been completed for four of the preserves. Restoration and replanting has also begun in the Preserves including a 20-acre prairie planting project at the Prairie Farm Preserve. Management and restoration efforts of invasive species are underway at several preserves throughout the community. Natural Resources A significant change from the last comprehensive plan is the inclusion of a Natural Resources Chapter independent of the Parks, Trails and Open Space chapter. The City took a proactive and innovative approach to natural PTOS 6-13 resources in this plan update and felt that providing an independent chapter with a specific natural resources plan gave it more significance and focus for this planning effort The natural resources plan becomes an important building block for all components of the comprehensive plan including this chapter. Throughout this document references to the chapter are made, particularly reference to the Natural Area Greenways. It is the intent of this plan to support and contribute to building the greenway system, and to plan the parks, trails and open spaces in a way that is ecologically sensitive and supports the natural resources plan directly. PTOS 6-14 Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan This section of the chapter describes the various components of the Maplewood parks, open space, and trail system plan. The plan is based on the findings of previous sections and the framework presented in the existing conditions, background and goals sections. In line with the goals and objective statements provided, the system plan seeks balance between servicing the social, individual, environmental, and economic needs of the community. The plan provides a guide to parks, open space and trail development based on the current needs of the community and the opportunities and constraints facing the city. It builds upon a solid park and open space infrastructure already in place in the city. The guiding themes throughout this plan include . Continue to develop a comprehensive and interconnected parks, open space, and trail system. . Manage and maintain only the amount of park and open space land that the city can maintain for its highest and best use. . Recognize the limitation of resources (fiscal and physical). . Organize and prioritize the system based on the neighborhood structure but also on a city wide scale to ensure the needs of all residents are met. . Develop a plan that alloW3 for incremental and orderly improvements - be visionary but realistic. Based on the detailed goals and objectives, the following statements can be made . Create and maintain an accessible and high quality system that serves all residents . Prioritize the development of a comprehensive trail plan to help connect residents to parks, schools, community facilities and the region; . Support an extensive network of open spaces that contribute to the natural resource system and natural area greenways; . Evaluate the park system to ensure that parks and open spaces are high-quality, safe, and well-maintained and a benefit community; . Service neighborhood and community park and recreation needs; . Service youth and adult athletics by providing high quality facilities strategically located throughout the city. Neighborhood Service Areas As a maturing community, Maplewood has thirteen well-established neighborhoods that are identifiable to residents and public officials. The park system plan developed in the 1970s was largely built upon this neighborhood structure, with land selection for parks based on reasonable local service areas, especially as it related to neighborhood park units. As stated in the Existing Conditions Analysis, the following goals were used to develop Maplewood's park system: . All residents should be within a Y, mile of a park, which could be active or passive and is independent of ownership (city, county, state, etc.) . For every 1,000 people approximately 5 acres of park land should be provided to serve the residents. Since most of the land area for parks has already been acquired, the neighborhood service area structure best serves as a means to: . Identify the park and recreation needs and desires unique to a given geographic area of the community. . Understand the potential demands in a developing or redevelopment area of a neighborhood. PTOS 6-15 . Organize the park system geographically. . Ensure that the neighborhood park needs of all residents can be met within a reasonable distance from their home. . Determine where efficiencies could be implemented to make the system of higher quality and affordable. Of these points, the most important theme is the assessment of needs, demands, and services that can be provided in a high-quality and effective manner. As stated in the existing conditions section, the parks and open space system was evaluated by neighborhood based on proximity of residents to recreation type, and acreage per population. Table 6.4 inventories the existing system and outlines proposed parks. Further discussion on specific neighborhoods with potentially significant changes follows the table. Table 6.4 Existing and Future Parks/Open Space Neighborhood/Park Classification Ownership Acreage other - Notes Hills Western Hills Mini/Neighborhood Park City 5.7 Trout Brook Neighborhood Preserve School District 7.0 Located on map as a part of Trout Brook - school site Sandy Lake Area Open Space Sf. Pau I Board of 59.1 No public park/open space Water opportunities at this time Trout Brook School Site School District 20.3 Open Space @ Open Space City 3.6 Adolphus Maplecrest Mini/Neighborhood Park City 2.0 Edgerton Youth Athletic City 18.3 Roselawn Mini/Neighborhood Park City 5.2 Consider reclassification - Opportunity to better serve area Kenwood Park Mini/Neighborhood Park City 0.2 Phalen-Keller Regional Park County 121.6 Within multiple neighborhoods Regional Park (Keller Lake) Open Space @ Miss Open Space City 0.9 take Sunset Ridge Mini/Neighborhood Park City 6.1 Lower Sunset Ridge Mini/Neighborhood Park City 0.6 Kohlman Mini/Neighborhood Park City 4.8 Hidden Marsh Neighborhood Preserve City 6.3 Fisher's Corner Neighborhood Preserve City 17.4 PTOS 6-16 Neighborhood/Park Classification Ownership Acreage other - Notes Spoon Lake Neighborhood Preserve City 27.6 Kohlman Marsh Open Space County 24.5 Open Space Keller Lake County Open Space County - Within multiple neighborhoods Four Seasons Mini/Neighborhood Park City 9.5 Hazlewood Youth Athletic City 48.1 Harvest Community Athletic City 30.1 Complex Legacy Village Mini/Neighborhood Park City 10.0 Kohlman Creek Neighborhood Preserve City 10.9 Open Spaces - East Open Space City/County 70.9 of Hazlewood Open Space - West Open Space City 37.7 of Harvest Open Space East of Open Space City/County 27.9 61 @ City border MaplewoodHeights Maplewood Heights Mini/Neighborhood Park City 25.3 Joy Park Community Park City 14.6 Joy Park Neighborhood Preserve City 35.9 Pia ycrest Mini/Neighborhood Park City 13.7 Prairie Farm Neighborhood City 23.0 2.0 Acres leased to Maplewood Preserve/ Special Use Historical Society Park Tirrber Mini/Neighborhood Park City 0.5 Gladstone Mini/Neighborhood Park City 3.0 ShelWood Mini/Neighborhood Park City 12.0 Better Development opportunities Robinhood Mini/Neighborhood Park City 4.1 John Glen School Site School District 15.7 Public school with access to recreational facilities Weaver School Site School District 11.3 Public school with access to recreational facilities PTOS 6-17 Neighborhood/Park Classification