07-19-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

r as city halls are traditionally located in the City Center. Citizens in Arden Hills question where the city center may be at this time. A master plan, zoning changes and development/redevelopment efforts designed to create a city center would benefit Arden Hills greatly. This center would be addressed through the way-finding signage presented elsewhere in this strategy and supported through various fairs and festivals held purposely in this area to help create greater awareness and presence for the city center in the community. 10)Trails & Recreation Program Arden Hills is challenged by the presence of major segregating assets which are highways and lakes. These bisect the community into small pockets allowing for separate and unique residential opportunities. However, this,�s aeal also increases the need for attention to be paid on linking the individual preces together. Citizens in Arden Hills reflect their interest in a trails program as that'often site the segmented nature of the community in discussions and surveys. DeSCo; ecommends'that'this become a major initiative for the community through the develrnent of a Recreation Master Plan. This plan would link the trail systern.tnt�a unified 64` ti Qrk of 11) Development Sites. As a land locked community, Arden Hills is rapidlyrunning out of developable sites for consideration. This places the commu'nity's priorities from a development to a redevelopment nature. Due to development pressures,in and around the community, single site redevelopments can and will most oftenbe handled by market forces. However, the need to look at the community from a higher level and to take larger tracks of land that are under or non performing and convert them to a higher and better use is what we are;talking about here, Arden Hills is at a point where master planning entire neighborhoods, retail districts, business parks and yes, the city center needs to move onto the public agenda. Through;this process, a more proactive vision for the city can be implemented. Accomplishing this vision will require the city's participation in the development process through financing, incenting and negotiating key partners to participate in the process. 12) Capital Improvement Planning One of the most challenging, yet unglamorous roles that community leadership must address is creating an operating and maintenance program for its many assets. To the average citizen these assets seem like permanent infrastructure that will be there forever. To anyone who has served in the public arena the knowledge that these assets are in a continual state of decay is well known. Improvement plans and budgets need to be put in place so that this process is an annual appropriation of funds. The electorate is most focused on those items that are above ground, i.e. streets, sidewalks (trails) and parks. Prudent fiscal planning will also address those items below grade; sewers, water and utility infrastructure. Working Copy— Not for Circulation 4