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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-20-08-Special Chair Clayton Larson 1245 W.Highway 96 Commissioners T�t� y Andrew Holewa EN 1 MLS Arden Hills,MN 55112 Liz Modesette 651.792.7800 Janet Stodola Arden H i l l s www.ci.arden-hilis,mn.us Roberta Thompson Clayton Zimmerman Planning Commission Special Worksession March 20, 2008 City Vision A strong community that values our unique environment,our fiscal soundness, and our tradition as a desirable city in which to live,work,and play. Agenda Planning Commission Special Worksession 6:30 p.m. Call to Order I. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 2. Topics A. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Draft Review 3. ADJOURNMENT A quo rum rum of the City Council may be present at this meeting. Planning Cases are available online at: hft.1/www.ci.arden-hills.mn.us/planninqcases . r P • ,--ARZEN HILLS Planning Commission Agenda Packet Item: EN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: March 20, 2008 Work Session TO: Planning Commission FROM: James Lehnhoff, City Planner /// SUBJECT: 2008 Comprehensive Plan Draft of the Vision, Policies, and Strategies by Chapter Requested Action Staff requests feedback on the draft goals, policies, and content of the draft 2008 Comprehensive Plan. Staff also requests a review of the overall City vision statement, which has been slightly revised. This work session is not meant to be a detailed review of the language in the Plan. This review is meant to be a progress update and to get feedback on the overall content within the draft Plan. • Backizround Although there are a number of important projects currently underway at the City, work on the 2008 Comprehensive Plan update has continued to move forward. The information collected at the community meetings, Council/Planning Commission comments, previous City plans, requirements set by the Metropolitan Council, and State Statutes have formed the basis of the draft document. Since much of the 1998 Comprehensive Plan is still applicable today, portions of that Plan have been reformatted and included in the draft 2008 Comprehensive Plan. In order to keep the drafting process moving forward in a productive manner, Staff is requesting that the Planning Commission review and provide feedback on the working draft of the vision, goals, policies, and content for each chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. The work session is meant to focus on providing feedback on the overall substance in the draft Plan. This is a working draft, and Staff recognizes the language will need to be reviewed and revised as the process continues to ensure that it is meeting the full intent and goals of the City. If you do notice specific grammar or punctuation errors, please mark them in the Plan and provide your copy to Staff for review. Your copy can be returned to you. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Work Session for March 20, 2008 IlMetro-inet.uslardenhillslPlanninglComprehensive Plan lMemos1032008-PC Report-Comp Plan-Vision,Policies,and Strategies.doc Page 1 of 3 The 2008 Comprehensive Plan is divided into the following chapters (the organization of the chapters may be modified in the final version of the Plan): 1. Introduction 2. Community Profile* 3. City Vision 4. Active Living(based on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Grant) 5. TCAAP 6. Land Use* 7. Housing* 8. Economic Development and Redevelopment 9. Parks and Recreation* 10. Protected Resources* 11. Transportation* 12. Environmental Conservation and Sustainability 13. Public Facilities, Infrastructure, and Services* 14. Implementation* *Required by the Metropolitan Council and State Statutes Chapters 4-13 included a draft goal statement. The goal statement for each chapter is intended to be somewhat of a general,positive, and, for the most part, uncontroversial statement. Each goal statement is then supported by a series of policies and background data that are designed to advance the goal statement and the overall City vision. The policies can be specific or general; short-term or long-term; easy or difficult; and may in some instances be controversial. Some of the policies will require a great deal of research and effort to fully implement, and, ultimately, some may not be workable. Since the Plan is meant to guide the City until 2030, it is not necessary to fully evaluate • the potential or possibility of each goal or policy. However, each statement should have a desirable result and be within the realm of possibility. If you have a specific idea that you think should be in the Comprehensive Plan,please either mention it at the meeting or let me know. When making a request for an item to be in the Comprehensive Plan, it is helpful to take a step back to see what the ultimate goal of the request is and how it advances the vision statement and goals within the Plan. It is important to remember that while a Comprehensive Plan is meant to take a long-term look at the community, and it should not be a static document. The City should work to implement the Comprehensive Plan over time; however, this Plan does not exclude the possibility of exploring new projects, goals, policies, priorities, and strategies down the road if new opportunities or issues arise. Although the Plan is intended to go 2030, all cities in the metropolitan area will review their comprehensive plans again in 2018. When reviewing the document, you may notice some topics or sections that do not seem to quite fit with the flow of the Plan. There are a number of items that the Metropolitan Council requires a City to address, even if the item is ultimately not applicable to Arden Hills. The Metropolitan Council's Local Planning Handbook includes many of the items that a City is required to address in City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Work Session for March 20, 2008 1Metro-inet.uslardenhillsiPlanninglComprehensive PlanMemos1032008-PC Report-Comp Plan-vision,Policies,and Strategies.doc Page 2 of 3 the Comprehensive Plan. This handbook can be viewed online at htip://www.metrocouncil.org/plannina/LPH/handbook.htm. Work Progress As you go through the draft, you will notice that not all chapters are complete and not all maps have been included. Furthermore, some of the data in the tables is still being finalized. As those sections and maps are prepared, they will be made available for review. Prior to being approved by the City, all tables, graphs, pictures, and formatting will be standardized throughout the Plan. If time allows, additional maps will be provided at the work session. Chapters 8 and 14 have not been included for this work session. Chapter 8, Economic Development and Redevelopment is under review by the Economic Development Commission. Chapter 9, Parks and Recreation, has been included for review but is also being reviewed by the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee. Chapter 14, Implementation, is in the process of being written. The Metropolitan Council also requires the City to complete a water supply, stormwater, and sanitary sewer plans. The City already has these plans in place; however, minor updates are needed before being submitted to the Metropolitan Council. The City's engineering staff is working on updating these plans, which will be included as appendices since they are largely technical documents. Ultimately, the entire Plan will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council. • Comprehensive Plan Update Work Plan Staff will be meeting with the City Council on March 31, 2008. An additional work session with the Planning Commission in April is almost certainly necessary. After the Council and Commission work sessions, the draft will then go to a public open house in early April for public comments and questions. If everything stays on schedule, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing of the Comprehensive Plan at their May 7, 2008,meeting. Ideally, the Planning Commission has fully reviewed and is aware of the content in the Plan prior to the May 7 meeting. If a recommendation is made, the City Council would review the Plan at their May 27, 2008,meeting. The draft Comprehensive Plan will be made available to the public via the City's website and at City Hall for public comment prior to any approvals. All cities in the metropolitan area are required to submit their plans by the end of 2008. However, each city is also required to provide six months of review time to the adjacent communities, the school district, and the watershed districts. After their review, the is then submitted to the Metropolitan Council for their approval. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Work Session for March 20, 2008 IlMetro-inet.uslardenhillsnanningIComprehensive Plan lMemos1032008-PC Report-Comp Plan-Vision,Policies,and Strategies.doc Page 3 of 3 i 0 e f sue[•■ 1 ■!dN►s•.• �y,•is•nub - • •• ••• �w 1��€ � awe A. ,��+tP� lndn! � �� ►•�yia •tf�Wq!■s //Gf •.Ilt "• • E D 1ti.'- `�'� a Apr.•� Ilion n -u�� Ur .ati� � • J� l- • - • ••• • IatMlNilh' � �N ` stt•I �IIHIUINN:� ��� tglf: •� rnIINNNNI6 111!{��.�. �Ni r,�Jinnon. •prr p E•■a u 7 1.Ron - ■n ��� ♦ nu /!u uu� ♦ ou um. �� _ �`�� V r . �� Willing A �'y/�J�{tiiiN��n euu�n�: � •n litl{� � � �. �If Iliiitw!H eWflll nIN All rnu Iillit IlllilRll ' I.6 nn•nuln IIIIIIIitGiltl� � I iid �2:E. EN HILLS 2008 Existing Land Use DRAFT j SFD-Single Family Detached SFA-Single Family Attached MF-Multiple Family - MH-Manufactured Home Park z NB-Neighborhood Business � E �` �� � ,• COM-Commercial ® OFC-Office LI-Light Industrial w& MUI-Mixed Use Industrial c P/I-Public&Institutional i F UTL-Utility ® P/OS-Park and Open Space RR-Railway ® VAC-Vacant l� ROW-Right-of-Way WAT-Open Water This map is in draft format and subject to ;1 change prior to adoption. Created:March 3,2008 g Printed:March 14,2008 Source: Ramsey County,Metropolitan Council z 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update 1 Mile !Tt EN HILLS Future Land Use DRAFT LDR-Low Density Residential MDR-Medium Density Residential HDR-High Density Residential ® MR-Mixed Residential ' NB-Neighborhood Business COM-Commercial MB-Mixed Business •� F=. 1/0-Light Industrial and Office L 9 P/I-Public&Institutional UTL-utility To Be Determined L - P/OS-Park and Open Space V PP-Park Preserve . RR-Railroad right-of-way { [� ROW Right-of-Way e . WAT-Water - ..., 1 �. This map is in draft format and subject to change prior to adoption. Created:March 3,2008 Printed:March 14,2008 Source:Ramsey County,Metropolitan Council � ® 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update Mile t ,ARVEN HILLS; Natural Resource Inventory DRAFT QPriority Areas Wetiand Restoration Potential A Hydrologic Vegetation • Both Natural Resource Preservation Priority I Low Medium High Land Coverp - Forested ® Woodland Shrubland Herbaceous Vegetation - Forested Wetland - Shrub Wetland ® Herbaceous Wetland Open Water t This map is in draft format and subject to change prior to adoption. Created:March 13,2008 _ Printed:March 14,2008 Source:Rice Creek Watershed District 2008Comprehensive Plan Update � � � 1 Mile i City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 2008 Comprehensive Plan City of Arden Hills DRAFT: March 12, 2008 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3 2. COMMUNITY PROFILE............................................................................................................. 5 3. CITY VISION........................................................................................................................... 13 4. ACTIVE LIVING ...................................................................................................................... 15 5. TWIN CITIES ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT(TCAAP)PROPERTY REDEVELOPMENT........... 18 6. LAND USE.............................................................................................................................21 7. HOUSING.......................................................... ............... 34 8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT.............................................................43 9. PARKS AND RECREATION.....................................................................................................44 10. PROTECTED RESOURCES................................................................................................. 56 11. TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................................................69 12. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY................................................ 82 13. PUBLIC FACILITIES, SERVICES,AND INFRASTRUCTURE.................................................. 84 14. IMPLEMENTATION..............................................................................................................93 Forthcoming appendices: o Glossary of Terms and Acronyms o Parks and Trails Improvement Maps o Transportation System Principles and Standards o Water Supply Plan o Sanitary Sewer Plan a Stormwater Management Plan o List of Data Sources DRAFT 1 3/14/2008 a City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT DRAFT REVISED City Vision Arden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential neighborhoods, vital business community, well-maintained infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our long-standing tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play. DRAFT 2 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT 1. INTRODUCTION Incorporated in 1951, the City of Arden Hills lies approximately eight miles north of downtown Saint Paul and downtown Minneapolis (Map) in the northwestern portion of Ramsey County. The City is 9.4 square miles and is home to an estimated population of 9,787 people in 2005, which is a slight increase from 9,652 residents counted in the 2000 census. The residents of Arden Hills enjoy a high quality of living with access to neighborhood and regional parks and trails; superb access to regional transportation; and stable neighborhoods. In addition to the City's high quality neighborhoods, Arden Hills is home to a number of large corporations, many small businesses, two private colleges, a high school, an elementary school, and more than 12,000 jobs. Arden Hills is a strong community that attracts residents and businesses because of its close-knit neighborhoods, parks, responsible government, and open spaces. Additionally, the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plan (TCAAP) property provides the City with an opportunity for new development to help service the City's current and future residents. While Arden Hills is a stable community with a bright future, the City does face some challenges. The median age has risen dramatically in recent years, a large percent of the City's land area is tax-exempt, fewer families with children are able to afford a home in the City, and the regional transportation infrastructure is at or beyond • capacity in many places. With one million new residents expected in the Twin Cities area between 2000 and 2030, Arden Hills will undoubtedly feel the pressure for development and the impact of development in other communities. The Comprehensive Plan is a policy document essentially asks where are we now, where do we want to go, and how do we get there. The document reflects the City's value system and creates a framework for the future by providing an overall vision for the City. As a guiding tool, the Plan provides a system for measuring progress, direction for day-to-day and long-term decision-making, and helps set priorities. This Arden Hills Comprehensive Plan guides the City in several key areas that are vital to the successful and efficient function of the community: ■ Land use • Housing ■ Transportation ■ Infrastructure ■ Parks and recreation • Open space • Public facilities DRAFT 3 3/i4/2aoa City of Arden Hills -Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT Each of the above topics are examined in a comprehensive and community-wide manner in order to take advantage of opportunities, increase efficiency, and work toward building a stronger community. This Plan is being prepared as requirement of the Metropolitan Land Planning Act; however, the City recognizes the importance of planning and setting community- wide goals. Arden Hilts completed its first Comprehensive Plan in 1966 with updates in 1976, 1980, and 1998. It is anticipated that the next Comprehensive Plan review will take place in 2018. While this Plan is a guide for development through 2030, it is intended to be flexible and responsive document that can be amended to acknowledge changing conditions and new opportunities. This Plan must be continually referenced, updated, and used on a regular basis. This document provides a path for the City but does not dictate specific activities or absolute decisions; instead, this Plan is intended to help City leaders in developing policies, programs, ordinances, capital improvement plans, and budgets that reflect the overall values and priorities of the residents and businesses. is DRAFT 4 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT 2. COMMUNITY PROFILE In order to plan for the future of Arden Hills, it is important to understand where the City has been, where the City is now, and how the City is likely to change. Understanding the history of Arden Hills and the trends that affect the City can provides a basis from which to make better decisions. Although the past is not a perfect indicator of future changes, it does give perspective on the status of the community and suggests where Arden Hills may be heading. Since 1990, population has increased by nearly five percent, the median household income has increased, more residents have a higher education, and the number of jobs in the City has increased. Arden Hills is a stable community and many residents are choosing to remain in Arden Hills as long as possible. However, high property values and the relative lack of turnover in the housing stock have made it difficult for younger households to move into the City. Between 1990 and 2000, the age 25-34 age group decreased by 32 percent in Arden Hills compared to just twelve percent in the metropolitan area. The number of families with children increased by ten percent in the metropolitan area but decreased by seventeen percent in Arden Hills. The remainder of this chapter provides additional demographic and economic • information about Arden Hills and some of the changes the community has seen in the last ten, twenty, and thirty years. While there is the tendency to only look within the City borders, Arden Hills is part of a larger metropolitan area of seven counties that include 184 municipalities and three townships. Therefore, a comparison of Arden Hills' demographic information to adjacent municipalities, Ramsey County, and the metropolitan area is provided where appropriate. The comparison helps provide context for this Plan, and helps explain the role that Arden Hills plays in the larger metropolitan community. Data from the Metropolitan Council and the Unites States Census Bureau provides the basis for most of the comparisons in this Chapter. The Metropolitan Council has prepared population, household, and employment forecasts for the cities and townships in the metropolitan area. 2.1 Population DRAFT 5 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 1970-2030 Population Change 45,000 40,000 35,000 C 30,000 25,000 c. 20,000 ; 0 a 15,000 10,000 5,000 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Year -+-Arden Hills - ar--Mounds View New Brighton k-RoseWle- -Shoreview Figure l - 1970-2030 Population Change Population Change 1970-2030 1970 1980 1990 2000 1990-2000 2005 2010 2020 2D30 2000-2030% %Change Change /#den Hills 5,149 8,012 9,199 9,652 4.92% 9,787 11,200 13,500 13,500 39.87% Mounds View 10,599 12,593 12,541 12,738 1.57% 12,442 12,900 13,000 13,400 5.20% • New Brighton 19,507 23,269 22,207 22,206 0.00% 22,113 22,700 22.500 22,800 2.67% Roseville 34,4381 35,8201 33,4851 33,6901 0.61%1 33,8821 36,0001 37,0001 38,300 13.68% Shoreview 10,978 17.300 24,587 25,924 5.44% 25,964 28,500 29,000 29,000 11.87% Ramsey County 476,255 459,784 485,765 511,035 5.20% 515,258 547.700 570,860 598,900 17.19% Twin Cities 7-County 1,874,612 1.985,873 2.288,721 2,642,056 15.44% 2,810,179 3,056,100 3,430,100 3,692,600 39.76% Source:Metropolitan Council,United States Census Bureau • Since 1990, Arden Hills has grown faster than most of its neighbors and almost as fast as Ramsey County. However, Arden Hills grew significantly slower than the Metropolitan region, reflecting the mostly developed character of Arden Hills. ■ The City's most rapid growth occurred during the 1970s. ■ The City population nearly doubled between 1970 and 2000 with an 87 percent population increase. ■ Virtually all of the projected growth through 2030 is anticipated to occur on the proposed Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) property redevelopment. DRAFT 6 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills -Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT Age Distribution By Year by Percentage x 30% 25% f' 20% �, 4 ®1990 15% 0 2012 10% 5% a 0% 17 and 18-24 25-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+ under years years years years years Age Figure 2-Arden Hills Age Distribution ■ In 1990, the median age of an Arden Hills resident was 33.9 compared to 32 in Ramsey County- By 2000, the median age of an Arden Hills resident had increased to 36.2 compared to 33.7 in Ramsey County. • The percentage of people in the age 25-44 age group declined significantly from 1990 to 2000. The slight increase in that age group from 2000 to 2012 is likely due to potential development on the TCAAP property. ■ The increase in the 18-24 age group from 1990 to 2000 is likely due to the increase in student populations at Northwestern College and Bethel University. ■ The over age 55 age groups are anticipated to increase greatly from 2000 to 2012. DRAFT 7 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT Age Distribution 2000 35% m .: , 30% 25% 20% +` ®Arden Kitts c x ■Ramsey County 15% r17 County Metro 10% 5% g: 0% 17 and 18-24 25-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+ Under years years years years years Figure 3-Age Distribution in 2000 ■ The higher population in the 18 -24 age group is largely due to the student population at Bethel University and other college students. ■ Except for the 18- 24 age group, the Arden Hills population tended to weighted into the older age groups in 2000. This growth in the older age groups, as noted in Figure 2, is anticipated to continue. 2.2 Housing Housing Units and People per Housing Unit Housing Units People per Housing Unit 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Change %Change 1990-2000 2000-2030 2000 2010 2020 2030 Arden Hills 2,904 2,959 3,800 4,600 4,600 1.89% 55.460/6 3.26 2.95 2.93 2.93 Mounds View 4,885 5,018 5,400 5,600 6,000 2.72% 19.57% 2.54 2.39 2.32 2.23 New Brighton 8,811 9,013 9,400 9,800 10,000 2,29% 10.950/6 2.46 2.41 2.30 2.28 Roseville 14,216 14,5981 15,500 16,000 16,5001 2.69% 13.03% 2.31 2,32 2.31 2.32 Shoreview 9,280 10,125 11,000 11,300 11,300 9.11% 11.601/6 2.56 2.59 2.57 2.57 Ramsey County 201,016 201,236 219,170 231,670 246,290 0.11% 22.39% 2.54 2.50 2.46 2-43 Twin Cities 7 County 1 947,465 1,021,456 1,213,800 1,386,200 1,513,100 7.81% 48.131/6 2.59 2.52 2.47 2.44 Source:Metropolitan Council ■ The increase in housing units from 2010 to 2030 is anticipated to be largely on the TCAAP property. ■ The number of people per housing units in Arden Hills is likely higher than adjacent communities, Ramsey County, and the metropolitan region due to college students. DRAFT $ 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan-DRAFT Age of Housing Stock 1000 900 800 700 __ 600- . 500 ,' a 400 r . 