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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCAgenda_08Mar25 City of Falcon Heights Planning Commission City Hall 2077 W. Larpenteur Avenue Tuesday, March 25, 2008 7:00 p.m. AGENDA • • A. CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: Anderson Hasegawa Lukermann Noble Rodich Salzberg Watkins Council Liaison Kuettel City Administrator Miller Staff Liaison Jones City Attorney C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 26, 2007 D. PUBLIC HEARING: Proposed comprehensive plan for the City of Falcon Heights. E. AGENDA: 1. Discussion and recommendation to City Council on proposed comprehensive plan 2. Election of Commission Vice Chair F. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS G. ADJOURN If you have a disabilih~ and need accommodation in order to attend this meeting, please notify City Hall 48 hours in advance between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 651-792-7600. We will be happy to help. CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS 2077 W. Larpenteur Avenue Falcon Heights, MN 55113-5594 email: mail@ci.falcon-heights.mn.us Phone - (651) 792-7600 website: www.ci.falcon-heights.mn.us Fax - (651) 792-7610 MEMORANDUM To: Members of the Planning Commission CC: Justin Miller, City Administrator; Laura Kuettel, Council Liaison From: Deb Jones, Staff Liaison Subject: Planning Commission M eting on March 25, 2008 Date: March 21, 2008 The City's long approval process of the new comprehensive plan begins with your meeting this coming Tuesday, March 25. We have scheduled a public hearing to take formal comment from the community on the draft plan. After the hearing we hope you will be able to make a recommendation to the City Council so they can grant a preliminary approval on Apri19. This will allow us to get • the draft out to adjacent communities in good time to finish their six month review and submit the plan to the Metropolitan Council by the end of the year. This stage of the process is needed to give neighboring cities some confidence that the plan will not change substantially from what they are given to review. Staff requests that the commission incorporate any of their suggested changes into the recommendation to the Council. If you have specific changes to recommend, it may facilitate matters if you prepare something in writing. This includes any items that were discussed last month, as we have not had staff time to make any changes in the draft since last month. The city attorney advises us that we don t need a formal written resolution at this stage and that your recommendation can take whatever form you see fit. He also said that many cities hold a second public hearing (and a second planning commission vote) after the adjacent municipality review period, so we certainly have that option. Final, formal adoption will take place after the Metropolitan Council reports back to us next year. Please note that the election of a commission vice chair is placed on the agenda after the comp plan agenda item. Staff thought it would be best to proceed to the hearing as soon as possible after the begmning of the meeting. However, you may move it to the beginning of the meeting if you prefer. As always, please let staff know as soon as possible if you will not be able to attend. We do require a quorum for this meeting. Have a good weekend! See you Tuesda! HOME OF THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR AND THE U OF M INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER C7 MEMORANDUM To: Members of the Planning Commission CC: Justin Miller, City Administrator; Laura Kuettel, Council Liaison From: Deb Jones, Staff Liaison Subject: Planning Commission Meeting on March 25, 2008 Date: March 21, 2008 The City's long approval process of the new comprehensive plan begins with your meeting this coming Tuesday, March 25. We have scheduled a public hearing to take formal comment from the community on the draft plan. After the hearing we hope you will be able to make a recommendation to the City Council so they can grant a preliminary approval on Apri19. This will allow us to get • the draft out to adjacent communities in good time to finish their six month review and submit the plan to the Metropolitan Council by the end of the year. This stage of the process is needed to give neighboring cities some confidence that the plan will not change substantially from what they are given to review. Staff requests that the commission incorporate any of their suggested changes into the recommendation to the Council. If you have specific changes to recommend, it may facilitate matters if you prepare something in writing. This includes any items that were discussed last month, as we have not had staff time to make any changes in the draft since last month. The city attorney advises us that we dori t need a formal written resolution at this stage and that your recommendation can take whatever form you see fit. He also said that many cities hold a second public hearing (and a second planning commission vote) after the adjacent municipality review period, so we certainly have that option. Final, formal adoption will take place after the Metropolitan Council reports back to us next year. Please note that the election of a commission vice chair is placed on the agenda after the comp plan agenda item. Staff thought it would be best to proceed to the hearing as soon as possible after the beg"inning of the meeting. However, you may move it to the beginning of the meeting if you prefer. As always, please let staff know as soon as possible if you will not be able to attend. We do require a quorum for this meeting. • Have a good weekend! See you Tuesda! City of Falcon Heights • Planning Commission Minutes February 26, 2008 PRESENT: Commissioners Anderson, Hasegawa, Lukermann, Noble, Rodich, Salzberg, Watkins, City Council Liaison Kuettel. Also present was Staff Liaison Deb Jones. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chair Eric Watkins. The minutes of the January, 2008, meeting were approved with one correction. Review of Planning Commission Standing Rules and Policies (tabled from January) Commission members have received a copy of the standing rules with changes and additions from last month, also a copy of Chapter 2 of the city code on which the policy document is based, a copy of Sikkink's Seven Motion System (cited in the standing rules) and a copy of the guidelines for public meetings passed by the Council in 2005. Staff Liaison Jones explained that the Sikkink system was found in the city administrative manual and is also used by the Council for cases when standing rules do not apply. The chair asked if there were any further changes. Commissioner Noble renewed her call for a vice chair to facilitate a smooth transition in case the chair is absent, explaining later in response to a question from Commissioner Rodich that she had observed a delay at a previous meeting when there was no contingency plan for the absence of the chair. Jones said the • election of a vice chair is provided for in the code, not the standing rules, and the Commission may proceed to elect a vice chair at any time. Noble then asked that this be put on the agenda for March. In response to a question from Commissioner Hasegawa, Jones said that with seven on the commission, four are needed for a quorum. Watkins summarized the requested changes, restoring the vice chair to the Membership provision of the standing rules. Commissioner Anderson raised the issue of Sikkink's Seven Motion System. She said she had found a Professor Sikkink on the University faculty and suspects this system was introduced as an experiment. She asked Council Member Kuettel if the Council does use this system. Ms. Kuettel said the Council's process is open and informal, but this is the policy. Anderson suggested that the Commission use instead Robert's Rules of Order. Commissioner Salzberg objected that this would require a parliamentarian and access to a copy of Robert's Rules. He also pointed out that the Sikkink system is only in effect if the standing rules are set aside by a 3/4 vote of the commission and noted that this has never happened in his experience. Sikkink was left in. Rodich moved, Hasegawa seconded, that the standing rules be approved as amended. Motion passed. City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of February 26, 2008 -Page 1 of 3 Introduction of the 2008 Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan: • Staff Liaison Jones presented a brief overview of the comprehensive plan draft, with particular attention to the land use section. The transportation, stormwater and wastewater sections were written by Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc.; the remainder was written by city staff with input from Dan Cornejo of Cornejo Associates. All of the sections are available to the public on the city website. There will be two open houses, one on March 13 and one on Apri13, at 6:30 p.m., for people to come and learn about the plan and ask questions. The required public hearing before the Planning Commission will be in March, and the City Council will conduct its approval process in April. After that the draft will be sent out to adjoining cities for asix-month review process, after which the plan will be submitted to the Metropolitan Council. The plan covers the period to 2030 and must provide for the city's share of population growth and the need for affordable housing. Falcon Heights is expected to need about 250 additional housing units by 2030, of which about 20 will need to be affordable. Jones said that since Falcon Heights is fully developed, and since the University of Minnesota and State Fair are not expected to sell any of their land for private use, changes in Falcon Heights are expected to be limited to larger private commercial and multi-family properties along Larpenteur Avenue, west of Snelling. Since Larpenteur is a transit corridor, this is a good location for multi-family housing. Existing uses will continue until owners are ready to redevelop, and change will be market-driven. If mixed use residential development is allowed at the city's present average of 28 units per acre, than only a quarter to a third of the commercial land in the Larpenteur corridor will be needed. This density is considered to be sufficient to allow the • market to develop affordable housing. Some of the sites where redevelopment could take place are the Hermes Nursery property, the west end of TIES (the old city hall), some portion of the Twin Cities Co-op property and Larpenteur Manor, the largest of the city's older apartment complexes. Some of the small, older apartment buildings might be redeveloped also, in this time frame. The Commissioners had a number of questions and concerns for staff, especially concerning requirements for affordable housing. Commissioner Anderson was concerned that the kind of low wage jobs generated by local retail businesses in mixed use developments might not be matched by appropriate local housing for those workers. Commissioner Lukermann felt that the implementation section does not go far enough in mandating a certain proportion of affordable units in new developments above some minimum size, that the implementation depends to much on other kinds of incentives. Anderson pointed out that a developer with sufficient funding could bypass the financial incentives, and with closer-in locations becoming more desirable, Falcon Heights might become much more desirable to developers of luxury housing. Lukermann gave Forest Lake as an example of a city that put in stronger language. Salzberg pointed out that there is applicable language in the Goals and Policies section. Commissioner Lukermann asked about the status of the old schoolhouse at the southwest corner of Cleveland and Larpenteur, if it had not been identified as a one of the city's historical and cultural resources. Jones responded that the school, being on University land is • beyond the city's control, and the city has no say in what happens to it. Kuettel added that the building is full of asbestos and may be too expensive to salvage. City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of February 26, 2008 -Page 2 of 3 Jones explained the campus housing overlay district proposed in the plan for the area on campus south of Commonwealth Avenue. The city has been approached regarding possible future construction of a fraternity house on campus at Cleveland and Commonwealth. This might come under the city's zoning controls, so the district is an attempt to prepare for that possibility or future changes at Commonwealth Terrace. When a private entity leases land for housing from the University, that land does fall under city zoning jurisdiction, which