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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – April 9, 2014 8 Associate Planner Bachler reported that on November 25, 2013, the City Council approved Ordinance 2013-011, which established a Parks and Open Space District in the Zoning Code. Since then, staff has evaluated parcels within the City that should be rezoned as Parks and Open Space District based on the purpose of this zoning classification. Associate Planner Bachler indicated that the primary purpose of the Parks and Open Space District is to establish land use regulations that support the public parks and open spaces managed by the City of Arden Hills and Ramsey County. In addition, the Zoning Code states that properties zoned Parks and Open Space work to conserve environmental resources, promote ecological stewardship, and provide areas that support community health through the provision of active and passive recreational opportunities. Staff has identified 38 parcels in the City that are appropriate for rezoning as Parks and Open Space. Of these parcels, 28 are owned by the City of Arden Hills. Twenty are currently used as active parkland and four are part of the City’s trail network. An additional four parcels owned by the City provide open space areas, but are not formally part of the City’s park system. These properties are 1750 Parkshore Drive on the southern end of Round Lake; 3772 Brighton Way east of New Brighton Avenue and adjacent to Tony Schmidt Regional Park; 3151 Lake Johanna Boulevard, known as the “triangle parcel” and where the City recently installed a gateway sign; and 3208 Hamline Avenue North, which is a wetland parcel situated between Highway 51 and Lake Josephine. Associate Planner Bachler explained that the remaining ten parcels are owned by the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department and are all included in the County park system. Eight of these properties comprise the Tony Schmidt Regional Park. The remaining two, the Marsden Archery Range and Rice Creek North Regional Trail, are on land formerly part of the Arden Hills Army Training Site. Associate Planner Bachler commented that the proposed rezoning only includes land owned by the City of Arden Hills or Ramsey County. The Parks and Open Space District cannot be applied to privately owned land. Associate Planner Bachler stated that in September of 2009, the City Council adopted the Arden Hills 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The plan outlines the community’s vision and goals, which are intended to guide the City’s policies and strategies. The adopted Future Land Use Map designates a total of 65 parcels for “Park and Open Space” use. The plan defines this land use category as “areas designated as public parks.” Currently, public parks and open space areas are integrated into residential or business-oriented zoning districts as permitted or conditional uses. Minnesota State law mandates that local zoning codes are consistent with adopted comprehensive plans. The proposed Parks and Open Space District rezoning would help the City meet this requirement. Further, the rezoning will assist in the implementation of goals identified in the Land Use, Parks and Recreation, and Protected Resources chapters in the Comprehensive Plan.