300 ' 200 " 100 0 1939 or 1940- 1950- 1960- 1970- 1980- 1990- 2000- Eadier 1949 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2006 Figure 4-Age of Housing Stock(2000 Census and City Building Permit Data) Year Built(Housing) Median 1974 Mean 1969 Mode 1979 ■ Most of the housing units Arden Hills were built in the 1970s with more than 900 units. ■ Half of the homes in Arden Hills were built before 1974. ■ More homes were built in 1979 than in any other year. ■ There has been a significant drop in the number of housing units constructed as the availability of undeveloped land has significantly decreased. DRAFT 9 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT Housing Type 100% 90% p, 80°i° 70% s 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% e 1G�Jc eA 01 ®Single Family(attached and detached)■Duplexes 0 bblit-Famly and attached housing O Wbile homes■Other units Figure 5-Housing Type ■ Almost 81 percent of the housing in Arden Hills is single family housing compared to a metropolitan average of 69 percent. ■ Arden Hills has a lower percentage of multi-family housing (10.5%)than its neighbors, Ramsey County(32%), or the seven county metropolitan area as a whole (26%). ■ Nine percent of the housing in Arden Hills is manufactured/mobile homes compared to a regional average of just 1.6 percent. 2.3 Employment Employment Projections 1990-2030 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Arden Hills 10,929 12,429 15,200 17,100 17,100 Mounds View 4,382 7,400 8,900 9,400 New Brighton 10,542 12,900 14,400 15,600 Shoreview 19,8291 14,2001 15,800 16,800 Roseville 1 39,1031 42,5001 44,7001 46,100 Source:Metropolitan Council ■ In 2000, Arden Hills had 28 percent more jobs than residents. ■ Arden Hills is anticipated to have more jobs than people through 2030. ■ Much of the employment growth after 2010 is anticipated to be on the TCAAP property. DRAFT 10 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFr 2.4 Household Income Median Household Income(1999) $80,000 - $70,000 sagOM $60,000 $50.000 - $40,000 £` A= $30,000 �f $20 000 v fti y3; $10 000 ' Arden Hitis Shoreview RoseWle New Mounds Ramsey 7-County Brighton View County Metro Figure 6-Household Income ■ The median household income in Arden Hills in 1999 (in 1999 dollars)was $64,773. ■ The Arden Hills median household income was $50,660 in 1989 (1989 dollars). ■ The median household income in Arden Hills was almost 42 percent higher than the Ramsey County household median income and 12 percent higher than the seven county metropolitan area. 2.5 Travel to Work In Progress. 2.6 Education DRAFT ]] 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT Educational Attainment-2000 100% 90% 8a% F . 70% s0% 50% 40% 30% _ 3x 20% 10% 0% Arden Hills Ramsey County Metro a Those 18 and O\er,High School Graduate a Those 25 Years and Oeer,Bachelor's Degree or higher Figure 7-Educational Attainment ■ In 1990, slightly less than 50 percent of Arden Hills residents had a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2000, slightly more than 50 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. ■ At 91 percent, the population with a high school degree is at 91 percent, which his higher than Ramsey County or the metropolitan average. DRAFT 12 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 3. CITir ViSiON On a day-to-day basis, the City provides an array of services that are needed to maintain a high-quality of life and contribute to the overall success of Arden Hills. This Plan is divided into chapters that address a range of topics, including land use, housing, and transportation among others. While each chapter has its own goals and policies, the chapters are not independent of each other. This Plan should be viewed as an integrated whole in order to take advantage of opportunities that may be able advance goals and policies from more than one chapter. it should be noted that the chapters, goals, and policies in this Plan are not presented in order of importance or priority. Each goal and policy has been identified as a tool to advance the overall City vision. The primary purpose of this Comprehensive Plan is to support and advance the City's long-term vision: Arden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential neighborhoods, vital business community, well-maintained infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our long-standing tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play. The community will work to achieve this overall City vision by working to advance the following goals in this Comprehensive Plan: Active Living—Enhance the health, safety, and well-being of all residents,workers, and visitors. TCAAP Redevelopment—Develop TCAAP in a way that accommodates a mix of land uses that is sensitive to the natural environment, economically sustainable, and compatible with the existing neighborhoods in Arden Hills. Land Use—Develop and maintain a land use pattern that strengthens the vitality, quality, and character of our residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and industrial areas while protecting the community's natural resources and developing a sustainable pattern for future development. Housing-Develop and maintain a strong, vital, diverse and stable housing supply for all members of the community. Economic Development and Redevelopment—Promote the development and maintenance of a viable, innovative, and diverse business environment serving the residential, business and regional community. Parks and Recreation—Create a comprehensive,well-maintained, and interconnected system of parks, pathways, and open spaces as well as a balanced program of recreational activities for residents of all ages, incomes, and abilities. DRAFT 13 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- ©RAFT Protected Resources—Preserve, protect, and restore the community s natural resources, including open spaces, lakes,wetlands, other significant natural features, and historic resources. Transportation—Provide a transportation system that has convenient and effective multi-modal connections within Arden Hills and to adjacent municipalities, the remainder of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and greater Minnesota. Environmental Conservation and Sustainability—Promote conservation and sustainable design practices in the preservation, development,redevelopment, and maintenance of the City's natural and built environment. Public Facilities, infrastructure, and Services—Provide efficient and high-quality public facilities, services, and infrastructure. Each chapter in this Plan further explains the background information for each goal, policies to advance the goal, and other implementation options. The policies and other implementation techniques listed in this Plan are not intended to be all-inclusive and there is overlap between chapters. As new opportunities or tools arise, they should be considered even if not included in this Comprehensive Plan. DRAFT 14 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT 4. ACTIVE LIVING Goal. Enhance the health, safety, and well-being of all residents, workers, and visitors. In 2005, the City received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota to incorporate active living principles into the City's into the Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of the grant was to encourage cities to create a natural and built environment that encourages more physical activity and, subsequently, leads to an increase in overall public health. There is no single solution to increasing physical activity or public health, and the City does not seek to change personal choices. However, the City can work to remove obstacles to physical activity and increase opportunities for healthy living choices. 4.1 Active Living Principles Active living is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines. Removing obstacles in the built environment and encouraging a built environment that promotes physical activity can be achieved through the planning process. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota's goal is to accumulate at least 30 minutes of activity for each person each day. Individuals may achieve this by walking or bicycling for transportation, exercise or pleasure; playing in the park; working in the yard; taking the stairs; and using recreational facilities. In committing to promote and increase physical activity, the following principles serve as a guide to advancing the active living movement: 1. Physical activity is a behavior that can favorably improve health and quality of life. 2. Everyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, language, ethnicity, economic status or ability, should have safe, convenient and affordable choices for physical activity. 3. Places should be designed to provide a variety of opportunities for physical activity and should accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. 4. Development patterns should encourage mixed uses and compact design where appropriate as well as a variety of transportation choices. DRAFT 15 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT 5. Buildings should be designed and oriented to promote opportunities for active living, especially non-motorized transportation. 6. Transportation systems, including transit, should provide safe, convenient and affordable access to housing, worksites, schools and community services. 7. Parks and green space, including pathways, should be safe, accessible and part of a transportation network that connects destinations of interest, such as housing, worksites, schools, community services and other places with high population density. 8. Municipalities and other governing bodies should plan for ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration, promotion of facilities, behavioral supports, policies that institutionalize the vision of active living, and routine maintenance that ensures continued safety, quality and attractiveness of the physical infrastructure. 9. Community governing and planning processes should address the multiple impacts of the built environment and transportation choices on residents` ability to be physically active. The above active living principles are based on the principles prepared by the Active Living by Design group (www.activelivingbydesign.ora). 4.2 Applying Active Living Principles This chapter in and of itself does not encompass all of the goals or policies related to the active living movement. Where applicable, active living principles have been incorporated throughout this Plan to encourage coordination between activities. For example, reconstructing a road in the transportation chapter is related to creating a new pathway in the parks and recreation chapter, which increases opportunities for physical activity and healthy living. In addition to the goals and policies throughout this Comprehensive Plan, the city seeks to advance the overall active living goal with the following additional policies: o Incorporate active living principles into City regulations, new developments, and redevelopments where feasible. o Consider active living principles when evaluating new policies, procedures, and proposals. DRAFT 16 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT o Evaluate the City's regulations to identify and remove obstacles to active living where feasible. DRAFT 17 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 5. TWIN CiTiES ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT(TCAAP) PROPERTY REDEVELOPMENT Goal. Develop TCAAP in a way that accommodates a mix of land uses that is sensitive to the natural environment, economically sustainable, and compatible with the existing neighborhoods in Arden Hills. 5.1 Introduction The Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant(TCAAP) property occupies approximately the northern one-third of Arden Hills. It is approximately four square miles (2,370 acres)and is bounded by Highway 96 on the south, Highways 10 and 35W on the west, Lexington Avenue on the east, and County Road i on the north. In 1941, the federal government started construction on the property for munitions production during World War 11 and ultimately for the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The entire TCAAP property was included in the Arden Hills municipal borders when the City incorporated in 1951. Plans to redevelop the TCAAP property had been in the works since at least the 1980s; however, it was not until 1994 that the federal government formally declared 774 acres of the entire TCAAP area as excess property that was to be sold. In order to have a more proactive and holistic planning process, the City, along with a selected private developer, entered into a purchase agreement with the federal government in 2007 to purchase 585 acres of land adjacent to Interstate 35W and Highway 10 (Map). Approximately 112 acres of land adjacent to Rice Creek has already been transferred to Ramsey County for their park system. The remaining TCAAP property will remain under federal ownership for the foreseeable future. In preparation for redevelopment of the land, the City has undertaken a community planning process to determine how the property should be reused. Previous redevelopment proposals had assumed that more of the TCAAP property would be developed, and, as the market has changed, so to have the potential mix of land uses for the property. While a final land use plan was not selected in time for inclusion in this Comprehensive Plan, a concept plan is in consideration (Figure X). The City will continue the land use planning process through 2008. DRAFT 18 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT Changes in Proposed TCAAP Land Reuse(acres) 2008 1982 1998 (unapproved) Residential 970 445 168 ComrerciaYlndustrial 500 222 182 Parks and Other Open Space 805 252 168 Institutional,Roads,&Other Public Use 95 215 65 Rice Creek Trail Corridor na na 112 Parks Preserve/Arden Hills Army Training Site(A HATS) na 1,237 1,675 Total 2,370 2,370 2,370 ImIudes the Ards Hills AFrry T,m,ng Sire(MATS) Once the City adopts a complete TCAAP redevelopment plan, the Comprehensive Plan will be amended to fully include all of the TCAAP redevelopment details and timeline. The amendment will include approved land uses, housing densities, transportation infrastructure, traffic generation, parks, open spaces, and water resource data. In preparation for that amendment, this Comprehensive Plan outlines the overall vision for the TCAAP property, the elements from the potential reuse plan, and the next steps in the property's redevelopment. Since it is the City's goal to fully incorporate the TCAAP property into the fabric of the overall community, the preliminary land use, housing, parks & open space, transportation, and other components of the proposed TCAAP redevelopment have been integrated into their respective chapters. The overall City vision, goals, and policies of each chapter apply to the entire TCAAP redevelopment. 5.2 Environmental Cleanup Portions of the TCAAP property were subject to environmental contamination during its four decades as a munitions manufacturing plant and testing area. The Unites States Army started environmental cleanup in the 1980s and cleanup of the groundwater will continue for a number of years. Additional environmental characterization and testing is underway to determine the extent of the cleanup that remains that the 585 acres that is proposed to be redeveloped. Where needed, the property will be cleaned up to required standards for residential, commercial, and recreational uses. 5.3 Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) The area of TCAAP that its being retained by the federal government has been leased to the Minnesota National Guard for training purposes. While much of the area will remain open space, the National Guard is in the process of DRAFT 19 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT developing a master plan for a training facility that would be located north and west of the Ramsey County/Arden Hills Public Works Facility at the Hamline Avenue and Highway 96 intersection. Since the training facility would be located on federal land, they are not required to obtain permission from the City for planning or construction purposes. The City does seek to maintain a working relationship with the Minnesota National Guard on planning activities and to potentially collaborate on a community center as part of the training facility. 5.4 Redevelopment Timeline While the redevelopment timeline has not been fully determined, construction is not anticipated to begin before 2009. The project is likely to be completed in phases over a ten to twenty year period; however, the development timeline will depend on market conditions. Once the City establishes a complete redevelopment plan for TCAAP, a more detailed redevelopment timeline will be developed. k DRAFT 20 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 6. LAND USE Goal. Develop and maintain a land use pattern that strengthens the vitality, quality, and character of our residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and industrial areas while protecting the community's natural resources and developing a sustainable pattern for future development. To advance this land use goal, the following policies are proposed: o Evaluate and amend the land use regulations to achieve the highest possible development standards, enhance the natural environment, protect public health, support a vital mix of land uses, and promote flexible approaches to implement the Comprehensive Plan. o Ensure that land use regulations promote development that is compatible with nearby properties, neighborhood character, and natural features; minimizes pedestrian and vehicular conflict; and visually enhances development. o Preserve the stability and quality of the city's neighborhoods while allowing for redevelopment that is complimentary to existing development. o Provide a balanced mix of residential, park, open space, residential, and commercial land uses. o Explore the possibility of creating a community gathering space. 6.1 Introduction Land use is a defining characteristic of a community. While land use does not operate independently from the other characteristics that create a community, it is the binding factor between transportation, housing, parks, paths, and other characteristics. Through zoning and subdivision regulations, cities have powerful tools to guide the long-term, look, feel, and vitality of their community. Most of Arden Hills was developed in the 1960s and 70s, and, except for the TCAAP property, less than three percent of the developable land in Arden Hills is vacant. The redevelopment of the TCAAP property is by far the largest development opportunity in the City. For the most part, the City does not anticipate significant land use changes south of Highways 96 and 10; however, there are certain parts of the City that may see land use changes and/or redevelopment in the next 25-30 years. The Metropolitan Council's 2030 Regional Development Framework defines Arden Hills as a fully developed community, which is the case for the areas south of Highway 96 and 10. While the TCAAP property is largely vacant, the entire City is located within the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA). DRAFT 21 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFr This chapter outlines anticipated future land uses from the 1998 Comprehensive Plan, current land uses as of 2008, and a new future land use map. Potential implementation strategies for advancing the land use goal are also included. 6.2 Future Land Use — 1998 Comprehensive Plan The 1998 Comprehensive Plan included a future land use map (map) and proposed mix of land uses for future development, including potential land uses for the proposed TCAAP redevelopment (Figure X). The 1998 future land use data did not include detailed open water coverage or right-of-way area information. 1998 Comprehensive Plan-Future Land Use Land Use Acres o Low Density Residential 1,114 Wdkim Density Residential 199 m Hgh Density Residential 5 3 Total Residential 1,318 L Ol Neighborhood Business 9 Connercial 132 L yo' Industrial 390 En Parks 350 Su 2,199 Waxeded Residential esidential 445 Wed Business 222 a Parks 251 t— U Park Reserve 1,237 R bliclInstitutional 215 Subtotal 2,370 Right-of-way(major roads only)&Open Water 1,585 Total 6,154 In order to make a somewhat more direct comparison between the existing land uses in 2008 and the proposed future land uses from 1998, additional detail regarding right-of-way and open water data has been calculated (Figure X). Due to the way land use data is calculated by the Metropolitan Council, only the rights-of-way for divided highways are calculated. The right-of-way area for city streets and smaller roadways are included with the adjacent land use. DRAFT 22 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT • 1998 Comprehensive Plan-Adjusted Future Land Use Land use Acres Low Density Residential 1,064 o Medium Density Residential 129 high Density Residential 5 rn > Total Residential 1,199 m Neighborhood Business 20 rn = Commercial 104 L Industrial 407 o Parks 336 Co Public&Institutional 339 Subtotal Z406 Nixed Residential 445 Nixed Business 222 a Parks 251 U Park Reserve 1237 Public/Institutional 215 Subtotal 2370 a) Water 684 t O Right-of-w ay 694 Total 6,154 The following descriptions were used for the future land uses in the 1998 Comprehensive Plan: 1. Low density residential (LDR)—traditional single-family residential land use category. A density range of three to five units per acre is allowed. 2. Medium density residential (MDR)—apartment and townhome land use category for providing densities of up to eight units per acre. 3. High density residential (HDR)—apartment and townhome land use category providing for densities of up to twelve units per acre. Mobile homes are also included in this category. 4. Mixed Residential (MR)—designed to provide for a variety and mixture of housing types, particularly in the TCAAP area. This category will allow for those types of units not readily available now in the City. 5. Neighborhood business (NB)— neighborhood business designates small, isolated areas for neighborhood commercial land uses when they are compatible with surrounding residential uses. Commercial uses that are high traffic generators, noise generators, or otherwise not compatible with residential neighborhoods, are inappropriate. Typically, neighborhood business areas will be located on intersections or nodes that are on the edge of residential areas, are less desirable sites for housing, or have traditionally been occupied with neighborhood services. 6. Commercial (C)— areas designated for a broad range of retail shopping and services to meet the needs of the community. DRAFT 23 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT Compatible uses such as office buildings are also intended for this • area. 7. Mixed Business (MB)— areas designated for a variety of business, commercial and industrial uses, including office, general business, retail, and industrial uses. This designation will be used for the future commercial/industrial uses on the TCAAP property. 8. Industrial—areas designated for a broad range of industrial uses, including office, warehouse, and manufacturing. 9. Public & Institutional (PA)—designates areas for uses including government buildings, colleges, schools, and churches. 10.Pars—areas designated for city and county parks. 11.Park Preserve (PP)— areas designated as natural and scenic areas that are to be preserved for public use. 12.Right-of-way (ROW)—public vehicular, transit rail, and/or pedestrian rights-of-way. 13.Water— includes permanently flooded open water, rivers and streams, and wetlands (may not show all national wetland inventory wetlands on the map). 