is the case for 1666 Coffman and the University Grove. Lukermann brought up discussions last year on what the city might like to see if the University were to give up any of its land for development. She noted that the current draft is very vague on this subject and asked if that was intentional. Jones described the evolution of staff thinking in this issue. The city intends to remove the existing dual zoning from all the institutional land and zone it all as public land. Then the public institutions would have to come to the city to seek rezoning if any change was planned and there could be an amendment of the comprehensive plan. It was the feeling at the staff level that this is sufficient, given the limited resources and time available to create this plan. Lukermann pointed out that there are some specifics that do address public land in the Larpenteur-Cleveland area. Jones said the plan's description of acivic-cultural-recreational hub in that area recognizes existing and planned amenities, such as the Bell Museum, and expresses a hope to dovetail with plans the University already has to create a "gateway" in that area; the city has no actual jurisdiction there. In response to another question from Commissioner Lukermann, Jones explained that the plan is proposing that before any major changes take place on Larpenteur, the city intends to conduct a corridor study along Larpenteur and then amend the comp plan, if necessary, to reflect the results of that study. The city did not have time or financial resources to undertake the study while the comp plan was being prepared, so it is being proposed as part of the implementation. The timing of the study would depend on when the Council could provide the funds for it. Anderson asked why the approval timetable was moved up. Jones explained that the city had originally planned to submit the draft, as required, to surrounding municipalities for their review and comments before the local approval process. However, staff found out that the Metropolitan Council prefers that the local approvals be done first.. The other cities must be given six months for their review, and the plan is due at the Metropolitan Council by the end of the year, so Falcon Heights approval needed to be moved up. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: There were no announcements. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, i Deborah Jones, Staff Liaison City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of February 26, 2008 -Page 3 of 3 • FALCON HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION PLANNING COMMISSION STANDING RULES February 26, 2008 INTRODUCTION In the belief that the best decisions are made by the best informed decision makers and that the public decision process is best served when the public has every opportunity to present views, the following rules are established to govern regular and special commission meetings as well as formal public hearings. There are several goals behind these rules. 1. In general, free and open discussion by all interested parties should be an essential part of the decision making process. 2. The commission process should have as little procedural overhead as possible. 3. Time is better spent on substantial matters rather than proforma matters. • MEMBERSHIP The formal commission membership consists of seven to nine appointed commissioners. All seven to nine have one vote each and all can introduce motions. For purposes of leading the meeting, the chair, or in the absence of the chair, the vice-chair will be considered the chairperson. In the absence of the chair and vice-chair, the Commission shall name an acting chair for the duration of the meeting. RULES Agenda 1. To be considered, an item must be on the agenda and the agenda must be distributed to all the commission members and any other persons having responsibility for an item at least three working days prior to the meeting. Distribution may be made by electronic media, including the city website. An agenda can be modified with addenda by a majority vote but this should be used only for minor items or items with extreme time constraints. 2. Since there will be audience and possibly cable TV viewers not familiar with each item, the chair, or person appointed by the chair, will give a brief explanation of each item as it is addressed. • • Page 2 Planning Commission Standing Rules 3. The order of items on the agenda need not be followed absolutely. The chair may adjust the order in the interest o£ a. Filling in time before a scheduled item, i.e., a public hearing. b. Grouping several items to best make use of consultant time. c. Accommodating individuals who have attended the meeting specifically to provide input on an item. Process -Regular and Special Planning Commission Meetings 1. For these proceedings the commission will use the 'open discussion' procedure. That is, discussion is open to any member before or after a motion is made. This privilege is also extended to the city planner and any of the consultants who may have an interest in or can contribute to the item at hand. 2. At the discretion of the chair, this privilege is also extended to those members of the audience • who wish to provide input. The chair may also rule out of order any input felt to be redundant, superfluous or irrelevant. 3. The chair can make liberal use of the "unanimous consent" procedure. That is, items that in the judgment of the chair are likely to be unanimously approved, can be introduced for approval with the statement "If there are no objections, ... stands approved (or denied)." If any commissioner has an objection, then the item reverts to the standard motion procedure. This "unanimous consent" procedure cannot be used for items requiring formal votes, i.e. resolutions. 4. The standard motion procedure is changed to not require a second. A motion need only be made to be considered. This also applies to amendments. 5. To eliminate confusion, only one amendment will be considered at a time and that amendment must be germane to the motion. An amendment cannot itself be amended. If a change to an amendment is deemed appropriate, the amendment should be withdrawn and reintroduced accordingly. 6. The general mode of voting will be by acclamation but with enough clarity that the individual votes can be recorded in the minutes. If in doubt, the secretary can request a clarification. • Page 3 Planning Commission Standing Rules 7. The meeting will be electronically recorded and the recording will be retained for at least 6 months following approval of the minutes for that meeting and shall, if possible, be made accessible on the city website during that period. The standard retention can be extended if in the judgment of the city planner such action is warranted. 8. If the commission action is the result of a resident request and that request is denied in whole or in part, reasons of fact supporting the denial will be made part of the public record. 9. No commission meeting will extend beyond 10:00 P.M. except by unanimous vote. This rule is not subject to the modification or suspension provisions of the Standing Rules. Process -Public Hearings Since a public hearing is a more formal procedure and often requires certain procedures and actions to be legal, the meeting rules are changed accordingly. 1. The primary aim of a public hearing is to take input from the public. To accomplish this in the most effective manner the chair will introduce the hearing with an • explanation of the issues. This explanation will be given by the chair or a person designated by the chair. The use of explanatory visual aids is encouraged. 2. Following the explanation, input from the public will be taken. Prior to accepting input, though, the chair will state the areas where input will be appropriate, the maximum time to be allotted to any individual presenter and any other procedural rules deemed appropriate to guarantee that all concerned parties have a fair and adequate opportunity to be heard. 3. At the discretion of the chair, all individuals wishing to speak must fill out and submit an identification form and speak into a recording microphone. Individuals not wishing to speak in public may provide a written statement. The commission may take up to 15 minutes to review written statements presented at the meeting. If the commission decides to not act on the issue at the public hearing meeting, it may by majority vote extend the time where written input will be taken to a day no later than 1 week before the next meeting where a deciding vote is planned. 4. All speakers are expected to be business-like, to-the-point and courteous. Anyone not abiding by these rules will be considered out-of-order. 5. The commission will refrain from initiating a discussion during the public input phase of the hearing except to clarify points brought up. These 'point of information' requests should be held to a minimum. • Page 4 Planning Commission Standing Rules 6. Once the public testimony phase is complete the chair will announce the public hearing to be closed and the commission will revert back to its open discussion mode of operation. From this point on, public input will only be appropriate when solicited by the commission. 7. Voting on any motion that results from a public hearing may be by roll call if requested by a commissioner. 8. It shall be the intent of the commission to vote on the issue at the same meeting as the public hearing and as close in time to the public hearing as possible. Should it be necessary to defer voting until a later date, that procedure will be clearly explained to the audience. 9. No public hearing will extend beyond 9:30 p.m. 10. If the motion contains conditions, as may occur in conditional use or variance requests, those conditions will be conveyed in writing to the requestor. • 11. If the public hearing is the result of a resident request and that request is denied in whole or in part, reasons of fact supporting the denial will be made part of the public record. ADOPTION/MODIFICATION/SUSPENSION These rules with the exception of the mandatory 10:00 P.M. adjournment, can be adopted, modified or suspended in whole or in part by a 3/4 vote of the commission. If suspended, they are automatically reinstated at the next meeting. Should they be suspended or a situation occurs that is not covered by the standing rules, Sikkink's Seven Motion System (attached) will apply. ANNUAL REVIEW These rules will be reviewed annually in January. INTERPRETATION The chair will interpret the rules. However, the chair's interpretation can be appealed by any commission member and can be overruled by a majority vote. Plannin Commi g ssion 3/25/08 ITEM: Public hearing and recommendation to the City Council on the Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft SUBMITTED BY: Deborah Jones, Zoning and Planning Director REVIEWED BY: Justin Miller, City Administrator Explanation• Falcon Heights is required to submit a new comprehensive plan to the Metropolitan Council by the end of 2008. Before the plan is submitted, three steps must be taken by the city: • Allow for adjacent governmental units and affected school districts to review and comment • Approval by the Planning Commission • Local government body approval (but not final adoption) Falcon Heights' draft comprehensive plan has been available to the public at City Hall and on the city's website since January. The city hosted an informal open house for the public on March 13; another is planned for Apri13. Comments and questions are welcome at all times. This evening's hearing is an opportunity for the Planning Commission to take formal comment before making a recommendation to the City Council on the comprehensive plan. According to the city attorney, there is no required form or format for the commission's recommendation and a written resolution is not required. Attachment• • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan draft, January, 2008 Actions Requested: Following the public hearing, make a recommendation to the City Council. r: City of Falcon Heights Planning Commission, March 25, 2008 Page 1 of 1 Staff Report: Public Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan and Recommendation to Council • City of Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Public Draft January, 2008 City of Falcon Heights 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue Falcon Heights, MN 55113 651-792-7600 www.falconheights.org U Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Title Page and Table of Contents Page i City of Falcon Heights Susan Gehrz, Mayor (2007) Peter Lindstrom, Mayor (2008) Council Members Pam Harris Laura Kuettel Charles Long Beth Mercer-Taylor Richard Talbot (2007) Planning Commission Meredith Anderson Duane Hasegawa Barbara Lukermann Wendy Noble Richard Rodich Ken Salzberg Eric Watkins Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Sam Bontrager Diane Cushman Martin Dworkin David Fischer Linda Fite Roy Garza Kristin Grangaard City Staff Wayne Groff Donald Horton Jim Kielsmeier Chuck Long Thue Rasmussen Sheila Richter Robert Thompson Justin Miller, City Administrator Deborah Jones, Zoning and Planning Director Engineering Consultants Jay Murzyn Short, Elliot Hendrickson, Inc. Planning Consultant Dan Cornejo Cornejo Consulting • • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page ii Title Page and Table of Contents • Table of Contents I. Background Page 1. Purpose and Scope I - 1 2. Vision and Objectives I - 2 3. The City of Falcon Heights I - 5 4. Demographics, Assumptions and Projections I - 11 5. Community Input and Plan Process I - 17 II. Land Use and Housing 1. General Land Use in Falcon Heights II - 1 2. The Larpenteur and Snelling Corridors II - 11 3. Housing and Neighborhoods II - 19 4. Commercial/Business Areas II - 30 5. Agricultural and Institutional Lands II - 35 6. Future Land Use II - 3 8 III. Physical Systems: Transportation, Utilities, Storm Water Management 1. Introduction III - 1 • 2. Transportation 3 Sanitar S S III - 3 . y ewer ystem III - 17 4. Storm Water Management III - 24 IV. Community Systems and Services 1. Parks and Open Spaces ~ - 1 2. Other Community Facilities and Services IV - 5 V. Natural and Historic Resources 1. Natural Resources IV - 8 2. Historic and Cultural Resources IV - 8 VI. Economic Development IV - 11 VII. Implementation 1. Land Use IV - 13 2. Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances IV - 13 3. Housing IV - 14 4. Storm Water Management Plan IV - 15 5. Capital Improvements Program IV - 17 Appendices A. Falcon Heights: Population Profile IV - 18 • B. Falcon Heights: Housing Profile IV - 20 C. Capital Improvement Program IV - 22 Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Title Page and Table of Contents Page iii • MAP DISCAIMER: The maps in this document are neither legally recorded map nor surveys and are not intended to be used as such. These maps are compilations of records, information and data ocated in various city, county, regional, state and federal offices and other sources regarding the area shown, and is to be used for reference purposes only. The City does not warrant that the Geographic Information System (GIS) Data used to prepare these maps are error free, and the City does not represent that the GIS Data can be used for navigational, tracking or any other purpose requiring exacting measurement of distance or direction or precision in the depiction of geographic features. If errors or discrepancies are found please contact (651) 792-7613. The preceding disclaimer is provided pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §466.03, Subd. 21 (2000), and the user of this document acknowleges that the City shall not be liable for any damages, and expressly waives all claims, and agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmiss the City from any and all claims brought by User, its employees or agents, or third parties which arise out of the user's access or use of data provided. C7 Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page iv Title Page and Table of Contents I. Background 1. Purpose and Scope The purpose of a comprehensive plan is to guide the City in all of its decisions relating to land use, transportation, community facilities, public improvements/investments and intergovernmental relations. It is a body of general public policy that defines and promulgates the community's vision for the future, a dynamic and multidimensional guidebook that articulates the concepts, principals relationships, patterns and general expectations which support that vision. A clear, broadly supported comprehensive plan is a valuable tool and resource to guide all stakeholders in the City's future. The comprehensive plan is an especially critical tool for the city's Planning Commission, which is charged by statute with evaluating all public and private land use, transportation systems, community facilities and investment proposals for their consistency with the plan's goals, objectives and policies. For the City Council, the plan is a foundation for decision-making and further visioning. The city's staff is guided in day-to-day city business by the zoning code, which is a tool to implement the City's plan, one of many such tools. To residents and property owners, the plan describes the community's expectations for land use and all public systems and indicates directions for future change. • The comprehensive plan is adecision-making framework that can be interpreted rather broadly. However, if too loosely interpreted, it loses its value. The challenge to a dynamic community is to make sure public policy is consistently and universally applied and that response to changing circumstances and regional systems is undertaken with careful consideration. If a proposal does not adhere to the city's goals and policies as embodied in the comprehensive plan, the City may either deny the proposal or consider amending its plan. Amendment to the comprehensive plan is not undertaken lightly and must be demonstrated not to be detrimental to the City, its neighborhoods or the environment or to require substantial increase in the need for publicly financed improvements. The burden of that proof falls to the party proposing change. The important thing to remember is that no decision can be made independently of all others. The elements of this Comprehensive Plan are intertwined and interdependent. Although the published plan is organized into sections with separate sets of policies and goals, it must be kept in mind that each element remains related to all others. In implementation, the vision, values and objectives of the whole will always be applied. Because Falcon Heights is part of the seven-county Metropolitan Area, it is required to update its Comprehensive Plan every ten years in accordance with the Mandatory Land Planning Act of 1976. This is the third generation plan to be completed by the City since enactment. The last major update of the Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan was completed in 1991; a minor update was submitted in 1999. This plan was prepared in • consultation with the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee in concert with the Planning Commission and City Council and with assistance from city staff and consultants. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-1 2. Vision, Values and Objectives "People who live here are proud of Falcon Heights and take care of it. " Falcon Heights resident, 2007 The City of Falcon Heights' chief goal is to create and maintain a high quality of life in a community that is an aging, inner ring, fully developed suburb adjacent to St. Paul and within two miles of Minneapolis. By funding good public services and investing prudently in rebuilding and maintaining infrastructure, the City seeks not only to keep those qualities valued by today's residents but to be attractive for future reinvestment, redevelopment and renewal by residents, businesses and public institutions. This comprehensive plan is about shaping that future: awell-balanced community for all age groups to grow and prosper and to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Preserving and enhancing the urban rural character valued by our residents. Of all responses Falcon Heights residents made when asked what they value about living in the city, "open space" was by far the leader. Falcon Heights is uniquely advantaged among fully developed inner ring Twin Cities suburbs in that it includes a high proportion of open space, thanks to the University of Minnesota's extensive agricultural research land and golf course. Future redevelopment should honor this history by finding creative ways to maintain the rural/urban character of the city while accommodating the expected growth in households and population. Future development should also embrace • every opportunity to build connections between the open spaces and the City's neighborhoods, commercial areas and public spaces, so that this valued open space is not just a "view" but a living part of the community. Maintaining our traditional neighborhoods in this central Metro location, with opportunities for all our generations to stay in the City. Falcon Heights residents delight in their convenient location close to both central St. Paul and Minneapolis and their proximity to so much of what the Metro area has to offer. Residents prize their attractive, well-maintained neighborhoods, each of which has a distinct identity and some of which are on the threshold of becoming historically significant. Reinvestment in these neighborhoods must be sensitive to the style and character of these older homes and respectful of the green space and urban forest surrounding them and the open land adjacent to them. Finally, residents have also expressed a hope that they can remain in Falcon Heights as they age and that the City can continue to be home to the young people who grow up here as they form households of their own. Building connections and community identity on the Larpenteur and Snelling Avenue corridors "Where is Falcon Heights? " Many residents said their acquaintances from other cities • do not know where Falcon Heights is located, even when they drive through it every day. In fact, even some residents themselves did not have a very clear idea of the city boundaries. The two major traffic arteries that quarter the City, Larpenteur and Snelling Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-2 • Avenues, serve a vital local role in giving residents easy access to nearby St. Paul, Minneapolis and Roseville for work and shopping. Built to encourage vehicle rather than pedestrian traffic, Larpenteur and Snelling also function as significant barriers between neighborhoods, fragmenting city identity. Yet these major thoroughfares offer enormous potential to become the keys to a stronger civic identity, a sense of arrival and welcome, connection and community. In-depth study of these corridors is needed in order to formulate corridor framework plans to guide public and private development aimed at realizing this potential. Becoming a healthier, more active and livable community. The open agricultural research fields in Falcon Heights contribute to the community's rural feel that residents have cited as one of its most prized qualities. This asset offers high motivation and potential for active living and for implementing a number of healthy community "best practices". On the other hand, the two busy highways constitute major obstacles to pedestrian and bicycle travel and offer a considerable challenge to the city in implementing some changes that could make the community a healthier place to live. Another challenge is lack of essential neighborhood retail businesses residents would walk to if they could. It has been years since Falcon Heights has had a grocery store or deli within its boundaries. Small businesses that provide necessities close to home -this is the only kind of business expansion residents said they would like to see in the community. Becoming a sustainable, energy efficient community "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability offuture generations to meet their own needs. " - The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development. The climate crisis and rising cost of energy present all cities with an extraordinary challenge. Local action is a critical part of global solutions to these problems. Individuals, businesses, public institutions and local governments all have an important role to play in making wise choices that ensure the health and viability of our communities for future generations. By establishing policies that balance social, economic and ecological needs, encourage wise stewardship of natural resources and incorporate environmental responsibility into future development, Falcon Heights can remain a community where people want to live and work for generations to come. Maintaining the property tax base. Falcon Heights' geographic boundaries include the east portion of the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus and the Minnesota State Fair. This unique land use composition creates an interesting community that is appreciated by residents and visitors alike. However, it results in 66% of the city's land area being both tax-exempt and statutorily out of the City's land use control. In addition, one quadrant of Falcon Heights • central commercial core, the Snelling/Larpenteur business district, was acquired in 2000 by TIES (formerly Technology Information Education Services), anon-profit Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-3 corporation, taking another 6.3 acres out of the City's tax base, although city land use • controls still apply. Unlike many university cities, Falcon Heights tax base does not reflect the commercial or private research facilities that many university communities enjoy. Given the city's location by the university and within a few minutes of both downtowns, the city is increasingly attractive to tax exempt property owners. Since maintaining the tax base is critical to being able to pay for services that continue to make Falcon Heights an attractive community, the city must evaluate all land use proposals for their relationship to the tax base as well as their planning value to the community. Celebrating and developing the relationship with the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Fair. The city works very hard to develop and maintain good communication with its two major landholders and institutions, the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Fair. The City is a participant in the University of Minnesota Master Plan Steering Committee, which is currently developing a plan for both Twin Cities campuses. The City is also represented on the Campus Coordinating Committee; which includes members of the University administration and representatives from Falcon Heights, Lauderdale and St. Anthony Park. The expected move of the Bell Museum of Natural History to a site across Larpenteur Avenue from the Gibbs Museum will be an opportunity to promote the growing civic, cultural and recreational precinct in the • Larpenteur/Cleveland area, within walking distance of City Hall and two of the City's parks and to re-imagine the campus entry and the Larpenteur streetscape between Fairview and Cleveland. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-4 3. The City of Falcon Heights Legend Geographic Planning Areas AgriculturalArea 0 Developed Area [~ Developing Area ~'~~.? Diversified Rural 0 Non-Council Area ~' Rural Center Rural Residential , 4 • Figure 1: Metropolitan Couricil 2030 Planning Areas ~L __.C.. ~ ~ a - -- LIMIT ON LIABILfrV: This mp is neiaror a bgelly rec«aea mep trot a svvey end le not intermsa m be ,reea es orie. Thls me Prepared ~: ra aem I«ema m .,none Dirt, county. reaionel, amts ena Tsaerel omees esa Omer s«sose reaerane ns, arse shown. era Is°o m use ~IX re «erers~e a Imormetion Den city apse na wemenl met me oeoprepnk Imo~mation sysmm (ois> oem usoa a prepare tme mep ere am« tree. ena me cl aoss not ~f pO8B8 °Ay. City of Fal con Heights bs OBBtl r« neNpetionel, neoNrp «enr oa,er purpose regwnna eacunq measurement m aismnee «mresnw, « H repreesm mel ms oIS oem err «Mecropencleg are fpurtl pkese correct (851)192-1613. The preceairp dxlelm« Is «oWaea Wreeent to Mlnneed 8nf W~s~~~ o' peoprepnk reeWres. If Pla nnin g D epartme nt 18Bf orrNe mev aelubwleaess met me cny snes nm ba lebla r« any aemenec, ena expreear wolves an a.ms, ena .Braes to aerena.~ase,n~n'rcye,°d„a2r~ I°„°r ;,' ~,ntl, CiN M1ern enY erM ell clelms brarem by user. Ila emplcyees «apenm, or Inlet parties whkh ena. eul of me users axeae « use oraem provlaetl. • Figure 1: Metropolitan Council 2030 Planning Areas. Regional Setting Located between St. Paul and Roseville, Falcon Heights is within the Developed Communities area of the metropolitan region (Figure 1). The Developed Communities are the cities where more than 85% of the land is developed and infrastructure is well established, according to the Metropolitan Council's 2030 Regional Development framework. Within this area the Metropolitan Council supports and, in fact, gives priority to, reinvestment, infill and revitalization to increase the economic competitiveness of these communities and to enhance their quality of life. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-5 Uni ue Attributes 4 "I feel as though I'm living in a small town" Falcon Heights resident Falcon Heights is a very small but truly unique community. With virtually no privately owned vacant land for development, it is an urban community very much like its neighbors, St. Paul and Roseville, and yet it has a distinctive rural appearance due to the wide expanses of University of Minnesota research fields which border Larpenteur Avenue. Falcon Heights has an urban/rural identity, unlike any other first tier suburb of the Twin Cities. Falcon Heights is an inner suburb with a small town character: It has awell-defined retail core, two major traffic arteries crossing and dividing it, and a dominating agricultural presence -albeit in the core of the city instead of the surrounding land. On one hand, it is residentially fragmented by the separation created by University of Minnesota lands, Snelling Avenue and elementary school boundaries. On the other, it is a community that is connected by some of these same factors. It is a stable community where the housing is of good quality, the location is convenient, and changes have been slow and relatively small in scale over the last ten years. Falcon Heights is the host city for one of the State's largest and most important outdoor events, the Minnesota State Fair (288 acres), which attracts more than one and one-half • million people per year to the city and inundates city streets and parking lots with a flood of automobiles for twelve days each summer. Falcon Heights is also home to the Les Bolstad University Golf Course, which frames the western entrance to the city. History The City of Falcon Heights was originally part of Rose Township, established in 1850 in Ramsey County and named after early settler Isaac Rose. Rose Township also included the Cities of Lauderdale, Roseville and parts of Minneapolis, St. Paul and St. Anthony. Heman Gibbs settled just west of Cleveland Avenue in 1849 on lands situated north and south of Larpenteur Avenue. There he built a sod house that was replaced in 1854 by the present Gibbs Farm. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is currently owned by the Ramsey County Historical Society. Heman Gibbs also built the first schoolhouse in Rose Township. It operated until 1959 and still occupies the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Cleveland Avenues. Owned by the University of Minnesota, the old school was extensively remodeled in 1930 by the WPA. The schoolhouse site is expected to become the home of the Bell Museum of • Natural History in the next ten years. The fate of the schoolhouse building is undecided. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-6 • The Minnesota State Fair has occupied the land west of Snelling and north of Como Avenue since 1885 and draws over two million people to Falcon Heights each year. The University of Minnesota School of Agriculture, established in 1888 southwest of Cleveland and Larpenteur, has conducted continuous agricultural experimentation and research for more than 100 years at this location. Once dominated by farms and nurseries, Falcon Heights got its name in the 1930s from a subdivision that was platted by John Cable and named by and for his real estate agent, a man named Faulkner. Falcon Heights was incorporated as a village in 1949 and as a city in 1973 by mandate of the State Legislature. The community grew rapidly after 1940, reaching a population of nearly 6,000 in 1960. In the 1920s the Snelling and Larpenteur intersection was the site of Curtiss Field one of the Twin Cities' earliest air fields. The only remaining trace of Curtiss Field, where Northwest Airlines is said to have "gotten off the ground," is in the name of the nearby neighborhood park. Commercial development began at Snelling and Larpenteur and on Hamline between Hoyt and Iowa Avenues in the 1940s. The distinctive Harvest States Co-op building at the southwest corner of Snelling and Larpenteur, now occupied by • TIES, was built in 1949. In 2003 the aging shopping center at the southeast corner of Snelling and Larpenteur was razed to make way for the City's largest development project in many years. The new Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-7 Figure 2: Future Falcon Heights in Rose Township. 1940 Aerial Photo, Ramsey County GIS User Group complex, Falcon Heights Town Square, provides a mix of commercial and residential • space, including owner-occupied townhomes, senior apartments and affordable apartments for families. Worthy of note is the University Grove subdivision, developed by the University of Minnesota beginning in 1929. Each resident owns the structure but leases the lot from the University. All dwellings, structures additions must be individually architect-designed. The University reviews all plans and imposes an additional layer of restrictions which apply only to University Grove. The 45th parallel runs just north of Falcon Heights in Roseville. A marker at the northeast corner of Cleveland and Roselawn Avenues denotes its location. Sources: Falcon Heights New Resident Handbook, author unknown. City of Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan, October 1991, author unknown Table 1: Population Growth, 1860 to Present Census Year Po ulation Rose Townshi * 1860 499 1940 4777 Villa e of Falcon Hei hts 1950 3884 1960 5927 1970 5770 Ci of Falcon Hei hts 1980 5291 1990 5380 2000 5572 Estimated 2006 5776 * Rose Township included portions of Ramsey County outside the present boundaries of Falcon Heights. Table 2: Population, Households, Employment Historical Summary: 1970 - 2000 Year Population Employment Households Group Housin Household Size 1970 5,530 3,168 1,766 N/A 2.98 1980 5,291 3,000 1,894 478 2.54 1990 5,380 2,600 2,016 441 2.45 2000 5,572 3,698 2,103 J. 505 2.41 Falcon Heights Comprehensive flan zuuu wan zuuu u.a. tJC~ Wus ua~a • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-8 • Major Changes Since Falcon Heights' Last Comprehensive Plan Since the last major update (1991) of the Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan, the City has experienced the following land use and employment changes: • A major redevelopment (2003 - 2006) of the block at the southeast corner of Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues into a mixed use complex incorporating: 0 119 rental aparhnents, of which 25 are permanently designated affordable 0 57 rental apartments for senior citizens 0 14 owner-occupied townhomes 0 12,000 square feet of commercial space, occupied by a pediatric clinic, a restaurant and two other businesses. • The development of 24 additional owner-occupied townhome units and one single- family home • The construction of the University of Minnesota women's intercollegiate soccer stadium in 1999 on the west side of Cleveland Avenue between Larpenteur and Roselawn Avenues. • The relocation of 450 Harvest States employees from Falcon Heights to Cenex headquarters in Inver Grove Heights in 1999. The facility is now owned by TIES, a • non-profit serving school districts, which leases part of the space to other organizations. Approximately 140 people now work in the building. • The closing of the Hewlett Packard facility and relocation of 260 employees in 2001, replaced by Twin Cities Cooperative Federal Credit Union's corporate offices with 86 employees. • In 2003 a farmer's market began operating weekly, May through October, on the grounds of Twin Cities Cooperative Federal Credit union. The market is the only venue for purchacing groceries in the City since the small convenience store at Snelling and Larpenteur closed in the 1990s. The farmer's market is a convenient pedestrian destination for residents west of Fairview and has proved to be wildly popular, both with Falcon Heights residents and people who live outside the City. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-9 r~ .