Ownership Acreage other - Notes Phalen-Keller Regional Park County 150.0 Regional Park (Golf Course) Gloster Mini/Neighborhood Park City 3.3 Gladstone Master Planning Gladstone Savanna Neighborhood Preserve City 23.4 Effort Wakefield Community Park City 34.5 Flicek Youth Athletic City 6.3 Look Out Park Mini Park City 0.3 Park South of School Site School District 1.7 Public School with access to Robinhood recreational facilities Phalen-Keller Regional Park County Within multiple neighborhoods Regional Park (North of Phalen)* Historical Marker Mini/Neighborhood Park City 0.5-2.0 Opportunity for Historical Marker/Context """,.., " Nebraska Mini/Neighborhood Park City 4.4 Hillside Mini/Neighborhood Park City 9.8 Goodrich Community Athletic City 20.5 Complex Priory Neighborhood Preserve City 45.8 Sterling Oaks Mini/Neighborhood Park City 11.5 Mostly Open Space and Wetlands with a tot lot Goodrich Gall County Park County 92.7 Course Wetlands Complex Open Space State of 19.1 @RR Minnesota Trust Wetlands Complex Open Space City 7.0 @RR Holloway Marsh Open Space County 37.8 Maplewood Middle School Site School District 17.3 Public School with access to School recreational facilities " Lake Geranium Mini/Neighborhood Park City 9.0 PTOS 6-18 Neighborhood/Park Classification Ownership Acreage other - Notes Gethsemane Mini/Neighborhood Park City 9.4 Will be replaced Lions Mini/Neighborhood Park City 3.4 Jim's Prairie Neighborhood Preserve City 11.5 Total site area is 11.5 acres, of (4.6) which 4.6 is the neighborhood preserve. Remaining area is city dump and open space. Beaver Creek Neighborhood Preserve City 9.1 Nature Center Special Use Park/ City 37.2 Neighborhood Preserve Beaver Lake School School Site School District 10.2 Public School with access to recreational facilities Beaver Lake County Open Space County 23.5 Park Wetland Area Open Space City 34.4 @Maryland Search Area Mini/Neighborhood Park City 40-60 To Replace Gethsemane if (Pipeline Properties) necessary Battle Creek Afton Heights Youth Athletic City 17.9 Carver School School Site School District 9.6 Public School with access to recreational facilities Baffle Creek Regional Park County 292.2 Vista I Crestview Mini/Neighborhood Park City 3.8 Mailand Mini/Neighborhood Park City 2.2 Vista Hills Mini/Neighborhood Park City 13.2 The Ponds Golf Active Park County 181.5 Within multiple neighborhoods, Course includes county work house Applewood Mini/Neighborhood Park City 4.0 Pleasant View Mini/Neighborhood Park City 14.4 Applewood Neighborhood Preserve City 25.3 Carver Neighborhood Preserve City 22.4 Fish Creek Open County Open Space Ramsey County 24.7 Space Open Space at Open Space City 10.5 Lakewood PTOS 6-19 Neighborhood/Park Classification Ownership Acreage other - Notes Open Space at Tirrber Open Space City 2.4 Fish Creek Open Space County Open Space Ramsey 52.2 County Active Park Search Area Mini/Neighborhood Park City 40-60 + New Active Park to be located in Mixed-Use Area and determined as part of a master plan. The following table summarizes the information in Table 6.4. The table demonstrates that each neighborhood has several acres of open space and parks that are accessible to the residents. It should be noted that the park acreages do include some park facilities that may include user fees such as the County golf courses that are located in the Sherwood Glen and Vista Hills neighborhood and occupy a significant amount of acreage. Table 6.5 Parks and Open Space Summary Table Neighborhood Neighborhood Area (Acres) Park Acreage 1. Western Hills 845.6 95.7 2. Parks ide 514.0 148.2 3. Kohlman Lake 573.3 90.0 4. Hazlewood 1782.0 248.1 5. Maplewood Heights 724.7 125.5 6. Sherwood Glen 961.1 199.6 (1668) 7. Gladstone 782.6 78.5' 8. Hillside 1039.1 265.9 (92.7) 9. Beaver Lake 1058.9 157.7' 10. Battle Creek 416.3 319.7 11. Vista Hills 1564.2 205.7 (181.5) 12. Highwood 775.4 108.7 13. Carver Ridge 525.8 62.7' TOTAL 11,563 2,106 , Does not include proposed acreage, not currently existing in the system (Golf Courses) PTOS 6-20 Community Centers, School Sites, and Reqional Park Facilities In addition to the facilities identified in Table 64, the city's park system is enhanced by the Community Centers (indoor facilities), school sites, and regional park facilities (of which several are included in the previous table). Community Centers include . The Maplewood Community Center - offers extensive indoor facilities including two pools, large gymnasium, racquetball courts, aerobics room, exercise room, walking/jogging track, massage room, child care, banquet room, performing arts theater, and other features. . Edgerton school Community Center - offers gym space for open play. . Carver School Community Center - offers gym space for open play. At the school district level, the city has joint use of outdoor athletic facilities at the following schools . Weaver School . John Glen School . Maplewood Middle School . Beaver lake School . Carver School . Edgerton School The city and local school districts have long-term relationships for jointly using these school sites within Maplewood. In each case, the school district uses the outdoor facilities for their programs during the school day and for after- school programs. The city has access to the sites in the evenings for city programs and programs offered by local athletic associations. The system plan calls for the continued joint use of these facilities to maximize the efficient use of land resources within the city. This partnership will be of considerable importance to the city as it focuses on reducing the extent to which its neighborhood parks are used for programmed athletic uses. The continued use of the athletic fields provided at the various school sites is vital to the overall success of the system Regional parks also play an important role in the local park system The regional and county-based park areas and facilities that directly affect Maplewood are administered by the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department. Key regional and county-based park areas include . Battle Creek Regional park . Keller Regional park - 248 acres which is contiguous with Phalen Regional Park . Beaver Lake County Park - offering picnic sites and trails . Kohlman Marsh Pond Protection Open Space Site . Kohlman Creek Protection Open Space Site . Fish Creek Protection Open Spaces . Holloway Marsh Protection Open Space Site . Aldrich Arena Special-Use Facility . Goodrich Golf Course Special Use Facility . Ponds at Battle Creek Golf Course PTOS 6-21 Parks and Open Space Plan Analysis With the assistance of the Parks Commission and Advisory Panel the Parks and Open Space Plan was updated and established for the City of Maplewood. Each neighborhood was evaluated for general park and open space needs, where parks refers to active park areas and open spaces that included neighborhood preserves and any formally protected and accessible open spaces. The preceding table identified all of the park and open space land by neighborhood with general notes referring to the future plans and development. The following information categorizes the future park and open space plan according to park classification and key development or use considerations identified through this planning process. Following this section, a short discussion and list of specific parks and open space topics identified throughout this planning process are identified to ensure the thoughts and recommendations of the Advisory Panel and Parks Commission are