6.3 Existing Land Use —2008 The 2008 existing land use data is shown in Figure X. 2008 Existing Land Use Land Use Acres Single Family Attached 77 Single Family Detached 920 Multiple Family 12 Manufactured Housing 48 Total Residential 1,057 rn Neighborhood Business 12 T 3 Commercial 65 _rn Office 140 = Wed Use Industrial 106 0 D Light Industrail 132 in Park and Open Space 363 Public&Institutional 359 L titiity 20 Vacant 131 Subtotal Z385 o- Public&Institutional 2,090 CPark and Open Space 112 ~ Subtotal Z202 Water 796 Rght-of-w ay 771 Total 6,154 DRAFT 24 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT Since the 2008 current land use data is based on actual land usage while the 1998 future land use data was based on what was anticipated to occur, the two data sets will not match. The differences between the two data sets are largely attributable to more accurate data in 2008, the acknowledgement of vacant land, and the delayed redevelopment of the TCAAP property. The 2008 categories are more specific because it is existing land uses can be evaluated while the 1998 data was based on future land uses. The 2008 Future Land Use data will also use more general categories like the 1998 Future Land Use map. There were a few land use changes between 1998 and 2008 that contributed to the increased right-of-way. The Hazelnut Park #3 subdivision and subsequent extension of Katie Lane increased the amount of land used for right-of-way; however, the road that connected Red Fox Road to Grey Fox Road was vacated. The availably of more accurate data is reflected in the water category. While yearly fluctuations may have contributed to the change in water cover, more accurate data is likely the reason for the 88 increase water cover. Of the 131 acres of vacant land in 2008, approximately 70 acres are zoned for residential, 40 acres are zoned commercial, and 21 acres are light industrial. The vacant land does not include the TCAAP property. Finally, the existing TCAAP property land uses in 2008 is the most notable difference from the 1998 future land uses. Since 1998, the number of acres that were anticipated to be part of the TCAAP redevelopment has been reduced, and the development itself has been delayed. While a specific timeline for redevelopment on the TCAAP property is not yet known, much of the development is anticipated to occur in phases over the next ten to twenty years. The 2008 existing land uses are defined as follows: 1. Single family detached (SFD)— includes all detached single family homes. 2. Single family attached (SFA)— includes all attached single family homes such as townhomes with separate entrances. 3. Multiple family(MF)— includes apartment buildings and condominiums of more than one story. 4. Manufactured housing (MH)—includes manufactured and mobile homes in specialized parks. 5. Neighborhood business (NB)— neighborhood business designates small, isolated areas for neighborhood commercial land uses when they are compatible with surrounding residential uses. 6. Commercial—areas designated for a broad range of retail, shopping, and services to meet the needs of the community and region. DRAFT 25 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT Compatible uses such as office buildings are also intended for this area. 7. Office (0)—Predominantly administrative, professional, or clerical services; includes medical clinics 8. Mixed use industrial — includes light manufacturing and/or processing, warehousing, distribution, and offices. 9. Light industrial— primarily light manufacturing and/or processing of products; could include light industrial land use, distribution, warehouse facilities, and offices as a secondary use. 10.Park and Open Space (P/OS)—areas designated as public parks. 11.Public & institutional (P/t)—areas designated for uses such as government buildings, colleges, schools, and religious uses but not medical uses. 12.Utility(1)— Public or private land occupied by a power substation, water tower, municipal well, pumping station, or similar use. 13.Vacant (VAC) — Private land not occupied with a building or use. 14.Right-of-way (ROW)— public vehicular, transit and/or pedestrian rights- of-way. 15.Water— includes permanently flooded open water, rivers and streams, and wetlands (may not show all national wetland inventory wetlands on the map). 6.4 Future Land Use The 2008 future land use data does not assume significant changes to the developed residential areas of Arden Hills (map). While the vacant land south of Highways 96 and 10 may be developed, almost all population, household, and employment growth anticipated in Arden Hills will be accommodated by the proposed TCAAP redevelopment. Nevertheless, there are a few potential land use changes in the developed part of Arden Hills south of Highway 96 and 10. DRAFT 26 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT • 2008 Future Land Use Land Use Acres Low Density Residential 978 Medium Density Residential 84 a' High Density Residential 12 m Total Residential 1,074 0 Neighborhood Business 11 5 Con ercial 126 Light Industrial and Office 306 = Public&Institutional 435 L Utilities 13 fo Park and Open Space 630 Park Preserve 1,389 Subtotal 3,984 Qa Mxed Residential 218 Q Mxed Business 312 U Subtotal 531 a� Undetermined 70 r Water 796 0 Right-of-w ay 774 Total 6,154 'Based on 2007 Concept Ran. Parks and open space are included. Subject to Change_ 6.4.1 Future Land Use Descriptions There are fifteen future land use designations in the future land use map: 1. Low density residential (LDR)—traditional single-family residential land use category. A density range of three to six units per acre is allowed. 2. Medium density residential (MDR) — apartment and townhome land use category for providing densities of six to nine units per acre. 3. High density residential (HDR)— apartment and townhome land use category providing for densities of nine to twelve units per acre. 4. Mixed Residential (MR)— provides for a variety of housing types and densities in close proximity, including single-family detached homes, single-attached homes, condominiums, townhomes, apartments, and senior housing options. The anticipated average density is 10.4 units per acre, though the density will vary on the property. This land use is designated for the proposed TCAAP redevelopment and is subject to change once a final land use plan is selected. • DRAFT 27 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT 5. Neighborhood business (NB)— neighborhood business designates • small, isolated areas for neighborhood commercial land uses when they are compatible with surrounding residential uses. Commercial uses that are high traffic generators, noise generators, or otherwise not compatible with residential neighborhoods, are inappropriate. Typically, Neighborhood Business areas will be located on intersections or nodes that are on the edge of residential areas, are less desirable sites for housing, or have traditionally been occupied with neighborhood services. Dwelling units of three units per acre or more maybe permitted within a mixed use development that includes non-residential structures. 6. Commercial (C)— areas designated for a broad range of retail, shopping, and services to meet the needs of the community and region. Compatible uses such as office buildings are also intended for this area. 7. Mixed Business (MB) — areas designated for a variety of businesses, including commercial, certain light industrial uses, warehousing, office, general business, retail. This designation will be used for the future business uses on the TCAAP property. 8. Light Industrial and Office (1/0)—areas designated for a broad range of light industrial uses such as warehousing with manufacturing. This land use may also include offices. 9. Public & Institutional (PA)— areas designated for uses such as government buildings, colleges, schools, and religious uses but not medical uses. 10.Utility (1)— Public or private land occupied by a power substation, water tower, municipal well, pumping station, or similar use. 11.Park and Open Space (P/OS)— areas designated as public parks. 12.Park Preserve (PP)—areas designated as natural or scenic areas that are to be preserved for public use or open space. 13.Railroad right-of-way (RR) — public or private freight or passenger rail activities. 14.Right-of-way (ROW)— public vehicular, transit and/or pedestrian rights- of-way. 15.Water— includes permanently flooded open water, rivers and streams, and wetlands (may not show all national wetland inventory wetlands on the map). 6.4.2 Former City Hall/Public Works Property The 6.82 acre former City Hall property is undergoing a community vision process to determine how the property should be redeveloped (map). DRAFT 28 • 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT While a redevelopment plan for this property was not adopted in time for this Comprehensive Plan, residential uses or a mix of residential and small-scale commercial uses are anticipated. If developed as residential, the property would be developed at a density of at least three units per acre. 6.4.3 B-2 General Business District Small Area Plan In March 2008, the City initiated a visioning and small area planning process for the B-2 General Business District, which is centered on County Road E between Lexington Avenue and Hamline Avenue/Highway 51. This area is comprised of retail, service, and office uses. Long considered the downtown of Arden Hills, the district is a mix of newer and older buildings. As this corridor ages, redevelopment is anticipated. The purpose of the planning process is to develop a long-term vision for the future redevelopment of this corridor. The results of this study may be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. 6.4.4 Lexington Avenue Small Area Plan The industrial/office area between that is surrounded by Lexington Avenue, Hamline Avenue/Highway 51, Interstate 694, and the railway owned by Canadian Pacific is used by a number of small and large businesses. Much of this area was developed from the 1950s to the 1970s and while its access to Interstate 694 is of great importance, many of the buildings have begun to age and are not as functional for new manufacturing and warehousing uses. As redevelopment pressure increases, a small area plan may be required to comprehensively address the redevelopment needs in this area of the City. 6.4.5 Manufactured Home Community This section requires further discussion with the Planning Commission and City Council prior to being written. 6.4.6 TCAAP Redevelopment As noted in Chapter 5, a specific land use plan for TCAAP has not yet been adopted by the City. Upon selection of a land use plan, this Comprehensive Plan will be amended to fully reflect the land use designations in TCAAP. In preparation for that amendment, the Future Land Use map includes the preliminary future land use data; however, it is DRAFT 29 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan DRAFT subject to change. At this time, the future land use map only includes two land uses on developable part of TCAAP: Mixed Business and Mixed Residential. There will be institutional, parks, and arterials on the property; however, their exact locations have not been determined. The unapproved TCAAP land use plan includes: Changes in Proposed TCAAP Land Reuse(acres) Land Use Acres Residential 168 Commercial/industrial 182 Parks and Other Open Space 168 institutional,Roads,&Other Public Use 65 Rice Creek Trail Corridor 112 Parks Preserve/Arden Hills Army Training Site(AHATS) 1,675 Total 2,370 "Includes the Arden Hills Army Training Site(AHATS) The TCAAP property is anticipated to host a mix of uses, including retail, office, hotel, office showrooms, parks, open spaces, and a variety of housing types and densities. Housing types will likely include single family detached homes, townhomes, senior housing, apartments, and potentially condos depending on market conditions at the time of development. As of • February 2008, the unapproved concept plan included 1,750 housing units on 168 acres (parks and wetlands have not been removed from this acreage)for an average potential density of 10.4 units per acre. The TCAAP property is also anticipated to have affordable housing; however, an exact number or percentage has not been set. All TCAAP redevelopment information is subject to change once a final land use and development plan is selected. 6.4.7 Development Gapacity The Metropolitan Council's 2030 Regional Development Framework requires an average net residential density of at least three units per net residential acre. Densities lower than this are not an efficient use of the region's sanitary sewer infrastructure. Net residential acreage is calculated by subtracting wetlands, water bodies, public parks, arterial streets, and identified natural resources that are protected by ordinance from gross acres. The number of net residential acres is then divided by the number of lots. DRAFT 30 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT According to the 2005 land use data provided by the Metropolitan Council, there were 1,318 acres of net residential land in Arden Hills. The United States Census Bureau lists 2,994 households in Arden Hills in 2005. Therefore, the residential density in the developed portion of Arden Hills is approximately 2.27 residential units per net residential acre. While this is below the three units per net residential acre required by the Metropolitan Council, all future development will be at three units per net residential acre or greater. There are no expected land use changes that would result in a reduction in net residential density in the developed part of Arden Hills. The vacant residential land south of Highway 96 and 10 is already zoned for development at densities of at least three to four units per acre. The unapproved preliminary redevelopment plan for the TCAAP property includes 168 acres of residential area and 1,750 residential units for a preliminary average density of 10.4 units per net residential acre. This density is only preliminary because wetlands and parks have not been removed from the 168 acres that are anticipated to be used for residential development on the TCAAP property. The densities in the residential areas will be varied to allow for a variety of housing types. The actual lot sizes have not yet been determined. • 6.4.8 Staged Development As previously noted, the development timeline for the proposed TCAAP redevelopment is unknown at this time. The land uses provided in this Comprehensive Plan have not been approved by the City and have only been included to provide context for the reuse of the TCAAP property. Any new residential or commercial development is unlikely to start before 2009, and the development is tentatively anticipated to take ten to twenty years depending on market conditions. Once a land use plan for the TCAAP property is approved, the development staging data will be incorporated into this Comprehensive Plan as an amendment. The entire property is within the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA). The areas south of Highways 96 and 10 are considered fully developed. While a small amount of vacant land exists in the developed portion of the City, development on the vacant land is unlikely to have a significant impact on the City's infrastructure. 6.5 2030 Regional Development Framework DRAFT 31 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT On January 14, 2006, the Metropolitan Council adopted the 2030 Regional Development Framework to guide growth in the seven county metropolitan area through 2030. The Framework includes regional growth policies and it defines the community role in achieving these policies. The policies that are applicable to Arden Hills include: Policy 1: Work with the communities to accommodate growth in a flexible, connected and efficient manner. Policy 2: Plan and invest in multi-modal transportation choices based on the full range of costs and benefits, to slow the growth of congestion and serve the region's economic needs. Policy 3: Encourage expanded choices in housing location and types, and improved access to jobs and opportunities. Policy 4: Work with local and regional partners to conserve, protect, and enhance the region's vital natural resources. The City of Arden Hills supports these policies and the vision, goals, and policies identified in the City's Comprehensive Plan seek to support and advance the Metropolitan Council's 2030 Regional Development Framework. 6.6 Implementation of the Land Use Goal and Plan • In order to advance implementation of this land use chapter, the below activities are proposed. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive and additional activities that advance the land use goal are encouraged to be developed. o Update the City's Zoning Code to bring it into conformance with the Comprehensive Plan. o Ensure that land use regulations promote development that is compatible with nearby properties, neighborhood character, and natural features; minimizes pedestrian and vehicular conflict; and visually enhances development. o Evaluate zoning regulations to ensure that sufficient buffers are provided between commercial, industrial, and residential uses to protect the character of the City's residential neighborhoods. o Develop small area plans for the B-2, B-3, B-4, and I-Flex Zoning Districts. These plans will provide a more detailed redevelopment vision for incorporation into this Comprehensive Plan. o Develop design standards for all commercial and industrial developments to ensure the construction of high-quality and aesthetically enhancing development. o Develop zoning regulations that restrict housing construction that is not sensitive to the character of the existing neighborhood. DRAFT 32 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT o Continue to enforce property maintenance codes to protect the quality and property values in the City. o Develop zoning classifications for all future development on the TCAAP property. o Adopt design standards for the TCAAP development to create a cohesive character that compliments the established neighborhoods in the City. o Work to maintain the remaining federal land on TCAAP as park preserve space. • DRAFT 33 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 7. HOUSING Goal. Develop and maintain a strong, vital, diverse and stable housing supply for all members of the community. To achieve this housing goal, the following policies are proposed: ■ Encourage the development of a variety of housing options by preserving and increasing high-quality housing opportunities that are suitable for a mix of ages, incomes and household types. ■ Encourage the incorporation of affordable, life cycle, and work force housing into new development and redevelopment where feasible. ■ Maintain the quality, safety, and unique character of the City's housing stock. ■ Preserve and strengthen the community's neighborhoods to maintain a high- quality of life for residents. ■ Encourage housing development and redevelopment that is complimentary and enhances the character of the City's established neighborhoods. 7.1 Introduction One of the principal roles of a community is to serve as a place to live. in Arden Hills, 23.1 percent of all of the land area in the community is currently used for • housing (not including TCAAP). Of privately owned, developed land, housing accounts for 52.9 percent of the development. Because housing is such an important part of Arden Hills, maintaining the quality of the current housing stock while providing long-term opportunities for new housing is important to the ongoing vitality of the community and to retaining Arden Hills' reputation as a highly desirable place to five. 7.2 Context In 2000, Arden Hills had 3,024 housing units. Over 80% of Arden Hills's housing stock is comprised of single-family homes (both detached and attached). The only other significant types of housing in the community are apartments with 10 or more units (2.74% of all housing) and mobile homes (9.06% of all housing). There is a specific absence of duplexes and townhouses in Arden Hills, housing types that are very popular in other Twin City area communities. Arden Hills has the second highest percentage of single-family homes compared to adjacent communities and also is significantly above the averages for Ramsey County and the Twin Cities seven county metropolitan area. Housing Type—Figure 1 DRAFT 34 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 2,500 N 0 CV N 2,000 N C 1,500 C J 1,000 Q $y r00 c M cc'N1 M M CIj N to C) 1-unit detached 1-unit attached 2to4units 5to9units 10ormoreunits Mobilehome, 0 1990 s 2000 trailer,or other Source: US Census Housing Type— Figure 2 Housing Type 100% 90% - 80°/ 0 60% t 50/ wy 5 40% ' -•+ 3 E , 30% ��..� _- tee_ fW 20/ .. u 41, 10/o 4� ,\ate rtioc 01:e A �a a Single Famly(attached and detached)®duplexes o Mulit-Famly and attached housing 0 hbbile homes 0 Other units Source: US Census Household composition will play a role in defining future housing needs in Arden Hills. Between 1990 and 2000, increases were seen in both the number of non- family households and in householders living alone. Households—Figure 3 DRAFT 35 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 3,500- 2,g0q 2,959 3.000- 2,500- 2,317 2,227 2,048 t883 2,000 Jk t; 1,500 z; 1,000 "587 732 590 500 " 440 Source: US Totalhouseholds Family households Mamed-couple Nontamily Householder living Census (families) family households alone 0 1990■2" Additionally, the age of Arden Hills' residents will also impact housing choices. Arden Hills' population continues to get older. From 1990 to 2000, there was a significant increase in residents between 45 and 54 years of age. By 2012, this segment will continue to get older resulting in a significant increase in the population that is 55 to 64 years old. Additionally, by 2012 notable increases in the population between 65 and 74 as well as the 75+ age group will continue to occur. Age Distribution—Figure 4 Age Distribution By Year by Percentage 35/ - - -- Its 30% r h � s 25/° o - r - 01990 ' W 15% t "5 € €4 ❑2012 10% v.. 5% 0% 17 and 18-24 25-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+ under years years years years years Age Source: US Census and Maxfield Research Group The age of the existing housing stock is also an indicator of potential future needs. From 1970 to 1979, 920 housing units were built in Arden Hills, the most of any decade to date. Of note is the fact that 70% of the housing in the community was constructed prior to 1980. Homes that are older than 30 years may typically need DRAFT 36 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT more repairs and renovations. According to recent data from Ramsey County, 1974 is the median date of construction of housing in Arden Hills and the mean date of construction is 1969. Age of Housing Stock-Figure 5 Age of Housing Stock 1000 900 800 7 � 00 Mpg 600 500 M . 400 04, 300 E F 200 �� 100 ., . � f 1939 or 1940- 1950- 1960- 1970- 1980- 1990- 2000- Earlier 1949 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2006 • Source: US Census(pre-2000 data)and City of Arden Hills(post 2000 data) 7.3 Housing Projections The total number of housing units in Arden Hills is projected to increase by over 55% between 2000 and 2030. Housing Proiections-Figure 6 Housing Units and People per Housing Unit Housing Units People per Housing Unit 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 %Change %Change 2000 2010 2020 2030 1990-2000 2000-2030 Arden Hills 2,904 2,959 3,800 4,600 4,600 1.890/1 55.461/6 3.26 2.95 2.93 2.93 Mounds View 4,885 5,018 5,400 5,600 6,000 2.72% 19.57% 254 2.39 2.32 2.24 New Brighton 8,811 9,013 9,400 9,800 10,000 229% 10.95% 2.46 2.41 2.30 2.28 Roseville 14,216 14,598 15,500 16,000 16,5A Z6M/61 13.03% 2.31 2.32 2.31 2.32 Shoreview 9,280 10,1251 11,000 11,3001 71, 9.71% 11.60% 2.56 2.59 2.57 2.57 Ramsey County 201,016 201,236 219,170 231,670 246,2901 0.11%1 22.39°/ 2.54 2.50 2.46 Z43 Twin Cities 7 County 947,46551 1,021,4561 1,213,8001 1,386,2001 1,513,1001 7.81%1 48.13% 2.59 2.52 2.47 2.44 Source:Metropolitan Council The rate of projected housing growth in Arden Hills surpasses all adjacent communities as well as Ramsey County. In establishing its projections, the Metropolitan Council is assuming full development of the buildable portion of the DRAFT 37 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFr TCAAP property by 2020 which will also represent essentially a full build-out of Arden Hills. Consistent with long-term trends, the average occupancy of a housing unit in Arden Hills is projected to continue to decline from 3.26 persons per unit in 2000 to 2.93 people per unit in 2020 and 2030. 