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Home My WebLink About1A, B2 Small Area Plan ~ ~HILLS Request for Council Action Prepared By: James Lehnhoff Council Work Session Date: September 15, 2008 Review the County Road E District Master Plan (B2 District Small Area Plan) and provide comments, questions, direction, and suggestions. Budgeted Amount: $35,000 Actual Amount: $63,005 (Contracted amount) Funding Source: Planning & Zoning Background: The draft plan prepared for the County Road E has been completed and reviewed by the steering committee. The plan is being provided for Council review. No official action is required. Supporting Documents: 1. Memorandum dated September 15, 2008 from Community Development Director 2. Draft County Road E Master Plan (available online at www.ci.arden-hills.mn.us/smallareaolan) ~ ~~HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: September 15, 2008 TO: Mayor & City Council FROM: James Lehnhoff, Community Development Director # Bill Weber, MFRA Y/' SUBJECT: County Road E District Master Plan (B2 District Small Area Plan) Reauested Action Review the County Road E Di~trict Master Plan (B2 District Small Area Plan) and provide comments, questions, direction, and suggestions. Plannine: Process At the end of November 2007, the City instituted a moratorium on development and redevelopment in the B2 Zoning District in order to create a long-term redevelopment vision for this area. The B-2 Zoning district includes those properties on County Road E between Highway 51 and Lexington Avenue, on Connelly Avenue, and Pine Tree Drive. Significant progress has been made since last November and particularly since May. With great assistance from the community and the steering committee, a master plan that addresses the complex issues of transportation, land use intensity, appearance, accessibility, and long-term viability has been drafted. After a series of six committee meetings and a community meeting, the steering committee has reviewed the above issues and come to a consensus on moving this draft plan forward to the City Council and the overall community for review. The materials presented at each of the steering committee meetings are available online at www.cLarden-hills.mn.us/smallareaplan. Redevelopment of the properties at the northwest and southwest intersection of County Road E and Lexington Avenue is almost certain. This draft master plan will be instrumental in moving forward a community vision on how this and other redevelopment and enhancement can occur in the study area. City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for September 15, 2008 \ \Ahdocsl \ah \AHdata\Planning\ Community Development\B2 Small Area Plan\Meetings\Sept 152008 Meeting\091508 - B2 Small Area Plan- Council Work session. doc Page 1 of3 To help facilitate the meetings and guide the planning process, the City Council hired Bill Weber of McCombs Frank Roos Associates (MFRA) to assist Staff in preparing this plan. The MFRA planning team included three sub-consultants: Maxfield Research for the residentiaVcommercial market study, Spack Consulting for the transportation analysis, and Hay Dobbs for the urban design portion. The steering committee is comprised of 15 members of the community, including residents, businesses, and property owners. The planning process included evaluating existing conditions, creating a long-range redevelopment vision and guiding principles, addressing transportation questions, evaluating market potential, reviewing land uses, and drafting design guidelines. The draft plan includes a range of recommendations and an implementation plan. The design guidelines will be the first item that is implemented upon adoption of the plan. Notable Findine:s and Recommendations The guiding principles, findings, and recommendations in the draft plan are based on the information collected at the May 20 community meeting, the steering committee meetings, and the technical information prepared by the consultants. The steering committee attendees at the September 4, 2008, meeting unanimously agreed to send the draft version of the Plan to the City Council work session. To help guide the review, a list of notable findings and recommendations in the draft plan has been included: . The plan has set the stage for consensus on public and private improvements that will help achieve the development potential of both Arden Plaza and the former Holiday Inn site. That is, the committee, affected landowners, staff and consultants have agreed in principle on site plans and revised access design that will allow a moderate amount of redevelopment on the Arden Plaza site with manageable short-term traffic impacts. Longer-term, a scheme is proposed to allow further development on both the Arden Plaza and Holiday Inn sites using a signalized intersection at a new location on County Road E. County Road E is proposed to be redesigned as a landscaped boulevard with a central, landscaped median that will focus the left-turn movements, improve traffic safety, greatly enhance appearances and set the tone for private redevelopment. The redesign of the County Road will also introduce a pair of bicycling lanes, a greatly needed addition. Comprehensive set of design guidelines for both private and public improvements will help ensure a high quality of physical improvements The land use plan calls for moving beyond several outmoded developments and using land in ways that are more consistent with the important role that this corridor may play in Arden Hills. . . . . City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for September 15, 2008 \ \Ahdocs 1\ ah \AHdata\Planning\ Community Development\B2 Small Area Plan \Meetings\Sept 15 2008 Meeting\091508 - B2 Small Area Plan _ Council Work session. doc Page 2 of3 · Overall, the plan guides the way for the next major step in the evolution of the corridor from "County Road E" to "Lake Johanna Boulevard" and a stronger sense of community center. · A detailed copy of the traffic study report is available upon request. Ramsey County has been consulted in the redesign of their road. · A preliminary cost estimate for a complete package of traffic, streetscape, pedestrian and bicyclist improvements along the new Lake Johanna Boulevard was prepared and totals $2.0 million. (That includes $0.5 million for a ped-bike bridge over Minnesota Highway 51.) · The citizens advisory committee has been closely involved every step of the way and fully supports the draft plan. · There were several site plan and staging sketches prepared for the Arden Plaza site that were not included in the plan document but can be made available for the discussion. Although prior meetings have referred to this as the B2 District Small Area Plan, the working title is the "County Road E District Master Plan." There are not any technical differences between a small area plan and a master plan. Remainin2: Schedule and Next Steps The project is on a relatively strict time line because the B2 District moratorium will expire on December 5, 2008. It is the City's goal to have the Zoning Code amended to recognize the plan and necessary design standards before the moratorium expires. The remaining schedule for this project is as follows: · September 18, 2008 - Community meeting review · October 1, 2008 - Planning Commission review of the Small Area Plan · October 7, 2008 - Final Steering Committee · October 13, 2008 - Official City Council Review and Acceptance of the Plan · November 5, 2008 - Planning Commission reviews Design Standards Ordinance Amendments for the B2 Zone · November 24, 2008 - City Council reviews Design Standards Ordinance Amendments for the B2 Zone · December 5, 2008 - B2 District Moratorium Expires The September 18, 2008, community meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 in the Marsden Conference Room at the Public Works facility. All other meetings will be at City Hall. Please check the website for meeting times. Attachments Draft of the County Road E Master Plan (ifnot attached, it is available online at www.ci.arden- hills.mn. us/ smallareaplan). City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for September 15, 2008 \ \A hdocs 1 \ah \AHdata\Planning\ Community Development\B2 Small Area Plan\Meetings\Sept 152008 Meeting\091508 - B2 Small Area Plan- Council Work session. doc Page 3 of3