documented for future planning efforts. The city understands that a thorough evaluation of each park and open space property will be necessary to develop detailed future plans, and this effort will be identified as an implementation step in subsequent sections. Parks (Active) Mini and Neighborhood Park Description Neighborhood parks continue to serve as the backbone of the park system in Maplewood. The park system plan includes a total of 30 existing and future mini and neighborhood parks to serve the thirteen neighborhoods. Individually and collectively, the primary focus of these park units is . Providing neighborhood recreational facilities focused on non-structured individual and family activities. . Creating a social center for the neighborhood. . Providing open space for informal group play and limited use for organized/programmed activities. In general, the mini and neighborhood parks in one neighborhood function together to service the localized needs of that neighborhood. As such, the development of one park in a neighborhood should take into consideration the facilities and amenities provided in other parks within the same neighborhood to ensure a full palette of recreational opportunities is available to residents. Kev Developmental/Use Considerations In general, there are a number of key developmental and use considerations that can be applied to all of the mini and neighborhood parks, including . General reduction in the extent to which neighborhood parks are used for organized and programmed uses. The focus of these parks should be on servicing neighborhood needs for recreation and providing informal open play areas. Programmed activities should be secondary. . General upgrading of facilities in response to neighborhood input on the type of facilities most desired. Particular attention needs to be given to ornamentation and beautification, which Is lacking in many of the parks. . More attention needs to be given to providing a broader spectrum of active and passive recreational opportunities. Given current trends, much more attention needs to be given to passive park uses and the concept of having "nature in the back yard." . The use of both manicured turf and naturalized vegetation should be considered within mini and neighborhood parks to add interest and aesthetic appeal and to reduce the cost of maintenance. The balance between turf and natural vegetation should be determined on a site by site basis. PTOS 6-22 Community Parks Description With a strong neighborhood park focus, along with the contribution of neighborhood preserves and the regional parks, the use of community parks within the park system is limited to the special opportunities provided by Joy and Wakefield parks because they offer . Unique feature that have city-wide appeaL . Opportunities to accommodate group facilities, such as larger picnic shelters. . A setting that is too costly to duplicate in more than one or two parks throughout the city. Examples include group picnicking at Joy Park and winter facilities at Wakefield. Kev Developmental/Use Considerations There are a number of key developmental and use considerations that can be applied to the community parks, including . General upgrading of facilities in response to community input on the type of facilities most desired. Particular attention needs to be given to beautification in Wakefield Park. Natural resource restoration and management is a key issue at Joy Park. . Developing trail linkages to these two parks should be a key priority. . A mix of manicured turf and naturalized vegetation should be considered within community parks to add interest and aesthetic appeal and to reduce the cost of maintenance. The balance between turf and natural vegetation should be determined on a site by site basis. Youth Athletic Park Description The concept of the youth athletic park was spawned from the desire of the user groups to consolidate ath letic facilities to fewer and more strategically located sites to . Gain program efficiency. . Create closer associations between players, parents, and coaches. . Provide greater conveniences, like parking, restrooms, and concessions. This concept also works well from an operations and maintenance perspective. The fact is, having fewer and larger facilities is the most efficient and effective way to meet community needs. This approach also ensures neighborhood parks are not dominated by athletic associations and noise and congestion in neighborhoods is reduced. Since youth are usually less mobile than adults, youth athletic parks are strategically located throughout the city. The park system plan defines four sites specifically for servicing youth sports, although some adult cross-over can occur to service the broader needs of the city. (Note that the community athletic complexes will also serve youth athletic programs. Additionally, note that each of the youth athletic parks also function as neighborhood parks to varying degrees. ) Kev Developmental/Use Considerations There are a number of key developmental and use considerations that can be applied to the youth athletic parks, including . General upgrading of facilities to better service the needs of the user groups and to increase general facility safety. Many of the existing facilities are old and in need of replacement. PTOS 6-23 . Developing trail linkages to these parks should be a key priority to encourage alternative forms of transportation. . Continuing the involvement of the user groups in the design of these facilities to ensure that what is developed is in line with actual needs. . Giving more attention to beautification, this is lacking in many of the parks. . Consideration of neighborhood park needs as defined under Mini and Neighborhood Parks previously listed in the table. Community Athletic Complex Description The concept of the community athletic complex was again spawned from the desire of the user groups to consolidate athletic facilities to fewer and more strategically located sites to . Gain program efficiency. . Create closer associations between players, parents, and coaches. . Provide greater conveniences, like parking, restrooms, and concessions. As with Youth Athletic Parks, this concept also works well from an operations and maintenance perspective, whereby fewer and larger facilities are the most efficient and effective way to meet community needs. And again, this approach ensures neighborhood parks are not dominated by athletic associations and noise and congestion in neighborhoods is reduced. The primary difference in community athletic complexes and youth athletic parks is that the former services adult athletic needs in addition to youth. The park system plan defines two sites for community athletic complexes. Note here too that the community athletic complexes also function as neighborhood parks to varying degrees. Kev Developmental/Use Considerations There are a number of key developmental and use considerations that can be applied to the community athletic complexes, including . General upgrading of facilities to better service the needs of the user groups and to increase general facility safety. Many of the existing facilities are old and in need of replacement Some are poorly designed and do not function very welL . Developing trail linkages to these parks should be a key priority to encourage alternative forms of transportation. . Continuing the involvement of the user groups in the design of these facilities to ensure that what is developed is in line