7.4 Housing Issues Three primary housing issues will need to be addressed by Arden Hills in the next 20 years. They include housing diversity, housing affordability, and housing quality. Each is discussed below. 7.4.1 Housing Diversity Life-cycle housing which was referenced in the housing goals is a common term used to describe the provision of housing types for Sr H all stages of life. Life-cycle housing is based on the premise that as people go through life, their housing needs change. A young The Life Cycle person getting out of school and just starting Housing Chain out usually cannot afford to own a home so TAr S.—Ho they often begin by renting. As a person A • grows older, they often establish a family and buy their first home, sometimes either a ,h,B;,,s;nx,,. starter home or townhome. As a family's ° F" d,".- income grows, they may move up to a larger home. Once the children leave and the family size decreases, parents often move back to a smaller home with fewer maintenance needs or to one of the growing number of either single-family or multi-family housing options that has an association that take care of home and property maintenance. Eventually, as a person ages, there is often a need for assisted living or an extended care facility. Housing in Arden Hills today is primarily focused on one stage of the housing life- cycle, move-up housing. Ironically, a significant number of units constructed in Arden Hills during the 1970s were oriented to a first-time homebuyer market. As housing prices have risen over the past three to four decades, what was once priced for a first-time buyer is now classified as move-up housing do to escalated prices. Arden Hills does still have a limited supply of more entry level housing. In 2007, there were 285 units in the Arden Manor manufactured home community and approximately 80 percent of the units were owner occupied. Rental housing is another component of life-cycle housing that needs to be addressed over time. Rental housing is an important component of the overall DRAFT 38 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT • housing supply since it provides options for both the beginning and later stages of the life-cycle chain. It may also serve the needs of several segments of the population including retail service employees, seniors, young adults just entering the workplace and economically disadvantaged households. At the present time, rental housing comprises only 15% of the total housing in Arden Hills, which includes one traditional apartment building in Arden Hills with 37 units. The other rental units in apartment style buildings are oriented toward the senior population. According to the 2000 Census, less than 2 percent of the single-family homes in the community were renter occupied. Arden Hills promotes housing diversity through its long-term goals, policies, and strategies. The market is also expected to exert pressure on the city for more housing diversity. As was noted earlier, factors such as an aging population, a population that has more non-family households, and increased numbers of householders living alone is expected to drive demand for more attached, multi- family housing. Multi-family units expected to be in demand are likely to be oriented toward both owners and renters. 7.4.2 Housing Affordability Affordable housing is an issue in every Twin Cities area community. With housing costs outpacing many wages, it is becoming increasingly important to focus on affordable housing in order to meet the needs of essential community members including teachers, police officers, and retail workers. Because of the disparity of housing costs and wages throughout the Twin Cities, affordable housing continues to be a major initiative of the Metropolitan Council. According to the Metropolitan Council, housing is considered affordable if it is priced at or below 30% of the gross income of a household earning 60% of the Twin Cities median family income. In 2007, the area median income for the seven- county Minneapolis-St. Paul area adjusted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for a family of four was $78,500. At the present time, housing is considered affordable if housing costs for a family of four are below 30% of $47,100. To implement the Livable Communities Act in 2007, the Metropolitan Council uses as the upper limit of affordability for ownership purchase price and monthly rents, the following dollar amounts: 2007 HOMEOWNERSHIP Household Income Level: Affordable Home Price 80% of area median income ($62,800) $206,800 60% of area median income ($47,100) $152,000 DRAFT 39 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills -Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 2007 RENTAL HOUSING Bedroom size: *Monthly gross rent including tenant-paid utilities, affordable at 50% of area median income Efficiency $ 687 1 bedroom $ 736 2 bedrooms $ 883 3 bedrooms $1,020 4 bedrooms $1,138 In January of 2006, the Metropolitan Council released a report entitled "Determining the Affordable Housing Need in the Twin Cities 2011-2020". The report not only forecasts the regional need by 2020 for newly constructed, affordable housing but it allocates each community's share of the regional need. The total need for newly constructed housing in the Twin Cities is estimated to be 51,000 units between 2011 and 2020. Each community's share of the regional need is allocated based on a number of factors. All cities start with the same base allocation that 30.6% of their new housing units should be affordable. Allocations are then adjusted by job proximity, the composition of the housing stock and access to transit service. Based on the formula, the Metropolitan Council has allocated a need for 288 affordable housing units to Arden Hills between now and the year 2020. In order to ensure that this need can be met, Arden Hills' future land use plan is required by the Metropolitan Council to allocate sufficient areas of medium and high density residential development to accommodate this future growth. As will be discussed later, the development of the TCAAP property has the potential to meet this need. In addition to ensuring that there is sufficient land designated that has the potential to provide affordable housing, the City of Arden Hills is committed to continuing its participation in the Metropolitan Livable Community Program. As a participant since XXXX, the City of Arden Hills continues to be eligible to compete for grant funding provided by the Livable Communities Act (LCA) to assist with clean-up operations for polluted land for redevelopment, creating development or redevelopment opportunities that demonstrate efficient use of land and infrastructure through connected development patterns, and opportunities to create more affordable housing. 7.4.3 Housing Quality Except for the TCAAP property, much of Arden Hills is fully developed. As was pointed out earlier, the age of 70%of the current housing stock makes ongoing DRAFT 4© 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT maintenance a community concern. If Arden Hills' existing neighborhoods are going to remain attractive places to live, owners will need to continue maintenance and reinvestment efforts. Encouraging housing maintenance can be done in two ways, either through voluntary efforts or through regulatory requirements. Many communities rely on both. Ideally, all residents will maintain their property in a sound and attractive manner. Realistically, however, a small percentage of properties will not be adequately maintained and in such cases, they can have a significant negative impact on surrounding properties and even the neighborhood as a whole. Arden Hills relies primarily on individual owners to maintain property. The City has nuisance provisions in its local code, it enforces the Minnesota State Building Code, and the International Property Maintenance Code was adopted in 2007. As was noted in the housing policies, the City stands ready to consider the adoption of a rental licensing code should it become necessary. Additionally, Arden Hills will continue to work with programs offered by county, regional, state and federal agencies as appropriate. Such programs are more limited than they were in the past due to changes in priorities and reductions in funding. 7.5 Future Opportunities While Arden Hills does still have a number of smaller, infill vacant parcels south of Highway 96, future housing opportunities will largely come from the development of the TCAAP site. TCAAP offers an unparalleled opportunity to create an exciting mix of housing integrated with employment, entertainment, recreation and transit service. A definitive plan for TCAAP is not part of this comprehensive plan update but will be addressed in a subsequent amendment. As it is currently envisioned, TCAAP will include approximately 350 acres of development area. Although not yet approved, the concept plan in 2007 included 168 acres of residential development with an average gross density of at least six units per acre, with the potential for as high as 43 units per acre in select areas. This development area has the potential to accommodate single-family housing on a range of lot sizes, manor homes, townhomes, apartments, condominiums and senior housing. The remaining developable land on the TCAAP site may accommodate retail uses, offices, a hotel, a variety of civic uses, parks, and other open spaces. The residential component of the TCAAP site will offer a future mix of housing that will compliment Arden Hills' current supply of predominately single-family detached housing. It will provide opportunities to address the changing needs of the local population and it will attract new people to the community. Combined with the DRAFT 41 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT City's efforts to maintain the current supply of housing, the development of the TCAAP site will further strengthen Arden Hills' position in the marketplace as a highly desirable place to live. 7.6 Implementation Strategies In order to advance the policies and ideas identified in this chapter, the following implementation strategies could be used: • Review City codes to consider and encourage a range of housing opportunities and innovative site design. ■ Educate property owners and residents on housing and property maintenance codes. • Explore the adoption of a rental licensing code to ensure the functionality and maintenance of rental properties. • Explore the adoption of an administrative fining program to deter ongoing nuisance and property maintenance issues. ■ Promote the use of high quality materials in new housing construction to minimize long-term deterioration of the housing stock. ■ Ensure safety, livability and durability of the housing stock through enforcement of the Minnesota State Building Code. ■ Develop regulations that prohibit the construction of housing that is not compatible with the scale of the existing neighborhood. ■ Develop standards for protecting lakes, wetlands, trees, and other open spaces during redevelopments and infill projects. ■ Consider establishing architectural guidelines for new developments and redevelopments. The above strategies should not be considered all-inclusive. New opportunities and strategies should be identified to further advance the City's housing goal and policies. DRAFT 42 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 8. ECONOMtc DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT Goal. Promote the development and maintenance of a viable, innovative, and diverse business environment serving the residential, business and regional community. DRAFT 43 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT 9. PARKS AND RECREATION Goal- Create a comprehensive, well-maintained, and interconnected system of parks, pathways, and open spaces as well as a balanced program of recreational activities for residents of all ages, incomes, and abilities. To achieve this parks and recreation goal, the following policies are proposed: o Develop, maintain, and encourage the use of a system of neighborhood parks and pathways that are safe and engaging, which includes: ■ Developing, maintaining, and encouraging the use of north-south, and east-west arterial pathways that connects with neighborhood paths within the City and to regional trails. ■ Connecting neighborhoods, parks, and other destination points through a Citywide trail and pathway system. ■ Strengthening the park and path system by making improvements as feasible through the annual budgeting and CIP process. o Provide recreation programs that address the interests of all segments of the community, including children, adolescents, adults, families, and seniors. o Encourage non-motorized transportation and commuting in and outside of Arden Hills to reduce reliance on motor vehicles and increase physical activity. o Protect and encourage access to lakes, marshes, and wooded areas for active and passive recreation. o Plan for parks, trails, and recreation on the TCAAP property that addresses the interests of residents in Arden Hills. o Explore financing options to improve and expand the City's parks and trail system. o Promote the removal of invasive species throughout the park and recreational system. o Pursue outside funding sources for parks and trail improvements. o Construct way-finding signage for parks and trails. o Explore options for collaboration with other governmental and educational entities to provide an array of high-quality recreational programs. o Work with Ramsey County, the Metropolitan Council, and other applicable organizations to enhance the park and recreation system. 9.1 Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan The City recognizes that demographic, recreation, and environmental trends will impact park, recreation, trail, and open space user needs. To prepare for future needs, the City of Arden Hills underwent a community planning process in 2002 that resulted in the Parks, Trails, and Open Space (PTOS) Plan. The PTOS Plan DRAFT 44 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFr analyzed the City's current parks and recreation system facilities and developed a long-term vision for the City's parks and recreation system. In order to realize the City's vision, the PTOS Plan set a framework for funding, operations, and improvements to increase efficiency and achieve the long-term parks and recreation vision and priorities for the City_ The vision and goals in the 2002 PTOS Plan were updated by the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee and adopted by the City Council in 2006. While progress has been made on implementing the 2002 PTOS Plan, much remains to be done. Since the PTOS Plan was intended to guide programs, improvements, and decision-making through 2020, this chapter largely reflects the content in the 2002 PTOS Plan and the 2006 update to the PTOS plan. As part of the 2002 PTOS planning process, the City identified long-term trends to help determine future park, trail, and recreation needs. Recreation interests and participation are influenced by a number of factors, including, age, access to facilities, income, available leisure time, interest in the environment, new recreation technology, and social trends. In general, people are looking for quality recreation that is close to home, but they are willing to travel to obtain higher quality or more specialized activities or environments. The PTOS Plan identified the following recreational trends in the Twin Cities in recent years: • Trail use has boomed for all types of activities (walking, running, biking, in- line skating, etc); • Non-contact recreation activities are growing; • Interest in arts and natural areas is growing; • Participation in many team sports has plateaued or in some cases declined; • More youth are specializing in one sport and training year-round; • Soccer participation has increased; • Golf popularity has increased; • Woman's sports have increased; • Off-leash dog parks are growing in popularity; While this list is not intended to be all-inclusive or unchanging, it does provide insight into likely future needs in Arden Hills and can help the City set programming and funding priorities. 9.2 Regional Park and Recreation System Although the Arden Hills Comprehensive Plan focuses on local needs, the community recognizes that Arden Hills is connected to and participates in a larger, regional network of parks, pathways, and open spaces. The Metropolitan DRAFT 45 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills -Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT Council's regional park system includes 48 regional parks and six special ' recreation areas that cover more than 52,000 acres. The regional system also boasts 22 regional trails that span 170 miles. Arden Hills is linked to three regional trails and is home to one regional park (map). The Highway 96 Regional Trail crosses the City from east to west adjacent to Highway 96. The trail is primarily on the south side of the highway; however, it remains incomplete between Highway 10 in Arden Hills and old County Road 8 in the City of New Brighton. The proposed reconstruction of Highway 10 and 96 includes completing this trail, which would connect Arden Hills to Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton. Completion of this trail is supported by the City. The Lexington Parkway Regional Trail spans the entire length of the Shoreview and Arden Hills border on the eastern side of the City. While the trail is complete on the Shoreview side of Lexington Avenue, it is only extends from Tanglewood Ave. to County Road F in Arden Hills. As redevelopment occurs and other opportunities arise, the City does seek to complete the trail to both the north and south on the Arden Hills side of Lexington Avenue. The Rice Creek North Regional Trail, which is currently under construction in the northwestern comer of the City on former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) property, is set to become an important connection in the metropolitan region's trail system. The land adjacent to Rice Creek was part of the federally owned TCAAP property; however, approximately 112 acres were transferred to Ramsey County in 2006 for incorporation into the Ramsey County park system. The 2.2 mile, 10 foot wide trail will be open to walkers and bikers. The trail is anticipated to be complete in the summer of 2008. Designated a regional park in 2006, the 217 acre Tony Schmidt Regional Park extends from the northern shore of Lake Johanna to the west side of Mounds View High School on Lake Valentine Road. Perry Park, a City of Arden Hills park, divides Tony Schmidt Park; however, a railroad underpass completed in 2006 provides a trail connection across Charles Perry Park to the two sections of Tony Schmidt Park. Much of the park is open space; however, the park offers an array of facilities and is connected to local trails. There are a number of regional parks within a short distance of Arden Hills. Long Lake Regional Park is located in New Brighton, and the Snail Lake Regional Park is in Shoreview. The Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park is in Shoreview, Circle Pines, and Lino Lakes. DRAFT 46 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFr 9.3 Arden Hills Park and Recreation System Arden Hills has fourteen City parks ranging in size from one acre to 28 acres and other open areas that cover more than 145 acres (map). There is also approximately 11 miles of trails, which are primarily located on or adjacent to County Roads. The surface of these trails varies between asphalt, concrete, gravel, mulch, and grass. The parks in Arden Hills provide a varying but wide array of amenities ranging from tennis courts and playgrounds to baseball diamonds and picnic shelters (Table X). The City parks are well-distributed throughout Arden Hills south of Highway 96 and most residents are within one mile of a City park; however, controlled access roads prevent easy access to some parks that would otherwise be close by. There are four lakes entirely within Arden Hills and one lake in Arden Hills in Roseville in the area south of Highway 96. Lake Johanna and Lake Josephine have public access and beaches, though the public access to Lake Josephine is in Roseville. Lake Valentine is a relatively shallow lake adjacent to Bethel University with some limited public use and access. Karth Lake, which is located southwest of the Highway 96 and Lexington Avenue intersection, is adjacent to a public park but is primarily used for non-motorized recreation by the surrounding property owners. Unfortunately, Round Lake is unusable for recreation purposes • due to contamination from the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant. The entire shoreline of Round Lake is owned by the federal government, and there are no public accesses. 9.4 Parks and Recreation Maintenance, Upgrades, and Expansions Figure X shows the recommended parks, trails, and open system for Arden Hills. This map shows recommended park additions and acquisitions, new pathways, and path connections. For additional detail, Appendix X, includes a map of each park with recommended park renovations. The proposed upgrades are based off the 2002 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan, which included extensive public input. 