~ 0 U U U) U a c~ Figure 3: Major changes since 1991 Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-10 • 4. Demographics, Assumptions and Projections The populaton of Falcon Heights has been relatively stable since 1960, following rapid growth after World War II. A decline in the 1970 and 1980s had reversed by 2000, and the number of residents continues to grow slowly, though the average household size has not increased significantly. The population increase can be attributed to added housing and some turnover in housing from older households to younger families with children. In 2006, the population of Falcon Heights was estimated by the Metropolitan Council to be 2776, an increase of 3.7% above the 2000 U.S. Census count. The number of households was estimated at 2247, a 6.9% increase since 2000. Demographic Trends: Summary • The City's 2006 population included a University of Minnesota population of approximately 1200 in family housing and 505 residents in a dormitory. Residents on campus make up over one fifth the population of Falcon Heights. • The ratio of minority residents in Falcon Heights has continued to increase since 1990 but is lower than that of Ramsey County and of the United States as a whole. However, Falcon Heights has a higher proportion of foreign born residents than the county or U.S. as a whole and a higher proportion of residents who speak a language other than English at home. • The University of Minnesota remains the City's largest emplo er and since th departure of Harvest States and Hewlett Packard, the only employer of significant size. Due to the departure of these large organizations, employment in Falcon Heights has declined since 2000. • The percentage of residents 25 years old or older with a bachelor's degree or higher is about twice as high in Falcon Heights as in Ramsey County in general and significantly higher than the general population of the United States. • Though more economically diverse than in past decades, the City remains somewhat more affluent than the County as a whole and has higher value housing stock. • According the the 2000 Census, the census tract that includes both the University of Minnesota student housing and the affluent University Crrove neighborhood had 19.2% of households living in poverty. The rate in the rest of the City was 1.7%. • Although the proportion of the population aged 65 and over declined slightly in Falcon Heights between 1990 and 2000, the City will almost certainly see the same dramatic increase in this age group expected nation-wide in the next two decades. • Due to the large number of university students in the community, the City is generally younger than the County as a whole (and the nation) and has a higher proportion of renter-occupied housing. • See Appendix A: Falcon Heights Population and Housing Profile for detailed tables. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-11 Assumptions and Projections: Population/Households/Employment The City's population is expected to remain relatively stable between 2010 and 2030 following a slight increase (just under 10%) between 2000 and 2010. A decline in household size will be offset by an increase in the number of households. In addition to the 189 new units constructed in Falcon Heights Town Square (and included in the projection for 2010), the City will need to provide housing for an additiona1250 households by 2030. The only way the City can experience appreciable growth is if the University of Minnesota substantially increases its supply of student housing or sells some of its agricultural land for private development. Although both options are considered unlikely, the City must take them into account when planning future land use in case the University's plans change. Due to the lack of vacant land that can be developed, the City will concentrate on the maintenance of neighborhoods and redevelopment as means to maintain the City as a viable community. Unless the University makes part of its land available for development, the expected need for additional housing units will be accommodated through redevelopment of existing multi-family and commercial properties along the Larpenteur Corridor. Because of the lack of privately owned vacant land for commercial development, employment is unlikely to show much net change by 2030. The decrease caused by the departure of Harvest States and Hewlett Packard will be offset by a slow growth of jobs on the University campus. Limited employment growth may also occur through redevelopment or more intense use of the larger commercial properties west of Snelling. Historically, Falcon Heights has found it cost effective to contract cooperatively with other municipalities and with Ramsey County for many of its services. Due to the City's relatively small population base and limited resources, it will continue to satisfy many of its needs through service sharing arrangements with other units and levels of government. The City will take advantage of new technologies to make services more readily available without staffing increases. • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-12 • Table 3: Population, Household, Employment Forecasts ~~ • Falcon Heigh ts Population Year Forecast Change %change 2000 5572 2006 (est.) 5776 204 3 7% 2010 6100 324 5 g% 2020 6100 0 0.0% 2030 6100 0 0.0% 2000-2030 528 g 5% Falcon Hei h ts Households Year Forecast Change %change 2000 2103 2006(est) 2249 146 6.9% 2010 2350 101 4.5% 2020 2400 50 2.1 2030 2500 100 4 2% 2000-2030 397 18.9% Falcon Height s Employment Year Forecast Change %change 2000 4190 2010 3900 -290 -6.9% 2020 4050 150 3.8% 2030 4200 150 3.7% 2000-2030 10 0 2% ~.~vNvma~~ ~.vuncn, rcevisea uanuary, 2007 • Of the growth expected between 2000 and 2010, Falcon Heights Town Square added 184 housing units by 2006. The estimated increase of a lower number of households (146) reflects an estimated vacancy rate in the City over all. • The expected growth in households from 2006 to 2030 is 251, or approximately 11.2% Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-13 Traffic Analysis Zone Forecasts Falcon Heights overlaps seven of the Traffic Analysis Zones defined by the Metropolitan Council. Only one of the zones is mostly contained within the city. Of the rest, Falcon Heights occupies no more than half of each zone. 1 ST. PAUL Figure 4: Traffic Analysis Zones. Data: Metropolitan Council Datafinder As the TAZ forecasts are not subdivided by municipality the tables below represent a "best guess" of the growth Falcon Height can assign to each zone, based on the forecasts for the City as a whole, expectations of declining household sizes in established neighborhoods, and the location of sites likely to be redeveloped. As some share - in most cases the major share - of forecast change for each zone is likely to occur outside Falcon Heights, there are necessarily some mismatches. A number that increases for the zone as a whole may decrease in the Falcon Heights portion during the same period, and vice versa. • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-14 • Table 4: Forecasts for Traffic Analysis Zones 2000 - 2010 Change Estimated FH TAZ # Pa HH t;rn Po HH Em Po HH Em Po Chan e HH Em 870 7259 3011 2822 7449 3137 2702 190 126 -120 380 189 10 916 3444 1387 691 3606 1447 874 162 60 183 0 0 0 917 2047 619 2380 2244 692 2214 197 73 -166 50 53 -140 971 2171 943 337 2243 968 405 72 25 68 0 0 0 972 1931 814 1319 2083 881 1274 152 67 -45 20 0 -160 973 1222 557 631 1314 600 674 92 43 43 10 0 0 974 2034 780 1222 2206 857 1303 172 77 81 60 0 0 Ci ofFH 5572 2103 4190 6100 2350 3900 528 242 -290 528 242 -290 2000 - 2010 2010 - 2020 2010 202D Change Estimated"FH TAZ # #'o HH Em Po 'HH 'Eire 'Po HH ' Em Po Chan e HH Em 870 7449 3137 2702 7678 3213 2224 229 76 -478 -30 0 0 916 3606 1447 874 3786 1523 958 180 76 84 0 0 25 917 2244 692 2214 2244 706 2300 0 14 86 80 50 25 971 2243 968 405 2367 1028 420 124 60 15 0 0 0 972 2083 881 1274 2118 906 1329 35 25 55 -10 0 p 973 1314 600 674 1341 616 709 27 16 35 -10 0 0 974 2206 857 1303 2230 877 1369 24 20 66 -30 0 0 Cit ofFH 6100 2350 3900 6100 2400 4050 0 50 150 0 50 50 2020 - 2030 Metropolitan Council Datafinder 2020 `'2030 Change. Estimated FH 7AZ # 870 916 917 971 972 973 Po 7678 3786 2244 2367 2118 1341 HH 3213 1523 706 1028 906 616 Em 2224 958 2300 420 1329 709 Po 7879 3854 2244 2396 2164 HH 3344 1563 736 1039 937 Em 2329 1002 2385 455 1376 ``Po 201 68 0 29 46 HH 131 40 30 11 31 Em 105 44 85 35 47 Chan e Po HH -30 0 0 0 25 25 0 0 100 125 Em 0 0 145 5 0 974 2230 877 1369 1376 638 731 35 22 22 -20 0 0 Cit ofFH 6100 2400 4050 2261 6 911 1412 31 34 43 -75 0 p 100 2500 4200 0 150 150 0 150 150 Given the lack of vacant land in Falcon Heights and limited sites that are likely candidates for redevelopment, any residential growth (Population and Households) in Falcon Heights is expected to be concentrated along Larpenteur Avenue, primarily on the south edge of zone 972 (Cleveland to Fairview) and the north edge of zone 917 (Fairview to Snelling). Small net increases (zero to ten residential units) are also possible along Larpenteur in the Falcon Heights portions of zones 870, 973 and 974, if smaller multi- family properties are redeveloped. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-15 While the population forecast for the City is projected to increase between 2000 and 2010 • and not at all between 2010 and 2030, 2006 estimates and the state of the housing market in 2007 indicate it is more likely that at least one third of this projected growth will happen after 2010. Most of the growth between 2000 and 2010 for both population and households is accounted for by the Falcon Heights Town Square development at Snelling and Larpenteur, constructed between 2003 and 2006. Because (1) net employment in the city is expected to do little more than recover 2000 levels by 2030, and (2) there is no land in the city for new commercial development, employment changes in Falcon Heights should have little or no net impact on any of the seven zones by 2030. The new Bell Museum will move jobs to Zone 916 in the 2010- 2020 decade. Expansion of the Ramsey County Historical Society operation will result in a small employment gain in Zone 971, assigned to the 2020-2030 decade. Most of the remaining expected net employment increase between will most likely take place on the University Campus. The University of Minnesota master plan, when complete, may require a reassessment of all of these forecasts. It should also be noted that moving the Bell Museum of Natural History to Falcon Heights will bring thousands of new visitors and their vehicles, including school buses, to Falcon Heights year round. This could have more of an impact on traffic, especially in Zones 916, 917, 971 and 972, than all employment changes expected in the next twenty years. Please see the Land Use and Transportation sections of this plan for additional • discussion. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-16 • 5. Comprehensive Plan Update Process In order to gather community input for the comprehensive plan update, the City of Falcon Heights created a 14 member steering committee to lead neighborhood focus groups. Each of the city's five commissions (planning, park and recreation, environment, human rights, and neighborhood) were represented as well as several at-large members. Mayor Sue Gehrz chaired the steering committee and staff members included City Administrator Justin Miller and Plan and Zoning Administrator Deb Jones. During the month of February 2007, nine focus group style meetings were held throughout the community. Letters were sent to all residents inviting them to attend and participate. In total, almost 100 residents attended and provided input in small, roundtable settings. Members of the steering committee led the discussions with a list of standard questions aimed at soliciting answers to questions about the future of Falcon Heights. Meetings were also held with major business and non-profit landowners in the city. The most common themes that arose out of these meetings included: • Residents like living here due to the quality of our neighborhoods and the central location between both downtown areas. • Open spaces, mainly the University of Minnesota research fields, are a key component to our quality of life. • • More pedestrian and non-motorized avenues of transportation are needed. • A mix of housing styles is important so that residents can spend their entire lives in the city. • Any new retail or commercial business should be small in scale and serve the needs of the surrounding neighborhood. From May through September, the plan was extensively reviewed by the following groups: • Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee • Park and Recreation Commission • Neighborhood Commission • Environment Commission • Planning Commission • City Council Copies of the draft plan were sent to the following neighboring jurisdictions in April 2008: • City of Lauderdale • City of St. Paul • City of Roseville • University of Minnesota • Minnesota State Fair • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Section I: Background, Page I-17 II. Land Use and Housing "Planning" means the scientific, aesthetic and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities. " - Canadian Institute of Planners Even in afully-developed city like Falcon Heights, where land uses are long established, change will come. The purpose of this land use plan is to provide public policy to guide that change, to serve the needs of all sectors of the community and to build a safe, healthy, sustainable, secure and prosperous environment in the city. The Falcon Heights comprehensive land use plan seeks to identify both opportunities and constraints, to identify and take into consideration the land use preferences of residents and landowners, and to establish community plarming and design priorities for private development and public facilities for the next twenty years. 