with actual needs. . Giving more attention to and beautification, which is lacking in many of the parks. . Consideration of neighborhood park needs as defined under Mini and Neighborhood Parks previously listed in the table. PTOS 6-24 School Site Description Park-School Sites are joint-use sites between the city and school district for shared use of facilities. There are a total of six school sites that fall under this classification. Of those, Edgerton and Carver are also community center sites, whereby the city also uses the indoor facilities. Kev Developmental/Use Considerations Clearly defining development, use, and maintenance of these facilities is important to ensure that all parties understand their role and responsibility. Special Use Park Description The Special Use Park classification refers to parks that are unique and do not readily fall under any other classification. The existing system identifies two such parks . Maplewood Nature Center offers protection of a unique natural resource, has a visitor center, and provides extensive programming. . Bruentrup Historical Farm at Prairie Farm Neighborhood Preserve is a special use park. The city leases approximately 2 acres to the Maplewood Historical Society which maintains the farmstead buildings and yard. The city has a lease agreement that identifies specific activities and opportunities available through the joint agreement and should be referenced to ensure the city recognizes the benefit of the relationship. Kev Developmental/Use Considerations . The Maplewood Nature Center is a well established community hallmark that continues to serve an important function. Continuing its educational programs and maintaining its natural resource qualities and infrastructure are key priorities in forthcoming years. . Parks Commission members have identified an interest in developing a city-owned dog park. . Maplewood would like to have a permanent site for a Community Garden. PTOS 6-25 Open Space (Passive Parks) Neighborhood Preserve Description The Neighborhood Preserve park classification was created to integrate the open space parcels into the larger park system, thereby more clearly defining their role in servicing community needs and protecting open space. The neighborhood preserves have two important functions . Preserve and protect natural areas and open space within the city. . Create additional opportunities for human use and appreciation of the community's natural areas. The preserve sites are defined in a neighborhood context to . Address trends toward greater demand for natural areas and passive recreational opportunities close to home. . Foster a local sense of stewardship in the protection, restoration and management, and human use of these parcels. In the neighborhood context, the preserve sites coupled with neighborhood parks will provide a full palette of both active and passive recreational opportunities for local residents. Kev Developmental/Use Considerations There are a number of key developmental and use considerations that can be applied to the neighborhood preserve sites, including . Completing ecological plans for all sites, including analysis of existing conditions, refinement of ecological prototypes, and ecological restoration and management plans. . Integrating human use of the sites within the context of their ecological underpinnings. (The community should be involved in this process.) . Developing trail linkages to these parks. . Looking for opportunities to support, build, and complete the Natural Area Greenways proposed in the Natural Resources chapter. There are currently 14 Neighborhood Preserve sites in the system totaling 295 acres. The City shall retain a minimum of 295 acres in the system, resulting in a no-net loss policy. The following statements and implementation tools support this policy and shall be further developed to ensure the Neighborhood Preserve acreages are upheld . Maintain a minimum of 295 acres of Neighborhood Preserve lands. If a parcel is to be sold, another parcel of equal or higher ecological quality shall be added to the Neighborhood Preserve system . If new property is brought into the system, it should enhance or maintain contiguous lands and shall not contribute to fragmentation of the system . Maintain city or public ownership of all/any neighborhood preserves in the system . Further develop and enhance ordinances that support the preservation, maintenance and management of the Neighborhood Preserves. This shall include the creation of a zoning designation that specifically relates to the activities allowed in Neighborhood Preserves. . All neighborhood preserves are designated as Open Space on the Land Use Plan. As required by state statute, any and all changes to the land use shall require a 4/5th vote at the Council level and will result in a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. . The use of conservation easements and other conservation tools shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and shall be evaluated for how the easements would contribute to and support the neighborhood preserve system. PTOS 6-26 Regional Park/County Open Space Description Regional parks and open spaces serve a regional population. However, the location of several regional parks in the city makes them important factors in the overall park system Kev Developmental/Use Considerations The most important consideration here is maintaining a strong working partnership with the County to foster development in these parks that serve the needs of Maplewood Residents. Specific Neiqhborhood Plans During this planning period, the South Maplewood neighborhood including Highwood and Carver Ridge were discussed heavily due to the relatively undeveloped nature of the area. Currently both neighborhoods have several parcels that are a part of the County's Fish Creek Open Space system It is imperative that these open spaces be monitored by the City because the proposed park plan is based on the assumption that the county open spaces remain undeveloped natural areas. If these parcels are ever up for sale, or a use change is proposed, the City should reevaluate the park needs in these two neighborhoods to ensure the City's park standards are upheld. PTOS 6-27 Advisory Panel and Parks Commission Specific Discussion Items The Advisory Panel and Parks Commission reviewed the existing parks plan in conjunctions with the future land use plan that has been developed as a part of this planning process. During those discussions recommendations and ideas were generated with respect to howthe existing park system functions and how the system could better serve specific neighborhoods. The following items were identified as suggestions to the parks commission for consideration during implementation of this summary document. This list is not meant to be all inclusive in terms of all needs affecting the system, but inclusion of this information provides documentation of key data and discussions taking place in the city. The following discussion items are categorized by classification type and neighborhoods where applicable. Neiqhborhood/Mini Parks During the Comprehensive Plan update process the following neighborhoods were specifically identified as having additional neighborhood/mini park demands in this planning period . In the ShelWood Glen Neighborhood, Sherwood Park could be better developed to meet the active park needs of the neighborhood. During this planning period a feasibility and use study should be completed to