9.4.1 Park Renovation and Upgrades In an effort to meeting changing demographics, public safety, and the desires of the community, the City of Arden Hills should continue to upgrade and renovate existing parks based upon a five to ten year capital improvement plan (CIP). Maps indicating individual park improvement recommendations were prepared for the 2002 Parks, Trail and Open Space Plan based on community planning process (appendix X). The recommendations are intended to improve public DRAFT 47 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT safety, aesthetics, function, and efficiency of individual parks as well as to promote overall public health and activity. Future park improvements should be based upon the following recommendations from the PTOS Plan as well as the funding supply. Where possible, park renovation should be done all at once in each park to minimize park disruption, reduce costs through efficiency of construction, and improve park function. Individual park renovation recommendations are summarized below by park: • Arden Manor Park - Provide a new entrance drive, parking lot and trail connection when Highway 96 is reconstructed. Add a looped trail around the pond and to the future TCAAP trails. Define edges of the park with new trees and landscaping. Add new shaded benches near park features. Add a sign and map at the park entrances to provide parks and trail identification. • Arden Oaks Park - Add a paved trail from north to south across the park to connect the park features and to meet ADA accessibility requirements. Add benches and trash containers near the park features. Add trees and landscaping to provide shade, spatial definition, and to improve aesthetics. • Charles Perry Park — Move entrance drive to line up with Thom Drive. Add new warming house in close proximity to the skating rink (this will eliminate the conflict with skaters having to cross the entrance drive). Add a drinking fountain with jug filler. Pave the existing skating rink for inline skating and half court basketball). Add a new open skating area. Turn existing warming house into a storage shed. Add a paved trail connecting the parking lot to the play structure and a trail from the future picnic shelter to the unpaved trails below hill. Add a kiosk map and identification sign. Complete trail from pavilion to Tony Schmidt underpass trail. Work with Bethel University to provide access across and to the Ona Orth sports complex. Acquire the single family home nearest the park to accommodate future uses. • Chatham Trails—Add a sign and map at the park entrances to provide park and trail identification. • Crepeau Park—Add a new unpaved trail from Pine Tree Drive to Benton Way on the north side of the wetland. Add a new unpaved trail loop near southwest edge of Park. Add a children's play structure and picnic tables near entrance on Benton Way. Utilize the Dellwood right-of-way for an improved entrance. Add trail signage. • Cummings Park—Add a new unpaved looped trail near the lake. Provide directional signs on City streets to guide users to the park and parking area DRAFT 48 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT on the property to the south of the park. Add parking/Trail Head near the City water tower south of the park. Add a bench on the new trail for lake viewing. Add trail signage for more identification. • Floral Park—The trail entrance in the northwest corner of the park is narrow, overgrown and in poor shape and should be reconstructed. Individual amenities within the park should be connected to trails for ADA accessibility. Additional unpaved looped trails should be constructed in the park to provide more walking and nature watching opportunities amenities. Add trail signage for identification. • Freeway Park - Add a new paved parking lot off of County Road E. Add parking stalls off of Arden Place. Pave the hockey rink for year-round use. Add a paved trail and upgrade existing half basketball court. Remove former street paving. • Hazelnut Park —Connect existing recreational features to paved trails for ADA accessibility. Replace the warming house with a new structure. install shaded benches near recreational features. Add lights from parking lot to skating rink. Add a drinking fountain. Add trail signage for identification. • Ingerson Park—Add a connecting trail to Lexington Avenue, Fernwood Court, and Lake Lane, utilizing a sewer easement to Fernwood as a trail corridor and Lake Lane as a trail access point. Connect all existing and future park features to paved trails for ADA accessibility. Add trail signs for identification. • Lindey's Triangle- Provide benches. Install a paved trail segment connecting the Snelling cul-de-sac to County Road E. • Round Lake Open Space —Add a trail connecting Old Highway 10 to the trail west of Round Lake by easement or land acquisition. Add a parking lot at Parkshore Drive. Add community garden plots and soccer fields. Acquire more land for additional soccer fields as needed by the City. Add a sign and map at the park entrances to provide park and trail identification. • Royal Hills—Add a paved trail through the park. • Sampson Park—Add landscaping within the park to provide interest and improve aesthetics. Detach the basketball court from the road pavement and replace with a trail segment. Add trail signage for identification, including the Elmer L. Andersen Memorial Trail designation. DRAFT 49 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT • Ridgewood Neighborhood Park (unofficial name)— Resurface tennis court. Add benches for wildlife viewing. Add park sign. • Valentine Park— Complete drainage study and complete drainage improvements for the future of the park. The following improvements are contingent upon the results of the study: Add a looped trail around the inside of the park. Connect existing recreational features to paved trails for ADA accessibility. Reconfigure parking lot to detach park features from the parking lot pavement. Add a new warming house/picnic shelter. Move the half basketball court. Add screening for the outdoor bathroom facility. 9.4.2 Recreation The City currently has an extensive recreation program. While the program has been primarily focused on youth and adolescent activities, an increased need for teen, adult, and senior activities was identified in the 2002 PTOS Plan as well as the community meetings held for the 2008 Comprehensive Plan update. A study should be undertaken to determine the demand for such program, the types of program that are needed, potential funding sources, and the possibility of collaborating with other public and private organizations. To help inform the recreation program development process, advisory groups for seniors, teens, children, and other interested groups should be formed or consulted. 9.4.3 Pathway Expansion and Upgrades A number of neighborhoods in Arden Hills have pathways; however, in order to provide a connected and complete pathway system in Arden Hills, additional non-motorized paths are needed. While paths are very popular for recreational purposes, there is also a growing demand for utilitarian pathways that connect residential areas to destinations such as commercial areas, offices, parks, and other popular places. Providing multiple destinations on a pathway system can increase use, promote physical activity, and reduce motorized travel. The PTOS Plan and the community has called for path to be constructed or for unofficial path to be upgraded at the following locations: o Snelling/Old Highway 10 corridor from Arden Hills/Roseville border to Highway 96; o County Road E between Old Snelling and Highway 51; o County Road E between Lake Johanna Boulevard and New Brighton Road; o Lake Johanna Boulevard between Tony Schmidt Regional Park and the Roseville border to Northwestern College; o Crepeau Park on Tiller Lane to Hamline Avenue to the Roseville border; o Ingerson Road between Hamline Avenue and Lexington Avenue; DRAFT 50 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFr o Pine Tree Drive between County Road E to Creapeau Park at Harriet Avenue; o Cleveland Avenue south of the Sampson/Hazelnut trail corridor to the Roseville border; o Along Valentine Road from Old Snelling to Mounds View High School o South of Round Lake between Interstate 35W and Old Highway 10; o From Floral Park on Hamline to County Road F to Lexington Avenue; o Along Highway 96 from Interstate 35W the trail just east of Highway 10; o Complete the sidewalk along both sides of County Road E between Highway 51 and Lexington; o Construct a path along the Arden Hills section of Lexington Avenue; o Within Bethel University and Northwestern College; o Within TCAAP and along Rice Creek; o Cleveland Ave. (County Road "D" to Stowe Ave.) o Cleveland Ave. (Stowe Ave. to existing trail at RR) o Cleveland Ave. (Thom Ct. to existing path off Cty E2) o County Road D (Cleveland to New Brighton Road} o New Brighton Road (County Rd. D to Stowe Ave.) o New Brighton Road (Stowe Ave. to County Road E2) o County Road E2 (New Brighton Rd. to Old Hwy. 101 o County Road E2 (Cleveland Ave. to New Brighton Rd.) o R.C. Open Space (from Cty Rd. E2 to Venus) o R.C. Open Space (from segment E path to MVHS) o Tony Schmidt Underpass trail North to County Road E2 (lift station rd.) o Perry Park Pavilion to Underpass Trail Head o County Road E (Indian Pl. to Lk. Johanna Blvd.) o Lake Johanna Blvd. (County Rd. E to Tony Schmidt Underpass Trail) o Lake Johanna Blvd. (From Segment G.1 to Old 10 - Snelling) o County Road E (Old 10-Snelling to Connelly Ave.) o Snelling Ave. (Highway 51 to County Road E) o Old Highway 10-Snelling (Cty Road E2 through CP Rai!) o Old Highway 10-Snelling (from CP Rail to County Rd. E2) o Old Highway 10-Snelling (from Cty. Road E2 to Hwy. 96) o Lake Valentine Road (Mounds View H.S. to Old 10-Snelling) o Parkshore Dr. (from Old Hwy 10-Snelling to beginning of Rd. Lake Trail) o Gateway Blvd. (from proposed segment K to Round Lk. Road) o Round Lake Trail (Complete the loop that has a gap behind Nott Co.) o County Road 96 (Complete trail west from existing path to 35W) o County Road 96 (From Segment L to Old Highway 8) o North Snelling Ave. (From County Road 96 to Briarknoll) o County Road F (From Lexington to Hamline) o Hamline (From County Road F to Floral Drive o Lexington Ave. (From County Road F to County Road E) DRAFT 51 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT o Lexington Ave. (From County Road E to Shoreline Lane) o Lexington Ave. (From Tanglewood to County Road I -West Side) o Crepeau Preserve (From Cannon to Crepeau Nature Preserve) o Pine Tree Drive(From Cty Road E to existing grass trail into Crepeau) o Highway 51 (From Old Hwy. 10/Snelling to just past Glenhill Rd) o Highway 51 (From Glenhill trail to Lydia) Arden Hills is crossed by a number of major roadways and a railroad that effectively divide the City, recreational areas, destination points, neighborhoods from each other. In conjunction with Ramsey County and MnDOT, grade separated crossings of major roads and railroads is one of the more important actions the City can take to improve the path network, increase safety, enhance access to parks, encourage increased physical activity, and help tie the community together. The following connections trail crossings are recommended from the PTOS Plan: o County Road E over Highway 51 —The existing bridge is very narrow and unsafe for pedestrians or bicyclists. This location is a key connection between the east and west portions of the City. The City should work with Ramsey County and MnDOT to either expand or reconstruct the bridge to create adequate pedestrian and bike crossings or build a freestanding bike and pedestrian bridge next to the vehicle bridge. o Highway 96 —A trail underpass should be installed at a selected location between Highway 10 and Lexington Avenue. The grade-separated connection would provide access to City Hall, the TCAAP area, and the developed portion of the City south of Highway 96. A trail crossing of Highway 10 should also be incorporated into the Highway 96 and 10 intersection when it is rebuilt. o Highway 10 —There are two potential grade separated crossing locations along Highway 10. The first potential crossing is just south of Royal Hills Park and the other is within TCAAP north of Highway 96. A minimum of one grade separated crossing should be built. o Interstate 35W—There are two potential locations for a pedestrian and bike bridge over Interstate 35W. At least one crossing should be constructed. A significant option is to convert the existing railroad bridge located just north of Interstate 694 to a pedestrian/bike crossing. This trail would connect the Round Lake area to the City of New Brighton trails and Long Lake Regional Park. A second trail option is proposed to be located north of Highway 96 to connect the TCAAP area with Long Lake Regional Park. DRAFT 52 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills -Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 9.4.4 Bikeways In order to promote increased physical activity and non-motorized transportation, a review of study of the City's policy on using bikes on City paths should be undertaken. 9.4.5 Acquisitions for Park and Open Space While there is very little vacant land available in the City outside of the TCAAP property, the 2002 PTOS Plan did identify four locations that should be incorporated into the City's park and recreational system. These locations will expand open spaces, connect paths, increase recreational opportunities, and provide more complete City parks: o Charles Perry Park - The residential property adjacent to Charles Perry should be acquired to minimize the potential conflict caused by reflected light, noise and trespassing while providing an opportunity to expand the recreational offerings in the park and to provide better park access. o Round Lake Park -The open land west of Round Lake Park should be acquired to provide adequate space for community soccer fields. The amount of property to acquire should be determined by the number and size of the fields needed. This land should be obtained by park dedication and acquisition as possible. o Round Lake Trail Easements - The remaining easements should be acquired to complete the trail around the west and south sides of Round Lake and make the trail connection to the I —35W railroad bridge (potential future trail crossing). 9.5 TCAAP Park and Recreation Opportunities The proposed redevelopment of the TCAAP property is likely to include a large, central community park as well as an undetermined number of smaller neighborhood parks and open spaces. Of the 585 acres that are part of the proposed TCAAP redevelopment, 118.9 acres are tentatively planned to be used for parks and open spaces. In the northeastern corner of the property, 76.5 acres is proposed to be dedicated for public use (map). While the exact public use of this area has not DRAFT 53 3/I4/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT been determined, it is known that this area will not be developed. This area is likely to include some type of regional athletic use, such as ball fields or soccer fields. The remaining 42.4 acres are anticipated to be used for community parks, gathering spaces, and open spaces. The preliminary land use design for the TCAAP property includes a large park in the central part of the property and a number of small neighborhood parks along the eastern boundary (map). The exact layout and use of these parks has not been determined; however, they are likely to be focused on local park and recreation needs. As part of the TCAAP redevelopment planning process, a detailed park, open space, and pathway plan is being prepared, which will likely be incorporated into this Comprehensive Plan upon completion. 9.6 Implementation 9.6.1 Priority Setting To help ensure continued progress on implementing this Plan, a long-term priority list must be set by the City. With the priorities laid out, the City will be able to make spending determinations on an annual basis and coordinate improvements with other projects such as road improvements. The priority list will need to be evaluated on a yearly basis to measure progress and to adjust the list with changing circumstances and priorities. A fully functioning and complete park and pathway system adds to the attractiveness of the City and to the values of all property owners. Creating a project list for each year will help the City and the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee focus on implementing high priority projects. The priority list for moving forward is established as follows: TO BE DETERMINED As noted above, this list must be flexible in order to respond to changing conditions and opportunities. 9.6.2 Partnerships DRAFT 54 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT MNDOT & Ramsey County Transportation —The City needs to work with MnDOT and Ramsey County Transportation to make sure that pathway additions and crossings are in their transportation master plans, included in reconstruction projects, and are a priority for funding and implementation in their capital improvement plans (CIP). Ramsey County Parks—The City needs to work with Ramsey County to continue implementation on the Tony Schmidt Master Plan, the Rice Creek trail system, and other regional park and trail projects that connect to or impact Arden Hills. Mounds View School District—The City has an opportunity to work with the school district and the two facilities in Arden Hills to increase trail access to the schools, promote safe routes to school, and increase youth physical activity. Bethel University and Northwestern College— Both of these campuses have trails that can be accessed by the public. The City needs to work with these organizations to ensure continued access to these trails and to make connections with City trails. Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP)—This unprecedented development in Arden Hills offers an opportunity to greatly expand the City's park and pathway network. The City must continue to work with the developers to ensure a park and pathway system is constructed that meets the needs of current and future residents. 9.6.3 Financing While the City supports the park and recreation system, it is recognized that other needs in the City compete for funds. In order to successfully implement the parks and recreation plan, the yearly priorities must be identified in the City's capital improvement plan (CIP), which can be adjusted annually as funding and needs change. Since much of the City is developed, park and recreation expansions improvements cannot rely on park dedication fees alone. Therefore, the City must explore other financing options such as grants and bonds. Pursuing these funding opportunities may help advance implementation of this plan at a faster rate than would otherwise be able to occur. DRAFT 55 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT 10. PROTECTED RESOURCES Goal. Preserve, protect, and restore the community's natural resources, including open spaces, lakes, wetlands, other significant natural features, and historic resources. To achieve this protected resources goal, the following policies are proposed: o Develop or enhance regulations to protect the City's natural resources, including trees, lakes, wetlands, and other unique or significant natural resources. o Bring the City into compliance with state shoreland regulations. o Develop standards and best management practices (BMPs)to protect the natural features in the City and to minimize the impact of natural resources. o Work with the appropriate agencies to assure that surface water quality is protected and enhanced. o Support public educational opportunities to foster a better understanding of the natural environment as well as ways to restore and protect the natural environment. a Work to promote the long-term preservation of the Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) property as open space. o Identify and work to protect the sensitive natural resources within the City. 10.1 Introduction The beautiful lakes, diverse topography, and wooded character of Arden Hills provide an exceptional residential and business environment. The community has carefully guarded these resources in the past; however, they are constantly threatened by human activities. Protecting these areas requires diligence, including adherence to strong protection policies and requirements, studying the most up-to- date preservation methods, and educating the public on environmentally sound development and maintenance practices. Lakes are perhaps the most significant resource in the City and will continue to be if the water quality can be enhanced and maintained. Lakes and their surrounding watersheds need to be managed as sensitive and limited resources, requiring purposeful planning and action. The lack of management of these limited resources can lead to diminished water quality and can negatively affect public health, recreational activities, wildlife, and fisheries communities, community quality of life, and ultimately tax revenues through diminished property values. Arden Hills is located entirely within the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). The RCWD addresses water issues, administers regulatory programs, and undertakes projects to improve water quality. The City has a number of protective DRAFT 56 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT ordinances and policies in place that enhance District activities; however, those policies require monitoring to ensure that they are meeting City needs and effectively protecting the City's natural resources. In addition to lake protection, several high-priority natural areas, endangered and protected species, and historic sites have been identified as significant in the City. These significant resources are highly valuable and have features that may require special levels of protection. 10.2 Water Resources With seven lakes covering nearly 550 acres in Arden Hills, the lakes have always been a focal point in the community. Early settlers and development took advantage of the recreational and scenic qualities of the lakes, and they continue to be an attractive characteristic for residents and visitors. While most of the shoreland development too place prior to the adoption of development regulations, the City has experienced redevelopment pressure along the City's developable shorelines. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires communities to adopt shoreland ordinances, which typically regulate lot size, shoreline width, and setbacks for development along water bodies. Development regulations vary depending on the lake classification set by the DNR (from DNR website http://www.dnr.state_mn.ustwaters/watermgmt_section/shoreland/lake_shoreland_classificationshtmi): o Natural Environment Lakes and Streams (NE) — usually have less than 150 total acres, less than 60 acres per mile of shoreline, and less than three dwellings per mile of shoreline. They may have some winter kill of fish; may have shallow, swampy shoreline; and are less than 15 feet deep. o Recreational Development Lakes (RD)— usually have between 60 and 225 acres of water per mile of shoreline, between 3 and 25 dwellings per mile of shoreline, and are more than 15 feet deep. o General Development Lakes (GD)— usually have more than 225 acres of water per mile of shoreline and 25 dwellings per mile of shoreline, and are more than 15 feet deep. 10.2.1 Lakes and Water Bodies Lake Johanna Lake Johanna is the biggest lake in Arden Hills at 230 acres with a 4.25 square mile watershed. It is up to 41 feet deep and has an average depth DRAFT 57 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT of 17 feet. The lake is classifies as an RD lake by the County and as a GD lake by the County and City. The land around Lake Johanna is largely developed with single family homes. Tony Schmidt Regional Park, located on the north side of the lake, includes a swimming beach and boat ramp. Presbyterian Homes, a 117 unit and 19 apartment senior housing facility, is located on the southwest comer. Northwestern College occupies the peninsula on the southern side of the lake. A wide variety of recreational opportunities existing on Lake Johanna, including swimming, skiing, and fishing. Boats are restricted to five miles per hour within 250 feet of the shoreline, and there are restricted hours for speeds in the rest of the lake. A wide variety of fish exist in the lake, including Bass, Bluegills, Bullheads, Carp, Crappies, Muskies, Northern Pike, Perch, Sunfish, and Walleye. Storm water flows into Lake Johanna from Little Lake Johanna via Ramsey County Ditch 4, which originates north of County Road C in Roseville. City storm water is also routed into Lake Johanna on its west and east sides. As part of the City's pavement management program, the City is working to provide stormwater treatment systems to improve the water quality of the stormwater that reaches Lake Johanna. The Lake Johanna Improvement Society is an organization made up of lake area property owners. The group coordinates lakes issues with the City, including the boat speed limits. The Rice Creek Watershed District has noted that Lake Johanna has the potential to become impaired without additional protection and attention to water quality. The lake is listed on the impaired list for mercury contamination. Lake Josephine Lake Josephine is 114 acres in size with a subwatershed of 1.31 square miles. The northern 60 acres are located in Arden Hills while the southern 80 acres are located in the City of Roseville. The lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet and an average depths of 20 feet. Lake Josephine is classified as a GD lake by the DNR, Ramsey County, and the City. The land around the lake is fully developed with single family homes. The lake is used for boating swimming, and fishing. There is a concrete boat DRAFT S8 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT access and public beach immediately south of the municipal border in the City of Roseville on the east side of the lake. Bullheads, Crappies, Bluegills, Carp, Sunfish, Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye can be found in the lake. The outlet of Lake Josephine is located at the northwestern part of the lake and flow to Lake Johanna through a storm sewer and ditch system. The Lake Josephine Improvement Association consists of lake area property owners. The City of Roseville and the City of Arden Hills have adopted joint regulations for Lake Josephine, which includes a maximum speed limit and a no wake zone of 150 feet from the shoreline. The Rice Creek Watershed District has noted that Lake Josephine has the potential to become impaired without additional protection and attention to water quality. The lake is listed on the impaired list for mercury contamination. Little Johanna Lake Little Johanna Lake is 18 acres in size and has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake is classified as a NE and RD lake by the DNR and Ramsey County, but as a GD lake by the City. It is a non-swimming lake, there are no formal public access points, and recreational uses are limited. The northern eight acres are within the City of Arden Hills, and the southern ten acres are within the City of Roseville. Northwestern College occupies much of the lake's eastern, northern, and southern shoreline and single family homes are on the west side of the lake. Drainage into Little Johanna Lake comes from Ramsey County Ditch 4, which originates north of County Road C in the City of Roseville and flows out to Lake Johanna. Little Johanna Lake and the ditch function as a settling area for stormwater prior to flowing into Lake Johanna. During larger storm events, however, water flows through the water bodies rapidly, which allows little time for unwanted nutrients to settle out of the water. As a result, the quality of Little Johanna and Johanna are compromised. Valentine Lake Covering approximately 74 acres with a 2.4 square mile watershed, Valentine Lake is classified as a NE lake by the City, County, and DNR. DRAFT 59 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT Bethel University owns almost all of the lakeshore; however, the lake can be viewed from Old Highway 10 along the western shoreline. While there are not any formal boat or public access points, the lake is used for fishing purposes by the public. In the future, it may be necessary to develop a formal agreement with Bethel University for public use and a parking lot for users. The lake has a dominance of blue-green algae and heavy algal blooms throughout the summer. Water flows southwest out of Lake Valentine into the County Ditch 12 and eventually into Long Lake in the City of New Brighton. Round Lake Round Lake is approximately 125 acres in size and has a subwatershed of 0.83 square miles. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service owns all of the land around the lake. Public use of the lake is prohibited and there are not any public access points due to contamination in the lake bed. There are single family homes on the east side of the lake, apartments and townhomes on the southeast side, and industrial development on the south and west sides. The north side of the lake is bordered by Highway 96. None of the adjacent property owners have access to the lake. Karth Lake Karth Lake is approximately 15 acres in size and is surrounded by single family homes. There is a City park on the south side of the lake; however, there is not any public access to the lake. Rice Creek Watershed District is conducting water quality monitoring for the lake. The immediate area drains into the lake, and there are also five (5) stormwater inlets draining approximately 170 acres to the lake. Prior to 2004, there was not an outlet for Karth Lake, and the water level steadily increased. The Karth Lake improvement District was created in 2003 to manage the water level. A pump was constructed in 2004 to allow the lake level to be controlled. Any water that is pumped out of the lake flows through storm sewer and ditch systems to Valentine Lake. Sunfish Lake Located on the AHATS property, Sunfish Lake is approximately 11 acres in size. No water quality monitoring has been conducted for the lake. City Hall is southeast of the lake, and the Ramsey County Public Works facility DRAFT 60 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT is west of the Lake. There is not any residential development around the lake. The lake is not accessible to the public, and public access is not anticipated because the land is owned by the federal government and used for Minnesota National Guard training. Marsden Lake Covering more than 275 acres, Marsden Lake is a large wetland complex (wet meadow) that has been identified by the Minnesota DNR as an important natural community. The entire lake is within the federally owned property that is leased by the Minnesota National Guard. There are not any public access points to the lake. The lake is part of the critical habitat for the Blanding's Turtle, which is classified as "threatened status" by the State of Minnesota. Rice Creek Rice Creek flows through the far northwest comer of the City and is the only natural watercourse in the City. There are a number of County drainage ditches connecting the major lakes and providing connections to Rice Creek. • Approximately 112 acres of land was transferred to Ramsey County along the creek, and the Rice Creek North Regional Trail is currently being constructed along both sides of the creek. The trail will ultimately connect to other communities, the regional park system, and likely to the TCAAP redevelopment property. Wetlands Arden Hills has many wetlands of various sizes and types spread throughout the City. The wetlands are an integral part of the natural environment and are important component of healthy lakes and streams. Development impacts to wetlands are regulated by Federal and State laws. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—Saint Paul Office implements the federal wetland laws, and the Minnesota DNR and the Rice Creek Watershed District implement State wetland laws. Alterations to wetlands almost always require a permit. 10.2.2 Rice Creek Watershed District &Water Quality Management Arden Hills is located entirely within the Rice Creek Watershed District DRAFT 61 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT (RCWD). The RCWD requires permits for land development, site grading, wetland and shoreland alterations, and drainage plans and systems. Water quality for Lake Josephine, Lake Johanna, Round Lake, and Valentine Lake is monitored by Ramsey County. The RCWD utilizes this data. The City's Floodplain and Shoreland Ordinances govern development activities in areas that contribute storm water runoff to the City's lakes. In addition, the lake use ordinances on Lake Johanna and Lake Josephine help to control erosion and water quality. Unfortunately, water quality has decreased in recent years and additional effort is needed to maintain and improve water quality. 10.3 Endangered Species/Habitat Blanding's Turtles have "threatened" species status in Minnesota, which means that according to the State, the species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range within Minnesota. Illinois Tick Trefoil is a rare plant that was identified in the TCAAP area. Marsden Lake is a large wetlands complex (wet meadow) and has been identified by the Minnesota DNR as an important natural community. The kame, also located on the TCAAP property, is a relict of the glacial landscape and has also been identified by the DNR as an important natural community. The kame is the highest point in Ramsey County. 10.4 Historic Sites Although little information has been compiled regarding historic sites or building in Arden Hills, the Minnesota Historical Society and Ramsey County Historical Society have identified the Charles Perry House at 3491 Lake Johanna Boulevard as historically important. While there has been consideration of placing this house on the National Register of Historic Places, additional research and community interest is needed. The 1998 Comprehensive Plan identified two buildings and one site as historic and/or architecturally significant to the community: Round Lake Prehistoric Site DRAFT 62 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT The Round Lake prehistoric site is located on a small knoll on a peninsula on the southwestern shore of Round Lake. Archaeological exploration has determined that the knoll on the peninsula is most likely of natural origin. Artifacts relating to the manufacture or maintenance of stone tools were observed on the site, and it appears that it may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This site was threatened by development in 1997; however, the City was able to obtain a conservation easement over the peninsula to preserve it in its current condition. Further research, as well as community interest, is required before actual placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Farrell Homestead The Farrell Homestead at 1963 County Road E2 is a large, white Victorian farm home just north of the intersection of County Road E2 and New Brighton Road. The Homestead was constructed in 1874. John Farrell, of Irish descent, settled and farmed more than 500 acres. A friend once asked him why he brought such a hilly farm, to which John replied, "Because it reminds me of Ireland." An interesting side note is from Mary (May) Marston, granddaughter of John • Farrell, who grew up on the farm in the 1890s. Ms. Marston stated that, "Across from the farm was a hill with Indian grave platforms and artifacts." Nazareth Hall on the Northwestern College Campus Nazareth Hall was constructed in 1921-22 on the Northwestern College campus. it was constructed in the "Lombardic Romanesque" style from northern Italy. It faces east to overlook Lake Johanna. It includes six buildings constructed as one, with several courtyards styled after the Vatican. The building covers approximately 37,400 square feet of ground and was designed to fit into its natural Lakeshore setting. 10.5 Resource Protection Map Although the portion of Arden Hills south of Highways 96 and 10 is considered fully developed, there is an abundance of mature trees, lakes, wetlands, open spaces, parks, and other natural amenities that give the City its highly valued natural and well-landscaped character. The southern two thirds of Arden Hills contain more than 363 acres of public parks and open spaces. Northwestern College, Bethel University, and Mounds View High School also contain highly valued natural areas of varying character and quality. DRAFT 63 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts -Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT The TCAAP property is also home to some of the most significant natural resources, including lakes, wetlands, woodlands, meadows, rolling terrain, and excellent vistas. The kame, which is a geological formation made by retreating glaciers, is located in the central part of the property and is the highest point in Ramsey County. Of the 585 acres that are anticipated to be turned over to the City for development, 168 acres would continue to be used as open space in the form of parks, wetlands, stormwater areas, recreational areas, and a wildlife corridor. While some institutional development from the Minnesota National Guard may occur on the southern part of the AHATS property, much of that area is anticipated to remain is open space, though it is generally not open to the public. The Rice Creek Watershed District has compiled data and generated a resource protection map to show areas of significant natural resources. The map is only intended to be a guide and is not detailed enough for site specific planning as there may be inaccuracies due to the scale of the assessment. Additional information regarding feasibility and site condition should be collected before utilizing this information at a smaller scale. This resource protection map has two primary purposes. First, it is meant to help develop regulations to protect significant natural resources where it is • feasible to do so. Secondly, it is meant to help make more informed development decision in places where there may be significant resources. The map displays the following information: o Remaining natural areas within your community o Results of a natural resource assessment o Results of a wetland restoration assessment o Lakes and streams currently listed on the 303(d) list of impaired waters o Results of lake water quality assessment 10.5.1 Natural Resources Assessment The Rice Creek Watershed District evaluated the natural areas within its jurisdiction to determine the relative quality of remaining natural areas. The RCWD evaluated the natural resource data based on the following characteristics: o Health of natural area: High quality areas with native vegetation were considered more important than areas with partial or total dominance by invasive species. o Size: Large natural areas (5 acres or greater)were considered more important that small natural areas (less than 5 acres). DRAFT 64 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT o Rarity of community type within the watershed: Natural community types that are rare due to specific site requirements (fens, bogs, etc.), or have become rare due to historic land use changes or degradation (prairie, oak savanna, etc.)were considered more important than more common natural community types. o Adjacency to other natural areas: Natural areas that are immediately adjacent to several other natural areas were considered to be more important than natural areas that are adjacent to one or no other natural areas. o Proximity of healthy natural areas to other healthy natural areas: Healthy natural areas that are in close proximity to each other(within 1/8 of a mile)were considered more important than isolated healthy natural areas, healthy natural areas in close proximity to degraded natural areas, or degraded natural areas in close proximity to each other. These natural resource characteristics were combined to form the overall natural resource assessment ranking for each area shown on the map. 10.5.2 Wetland Restoration Assessment All wetland areas within the RCWD were evaluated to determine their potential • for vegetation and/or hydrologic restoration. A wetland's potential for either type of restoration was determined in the following manner: o Vegetation Restoration: The MLCCS data includes information on whether or not a natural area is dominated by invasive species. Wetlands dominated by invasive species represent an opportunity to restore native vegetation. Taking this into account, wetland communities that were recorded in the MLCCS as dominated by invasive species and greater than 2 acres in size were included in this category and displayed on the map. o Hydrologic Restoration: National wetland inventory (NWI) data and ditch inventory data were used to identify wetlands with the potential for hydrologic restoration. The location of partially drained wetlands in the NWI data and the location of known ditches were used to identify wetlands that have been partially drained and could be restored to more natural, flow through hydrology without necessarily changing the hydrologic regime. Only polygons 1 acre or larger were included and displayed on the map. Wetland areas with these characteristics that were in close proximity to existing infrastructure (homes, businesses and roads)were removed from consideration. 10.5.3 Lake water quality assessment • DRAFT 65 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT Each lake located within the Rice Creek Watershed District was evaluated to determine its potential for water quality impairment due to excessive nutrients (Table X). The lakes fell into one of five categories: o No data: Not enough water quality data available for evaluation. o Listed on 303(d) list of impaired waters: Lake is currently on the impaired waters list (TMDL list) for excessive nutrients. (Lakes that are on the impaired waters list only due to high levels of mercury, and not due to excessive nutrients, are not included in this category.) o Potential to become impaired: Available water quality data suggest that the lake is currently not impaired. Due to development pressure or to borderline water quality conditions, this lake has the potential to become impaired in the near future. Listed on the Pbtential to Lake No Data 303(d)list of become impaired waters impaired Johanna* X Josephine* X Karth X Little Johanna X Marsden X Round X • Sunfish X Valentine X *Listed on the 303(d)fist of impaired waters for mercury The 303(d) list is part of the federal Clean Water Act, which requires states to adopt water quality standards to protect waters from pollution. 10.5.4 Priority Areas Area 1 contains a relatively diverse assemblage of upland and wetland communities connecting Lake Johanna and Farrel's Lake. Upland community types in this area include aspen forest, lowland hardwood forest, oak woodland, and mesic prairie. Wetland community types in this area include willow swamp, mixed emergent marsh, and cattail marsh. The majority of these communities were given a "medium" ranking in the natural resource assessment. There are also several potential opportunities for wetland restoration within this area, both hydrologic and vegetation. Lake Johanna has the potential to become impaired due to excess nutrients. DRAFT 66 . 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT Area 2 contains areas a mosaic of upland and wetland community types surrounding Rice Creek. Community types include forest, woodland, and emergent marsh. The majority of these communities were given a "medium" ranking in the natural resource assessment. The portion of Rice Creek within the City of Arden Hills is currently on the 303(d) list of impaired waters. Area 3 contains areas of forest, woodland, and emergent marsh surrounding Marsden Lake. All of the lake's shoreline is in natural vegetation. This complex of natural areas is unique because of its large size and lack of fragmentation. The majority of these areas were given a "medium" ranking in the natural resource assessment. Marsden Lake does not have sufficient water quality information to determine its potential for water quality impairment due to excess nutrients. 10.6 Invasive Species While many of the open spaces in Arden Hills are of high quality, invasive species such as buckthorn are a problem in many parks and open spaces throughout Minnesota. Unfortunately, a number of Arden Hills' parks and open spaces contain buckthorn. In cooperation with residents and service groups, the City has instituted a buckthorn removal program. The City plans to continue to control buckthorn on and ongoing basis as needed and as resources are available. The City will also continue to encourage the removal of buckthorn and other invasive species from private land. 10.7 Resource Protection Implementation In order to advance the protected resources goal, the below activities are proposed. This list is not all-inclusive and additional tools and opportunities should be researched: o Adopt tree preservation standards and revised landscaping requirements. o Update the shoreland and floodplain development regulations to be in compliance with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources regulations, Rice Creek Watershed District regulations, and to encourage the protection of the City's water resources. o Review existing and develop new standards or regulations to protect identified natural resource protection areas. o Work cooperatively with private landowners and other governmental agencies to preserve and enhance open spaces. DRAFT 67 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills-Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT o Explore the inclusion of an environmental library and/or education center on the TCAAP property. o Support public educational opportunities to foster a better understanding of the natural environment. o Encourage new development to respect the natural features and to minimize damage to the natural environment. o Utilize best management practices (BMPs)to reduce erosion and protect the environment. • DRAFT 68 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFr 11. TRANSPORTATION Goal. Provide a transportation system that has convenient and effective multi- modal connections within Arden Hills and to adjacent municipalities, the remainder of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and greater Minnesota. To achieve this transportation goal, the following policies are proposed: o Approach transportation in a comprehensive manner by giving attention to all travel modes and related facilities, linking transit and land use and by combining or concentrating various land use activities to reduce the need for transportation facilities. o Coordinate transportation plans with adjacent communities and the County, State, and Federal governments to assure system continuity, determine priorities, increase safety, and to efficiently use resources and reduce congestion. o Create/provide a safe, cost effective, and efficient transportation system that is adequate for car, transit, pedestrian, bicycle, and truck transportation for the movement of people and goods and services in the community. o Work to improve and expand the existing transportation system as necessary to meet current and future transportation needs. • o Work to manage traffic in residential neighborhoods to not overburden any particular City street. o Preserve and maintain the existing transportation infrastructure to protect the existing significant investment, to increase its efficiency, and delay the need for improvement or expansion, utilizing the Capital improvement Plan (CIP) and Pavement Management Program (PMP). o Consider the use of flexible street design standards when reconstructing roadways in parts of the City with unique topographical or environmental features. o Continue to work with the County and State elected and appointed officials to include County road reconstruction projects to address needed reconstruction and potential trails along the roadways when improved. o Encourages alternate and/or integrated transportation methods that are less dependent on motor vehicles such as walking, biking, and transit as alternate transportation methods. o Develop standards to increase the safety of pedestrian crossings throughout the City. o Maintain a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)that contains elements for reconstruction of the roadway system, with scheduled maintenance included in annual budgets. Street maintenance should include routine patching, crack filling, and storm sewer cleaning. Implement a schedule DRAFT 69 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT for roadway maintenance and reconstruction, street widening/realignment, etc. o Update the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances consistent with the Transportation Plan. o Require right-of-way dedication along county and local roads to meet future capacity needs as redevelopment is proposed. o Work with developers to construct needed improvements prior to development. o Establish a policy outlining when a traffic impact study should be conducted, including acceptable information to be contained within the study. o Work to enhance safety at all intersections. 11.1 Introduction The transportation system in the City of Arden Hills is established, made up of metropolitan freeways and highways, County roads, and City streets. Except for the proposed TCAAP redevelopment, the City's transportation system is not likely to see major changes in the next 10 to 20 years. The fact that the network is established, however, does not diminish the importance of continually monitoring the system to ensure that it performs adequately. As such, whether an existing roadway is proposed for upgrading or a land use change is proposed on a property, this plan provides the framework for decisions regarding the nature of roadway infrastructure improvements necessary to achieve safety, adequate access, mobility, and performance of the existing and future roadway system. This Plan includes established local goals, policies, standards, and guidelines to implement a future roadway network and transit vision that is coordinated with respect to county, regional, and state plans in such a way that the transportation system enhances quality economic and residential development within the City of Arden Hills. 