1. General Land Use . Falcon Heights is a fully developed inner-ring suburb. Over half of the City's land is occupied by large public institutions not subject to the City's land use controls. The City is otherwise largely residential, with clearly defined neighborhoods and limited business and commercial areas. • Approximately two-thirds of Falcon Heights 1,400 acres is comprised of University of Minnesota lands and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. A substantial portion (267 acres) of the University's property is used for agricultural research. The City of Falcon Heights has no industrial development. • The City contains no lakes, streams, wetlands or protected waters except those found on University property. Figure 5 shows 2005 land use, using Metropolitan Council categories, for Falcon Heights and adjacent portions of Roseville, Lauderdale and St. Paul. Falcon Heights' zoning is shown in Figure 6. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-1 • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft- January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-2 Figure 5: Existing land use in Falcon Heights, 2005. Data: Metropontan ~,ouncii • • • Table 5: Falcon Heights Land Use Data -Metropolitan Council Falcon Heights Land Use Data: 2000-2005 Source: Metropolitan Council ~~~ •~ ~. -.. ~~ ~ ~~ ~.. Residential, Total 436 437 , 1 ,Ogg: Sin le Famil Residential 1 369 366 -4 -1 Farmsteads 0 0 0 0% Multi-famil Residential 2 66 71 4 7% Mixed Use 3 13 1'7 4 28%; Conwnercial 4 34 21 -13 •38% tndustriat Total O O O _ N/A Industrial & Utilit 0 0 0 N/A Extractive 0 0 0 0% Railwa 0 0 0 0% In titutional 5 451 466 t5 390 Parks, Recreation & Preserves 8' 192 184 2 1 % Major Vehicular Rights.-of-Way 7 2 ` 2 O O% Ai ..its O O O O% Agriculture & Undeveloped. .Total 305 296 -8 =3% A riculture 8 300 292 -7 -2% Undevelo ed Land 9 5 4 -2 -32% A ricultural & Vacant N/A N/A N/A N/A Industrial Parks not Develo ed N/A N/A N/A N/A Public &Semi-Public Vacant N/A N/A N/A N/A O n Water O O O O% Totsl 1 433. 1 433 Q O% http://gis. metc.state. m n. us/landuse/tabl es.asn?v=v0 ot~r.=2na~n Notes 1. Reclassification of strip north of Lindig cul de sac; Arona townhomes not included in 2005 2. Addition of Falcon Heights Town Square 3. Addition of Falcon Heights Town Square 4. Conversion of SE Comer from Commercial to Mixed Use 5. Corrections and reclassification; no actual use change 6. Corrections and reclassification; no actual use change 7. Corrections and reclassification; no actual use change 8. Con'ection to Community Park boundary; some reclassification of UM land 9. Completion of Questwood, reclassification of Lindig strip and Grove park Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use categories are used in Figure 5 and Tables 5 and 6. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-3 The 20051and use data given in Table 5, based on Metropolitan Council regional maps • includes adjacent public rights of way in the gross acreages calculated for each land use category. For the purposes of this comprehensive plan, acreages are calculated based on the parcel data recorded by Ramsey County, with Metropolitan Council land use categories applied, shown in Table 6. The totals in Table 6 are smaller than Table 5 because they do not include public rights of way (approximately 154 acres), only actual parcels. Table 6: Falcon Heights Land Use, 2005 -Ramsey County GIS parcel data Table 7: Existing Zoning Designations in Falcon Heights R-1 Sin le Famil Residential R-2 One and Two Famil Residential R-4 Residential: Medium Density Multiple Family and Apartment Buildin s B-1 Business: Nei hborhood Convenience B-2 Limited Business B-3 Snellin L enteur Business District P-1 Public Land P-1 /R-1 Public Land; R-1 if reused PUD Planned Unit Develo ment • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft- January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-4 +rrrrr,l~' !~ 1 11 ~ 4£ 14 ~~ f 0158 ¢x.E ~ ~ IW: GCMO ?J4 o ) ~ ~ ~ ~ o a ,~ ~ C11 ~ a ~ d Q` s Z F' .~ ti c~oucH ~} ~ ? W ~ ~ .Z ~ .. ~ Z Q ; a.~:+ai m ~ a ~ Q i ~ r~n ~~ o 1 ~ff"'7 ~ ^ ~ C7 ~~ ~ ~ o ~ r .~ I ~~~~ ~~~ a ~ ~ a ~ ~~ W ~~~ ~~g > z ob mss ~~ • ~ GWRT ~ C~~ - 8 F $ ^i4FS .41 ~q~ J~~pS~ ~ ~ aQ ~~= t~ ~~ =Q~ ~ ~W z~ o~~ ~~ (LZ ~~~ g ~ 1.~= ~~ ~~~ O ~ ~ ti o f ti o }~ ~~~ .. fir/ -. • Figure 6: Existing zoning in Falcon Heights Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-5 r~ ~~ Existing Land Use Residential Neighborhoods Of the non-institutional land in Falcon Heights, the majority is residential, mostly single family homes. The single family residential district is divided into six distinct neighborhoods by the University of Minnesota fields and by Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues. Most of the housing was constructed between 1940 and 1990. Multi-family buildings are distributed along portions of Larpenteur Avenue, most between Fairview and Pascal, and there is a large complex of attached single-family homes on the University campus at the southwest corner of the City. Housing is discussed in detail in the Housing section of the plan. Commercial Land With the exception of a small neighborhood business center at the northwest corner of Hamline and Hoyt Avenues, all of the land zoned for commercial and business uses in Falcon Heights is located along Larpenteur Avenue, a major east-west thoroughfare. Most of this land is concentrated at the four corners of the Snelling-Larpenteur intersection, the City's central business district. Two other business zones of significant size are the Twin Cities Cooperative Credit Union/Stanford Office Park area on Prior Avenue near City Hall and Hermes Nursery, the last survivor in Falcon Heights of the flower nurseries for which Larpenteur Avenue was once known. The remaining business properties are small parcels on the edges of residential neighborhoods, intended to be • used for local neighborhood businesses. Falcon Heights has no land zoned for industrial use. Further discussion is located in the Business and Commercial chapter of the Land Use section. Mixed Use The most significant change in land use in Falcon Heights in the last 15 years is the conversion of 4.9 acres from commercial to mixed residential and commercial use, with the redevelopment of the southeast corner of Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues. Falcon Heights Town Square includes 119 rental aparhnents, 76 senior rental apartments, 14 owner-occupied townhomes and 12,000 square feet of commercial space. Another large commercial property, the corporate offices of Twin Cities Cooperative Federal Credit Union, has also been designated "Mixed Use Commercial" by the Metropolitan Council (2005) because of the establishment of a weekly farmer's market, operating from May through October. A popular and busy destination during the summer, this market is the first opportunity for City residents to purchase food within Falcon Heights since the City's last small grocery/convenience store closed in the 1990s. The market is a convenient pedestrian destination for residents west of Fairview. Parks, playgrounds and public open space Park and playground acreage increased slightly between 1991 and 2005, due to the closing of a portion of the east Snelling Drive frontage road and the incorporation of that land into Curtiss Field, one of the City's two neighborhood parks. Although the City's • park acreage is low for its population, it should be noted that the University of Minnesota's Les Bolstad Golf Course, as well as the campus and the grounds and Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-6 • facilities of the State Fair, provide significant additional recreational opportunities for City residents. Vacant Land While the City has a significant inventory of unbuilt public land, that land is owned and used for agricultural research by the University of Minnesota and therefore not considered vacant. The volume of privately owned vacant land decreased from 9 acres in 1990 to about 4 acres in 2005. The only significant consumer of vacant land between 1991 and 2005 was Questwood, asemi-detached residential development of 3.5 acres served by a private street, built in 1994. That which remains consists of relatively small disassociated parcels under one acre in size. Most of these parcels are landlocked, with no street access, and all but one are owned by the owner of the adjoining residential property. With the exception of these parcels, which are popularly -though not yet officially - considered a natural resource, there is no vacant privately held land remaining in the City for new residential development except for one quarter-acre lot on Tatum Street. There are no vacant properties zoned for commercial use. Public and Institutional Land The City has been given no reason to anticipate that any of the University of Minnesota or State Fair land will be made available for private development within the time frame of this plan. Therefore, the City must plan to accommodate expected housing, business and community needs by redevelopment on land that is now privately owned. However, the City must also be prepared to provide for the best use of what is now public land, in • the event that these public institutions change their plans. Future Directions Areas of Potential Change In addition to the demographic and environmental challenges that will confront all cities in the next twenty years, Falcon Heights faces the particular challenge of finding space to meet the housing needs projected by the year 2030. Except for one vacant residentially zoned parcel, Falcon Heights is fully developed. The City's unique composition includes the University of Minnesota's agricultural research fields. This land is not considered vacant by the City or the University. Therefore, it is not in new development, but in redevelopment where Falcon Heights will see changes over the next twenty years. Redevelopment is expected to follow two general directions: Adding transit-oriented housing, especially for older citizens and students, and creating more opportunities for residents to meet their needs for purchasing life's necessities closer to home. Vacant land The only vacant land for development in the city's land use controls is a 1/4 acre vacant • lot on Tatum Street, zoned R-4, and a site of approximately 4 acres that is in a single- family residential zone. At the present time, this vacant land is divided into seven separate parcels, all but one belonging to the adjacent homeowners who use them for Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-7 gardening or landscaped space. None of these parcels have street access. Although these • and other constraints make it unlikely that this site will be developed in the next ten or even twenty years, the City evaluated this area's development potential in the past and determined some minimal criteria that must be addressed by any future developer to guarantee that it would be developed according to sound land use planning practices. These criteria included developing the site as a whole rather than on a lot-by-lot basis and only after receiving the consent of the property owners to the sale of their land. Present property owners have requested that the area be identified and preserved as a natural resource. As the City has no plans to create a municipal preserve or park on this site, present owners will be encouraged to combine these back lots with their street-front parcels. At this time, other properties closer to Larpenteur are considered far more suitable for development and more likely to be redeveloped to accommodate anticipated housing needs. Redevelopment: The Larpenteur Corridor As of the last comprehensive plan, the largest potential site for redevelopment was the southeast corner of Snelling and Larpenteur. Now that this project has been completed, there are no immediate candidates for redevelopment in 2007. However, several of the larger commercial properties are underutilized, and the existing apartment buildings are aging, so it is likely that opportunities for redevelopment will arise during the next twenty years. All of these sites are on, or near, Larpenteur Avenue, an important bus transit route, so a chief focus of the City's planning will be the "Larpenteur Corridor." • Given the unlikelihood of University of Minnesota land being made available for development, it will be redevelopment of properties in the Larpenteur Corridor that will provide the additional housing and business development Falcon Heights is expected to need by 2030. Please see the Larpenteur Corridor section for detailed discussion. Changes to Public Lands The construction of a new Bell Museum of Natural History on the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Cleveland