fully evaluate the needs of the neighborhood. . I n the Gladstone Neighborhood, as the Gladstone master plan progresses the Gloster Park and Gladstone Savanna area will need to be evaluated to ensure the active park needs of the neighborhood, including future residents is met. . The Hillside Neighborhood is light on active park facilities. Hillside Park is predominantly used for passive uses and could be transitioned to provide some active park facilities for the neighborhood. In addition, there may be opportunities for providing active park facilities with Mounds Park Academy, or Hill Murray School and the Marshlands project. . In the Beaver Lake Neighborhood, discussions regarding the future of Gethsemane Park were underway at the time of developing this document. If agreement is not met for preservation of this park, an active park replacement should be identified to adequately provide active park facilities to this neighborhood. If Gethsemane is reduced or eliminated in the future, a suggested search for a replacement park is identified on the future parks and open space planning map (Figure 6.2). . In the Carver Ridge Neighborhood a minimum of a 40-60 acre active park should be located within the Bailey Farm property to serve the active park needs of future residents. The search area is identified on Figure 62, and the exact size and location should be identified at the time of development in this area. Development of this park will be a priority at the time of residential development in the Carver Ridge and Highwood neighborhoods south of Carver Avenue. School Sites The school sites are unique because they are predominantly controlled by the school district, but coordination and further collaboration could be explored. An overall assessment of uses and facilities should be made to determine the extent to which school sites are integrated into the recreational programming of the city. For example, the ball fields at Beaver Lake School were being used in current recreation programming but the current status and availability of the facilities is not known. The availability and use of these facilities should be verified to determine if there are any deficiencies in the system At the same time, the city should actively collaborate with the schools and school districts to extend and improve the curricular opportunities for their students where there are good options. PTOS 6-28 Special Use Parks During this planning period, the Parks Commission and Advisory Panel identified some opportunity areas for special uses throughout the community, the areas specifically discussed include o In the Highwood Neighborhood, the ski jump site may have opportunities for special programming and uses in the community. This site should remain on the city's radar as an opportunity site. o In the ShelWood Glen Neighborhood, at the John Glen site there may be opportunities to collaborate with the school on special programming needs related to archery and similar activities. Passive Park Areas The following neighborhoods were identified as having opportunities for additional neighborhood preserves based on the quantity of active park land or open space that might be better used for a neighborhood preserve o Maplewood Heights Neighborhood may have some opportunities to revert some active park land for a more natural or passive use that could serve as a neighborhood preserve, further study of this would be required prior to any recommendations or plans should be made. o In the Highwood and CalVer Ridge neighborhoods a large amount of land is in the County's open space system If any of this land were ever to be sold, the City should evaluate and review the feasibility of acquiring that land for a neighborhood preserve or open space use to help maintain the more rural quality in these neighborhoods. PTOS 6-29 Trails Plan In this Comprehensive Plan Update more emphasis was placed on the need for a comprehensive trail system throughout the community. The City has always been blessed with the State and Regional trails that pass through the City, but connecting to those trails as well as creating a network that is not only for recreational purposes but as a transportation alternative has never been realized. This plan identifies an integrated, easy to use and friendly trail system as a key priority and component of this plan. Since the last planning effort, the city has been dedicated to integrating trail and sidewalk development as part of redevelopment and road reconstruction projects. Those efforts are recognized, and this plan seeks to build on the existing system to make a more comprehensive and accessible system. In spite of the obstacles and difficulties, the idea of creating a city trail system is well worth while when considered in context of current demands for recreational and utilitarian demands. As fuel costs rise residents will look for alternative transportation options and the city can provide an accessible trail system to help provide additional options. Additionally, as the aging baby-boomers reach retirement demands for recreational opportunities and well connected facilities will be critical to keeping this population in the community. The trail system will provide those opportunities and add to the overall quality of life for residents. The trail system plan presented here is more comprehensive and plans for a significant amount of trail development throughout the community to create emphasis on interconnected trails that provide essential linkages throughout the system so that residents can move through the system safely regardless of their purpose for using the trails. The plan is based on the following principles . Focus and priority is placed on primary north-south and east-west corridors that will provide the greatest access and accessibility to all residents; . Connections between schools, community facilities, parks, and the region are emphasized to help support alternative transportation options for all residents; . Trail construction and specific location (for example north or south side of a street, concrete or bituminous) is not emphasized in this plan because the City will create a plan for detail at time of development or redevelopment to ensure the appropriate needs are being met for the area; . The proposed system is ambitious, and is focused on creating the ideal plan for the future of Maplewood. As demonstrated in Figure 6.2 Proposed Parks, Trails, and Open Space, the City has prioritized the creation of an interconnected trail system as a part of this comprehensive plan update. The table that follows, Table 6.6 Existing and Future Trails, provides an inventory of the existing and future trails, the classification and general developmental or use considerations. Following the table, a short analysis and key points identified by the Advisory Panel and Parks Commission are provided for consideration as the plan is implemented. PTOS 6-30 Table 6.6 Existing and Future Trails Trail Classification Length (mi) Key Developmental/Use Consideration Gateway Trail State Trail 3.5 The trail is a state trail corridor with extensive connections to Segment of the the metro area and greater Minnesota. Connecting residents Willard Munger to this system is a priority of the overall trail plan. State Trail Bruce Vento Regional Trail 3.0 Regional trail corridor of over 13 miles in length with extensive Regional Trail connections to other systems, including state trail systems Highline Trail Park Trail 2.7 Follows existing power