11.2 Existing Transportation System Evaluation The transportation system in Arden Hills includes a roadway system that accommodates a variety of vehicles including cars, trucks, and public transit. Transportation also includes pedestrian movement and bicycles, which is also discussed in Chapter 9 (Park & Recreation) of this Plan. While upgrades will need to be made over time, the existing motorized transportation system within the City of Arden Hills currently provides sufficient transportation service to the City. DRAFT 70 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT 11.2.1 Existing Traffic Volumes and Capacity Issues The existing traffic volumes within the area, which were collected by Mn/DOT, Ramsey County, and the City of Arden Hills are represented in figo" — 2005 and 2006 Average Daily Traffic Volumes. Volume to capacity analysis of the average daily traffic volumes indicates several roadway segments within the City of Arden Hills are currently operating at a periodically congested, near congested, or congested level. Additional data regarding segment design type and capacity is available within Appd�,, Based on available traffic volume data, the following roadways are classified into the following groups: Level of Service C— Periodically Congested • TH 10 from 1-35W to 1-694 • TH 51, South of CSAH 50/Hamline Avenue • CSAH 50/Hamline Avenue from CSAH 96 to 1-694 • CSAH 51/1-exington Avenue from CR I to CSAH 96 • CSAH 51/1-exington Avenue, South of CR F • CSAH 96, East of CSAH 50/Hamline Avenue • CSAH 96 from 1-35W to TH 10 • CR D, CSAH 149/1-ake Johanna Boulevard to CSAH 46/Cleveland Avenue • CR E, TH 51 to CSAH 76/Snelling Avenue • CR F, West of 1-35W • CR I from 1-35W to Snelling Avenue Level of Service D & E — Near Congested • 1-35W, North of TH 10/CSAH 10 • 1-35W from TH 88 to CR D • TH 51 from 1-694 to CSAH 50/Hamline Avenue • CR D from CSAH 46/Cleveland Avenue to I-35W Level of Service F— Congested • 1-35W from TH 10 to TH 88 • 1-35W, South of CR D • 1-694 from Western City Limits to Eastern City Limits Capacity improvements are recommended on any roadway with a future level of service of D, E, or F, as defined in the roadway capacity discussion within the Transportation System Principals and Standards section. Roadways identified above as near congested or congested are recommended to be monitored and programmed for capacity improvements when necessary. Roadways that are DRAFT 71 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT periodically congested are generally identified as providing an acceptable level of service (volume to capacity ratios definition?). Safety and Mobility Congestion analysis shows 1-35W and 1-694 as the roadways with significant congestion. The rest of the existing transportation system throughout Arden Hills is primarily periodically congested, with areas that are near congested. Of primary concern to the City of Arden Hills is the congestion on TH 51/Hamline Avenue, south of 1-694 and the county roadways at the interchanges with 1-35W. This indicates that the congestion on 1-35W is impacting the county roadways that have access to it. As 1-35W becomes more congested, more traffic will likely use TH 51 or other adjacent minor arterials as an alternate route, which may also become congested. A planning-level analysis of the existing transportation system in Arden Hills was completed and included evaluating crash records for accident trends, the types of accidents most commonly occurring, and where accident trends may exist. In the five-year time period from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2006, there were 2,305 crashes on the roadways within or adjacent to the City of Arden Hills. The locations with high crash rates are primarily on the county and state highway intersections. Locations with the highest crash frequency are on 1-694 with TH 51, and 1-694 with 1-35W. Additionally, there are high crash rates along 1-35W and 1-694 at every interchange location. Other locations off the freeway with high crash frequency are the intersections of TH 10 with CSAH 96, CSAH 96 with Hamline Avenue (CSAH 50), CSAH 96 with Lexington Avenue (CSAH 51), Lexington Avenue (CSAH 51) with Grey Fox Road, and Hamline Avenue (CSAH 50) with CR F (CSAH 12). Of the 2,305 crashes, 170 included injuries, 405 had possible injuries, and 1730 involved property damage only. Rear end crashes represented 48% of the crashes, and 8% were right angle crashes. Jurisdictional Issues There are no known jurisdictional transfers planned between Arden Hills and Ramsey County, but the City recognizes that the County's and State's role in jurisdictional issues and desires active participation in any jurisdictional discussion. Relevant Area Transportation Studies DRAFT 72 3/14/2008 to City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan -DRAFT A number of studies have been completed or are in the process of being completed to provide direction relative to the development of the City of Arden Hills' transportation system. Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) Alternative Urban Areawide Review: The City is currently developing an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) for the proposed TCAAP redevelopment. The AUAR encompasses the 585 acres of the TCAAP property that is proposed to be redeveloped as a mix of residential and commercial property. Preliminary traffic issues include analyzing CSAH 96 and TH 10, as the development would directly impact those roadways. As the property is redeveloped, a new County collector roadway is proposed to connect CSAH 96 to CR H through the TCAAP property. Highway 96 and Highway 10 Intersection: In coordination with the TCAAP AUAR, a new interchange concept is being developed just to the north of CSAH 96 on TH 10, which would replace the current at-grade intersection of TH 10/CSAH 96. A series of road design concept were developed in 2007. Further analysis will be completed in the future to analyze the interchange design. This interchange would eliminate the current at-grade intersection, which would improve safety and mobility for the TH 10 and CSAH 96 corridors. County Road E (Downtown Arden Hills): A study was underway at the time this Comprehensive Plan was written that included an analysis of the safety and mobility of vehicle and non- motorized traffic on CR E from TH 51 to Lexington Avenue and the intersection of CR E/Lexington Avenue. Muftimoda/ Transportation Opportunities It is recognized that various methods of travel impact the economic vitality of a city, county,or broader region. In addition to the traditional road system, multimodal transportation includes transit, aviation, railway, and paths, including sidewalks, trails, and bikeways. Transit Service The City of Arden Hills is currently located within the Market Ill Transit System Service Area. This area includes communities with a land use pattern of generally lower concentrations with intermittent pockets of moderate concentrations, which receive highest service levels. The current service options DRAFT 73 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT are peak-only express busses, small vehicle dial-a-ride, midday circulators, special needs paratransit (ADA, seniors), and ridesharing. Service characteristics include peak-period-only express busses, 1-2 hour midday frequencies, dial-a-ride advance registration, service spans of 10-14 hours per day on weekdays and limited weekends, and access primarily tied to park-and ride lots and hubs. re — Existing and Planned Transit Routes and Passenger Facilities displays the current services available, including route and park and ride locations in and around the City of Arden Hills. An existing park and ride lot is located between 1-35W and CSAH 10, on CR H in Arden Hills. Regular route service in the City as currently provided is described below: • Route 225, 227 is a local bus route operated by Metro Transit. This route provides connectivity to Rosedale Commons in the City of Roseville, and serves Shoreview, Arden Hills, and Roseville. Schedules vary from 30 to 60 minutes between trips, depending on the day. • Route 250 is an express bus route operated by Metro Transit. The route provides connectivity to downtown Minneapolis from Lino Lakes, Circle Pines, Lexington, Blaine, Shoreview, and Mounds View, primarily along 1-35W, 1-694, and 1-94. Arden Hills residents can access the route from the park and ride lot in Mounds View along CR H, just west of 1-35W. Schedules with stops at the park and ride lot vary from 25 to 30 minutes between trips during the peak hours. It has 6 trips each peak hour during the weekdays only. • Route 261 is a local bus route operated by Metro Transit. It connects up with express Route 260 to connect with downtown Minneapolis. The route provides connectivity between Shoreview, Roseville, and Minneapolis, along with Arden Hills, along Lexington Avenue. The schedule along Lexington Avenue varies from 10 to 30 minutes with 5 total trips during the peak hours during the weekdays only. • Route 860 is an express bus route operated by Metro Transit. This route provides connectivity to downtown St. Paul from Coon Rapids, Blaine, and Mounds View. Arden Hills residents can access the route from the park and ride lot in Mounds View along CR H, just west of I- 35W. Schedules vary from 15 to 30 minutes between trips during the peak hours. It has 5 trips each peak hour during the weekdays only. Aviation Plans/Facilities There are no existing or planned aviation facilities within Arden Hills, but the Anoka County/Blaine Airport is located approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the City of Arden Hills, west of 1-35W and north of TH 10. DRAFT 74 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT Railway There is one railway line and a few rail spurs within the City of Arden Hills. The rail line is active and operated by the Canadian Pacific Rail System (CPR) with an average of four trains per day using the line. It runs east-west through the southern portion of Arden Hills, north of County Road E with a speed threshold of 40 mph. The line includes a spur into the Red Fox business area. There are two rail spurs that are operated by the Minnesota Commercial Railway (MNNR). One spur accesses the Gateway Business District, while the other spur is abandoned and runs into the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) site, owned by the Army. Both spurs are intended to be removed in conjunction with the redevelopment of the TCAAP site. Ramsey County has Regional Rail Authority, which reviews, recommends, proposes, and buys abandoned rail lines for future Light Rail Transit (LRT) corridors. it has identified a transitway corridor through the northeast metropolitan area. The Northeast Diagonal transitway corridor follows the partially abandoned and existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks from northeast Minneapolis through St. Anthony, Roseville, Shoreview, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Gem Lake, White Bear Township, and ending in White Bear Lake. In the interim, these routes may be used for bike paths. The route does not directly impact Arden Hills. Pathways: Bikeways, Sidewalks and Trails The 2002 Arden Hills Parks, Trails, and Open Space (PTOS) Plan evaluated the existing bikeway, sidewalk and trait locations, and proposed a number of expansion and upgrade opportunities. The PTOS Plan and the 2006 update to the PTOS Plan can be found in Chapter 9 of this Comprehensive Plan. While the pathway recommendations were included in a different chapter, the City recognizes the importance of the pathway system and its contribution to the City's overall transportation system. 11.3 Future Transportation System Plan Except for the future roads on the TCAAP property, the transportation system within Arden Hills is generally considered developed, and improvements are anticipated as reconstruction of aging infrastructure is pursued. As reconstruction occurs, it will be important for the City to improve the roadway system and non-motorized travel opportunities consistent with the recommended Transportation System Principles and Standards in this Chapter and the pathways recommendations in Chapter 9 (pages through'X)to the extent possible. DRAFT 75 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts-Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT Forecasted Traffic Volumes & Capacity Needs In the City of Arden Hills, the major roadways carrying traffic are county and state roadways, ranging from arterials to collectors. The City roadways are primarily local city streets that only carry local traffic. Generally, the roadways in Arden Hills serve areas that are fully developed, and the land use patterns in Arden Hills are not expected to significantly change, except on the TCAAP property. However, an increase in traffic on these corridors is expected due to the future growth in the northern part of the City and the future growth in adjacent communities. The existing pattern of rights-of-way and development setbacks present challenges for significantly improving the existing level of service on some roadways through roadway capacity improvements. The forecasted 2030 average annual daily traffic volumes are illustrated in Figure 4.7— 2030 Forecasted Average Daily Traffic Volumes and also in Appendix A. The following roadway improvements that directly impact Arden Hills are in the State and County Transportation Improvement Programs: 2009: CSAH 96 from Old Highway 8 to TH 10 - Reconstruction 2012: 1-694 from East of 1-35W to East of Lexington Avenue — Grading, surfacing, and improvement from a 4-lane freeway to a 6-lane freeway and correction of weave at TH 10/51 Deferred from Ramsey County 5-Year TIP: County Road D from Cleveland Avenue to Fairview Avenue - Reconstruction The forecasted average annual daily travel demands approach or exceed daily capacities on several corridors. Based on 2030 traffic projections, the following roadways are anticipated to be periodically congested, near congested, or congested: Level of Service C— Periodically Congested • TH 10 from CSAH 96 to 1-694 • CSAH 51/Lexington Avenue from CSAH 96 to CR F • CSAH 51/Lexington Avenue, North of Tanglewood Drive • CSAH 96, East of TH 10 • CR E from TH 51 to CSAH 51/1-exington Avenue • CR E from CSAH 76/Snelling Avenue to CR 99 • CR E2 from CSAH 76/Snelling Avenue to 1-35W • CR I from 1-35W to CSAH 51/1-exington Avenue DRAFT 76 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT w Level of Service D & E— Near Congested • 1-694 from 1-35W to TH 10 • TH 10 from CSAH 96 to 1-35W • TH 51 from 1-694 to CR E • TH 51, South of CSAH 50/Hamline Avenue • CSAH 50/Hamline Avenue from CSAH 96 to 1-694 • CSAH 51/1-exington Avenue from Tanglewood Drive to CSAH 96 CSAH 51/1-exington Avenue, South of CR F CSAH 76/Snelling Avenue from CR E2 to CR E • CSAH 96 from 1-35W to TH 10 • CR D froml-35W to CSAH 149/1-ake Johanna Boulevard • CR E from TH 51 to CSAH 76/Snelling Avenue • CR F from CSAH 51/1-exington Avenue to CSAH 50/Hamline Avenue Level of Service F—Congested 0 1-35W from Northern City Limits to Southern City Limits • 1-694, East of TH 10 and West of 1-35W • TH 51 from CR E to CSAH 50/Hamline Avenue • CSAH 51/Lexington Avenue from Tanglewood Drive to CSAH 96 Generally, the recommended Geometric Design Standards and associated right- of-way width requirements illustrated in the Geometric Design Standards should maintain the corridor's capacity to accommodate the forecasted traffic volumes on the City's roadways. Table 4.1 — Roadway Types and Capacities identifies various roadway types and the daily capacities that the given roadway can accommodate. Capacity improvements are recommended on any roadway with a future level of service of D, E, or F, as defined in the roadway capacity discussion within the Transportation System Principals and Standards section. Roadways identified above as near congested or congested are recommended to be monitored and programmed for capacity improvements when necessary. Roadways that are periodically congested are generally identified as providing an acceptable level of service. Roadway Safety & Mobility Needs Many of the roadways within and adjacent to the City of Arden Hills are in need of capacity improvements by 2030 due to the anticipated growth throughout the area. This is due not only to growth within the City of Arden Hills but also growth DRAFT 77 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT within adjacent cities and other cities along the freeway and highway corridors. With this increase in development and increase in traffic, an increase in congestion is expected for most roadways throughout Arden Hills. Improvements are recommended for Hamline Avenue, Lexington Avenue, and the interstate freeways. The expansion and reconstruction of 1-694 will improve operations, especially from 1-35W to TH 10, even with the increased traffic expected by 2030. The other areas of 1-694 will likely be congested as much as they are today by 2030. Since the primary roadways providing significant mobility within the City of Arden Hills are county and state roadways, the City will need to coordinate with the State and County on roadway improvements. Collector roadways carrying greater than 1,500 vehicles per day have volumes that tend to create potential conflicts between vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. The City, in cooperation with Ramsey County, will need to monitor pedestrian and bicycle issues, crashes, near misses, and complaints, and prioritize roadway improvements with pavement rehabilitation needs. Strategies to improve safety and mobility will be considered, including the consideration of adding pedestrian facilities at intersections, non-motorized facilities both along and separate from roadways, additional roadway width for wider lanes or shoulders, or when possible, turn lanes to City collector roadways intersecting with County roadways. To accommodate necessary turn lanes or roadway widening, additional right-of-way may be required at the intersection. As reconstruction of aging infrastructure is pursued on City collector streets the recommended geometric design standards will assist in improving safety and mobility. Additionally, as traffic volumes approaching an intersection increase, an intersection control evaluation may be necessary. Triggers for an evaluation may include an increase in correctable crashes or an unacceptable traffic back up. Higher volume roadways that could show traffic signal benefits are under the jurisdiction of the County. As the jurisdictional authority, the County would make decisions on appropriate traffic control. The intersection control evaluation would identify the traffic control option (e.g. all way stop, roundabout, possible signalization) and capacity improvements (e.g. turn lanes) necessary to accommodate the traffic volumes in a safe and efficient manner. Future reconstruction may require modifications of existing access to include strategies such as access consolidation, right—in, right—out access only, or the development of a frontage road to improve the safety and mobility of the corridor. Additional right-of-way should be acquired for future improvements as properties in the area develop or redevelop. The high crash locations along 1-694 at 1-35W, TH 10, and TH 51 should be partially rectified by the proposed improvements on 1-694 through the area. This DRAFT 78 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT improvement includes additional lanes, and the improvement of the TH 51 ramp access to eastbound 1-694, one of the highest crash locations in the Arden Hills area. Further improvements should be studied with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Ramsey County at the interchange ramps and intersections. The current proposed interchange on TH 10 should improve the operations along TH 10 and also CSAH 96 near TH 10. This interchange would enable a separation of the traffic on each corridor, improving operations to both. Functional Classification Needs Due to the developed nature of the City of Arden Hills, together with the community's pattern of water features and freeway facilities, there are minimal opportunities to expand the local roadway system in the developed areas of the City and develop additional continuous routes through the City. The area with the most opportunity for new roadways is the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) property. As the TCAAP area is developed, there is an opportunity to provide effective routes for traffic, including the proposed county collector from CSAH 96 to CR H. This will be needed as the TCAAP property produces more trips throughout the area. Other roadway continuity improvements are not anticipated. The City will review redevelopment plans with the option to consider opportunities to improve continuity or improve/consolidate accesses. Multimodal Transportation Opportunities It is important for the community to plan for the ability to accommodate multimodal activities (i.e. transit, pedestrian, and bicycle) on all non-local roadways to provide other opportunities to move about the City and beyond. Transit Service Significant changes to the existing transit opportunities are not anticipated; however, the City is supportive of exploring additional transit options. The City will continue to be supportive of the park-n-ride lot on CR H and any expansion of the lot, which is used by Arden Hills' residents. The City will evaluate the need for future park-n-ride opportunities along with any redevelopment proposals where feasible. The City supports pursuing transit options for Northwestern College and Bethel University and for bus service to the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) site when it is developed. As the City's population ages, the City will continue to work with Metro Transit and senior community services to ensure needs are being met. DRAFT 79 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFr i Aviation Plans/Facilities Although there are not any aviation facilities within Arden Hills, standards for airspace protection are required to maintain a clear path for helicopters and for aviation related facilities. Federal Regulation Title 14, Part 77 establishes standards and notification requirements for objects affecting navigable airspace. This notification serves as the basis for evaluating the effect of the construction or alteration on operating procedures, determining the potential hazardous effect of the proposed construction on air navigation, identifying mitigation measures to enhance safe air navigation, and charting of new objects. Notification allows the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to identify potential aeronautical hazards in advance, thus preventing or minimizing the adverse impacts to the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace. Title 14, Part 77.13 requires any person/organization who intends to sponsor any of the following construction or alterations to notify the Administrator of the FAA when: • Any construction or alteration exceeding 200 feet above ground level; • Any construction or alteration: . o Within 20,000 feet of a public use or military airport which exceeds a 100:1 surface from any point on the runway of each airport with at least one runway more than 3,200 feet o Within 10,000 feet of a public use or military airport which exceeds 50:1 surface from any point on the runway of each airport with its longest runway no more than 3,200 feet o Within 5,000 feet of a public use heliport which exceeds a 25:1 surface; • Any highway, railroad or other traverse way whose prescribed adjusted height would exceed that above noted standards; • When requested by FAA; and, • Any construction or alteration located on a public use airport or heliport regardless of height or location. Persons or organizations intending to sponsor construction or alterations require notification to the FAA under Title 14, Part 77.13 using FAA form 7460-1 and associated amendments. Any structure meeting the requirements in Title 14, Part 77.13 must receive permission from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Structures will be compatible with the Anoka County/Blaine Airport Long Term Comprehensive Plan. DRAFT gp . 