Avenues (scheduled to open in 2010) will bring many visitors to Falcon Heights. Intramural recreational fields presently occupying the site will be moved, the northeast corner of Cleveland and Larpenteur being discussed as a possible site. With Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life (Ramsey County Historical Society) across Larpenteur Avenue to the north, and the proximity to University recreational facilities, two City parks and existing or planned trails, the ClevelandJLarpenteur area could become the nucleus of a new cultural and recreational hub in Falcon Heights and an important element of the Larpenteur Corridor, complimenting the commercial and business core at Snelling Avenue. To allow for a proposed expansion of Ramsey County Historical Society operations at the Gibbs Museum, the Public Land (P-1) designation will be extended to the adjacent residential property, which the Historical Society now owns and plans to use for its institutional operations. Demand for student housing being very strong, the University has communicated a • possible need for additional student housing, including corporate housing, south of Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use ~ Housing, Page II-8 • Commonwealth Avenue on campus. In the event that any of this housing is built and operated by private entities, this development could come under the City's land use jurisdiction, and the City would need to create appropriate land use controls both to meet the needs of the University and to ensure compatibility with the City's goals and best interests. Although no further change to public lands, and no sale to the private sector, is anticipated during the time frame of this plan, the City acknowledges that provision must be made if University of Minnesota or State Fair plans change. The City's previous comprehensive plan called for all public land not permanently reserved for public use to revert to single-family residential use if it should be sold for private development. Given the health and sustainability objectives of this plan, restricting this land to single family residential use is not necessarily in the best interest of the community. Therefore, the City will adopt a more flexible approach, creating overlay districts to guide any future development of public lands in coordination with the other parts of this plan, while acknowledging the present public use in the base zoning designation. Portions of these lands, such as Community Park, maybe candidates for permanent reservation as public land. Corridor studies of Larpenteur and Snelling will be undertaken before the extent of the new zones can be determined. This plan will be amended when those studies have been completed. Areas of Potential Change r~ Potential "Multi-use" DISMct ~ Bell Museum 31te • Cleve) andlLarpenteur Civic, Cultural and Recreational Precinct Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 ® Potential Campus Housing District Areas of Potential Change: Privately Owned Land B-1 B-2 B-3 R-1 - R-4 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-9 Figure 7: Areas of Potential Change General Land Use: Goals and Policies • General Land Use Goals 1. To protect open space and natural resources, preserving the urban/rural aesthetic that Falcon Heights residents value. 2. To improve connections between districts of the City, between City neighborhoods and the public institutions and within neighborhoods. 3. To build community identity along the main thoroughfares, especially Larpenteur and Snelling Avenues. 4. To minimize land use and traffic intrusions that adversely impact established neighborhoods. 5. To enhance access and safety for pedestrians and non-motorized transportation. 6. To encourage practices that conserve energy and lower the City's over-all carbon emissions, making Falcon Heights a healthier, more sustainable community. General Land Use Policies 1. Adopt and encourage "best practices" to promote public health and encourage an active lifestyle for residents. Require a health impact assessment for new development/redevelopment. • 2. Adopt and encourage "best practices" to promote a more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable community. 3. Continue to protect solar access by enforcing existing city ordinances (Section 113- 393) and by strengthening the ordinance, if appropriate. 4. Continue to eliminate zoning code violations and nuisance conditions that adversely affect the appearance and value of properties and the health of residents. 5. On transit routes, where appropriate, allow the redevelopment ofmulti-family and commercial properties for mixed use or higher density housing, incorporating best practices for conserving green space and promoting active living. (See Larpenteur Corridor section.) 6. Enhance and upgrade the value of all properties through street maintenance and improvement programs that complement and enhance both residential neighborhoods and the City's business districts. 7. Establish design guidelines and standards to ensure that any new development promotes good health and preserves public open space. 8. Permit only compatible businesses adjacent to residential uses and in mixed commercial-residential development, and place special conditions upon business uses to assure compatibility when appropriate. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-10 • 9. Require that any re-subdivision of existing lots on developed blocks in residential areas conform to other lots within surrounding blocks, and be accessed in a similar manner. 10. Continue to build the Neighborhood Liaison program, Community Emergency Response Team and other community organizations for communication and security. 11. Build community identity and encourage neighborhood connectivity by installing sidewalk systems, decorative street lighting and landscaping to make streetscapes more welcoming. 12. Continue to implement an aggressive shade tree program and replace removed trees as quickly as possible. 13. Encourage landscaping practices that reduce water consumption and minimize runoff. 2. The Larpenteur and Snelling Corridors Because there is almost no vacant private land in Falcon Heights and the public land is unlikely to be available for future development, the City must identify those private properties which are possible candidates for redevelopment by the year 2030 to meet • projected housing and business needs. Next to its central location, the two characteristics of Falcon Heights that residents value most are: • The agricultural open spaces that give the city its unique rural-in-urban character • The high quality traditional single-family neighborhoods and the importance of preserving their value and vitality With these values in mind, City staff looked at all private properties that are not presently zoned for single-family residential use. All but a handful of these properties are on or very close to Larpenteur Avenue, the City's primary east-west thoroughfare. Therefore, the City will consider the future of the Larpenteur Corridor as a whole in creating the City's updated comprehensive plan. The Larpenteur Avenue and Snelling Avenue corridors have long functioned as divisions within Falcon Heights, separating the city north from south, east from west. The primary function of these highways is to conduct motorized traffic as quickly as possible from one end of the City to the other. Larpenteur and Snelling have imposed barriers to pedestrian traffic and an impediment to retail cohesiveness, separating neighborhoods and encouraging residents to orient their lives outward toward surrounding cities. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-11 Snelling Avenue Snelling Avenue is a State highway that crosses Falcon Heights from north to south. It is the most heavily traveled traffic artery in the City. South of Hoyt Avenue, Snelling is the boundary between the Minnesota State Fair and St. Paul's Como neighborhood. North of Crawford Avenue, Snelling is a residential boulevard, with frontage streets and medians separating homes from the highway. On the west side, deep lots backing up to the University fields hint at the original rural character of this section of the avenue. No significant change is expected on Snelling Avenue in Falcon Heights outside the Larpenteur Corridor for the life of this plan. Therefore, this section will focus on the opportunities on Larpenteur Avenue. However, because Snelling passes through the heart of the City and the central commercial district and borders three large neighborhoods, it is a vital component in the City's objectives of building connections within the City, encouraging healthy, active living and enhancing community identity. Certain general goals and policies in this section will also be applied to Snelling, and any corridor study undertaken for Larpenteur Avenue will include Snelling. Recently developed or unlikely to change ~ Houses (single family) - R-2 duplex and attached housing - Existing Multi-Family ~ Business and Retail Recreational & Cultural Figure 8: The Larpenteur Corridor in Falcon Heights • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-12 The Larpenteur Corridor in Falcon Heights Today • Assets and Characteristics of the Larpenteur Corridor • Existing higher density housing. Most existing multi-family housing in the City is on or near Larpenteur • Existing business zones. Of the City's existing business districts, all but one are on, or just off, Larpenteur. The City's central business district surrounds the intersection of Larpenteur and Snelling. • Transit. Larpenteur Avenue is a public transit route between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. It crosses Snelling Avenue, a major north-south transit route that connects Roseville's commercial center with St. Paul's Midway (and the future Central Corridor LRT) and the Hiawatha LRT line • Cultural Assets. Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life is located at the northwest corner of Cleveland and Larpenteur Avenues, across the street from the site of the new Bell Museum, scheduled to be built by 2010. • Recreational Amenities. The Les Bolstad University of Minnesota Golf Course and women's soccer stadium are both located in the vicinity of Larpenteur/Cleveland. The City's three largest parks are all directly connected to Larpenteur Avenue by walks or trails. • Community Amenities and Services. Falcon Heights City Hall and fire station are both on Larpenteur, just east of Cleveland. In summer, the popular Farmers Market • opens once a week on the grounds of Twin City Co-ops Federal Credit Union, just east of City Hall. Existing Land Uses on Larpenteur Avenue Properties on Larpenteur Avenue fall into four broad categories: • Business and commercial properties or groups of properties, including the Snelling/Larpenteur commercial core • Existing multi-family residential properties • Existing single-family homes and duplexes • Public and institutional land, including land used for agriculture research Of these, the last two categories are considered improbable candidates for redevelopment. In addition there are sites which have been redeveloped within the last 25 years and which are not considered likely redevelopment candidates by 2030. • 1666 Coffinan -senior condominium apartments • Falcon Heights Town Square (SE corner of Snelling/Larpenteur) • Falcon Crossing - NE corner of Snelling/Larpenteur • Stratford Professional Office Park -Prior Avenue, north of Maple Court and City Hall r~ Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use ~ Housing, Page II-13 Existing Multi-Family Residential Properties in the Larpenteur Corridor The existing multi-family residential properties in the proposed Larpenteur Corridor planning area occupy a total of 24.7 acres, with 703 units of housing for an average density of 28.4 units per acre, as shown in Table 8. The density ranges from just over 14 units per acre at 1666 Coffinan, anowner-occupied condominium residence for University of Minnesota retirees, to more than 50 units per acre at 1496 Larpenteur, an older 8-unit apartment building. The new multi-family and senior buildings at Falcon Heights Town Square are approximately 45.9 and 42.4 units per acre, respectively. Table 8: Multi-family Residential Properties in Larpenteur Corridor, West to East Property Present Zonin Acres Existing units Existing Density Units/Acre 1666 Coffman R-4 6.50 93 14.3 1707 Tatum R-4 0.41 11 26.8 1707 Lindi R-4 0.52 12 23.1 1845-1855 Lar enteur R-4 1.11 34 30.6 1830 Lar enteur R-4 0.59 17 28.8 1800-1818 Lar enteur R-4 1.56 36 23.1 1710-1740 Lar enteur R-4 4.83 144 29.8 1687-1717 F R-4 2.43 68 28.0 1561 Idaho/1534-1642 Snellin R-4 0.88 32 36.4 1550 Lar enteur 1530 Lar enteur PUD PUD 2.59 1.32 119 56 45.9 42.4 1510 