line easement east to west through northern end of the city. Provides important linkages between key park sites and linkage to the regional and state trail system Developmental Challenges . Obtaining trail easement rights . Varying topography, with some areas exhibiting steep slopes . Traversing through developed areas County Road C Connector Trail 2.5 The County Road C Trail is partially completed, and the Trail proposed plan connects this corridor through the northern half of the city to create an east-west connection. This trail will connect to other major trail corridors to provide efficiency. County Road D Connector Trail 3.5 County Road B Connector Trail 3.5 The intent of the County Road B Trail is to provide an Trail additional east-west lingkage in the City. Roselawn Connector Trail 2.0 Gervais Trail Connector Trail 1.0 Beam Ave Trail Connector Trail 2.8 Frost Trail Connector Trail 1.5 The Frost Avenue Trail is proposed to create a connection between the regional trails and the White Bear Avenue Trail. Century Avenue Connector Trail 5.6 The Century Avenue Trail is projected to be completed as a Trail part of an overall street improvement project. This corridor will be a primary north-south corridor through the city and will be constructed to connect to other key trail corridors in the City. Arcade Trail Connector Trail 1.0 White Bear Trail Connector Trail 3.2 The White Bear Avenue Trail is completed and provides a key north-south corridor through the northern part of the city connecting residents to the region. Larpenteur Trail Connector Trail 5.2 The Larpenteur Avenue Trail is undeveloped and is proposed as an east-west corridor through the City. This trail will be the primary corridor to link residents between the east and west sections of the city. The corridor also links residents to key natural resources and the existing regional trails that run through the city. McKnight Trail Connector Trail 7.0 The McKnight Trail is completed and connects the south leg of the city with the northern area of Maplewood. This trail connects residents to the high quality natural resource areas in the south leg. Stillwater Trail Connector Trail 1.2 PTOS 6-31 Minnehaha Trail Connector Trail 1.0 Upper Alton Road Connector Trail 1.0 The Upper Alton Road Trail is completed and provides Trail connections to adjacent communities in the south leg. Alton Bluffs Regional Trail 1.1 The Lower Alton Road Trail is completed and provides Regional Trail connections to adjacent communities in the south leg. Carver Trail Connector Trail 1.0 This trail connection would be made when Carver Road is reconstructed. Sterling Trail Connector Trail 3.0 Sterling Trail in south Maplewood would connect residents with adjacent communities. Henry Lane Trial Connector Trail 0.35 The Henry Lane Trail would connect residents in the Highwood neighborhood to County Open Spaces. Linwood Avenue Connector Trail 1.0 Joy Trail Park Trail 1.0(+) South Maplewood Park Trail 1.0(+) This trail is proposed as a solt-surface, sustainably-designed, (Area South of hiking trail to provide residents access to the natural areas in Carver Ave.) South Maplewood and is focused on preservation of the creek and other high quality natural areas. Analvsis The City has prioritized development of a comprehensive trail system in this plan update. With a priority toward improving the overall extent of the trail system within the city, providing on-street bikeways was extensively discussed, and although not formally proposed as a part of this plan, the bikeability of the system was prioritized in discussions. On-street bike lanes should be considered in neighborhoods without trails or sidewalks, and should be considered along major corridors to help encourage and support biking as a means of transportation. The overall success of the system will rely on the prioritization of creating and maintaining the system Historically the parks have been prioritized above the trail system because new development and neighborhoods were developing. However, now that the City is largely developed acquisition for park land is no longer the priority it was in previous planning periods. As a result a shilt towards trail right of way acquisition can occur to help complete the park and open space system in the city. The focus on trails does not eliminate the need to maintain and manage the parks to ensure a high quality system, but it shilts acquisition to help complete a comprehensive trail system The following table identifies the amount of existing and proposed trails and sidewalks identified on Figure 6.2. All trails in table 6.6 are not identified, and therefore the following table reflects the comprehensive trail system Table 6.7 Trails Lengths Trails Road Trails Sidewalks Total Existing 49.5 3.6 28.0 81.1 Proposed 3.8 32.4 n 43.9 Total 53.3 36.0 35.7 125.0 PTOS 6-32 Advisory Panel and Parks Commission Specific Trails Discussion Items The future Trail Plan in the City was discussed at length with the Advisory Panel and Parks Commission. The focus of the discussions was on development of a more comprehensive approach to the trail system in the City. That discussion included reference to some specific trail types as well as trail locations. The following items were discussed specifically by the Advisory Panel and Parks Commission. The following topics are not exhaustive, but should be considered as the City moves towards creating a detailed implementation plan. General Trail Discussion Recommendations The Advisory Panel and Parks Commission reviewed the existing trails plan as a starting point for making their recommendations about future trail planning in the city. Specific attention was paid to the desire to enhance and create strong east-west and north-south connections that would provide an interconnected network throughout the region. The following specific items were discussed; this list is purposely general and highlights some of the most discussed topics . The trails should provide opportunities for biking as an alternative mode of transportation, and major road trails should consider a dedicated bike lane for commuters. Based on Figure 62, nearly 35 miles of Road Trails is proposed as a part of this plan. Strong consideration of these trails should be paid for commuting purposes rather than solely recreational uses. . The trail system should be developed in a manner that considers making connections between parkland, open space, community facilities, and schools. Roadways or other areas that may be easily retrofitted and provide key connections should be prioritized during planning and development of the system . Signage of the overall trail system, both existing and future, should be a priority to make navigating through the system easier and more accessible to residents. . At time of any major road construction project the trail plan should be referenced and the Parks Commission should review opportunities to complete or enhance the trail system . Nature trails, particularly in natural areas, should be carefully planned for and review and consideration by the Parks Commission required ensuring the development of a trail system that protects the environment but considers access to high quality natural areas without being a detriment to the area. Specific Trail Corridors The following specific trail corridors were identified during the trail discussions Frost Trail This trail is proposed for development at the time of redevelopment in the Gladstone Master Plan and when/if road