Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-22-08 Item 1D Comp Plan Update ~ /],\~HILLS City Council Agenda Packet Item: ~ ~HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: January 22,2008 Work Session TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: James Lehnhoff, City Plarmerf SUBJECT: 2008 Comprehensive Plan Working Draft of the Vision, Policies, and Strategies by Topic Requested Action Staff requests feedback on the topics and ideas in the draft vision, policies, and strategies for the chapters in the 2008 Comprehensive Plan. Staff also requests a review of the overall City vision statement. This 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 initial feedback on the overall topics within the Plan. If there is not sufficient time to review this item at the January 22,2008, work session, Staff encourages the Council members to review the document and provide comments directly to Staff via marking up the paper copy, by email, by phone, or in person. Background 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. Staff has begun the process of drafting the Comprehensive Plan based on the information collected at the community meetings, CouncillPlarming Cornrnission cornrnents, previous City Plans, requirements set by the Met Council, and State Statutes. While the 1998 Comprehensive Plan is ten years old, much of it still applicable today; however, Staffis revising the Plan's format and any language that is carried over into the new Comprehensive Plan. In order to keep the drafting process moving forward in a productive manner, Staff is requesting that the Council review and provide feedback on the working draft of the vision, policies, and strategies for each chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. Staff is not requesting a detailed review of how this draft is written. Instead, Staff desires feedback on the overall substance in the draft document. This is a working draft, and Staffrecognizes 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. City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for January 22, 2008 IlMetro-inet.us\ardenhillsIPlanningIComprehensive PlanlMemosl012208 - CC Report - Camp Plan - Vision, Policies, and Strategies.doc Page 1 of4 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. Demographics* 3. Surnrnary of Goals 4. Active Living (Blue CrossIBlue Shield Grant) 5. TCAAP 6. Land Use* 7. Housing* 8. Economic Development and Redevelopment 9. Parks and Trails* 10. Protected Resolifces* 11. Transportation* 12. Sustainability 13. Public Facilities and Services*/Intergovemmental Coordination 14. Implementation* 'Required by the Metropolitan Couucil aud State Statutes Each of the Chapters 4-13 has a proposed all-encompassing vision statement. The vision statement for each chapter is intended be somewhat of a general, positive, and, for the most part, uncontroversial statement. Each vision statement is then supported by a series of policies and strategies that are designed to advance the vision statement and, ideally, the overall City vision. The policies and strategies can be specific or general; short-term or long-term; easy or difficult; and may in some instances be controversial. Some of the policies and strategies 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 policy or strategy. However, each statement should have a desirable result and be within the realm of possibility. There is a significant amount of supporting data that will still be added to each chapter. The implementation chapter is particularly important and has not yet been written. The full draft will be made available to the Planning Commission and City Council for review well before any final action needs to be taken on the Comprehensive Plan. If you have a specific idea in mind that you think should be in the Comprehensive Plan, or notice that something is missing, 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 within the Plan. The draft vision, policies, and strategies will be made available to the public via the City's website and at City Hall for public comment. City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for January 22, 2008 \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhillsIPlanningIComprehensive Plan\MemoslO12208 - CC Report - Comp Plan - Vision, Policies, and Strategies.doc Page 2 of 4 It is important to remember that while a Comprehensive Plan is meant to take a long-term look at the cornrnunity, 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, 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. City Vision Statement The City's current vision statement is: 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. At the community meetings, there were a number of cornrnents referencing the importance of the City's neighborhoods and the business cornrnunity. Based on those comments, it may be appropriate to make the following minor modifications to the City's overall vision statement in the 2008 Comprehensive Plan: The City of Arden Hills is committed to maintaining a strong community that values our unique environment, our high-quality residential neighborhoods, our vital business community, our fiscal soundness, and our tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play. There is no requirement to revise the existing vision statement. If you have any suggestions or proposed revisions, Staff welcomes your feedback on the proposed changes. Comprehensive Plan Work Plan Based on the Comprehensive Plan work schedule, Staff anticipates completing the first full draft of the plan in late February for Planning Cornrnission and City Council review. After the Council and Cornrnission review, the draft will then go to a public open house in mid to late March for public comments and questions. If everything stays on schedule, the Planning Cornrnission will hold a public hearing ofthe Comprehensive Plan at their April 2, 2008, meeting. The City Council would then likely officially review the Plan at their April 28, 2008, meeting. There is some limited flexibility in the review schedule. 