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT Pathways: Bikeways, Sidewalks and Trails The 2002 Arden Hills Park, Trails, and Open Space (PTOS) Plan discusses future bikeway, sidewalk and trail locations. Future shoulder, bikeway, sidewalk, and trail locations are also discussed in the geometric design standards section of Appendix X, to be pursued along or adjacent to most collector roadways. For each of the County highways within Arden Hills, roadway shoulders, in addition to trails and sidewalks, are recommended on both sides of the roadway to accommodate pedestrian, bicycle, and other non-motorized travel where feasible. The City will review pedestrian facilities and school routings to determine their adequacy as traffic conditions change. Shoulders, bikeways, sidewalks and trails will be integrated with the roadway system to provide routes for non-motorized traffic to access existing and future controlled intersections. Non-motorized facilities are to be incorporated into road projects and land redevelopments to safely accommodate pedestrians and bicycles with vehicle traffic in the City, as the City grows. While pathways are an integral part of the City's transportation system, specific pathway needs are described in Chapter 9: Parks and Recreation. The improvements and expansions in that chapter are required to ensure a sound transportation within Arden Hills. DRAFT 81 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 12. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY Goal: Promote conservation and sustainable design practices in the preservation, development, redevelopment, and maintenance of the City's natural and built environment. To achieve this environmental sustainability goal, the following policies are proposed: a Encourage the use of sustainable design practices in the construction and operations of new development, additions, and building renovations. o Evaluate energy use, set energy savings goals, and work to reduce energy use at City facilities and vehicles. o Encourage the use of site sensitive planning and design to protect significant natural features throughout the City. o Support the use of renewable energy. o Support the efficient use of land and development that reduces reliance on fossil fuels. o Work to reduce carbon emissions at City facilities and vehicles. o Work to protect air and water quality. o Encourage programs that reduce waste and increase recycling. The need for environmental sustainability, green building practices, energy efficiency, and conservation is becoming more apparent as energy prices rise and the impact of humans on the environment becomes more prominent. While Arden Hills has a relatively small impact when compared to the rest of the world, the City does play a role in protecting the environment and encouraging sustainable development and redevelopment. If more cities adopt environmentally sustainable practices, the combined impact is substantial regardless of city size. Sustainability is more than just energy and water conservation. It incorporates environmentally sensitive site planning, resource efficient building materials, enhancing indoor and outdoor air quality, enhancing the use of daylight, reducing the need for automotive travel, and many other techniques. There is a vast array of techniques that can be used to reduce the impact on the environment. The benefits of implementing sustainable building, sustainable environment, and conservation practices include, but are not limited to: o Lower electric and utility costs; o Environmentally effective use of building materials; o Enhanced health and productivity; o Long-term economic returns; and, o Reduced environmental impact. DRAFT 82 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT While this chapter focuses on environmentally sustainability, this chapter is not independent from the other chapters in this Comprehensive Plan. This particular chapter focuses on the overarching policies, practices, information, and implementation techniques that apply throughout the Plan or simply do not have a specific spot in other chapters. However, there are policies, tools, and implementation techniques in other chapters that directly relate to environmental conservation and sustainability. The goal of this chapter is to recognize the overall importance of conservation and sustainability as well as to coordinate these efforts in the Plan. This chapter is an integral part and is intended to enhance the other chapters in the Comprehensive Plan. 12.1 Green Building Practices 12.2 Low Impact Design 12.3 Carbon Reduction 12.4 Implementation Develop an energy action plan. Increase recycling — residential and commercial Encourage use of pervious surfaces. Green building practices DRAFT 83 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hilts- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 13. PUBLIC FACILITIES, SERVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE • Goal. Provide efficient and high-quality public facilities, services, and infrastructure. To achieve this public facilities, services, and infrastructure goal, the following policies are proposed: o Provide reliable and high-quality water facilities, sanitary sewer, and stormwater systems. o Prepare long-term plans to identify, prioritize, and determine the costs to maintain and/or replace City water and sewer facilities. o Maintain and update the emergency preparedness plan as needed. o Work to provide efficient, low-cost services through ongoing evaluation and intergovernmental coordination. o Utilize the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and annual budgeting process for prioritizing major public expenditures. o Work to reduce inflow and infiltration into the City's sewer system. o Coordinate with the public and private school system on programs and activities where feasible. o Promote the continuation of a public library within Arden Hills. o Continuously evaluate all contracted services to assure that efficient and high-quality services are being provided. The Arden Hills City government provides a myriad of public facilities and services. While some services are used or seen on a daily basis, such as streets, sewer, and water, other services are less noticed though are absolutely necessary for the efficient functioning of the City. The City continually strives to provide services in an efficient manner. In order to provide a wide array of services at a low-cost, Arden Hills has sought partnerships with other cities and Ramsey County. Fire services are provided through the Lake Johanna Fire Department, which provides fire services to Shoreview and North Oaks in addition to Arden Hills. The Ramsey County Sheriff's department provides police services to Arden Hills. In 2006, the City entered into a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Roseville for engineering services, which included a part-time engineer at Arden Hills City Hall. The City also has a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Roseville for information technology services, which has been in place since xxxx. Since the physical infrastructure of Arden Hills is aging, the City recognizes the need to track and evaluate the condition of the City's infrastructure. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is one tool that is used to plan for maintenance and/or replacement of facilities as appropriate. DRAFT 84 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 13.1 Water Resource Management In the developed portion of Arden Hills, the City is not anticipating any significant land use changes that would result in increased demand on the City's water supply, stormwater management system, or sanitary sewer system. While redevelopment of the TCAAP property is expected to be completed by 2030, the City has not yet adopted a land use plan, densities are not yet known, and the phasing is also unknown. Therefore, the City's Water Supply, Stormwater, and Sanitary Sewer Plans do not yet reflect the potential needs on the TCAAP property. These Plans will need to be updated once a land use plan is selected for the TCAAP property. 13.1.1 Water Supply The purpose of the Water Supply Plan is to provide the City of Arden Hills and its residents with guidance for water system emergencies and conservation of the City's water supply. The Water Supply Plan is divided into four parts (Appendix X): Part I: Water supply system description and evaluation Part il: Emergency response procedures Part III: Water Conservation Plan Part IV: Metropolitan Land Planning Act Requirements The City of Arden Hills purchases potable water from the City of Roseville, who purchases water from the Saint Paul Water Utility. St. Paul Water Utility provides the required treatment processes before the water is introduced into the water distribution system in Arden Hills; no further treatment is required by the City of Arden Hills. Once in the City, the system is under the jurisdiction of the City's water utility. Historically, the water utility has been managed to be self-supporting with future replacement needs financed from revenues generated from the fees paid by users. The City periodically reviews the arrangement with the City of Roseville and the Saint Paul Water Utility to ensure that the City is obtaining the most cost-effective services. The City has three connection points with the City of Roseville. These are located at Cleveland Avenue and County Road D, Fairview Avenue and County Road D, and Gtenhill Road and Hamline Avenue. DRAFT 85 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT The City also has three emergency cross connections with adjacent communities. The Arden Hills-Shoreview connections, which are eight- inch lines across Lexington Avenue, one just north of Grey Fox Road, the other north of Cummings Park Drive. The third line is a connection to New Brighton, which is an eight-inch line across Stowe Avenue just east of Cleveland Avenue. Appendix X includes the updated Water Supply Plan for Arden Hills. Since a land use plan for the proposed redevelopment of the TCAAP property has not yet been adopted, this Plan does not reflect future water needs on the TCAAP property. This Plan will need to be updated once a final land use plan has been selected. 13.1.2 Sanitary Sewer Sanitary sewer interceptor and treatment is provided to the City via the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) system. Within the City, the system is under the jurisdiction of the City's sanitary sewer utility. Historically, the sanitary sewer utility has been managed to be self- supporting, with future infrastructure replacement needs financed from revenues generated from the fees paid by users. The City operates and maintains fourteen (14) sanitary sewer lift stations. Since 1990, ten (10) of these have been replaced. The last four lift stations to be replaced are scheduled for replacement in the next ten (10) years., The City also operates and maintains two water towers and one booster station (water pumping facilities.) All of these facilities require around the clock monitoring. It is in the City's CIP to acquire SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) in the next five (5)years, which will allow staff to monitor all lift stations and water supply facilities remotely. Describe current conditions, maintenance program, frequency of televising, and replacement schedule. Appendix X includes the Sanitary Sewer Plan for Arden Hills. Since a land use plan for the proposed redevelopment of the TCAAP property has not yet been adopted, this Plan does not reflect future sewer needs on the TCAAP property. This Plan will need to be updated once a final land use plan has been selected. 13.1.3 Storm Water/Surface Water Drainage DRAFT 86 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT Storm drainage is provided throughout the City with a network of storm sewers, open ditches, holding ponds, which are under the jurisdiction of the City's Surface Water Management Utility. Similar to the water and sewer utilities, the Surface Water Management Utility has been designed to be financially self-supportive for day-to-day operations, ongoing maintenance, and upgrades. Arden Hills is in the Rice Creek Watershed District, which is the regulating authority for stormwater in Arden Hills_ Much of the surface water in Arden Hills drains towards Rice Creek, which flows southwest through Anoka and Ramsey County toward the Mississippi River approximately 1.5 miles north of Interstate 694 in Fridley. Stormwater from Roseville flows north through Ramsey County Ditch No. 4 into Little Lake Johanna and Lake Johanna. From there, the water continues north into Long Lake in New Brighton. Lake Josephine also drains into Lake Johanna. Round Lake flows into Valentine Lake, which rains into Long Lake. Sunfish Lake drains into Marsden Lake, which flows into County Ditch No. 1 and drains into Rice Creek. Although Karth Lake does not have any natural outlets, a pump station manages the water level and any water pumped out drains to Valentine Lake through storm sewer and ditch systems. • Although most of the land south of County Road 96 is developed, not all areas are served by the City's stormwater system. The City does require storm sewer to be installed with road reconstruction projects; however, this policy is not always practical or feasible, and alternate design standards may sometimes be appropriate. A process to allow alternates to storm sewer is needed. The City completed its Surface Water Management Plan, which was approved by the Rice Creek Watershed District in 2002. The Rice Creek Watershed District is currently in the process of updating their Water Resource Management Plan. Once their update is completed, the City will update the Surface Water Management Plan. Since a land use plan for the proposed redevelopment of the TCAAP property has not yet been adopted, the current Stormwater Management Plan does not yet reflect future stormwater management needs on the TCAAP property. The Surface Water Management Plan will need to be updated once a final land use plan for the TCAAP property has been selected. DRAFT 87 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 13.1.4 Inflow and Infiltration (W) The City of Arden Hills has been identified as a community with inflow and infiltration (I&I) problems. The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) has imposed a surcharge on the City as a part of its I&I reduction/elimination program. Based on current readings that the METC has taken from several monitoring points, Arden Hills' surcharge is estimated at $100,100 a year for five years, beginning in 2007. The City is examining its sanitary sewer system to identify areas that are contributing to the I&I problem and take the necessary measures to reduce and/or eliminate the surcharge. The City began to study its I&I problem in 2007 in response to the surcharge. In 2008, the City will complete the initial study, develop and implement an I&I reduction plan. The I&I study to date includes smoke testing, flow metering, sanitary sewer main televising, and manhole inspections. 13.2 Other Utilities Electricity, natural gas, and cable television are provided and maintained by private companies; however, they do use the right-of-way for distribution of these services. Electricity and natural gas is provided by Xcel Energy. Comcast provides cable television services to Arden Hills. 13.3 City Street Maintenance The City has an on-going Pavement Management Program (PMP)that documents the physical condition of the approximately 31 miles of streets. The condition of each of the streets is evaluated and given a Pavement Condition Index (PCI), which is used to prioritize street reconstruction and maintenance. The PMP reviews roadway pavement condition as well as presence of concrete curb and gutters, storm drainage system,and public utility conditions. These factors are weighted together to generate a prioritized list of roadway improvements. A financial analysis is conducted and the proposed improvements are grouped into annual programs in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and annual budgeting process. Technological advances and development activities are placing increasing strains on the City's right-of-way. Right-of-way(ROW) is used to provide area for DRAFT 88 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT electric, gas, telephone, cable, and other public and private utility lines. Unplanned use of the ROW can lead to a confusing jumble of underground utilities that increase the maintenance and reconstruction costs to all users. It is in the City's best interest to revise its right-of-way ordinance to provide for a comprehensive approach for the maintenance and construction for all public and private utilities within the City ROW. 13.4 Emergency Preparedness The City adopted the Emergency Operations Plan on November 14, 2005, and updated it on December 12, 2006. The purpose of this Plan is to maximize the protection of life and property, ensure the continuity of government, sustain survivors, and repair essential facilities and utilities. The Plan is intended to assist key City officials and emergency organization to carry out their responsibilities for protection of life and property under a wide range of emergency conditions. It is also important to be able to efficiently coordinate emergency services and communicate with other governmental organizations. 13.5 City Buildings and Services 13.5.1 City Hall ,* The current City Hall building was opened in October 2001 and is located at 1245 West Highway 96, which is approximately half way between Lexington and Hamline Avenues on the north side of Highway 96. The building includes a community room, modern Council chambers, and additional space for future needs. 13.5.2 Public Works/Joint Maintenance Facility In October 2004, the City of Arden Hills, Ramsey County, and the Mounds View School district opened a joint maintenance and operations facility on Kirkwold Drive, which is in the northwest corner of the Highway 96 and Hamfine Avenue intersection. The City's Public Works Department, including staff and equipment is located at this facility. 13.6 City Services In addition to basic infrastructure needs, the City provides a wide array of services, including police and fire protection as well as day to day administrative DRAFT 89 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills- Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT functions. The City strives to provide all services in an efficient and high-quality manner. 13.6.1 Police The City contracts with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office for all policies services. As with all its vendors, the City periodically reviews this arrangement to ensure that the City is obtaining the most cost-effective services for its residence. The Ramsey County Patrol Division is located in Arden Hills at the Joint Maintenance Facility. As development occurs on TCAAP, the City and Ramsey County will evaluate the services provided to the City to determine if additional facilities or services are needed. 13.6.2 Fire The Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department provides fire fighting services to Arden Hills, Shoreview, and North Oaks. The fire department owns four fire stations: o Station 1 in Arden Hills at 3246 New Brighton Road; o Station 2 in North Oaks at 4676 Hogsdon Road; o Station 3 in Shoreview at 1140 County Road 1; and, o Station 4 in Shoreview at 3615 Victoria Street. As with all its vendors, the City periodically reviews this arrangement to ensure that the City is obtaining the most cost-effective services for its residence. As development occurs on TCAAP, the City and Lake Johanna Fire Department will evaluate the services provided to the City to determine if additional facilities are needed. 13.6.3 Other Cities Services The City of Arden Hills has a full time staff of XX people and a part-time/seasonal staff of approximately XX people to provide a full range of city services. The City operates under a City Administrator style government, and the administrator manages the function of all other departments as well as implementation of the City Council's policies and decisions. 13.7 Postal Services The City receives regular mail service via the New Brighton Post Office. If the need or opportunity arises for new or additional facilities, it has been a longstanding desire to have a full service post office within Arden Hills. DRAFT 90 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFr 13.8 Library Opened in 1969, the Arden Hills Library is located at 1941 County Road E-2, which is near the intersection of County Road E2 and New Brighton Road. In 2008, the library had more than 81,000 items in its collection. The library is part of the Ramsey County Library system, which includes six other libraries throughout Ramsey County. While discussions about the future of the Arden Hills Library are ongoing, the City has a stated goal to keep a library facility within the City limits. As development occurs on TCAAP, relocating the library to TCAAP or somewhere else in Arden Hills may be a possibility. 13.9 Public Schools Almost all of Arden Hills is in the Mounds View School District (ISD 621); however, a small area in the southeastern corner of Arden Hills is within the Roseville School District (iSD 623). Two of the eleven Mounds View School District buildings are located in Arden Hills_ the Mounds View High School at 1900 Lake Valentine Road and Valentine Elementary at 1770 West County Road E2. The Mounds View School is also a partner in the joint maintenance facility used by the City and Ramsey County. The Mounds View School District is one of the highest rated school districts in the state and is a valued organization in the community. In addition to serving Arden Hills, the Mounds View School District all serves part of all of the cities of Blaine, Mounds View, New Brighton, Roseville, Shoreview, North Oaks, Spring Lake Park, and Vadnais Heights as well as White Bear Township. As of October 2007, the district had approximately 9,700 students and was the fourteenth largest school district in the State. The district is anticipating declining enrollment, and no new educational facilities are planned. While future development on the TCAAP property may add students to the school system, those students would likely just offset other declines. The Roseville School District has ten buildings; however, none of them are located in Arden Hills. The district includes all or parts of the cities of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Maplewood, Roseville, and Shoreview. DRAFT 91 3/14/2008 City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT 13.10 Higher Education While not technically a public service, Arden Hills is home to two private higher education institutions, Bethel University and Northwestern College. Bethel University is located south of Interstate 694 and is on the shoreline of Lake Valentine. The University has a long range Master Plan and future expansion on the campus is expected. Split by the Roseville-Arden Hills border, Northwestern College is located in the south party of the City on the southern shore of Lake Johanna. The College does not have a road access into Arden Hills; however, many of the College's educational buildings are located in Arden Hills. Both Roseville and Arden Hills approved a long range Master Plan in October 2007. Bethel University and Northwestern College have abundant natural resources and trails that are open for use to the residents of Arden Hills. The City strives to maintain a strong working relationship with both institutions to help ensure long term recreational access to these campuses and to coordinate any changes or expansions with the adjacent residential areas. DRAFT 92 3/24/2008 City of Arden Hilts - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT • 14. IMPLEMENTATION In progress DRAFT 93 3/14/2008