improvements are made in the area. The Gladstone Master Plan area continues to evolve and was heavily discussed during the land use and parks discussions. Trail opportunities should be capitalized at time of redevelopment in the area. PTOS 6-33 Carver Trail This connection would be critical at time of development in Highwood and Carver Ridge neighborhoods. This plan is the first parks, trail and open space plan for the areas south of Carver Avenue and it is therefore critical to look at opportunities to serve new residents in these neighborhoods. At the time of this plan, Carver Trail is proposed as the only connection under 494 in the south leg of the community. Sterling Trail This trail will require a feasibility study as there are significant topographic challenges in the area. The opportunity to connect residents with existing and future parks in this area, as well as to the regional system exists but should be explored further at time of development in the south Maplewood area. Henry Lane Trail The trail would provide connections between existing neighborhoods and residents with County Open Spaces. This connection would help complete the existing systems and provide greater access to residents. South Maplewood (Nature Trails) This trail is proposed as a sustainably-designed trail to provide residents access to the natural areas in South Maplewood and is focused on preservation of the creek and other high quality natural areas. PTOS 6-34 Implementation This section of the report focuses on establishing a framework and priorities for implementing the park, open space and trail system plan. This includes . Partnership approach to implementation . Cost analysis . Evaluation criteria for prioritizing park and trail development . Prioritization of park and trail initiatives . Implementation strategies by goal topic area Partnership Approach to Implementation Success in implementing the park and trail system plan will be based on the strength of the relationships that includes the Park and Recreation Commission and Environmental and Natural Resources Commission, city staff, residents, user groups, and adjacent cities, school districts, the county, churches and other civic or business organizations. These relationships, and partnerships where appropriate, will help ensure the needs and demands of the system are met, as well as ensure that efforts are not duplicated within the system Cost Analysis The Cost Analysis Table in the report defines the potential costs associated with each major component of the system plan. The cost figures are intended to be used for budgeting purposes, implementation planning, comparing the relative cost of one item to that of another, and developing funding scenarios. The City understands that the CIP budgeted amount for the parks, open space and trail system is not adequate to support the projected cost to implement the entire system outlined in this document Identification of the shortfall allows the City to look for additional funding sources and opportunities to partner with other agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives identified in this plan. For example, this plan identifies a more comprehensive trail system in the community. The plan identifies the largest quantity of those trails to be road trails where there may be opportunities to develop the system at time of road reconstruction or through the help of other agencies. A summary of the cost analysis table is as follows Table 6.8 Cost Summary for Park and Trail Development/Redevelopment (2008-2013) Item Cost Summary (Dollars) Contingency (15%) Total Parks Mini/Neighborhood Community Youth Athletic Complexes Community Athletic Community Centers Neighborhood Preserves Total $1,460,000' Trails Regional Connector Nature $1,300,000' Neighborhood Preserves Management and Restoration $2,250,000' Total $5,010,000 'Figures were rounded up to reflect an estimated projected fee. PTOS 6-35 The range of development and redevelopment scenarios is broad with respect to implementing the system plan which has the potential to significantly impact the costs associated with the project. These figures provide a general budget framework from which to plan, and makes the following assumptions . The park estimate assumes management and maintenance for the next ten years and does not plan for large-scale master planned changes for any individual park. An area study and feasibility study would be required to determine the cost associated with such a project. . The parks figure assumes only the acquisition of one additional park into the system, to be located in the Carver Ridge neighborhood. . The figures are based on a no-net loss policy. This means that parks and open space could change uses, but could never be taken out of the system entirely, unless comprehensive plan amendment was adopted. This policy would suggest that acquisition, as well as gain from sales would not affect the system . The trails figure was estimated based on a single shoulder off-road, bituminous, multi-use traiL If alternative materials, or trails along both sides of a road, or shoulders, etc, are proposed that will change the overall cost of the system The following figure illustrates how changes in the system will affect the preliminary budget estimate Maximum Level of Plan Implementation Complete All Aspects of the System Plan c o~ 10 .c c ~ Q) E !i5 E 0) a. 8 .::: .~ 25 -g c 0....2 ro ~ " 1:1.. C c _ Q) ro O"t ceo Q) Q) "- xarg- w " ~ Go Beyond basic needs to provide a - broader palette of recreational opportunities for residents. Limited Level of Plan Implementation Meeting Minimum System Plan Objectives Evaluation Criteria for Prioritizing Park and Trail Development Projects With limited resources, ranking the development of one park, trail, or development initiative against that of another will be necessary. Certainly, all development issues identified in the plan are pressing concerns needing attention. Realistically, the City is going to have to pick and choose those that are the most pressing and those that improve the services to the residents and user groups most in need. Making this as objective as possible is a key concern. Through the use of ranking criteria, reasonable objectivity can be infused into the decision making process. This criteria is based on and evaluated against factors that influence the demand for parks and trails. It must be broad based enough to consider the important and predominant factors, yet limited enough to be manageable and practical for decision makers to gain consensus and take action. Evaluation criteria included . Development pattern and population density . Community demand PTOS 6-36 . Recreation program demand . RedevelopmenVupgrading of facility or adjacent uses . Funding availability/partnership opportunity . Preservation of significant natural resource Prioritization of Parks, Open Space, and Trail Development Initiatives As an implementation step of this plan, the City will inventory and evaluate the parks, trails and open space system in detaiL During that process, priorities will be set to ensure that the City's park needs are met. Additionally, the City acknowledges that the priorities may change depending on circumstances. For example a road reconstruction project may yield opportunities to construct a trail, and the efficiencies of completing the trail as a part of that process may increase its priority. Future prioritization should support and reference the goals and objective statements identified in