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 cornrnunities, the school district, and the watershed districts. If the draft Arden Hills Comprehensive Plan is adopted in April by the City Council, it would then come back to the City Council after the other public agencies have reviewed the Plan. The Plan is then submitted to the Metropolitan Council for their approval. ' City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for January 22, 2008 \lMetro-inet.us1ardenhills\PlanningIComprehensive PlanlMemoslO12208 - CC Report - Camp Plan - Vision, Policies, and Strategies. doc Page 3 of4 Attachments Working Draft of the Vision, Policies, and Strategies by Topic City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for January 22, 2008 \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\PlanningIComprehensive Plan\Memos\012208 - CC Report - Camp Plan - Vision, Policies, and Strategies. doc Page 4 of 4 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 4. ACTIVE LIVING Vision: The City seeks to protect the safety and enhance the health and well- being of all residents, workers, and visitors. To achieve this active living vision, the following policies and strategies are proposed: o Incorporate active living principles into new developments and redevelopments where feasible (describe active living principles in a sidebar) o Revise the city and zoning codes to remove obstacles to active living principles. o Incorporate Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles into city regulations, new developments, and redevelopments to increase safety for all residents. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT 7 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 5. TCAAP Vision: Arden Hills seeks to develop the 585 acre TCMP property in an environmentally sensitive and economically sustainable manner that is also compatible with the existing neighborhoods in Arden Hills. Each chapter will reference TCMP. Since a detailed land use plan for TCMP has not yet been adopted, the Comprehensive Plan will only include general statements about TCMP property. Once a land use plan for TCMP is adopted, the Plan will be amended to reflect the details of TCMP. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT 8 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 6. LAND USE Land Use Vision: Arden Hills will 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 on the TCAAP property. To achieve this land use vision, the following policies and strategies 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 carry out the Comprehe ive Plan. o Update the City's Zoning Code bring it into conformance with the Comprehensive Plan. o Ensure that land use regul compatible with nearby J:l natural features; minimi visually enhances deve o Evaluate zoning reg nsure that sufficient buffers are provided between co cia , industrial, and residential uses to protect the cha 0 e City's residential neighborhoods. o Develop sm or the B-2, B-3, B-4, and I-Flex Zoning Districts. The s will provide a more detailed redevelopment vision for' . n into this Comprehensive Plan. o Develo tandards for all commercial and industrial develo nsure the construction of high-quality and aesthetica ancing development. o Preserve the stability and quality of the city's neighborhoods while allowing for redevelopment that is complimentary to existing development. o Develop zoning regulations that restrict housing construction that is not sensitive to the character of the existing neighborhood. o Continue to enforce property maintenance codes to protect the quality and property values in the City. o Provide a balanced mix and density of residential, park, open space, residential, and commercial land uses on the TCAAP property 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 parts of TCAAP as open space. o Explore the possibility of constructing a community gathering space. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT ns p te development that is . s, neighborhood character, and strian and vehicular conflict; and 9 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT 10 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 7. HOUSING Vision: Arden Hills will develop and maintain a strong, vital, diverse, and stable housing supply for af( members of the community. To achieve this housing vision, the following policies and strategies are proposed: o Encourage the development of a variety of housing options by preserving and increasing high-quality housing opportunities that are suitable for all ages, incomes, and household types . Encourage the incorporation of affordable, life cycle, and work force housing into the TCMP development and other housing development opportunities throughout the City where feasible. . Review City codes on a periodic basis to consider and encourage a range of housing opportunities a innovative site design. o Maintain the quality, safety, and uniq haracter of the City's housing stock . Promote the use of high q construction to minimize stock. . Ensure safety, Iivabirt a bility of the housing stock through enforcement of the ate Building Code. o Preserve and strengthen the munity's neighborhoods by encouraging and enforcing high st roperty management and maintenance . Ensure aUra eighborhoods by education and enforcement using and property maintenance codes. . Explore t of a rental licensing code to ensure the functio alntenance of rental properties. . Explor ion of an administrative fining program to deter ongoing n e and property maintenance issues. o Housing developmen and redevelopment will be encouraged that is complimentary to the City's established neighborhoods and enhances the character of the neighborhoods . 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. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT II City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT Vision: Arden Hills will promote the development and maintenance of a viable, innovative, and diverse business community. To achieve this economic development and redevelopment vision, the following policies and strategies are proposed: o Promote the construction of buildings that can be adapted for different types of uses over the course of a building's lifetime. o Promote business retention and expansion to enhance the existing economic base. o Develop a database to assist businesses in identifying appropriate and available locations within the City. o Evaluate the land use regulations in the commercial zones to provide flexibility for economic development who requiring high-quality buildings and uses with minimal impact on resi tial areas. o Design and construct gateway sign . ary entrance points into the City to help develop a sense of id Ity fo community. o Construct way-finding signage t t trave ers to specific destinations within the City. o Encourage the development of tfood restaurants within the City. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT 12 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 9. PARKS AND TRAILS Vision: Arden Hills is dedicated to serving all citizens by providing a comprehensive, well-maintained, and interconnected system of parks, trails, 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 trails vision, the following policies and strategies are proposed: o Develop, maintain, and encourage the use of a coherent system of neighborhood parks and trails that are safe and engaging. . Develop, maintain, and encourage the use of arterial trails that span the City from east to west and from north to south and which connect with neighborhood trails within the city and to regional trails. . Connect neighborhoods, parks d other destinations points through a City-wide trail syst . Strengthen the park and tr syste making improvements as feasible through the ann geting and CIP process. o Provide recreation programs tli ess the interests of all segments of the community, including c 'Idr outh, adults, families, and seniors. o Encourage non-motorized n and commuting within Arden Hills and beyond. o Protect and encoura active and passive r. o Plan for parks, trail both of all resid o Explore the u improve and e o Continue to purs improvements. o Continue to construct way-finding signage for parks and trails. lakes, marshes, and wooded areas for creation in TCAAP that address the interests n Hills. ding program or other financing options to City's park and trail system. side funding sources for park and trail 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT 13 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 10. PROTECTED RESOURCES Vision: Open spaces, lakes, wetlands, and olher natural amenities are highly valued in the Arden Hills, and the City seeks to preserve and restore these vital natural resources throughout the community. To achieve this protected resources vision, the following policies and strategies are proposed: o Develop a tree preservation ordinance that protects the highly valued trees within the City. o Update the shoreland development regulations to be in compliance with Minnesota Department of Natural of Resources regulations, Rice Creek Watershed District regulations, and to encourage the protection of the City's water resources. o Develop standards and best managem t practices (BMPs) to protect the natural features in the City and to min' ze the impact of natural resources. o Work with the appropriate agenci protected and enhanced. o Support public educational op of the natural environment s natural environment. o Work to promote the long-te open space outside 0 an o Identify and work to that water quality is les to foster a better understanding ays to restore and protect the eservation of the TCAAP property as oposed for redevelopment. nsitive natural resources within the City. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT 14 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 11. TRANSPORT A liON Vision: Arden Hills will work to develop and maintain an efficient, multi-modal transportation infrastructure to serve all residents and businesses. To achieve this transportation vision, the following policies and strategies are proposed: o Provide efficient and well-maintained roadway and trail linkages throughout the City to ensure access and mobility o Coordinate transportation plans with adjacent communities and the County, State, and Federal governments to assure system continuity, determine priorities, and to efficiently use resources and reduce congestion o Manage traffic in residential neighborhoods to not overburden any particular street. o Maintain and improve older streets in Management Program (PMP). o Consider the use of alternate stre respect topographical and envir City. o Require trail connections a os - Highway 10 with reconstru o Promote the addition of tran o Investigate the potent" n 694, and Interstate walls where feasibl o Develop standa throughout th o TCAAP... City through a Pavement Highway 51, Highway 96, and Ions in Arden Hills. control along Highway 10, Interstate ith MnDOT and FOOT to install noise se the safety of pedestrian crossings 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT 15 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 12. SUST AINABILlTY Vision: Arden Hills recognizes the importance of conserving resources and protecting the environment; therefore, the City will encourage the use of green building practices, energy efficiency, and sustainability into existing and new developments. To achieve this sustainabi/ity vision, the following policies and strategies are proposed: o Encourage the use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles into new developments and redevelopments where feasible. o Consider regulations that promote or require the use of pervious surfaces in place of impervious surfaces in new developments and redevelopments. o Require that all residential properties services. o Promote recycling at commercial o Encourage efforts to reduce car contributing to global climate c e regularly scheduled recycling ind . I establishments in the City. xide reduction that may be 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT 16 City of Arden Hills - 2008 Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 13. PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES -INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION Vision: Arden Hills seeks to provide and maintain efficient public infrastructure, facifities, and services. To achieve this public facilities and services vision, the following policies and strategies are proposed: o Provide reliable water facilities, sanitary sewer, and stormwater systems o Prepare long-term plans to identify, prioritize, and determine the costs to maintain andlor replace City streets, water, and sewer facilities o Maintain and update the emergency preparedness plan. o Work to provide efficient, low-cost government services through ongoing evaluation and intergovernmental coordination. o Utilize the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and annual budgeting process for prioritizing major public expenditure o Work to reduce inflow and infiltration' the City's sewer system. o Schools o Library o Police and Fire o Stormwater 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - DRAFT 17