this Plan. Implementation Strategies in Goal Topics (New Section as Recommended by Parks Commission) The following information identifies preliminary implementation strategies for each of the goal topic areas. The section is not all inclusive but highlights specific areas of discussion by the Parks Commission and Advisory PaneL The following implementation steps will help support the goals and objectives identified through this planning process. General Parks, Open Space, and Trail System Plan Goals The general parks, open space and trail system plan goals highlighted three topic areas including implementation of the comprehensive plan, focus on the natural resource system and internal staffing. The following implementation strategies support these areas: . Update, modify and create appropriate ordinances to support the goals and objectives identified in this plan. The first step will be to ensure that the zoning ordinance is updated to reflect the appropriate land use and classifications in this plan. . Create policy and ordinances to support the creation of the natural area greenways plan that also ensures review by the Parks Commission for any development within the greenways. This will help ensure the appropriate attention is paid to identifying park land or open space opportunities. . Evaluate the needs, benefit and advantages to reinstating a parks director level position to help lead the parks, open space and trail planning and development efforts within the City. . Review the by-laws established for the Parks Commission to ensure the roles and responsibilities of the commission support the goals and objectives identified in this document. PTOS 6-37 Community and Partnerships The community and partnerships goals and objectives focus on maintaining open communication and collaboration with other agencies and communities to ensure the most efficient services and system are available. The following implementation strategies are identified to support this goal . Staff and Commissioners should explore opportunities to work with adjacent cities, agencies, school districts and other community groups. This will help identify potential opportunities for collaboration and efficiencies. . Work with regional organizations to help monitor regional systems and their potential affect on the City's parks, trails and open space system Ecological Resources, Restoration and Management The ecological resources, restoration and management goals and objectives are focused on the relationship between the natural resource system and the park system The following implementation strategies will help reinforce the relationship between the systems and future planning efforts. . Develop a review process for the Parks Commission for any property located within the natural area greenway corridors identified in the natural resource chapter. . Inventory and analyze the existing active and passive park system to identify opportunities for restoration, storm water management or other environmental benefits to the overall system. Park Land Management, Acquisition and Development The park land management, acquisition and development goals and objectives focus on the management or improvement of the existing system as well as the need for future active and passive parks. The following implementation strategies support the goals and objectives. . Perform a full analysis and inventory of the existing parks system to better assess future park needs with respect to acquisition, redevelopment or improvements. . Perform a full feasibility analysis for developing areas in the community, specifically in south Maplewood where development has not yet occurred. Accurate determination of size and type of park land in this area should be assessed when unit type and number of residents are identified for this area. Trail Corridors/Right-of-Way Acquisition and Development The trail goals and objectives relate to a much more diverse and comprehensive trail system The following implementation strategies support the identified goals and objectives. . Create a review process that supports the Parks Commission review of all road improvement projects to identify potential trail connections and opportunities to complete the system . Prioritize all trail corridors and focus planning efforts and studies on key corridors. . Identify key areas where opportunities exist to add lining for bike and non-motorized traffic on roadways to complete the system in a most efficient and cost-effective way. PTOS 6-38 Recreation and Education Programs The recreation and education program goals are focused on maintaining the existing programs and supporting the diversification and availability of programming in the City. The following implementation steps support the identified goals and objectives. . Discuss and inventory the programming offered through the City to determine areas for improvement within the City. . Work with program and education directors to identify areas for improvement within the system and create a plan to improve programming availability and diversity within the City. . Encourage and provide education to support best practices and stewardship along park and open space (neighborhood preserves) borders. Funding The funding goals and objectives identify ways to support the system financially. The following implementation strategies are identified for support . Perform a detailed inventory to prioritize projects that will require immediate funding. . Monitor the parks, trails and open space plan on a yearly basis to identify upcoming financial gap areas, and to determine additional prioritization and planning needs. . Identify grant money available to support the development of the trail system The trail budget is significantly higher than the allocated CIP money, and identification of potential grant money will help fund the gap. PTOS 6-39 elIl' OF MAPu,woon 2030 COJc1PREHENSiVic' PLAI\/ o 1.8 0.6 1.2 Parks Open Space Government Existing Road Trails .-. Existing Trails - Existing Sidewalks Water Neighborhoods January25,201O =;i ". '" ~ ~ ~m o g. -g g.::I1 ~ ~~ (f)"1J ~ ~ ~ ro ~".~ g Y" :....,. N A =;i ". '" ~ -0 5.-8 00 -g ii :I1 o ~ ~~~ ~~~ o - ~ en]/OF.;t'IAPLElVDOl>> 2030 LX}:UPflEHENSdVE PLAN Maplewood Proposed Parks, Trails and Open Space ~ 02.. 0.6 1.2 1.8 Trails - Existing Trails ~~n~n. Proposed Trails Existing Road Trails Proposed Road Trails - Existing Sidewalks u___._. Proposed Sidewalks Land Use Parks Open Space Government 1- - - t. _ _ ~ Park Search Area Water January25,2010 N A CiTY OFttl/1P'lJ~lVOOJ) 2030 C'{)/Y1PRElfENSI1/E'PJAN Maplewood Parks and Open Space Classifications o 0.3 0.6 1.2 - - Parks Community Athletic Complex Community Park Youth Athletic Park Neighborhood Park Mini Park Special Use Park Regional/County Park _ School Site Open Space _ Neighborhood Preserve City Open Space County Open Space Agency Open Space Water Neighborhood Boundary January25,201O en ~ ~ g ~ o~ -~ ~ w ~. ~ ::I1 ~~~ n c ~ 0 ~ ="'0 CD o ro ~ ~::J W 1.8 N A Allachmenl3 "' c e- " ,", 0) ((5' ~ c ~" ~~ ro ~ CHVO!-')}LH'LE'lVOOfl 2030 COMPRE1iENSIVE 1'1./\;'\' Maplewood Future Land Use o 0.25 0.5 1.5 2 Miles - - Rural/ Low Density Residential (0.5 - 1.5 Units per Acre) Low Density Residential (2.6 - 6.0 Units per Acre) Medium Density Residential (6.1 - 10.0 Units per Acre) High Density Residential (10.1 - 25.0 Units per Acre) Mixed Use (6.0 - 31.0 Units per Acre) _ Commercial Industrial Government Institutional Park Open Space Water Neighborhood!> January25,201O N A