Lar enteur 1511 Lar enteur/1688 Arona R-4 R-4 0.28 0.39 10 20 35.7 51.3 1504 Lar enteur R-4 0.28 10 35.7 1496 Lar enteur R-4 0.13 8 61.5 1490 Lar enteur R-4 0.13 5 38.5 1486 Lar enteur 1472 Lar enteur 1466 Lar enteur All Multi-famil ro erties R-4 R-4 R-4 0.28 0.28 0.28 24.79 10 10 8 703 35.7 35.7 28.6 28.4 All of these properties exceed the 12 unit-per-acre cap defined in the City's existing zoning code. Most are at least twice as dense as the code calls for. This suggests that the 12-unit-per-acre limit is not realistic and should be revised upward for multi-family properties in the city. Lack of parking, on and off-street, and the need to limit impervious covering may dictate lower densities on the smaller multi-family parcels if they are redeveloped, resulting in a net loss of housing units. This loss will have to be made up by adding housing elsewhere in the City or by consolidating multiple lots and developing as a whole. Falcon Heights used to have two multi-family zones, R-3 and R-4. The 12-units-per-acre limit for R-3 was adopted when the two zoning districts were combined since the last • • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-14 • comprehensive plan. The R-3 designation was originally intended for medium density single-family attached residences and small multi-family buildings. It would be appropriate for Falcon Heights to restore this zoning category in this comprehensive plan for its original purpose and redefine the R-4 zone to accommodate both the existing multifamily densities and expected future development. Areas where a new R-3 zone might be appropriate include the present R-2 properties on the north side of Larpenteur and the block of older multi-family buildings on the south side of Larpenteur east of Arona Street. • • CommerciaUBusiness Properties in the Larpenteur Corridor Existing private commercial land occupies 30.46 acres in the Larpenteur Corridor. As shown in Table 9, these properties range in size from just over a quarter of an acre at the northeast corner of Larpenteur and Lindig to over 12.5 acres at Larpenteur and Prior (now occupied by Twin City Co-op Federal Credit Union). Table 9: Non-Residential Properties in Larpenteur Corridor, West to East Property Present Zonin Acres 2025 Lar enteur TCCU B-2 12.54 1871 Lar enteur B-1 0.29 1750-1790 Lar enteur Hermes B-2 3.44 1639 Lar enteur Buck's B-3 1.16 1644 Lar enteur TIES west B-3 2.58 1667 Snellin TIES B-3 3.73 1611 Snellin Chianti Grill B-3 0.58 Warner center B-3 2.1 BP B-3 0.38 Dino's B-3 0.54 Falcon Crossin includin north arkin B-3 1.66 1407 Lar enteur Martinizin B-1 0.5 1347 Larpenteur Awad Clinic B-1 0.58 1350 Lar enteur Su erAmerica B-1 0.38 All non-residential rivate land on the Lar enteur Corrido 30.46 If the City allows residential or mixed use in-fill development at the City's present average of 28 units/acre, then 8.9 acres, or approximately 30% of the existing commercial acreage, will be needed to accommodate the expected demand for housing in the community by 2030. If higher densities are allowed, less land will be needed. (See Table 10.) Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft- January, 2008 Part II: Land Use ~ Housing, Page II-15 Table 10: Acreage needed to meet projections for housing increase • Acres a needed for 250 units Acres of existing commercial ro ert on Lar enteur At 12/acre resent limit 20.83 68.4% At 20/acre 12.50 41.0% At 28/acre existin averse 8.93 29.3% At 30/acre 8.33 27.4% At 40/acre 6.25 20.5% Not all of the sites presently zoned for business are likely candidates for multi-use redevelopment by 2030. The northeast and southeast quadrants of the Snelling/Larpenteur core are comparatively new and in good condition. The northwest quadrant has been recently upgraded; it also presents some vehicle access challenges due to its proximity to the Snelling/Larpenteur intersection. The B-1 properties are unlikely to attract residential redevelopment because of their small size and constraints imposed by proximity to existing residential properties. They are more likely -and more needed - to continue serving neighborhood retail needs, with or without rebuilding. In any case, there is sufficient private land to accommodate the forecast housing need to 2030, if the City provides in its land use controls for additional housing or mixed residential/commercial use on some or all of the land that is presently zoned for business. • Where this redevelopment actually will occur will depend on the plans of individual property owners and market forces. Market conditions in 2007 suggest it is likely that the increase in households may lag behind the forecast for 2010. Larpenteur/Cleveland Hub Though decidedly less congested with traffic and more rural in character than the Snelling/Larpenteur commercial core, the intersection of Larpenteur and Cleveland is as important a center and gateway to the City of Falcon Heights as Snelling and Larpenteur. The area is home to a number of the community's assets and public attractions. • Falcon Heights City Hall • Les Bolstad University of Minnesota Golf Course • University of Minnesota women's soccer stadium • University Grove Park (a neighborhood park) • Community Park • St. Paul Farmer's Market (located seasonally behind TCCU) Cleveland and Larpenteur has also been identified by in the University of Minnesota's master planning process as an important gateway to the campus. The Cleveland/Larpenteur hub, extending to Gortner Avenue on the east, Fulham Avenue on the west, and to Community Park on the north, has the potential to become a • significant precinct of civic, cultural and recreational activity, balancing and complimenting the commercial center at Snelling and Larpenteur Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-16 • Future Directions Axis of Redevelopment: The Larpenteur Corridor Larpenteur and Snelling have the potential to become vital arteries within the community, connecting rather than dividing neighborhoods and commercial areas. It is the City's intention to focus on that potential over the lifetime of this plan and to aim future development in the City toward realizing that vision of connection. Higher density, transit-oriented housing, including life-cycle housing, along Larpenteur Avenue will be part of that vision. Commercial development will be integrated with the Snelling/Larpenteur commercial core and must contribute to a viable community oriented city center. Above all, development must be balanced with preservation of the open landscapes that residents value so highly. The City intends to give priority to development along Larpenteur Avenue that provides homes, destinations and necessities for local residents and incorporates strong pedestrian and local traffic connections both to surrounding residential neighborhoods and to existing commercial districts. Highway-oriented "strip-mall" type development will not serve this vision and will not be considered appropriate for Larpenteur Avenue within Falcon Heights. A comprehensive corridor study of both Snelling and Larpenteur, with ample opportunity for public participation, is recommended as part of the implementation • of this plan, before any significant redevelopment is initiated along the Larpenteur Avenue corridor in Falcon Heights. Larpenteur/Cleveland Civic, Cultural and Recreational Precinct Finally, it is the City's intention to promote the evolution of the Cleveland/Larpenteur district as a precinct of civic, recreational and cultural activity for both the City and the wider metropolitan community, in partnership with the public and non-profit institutions that own the surrounding lands. With the planned construction of the new Bell Museum of Natural History at the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Cleveland, and a proposed expansion of the Ramsey County Historical Society's operations at the northwest corner, including Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakota Life, the City of Falcon Heights will be home to two popular metropolitan area museums in 2010. The City intends to encourage compatible improvements on public and private land in this growing recreational and cultural nexus surrounding the Cleveland/Larpenteur intersection. The City intends to work with the surrounding property owners, adjacent cities and Ramsey County to improve pedestrian safety and access, to maintain and expand trail and bikeway access among the amenities in the area, and to meet the parking • needs of the expected visitors to the area. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-17 The Larpenteur Corridor: Goals and Policies Larpenteur Corridor Goals 1. To respect the heritage of open agricultural landscapes along Larpenteur and preserve this community asset as much as possible. 2. To encourage the evolution of the Snelling/Larpenteur hub, especially between Arona Street and Fairview Avenue, into an extended "city center" connecting, rather than dividing, the community. 3. To promote the redevelopment of properties in a manner that enhances the value and aesthetics of the surrounding community. 4. To provide opportunities for forecast housing needs to be met, in proximity to public transportation, commercial services and recreational facilities. 5. To encourage the evolution of the Cleveland/Larpenteur hub into awell-designed civic, cultural and recreational precinct and an attractive gateway to both the City of Falcon Heights and the University of Minnesota. Larpenteur Corridor Policies 1. Conduct in-depth corridor studies of both Larpenteur and Snelling Avenues in Falcon heights to determine the design priorities for these arteries and to determine the best ways to meet the City's objectives. 2. Establish mixed-use overlay districts to encourage infill and redevelopment of existing commercial and multi-family properties along the Larpenteur corridor. Exact location of these districts would be determined by the results of the corridor studies; this plan will be amended to recognize those results. 3. Allow flexibility in development standards on Larpenteur to recognize the challenge of redeveloping small properties on a scale similar to surrounding residential development 4. Require pedestrian and local traffic connectivity between new development and surrounding portions of the City. Discourage plans that restrict vehicular access to new developments to Larpenteur Avenue only. 5. Require appropriate transitional zones of open space between existing single-family neighborhoods and any new development of institutional or agricultural land. 6. Employ the health impact assessment and other tools to ensure that new development along Larpenteur Avenue is safe, attractive and walkable and enhances the quality of life for residents of the City. • 7. Work with the University of Minnesota to improve the streetscape along Larpenteur • west of Fairview. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-18 • 3. Housing and Neighborhoods • • The City of Falcon Heights is primarily a residential community dominated by modest, well-maintained single family homes built in the mid-20~' century. Slightly less than a third of the total residential units are apartments, for which there is a constant demand because of proximity to the University of Minnesota. About 15% of the City's housing is in a student housing cooperative on the university campus. Falcon Heights Neighborhoods The geographical barriers of major roads, open fields, fairground and campus give the neighborhoods of Falcon Heights clearly defined identities. The neighborhoods are also distinguished by age and type of housing, and by typical lot size. _ ~ __ ii I~ ~1 ~ ~ T s l o ~ M Y Court ____ ,~ ,~.:~ ~~ :a- ~:e II~ .a~..i a _~.IY ~ _ ~~ __. ~~ ~ ~ ~ .~~ ~,.~ ~-~0 mmawmwrlh ~._.J L ~ ~ s T~rtaw .uo$« tii CaopvNiw v .~ W. C ~' q x ,l" '~.~_~ Figure 12: Falcon Heights Residential Neighborhoods Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-19 N~Iphbotfioods Fairview-Lincig-Tatum [~ Falcon Heights Town Square -Falcon Woods Hollywood Court ~ Maple Court Northeast Quadrant ~ Northame Snelling West ® Snelling-Larpenteur Southwest ~ University Grove NOTE: NeighboMOOtl narnesheVB been arbitrarily assigned and are not official North of Larpenteur and east of Snelling. This neighborhood, sometimes called the • "Northeast Quadrant," is the largest in the city. It is characterized by ramblers and ranch- style homes built from the 1930s to about 1960, on deep lots of typically about 10,000 square feet. Streets are straight and connected, primarily north south; most blocks do not have sidewalks or alleys. Older homes on deeper, more heavily wooded lots are concentrated along Hamline and the east end of Larpenteur. South of Larpenteur and east of Snelling. Traditionally called Northome, this neighborhood is characterized by one-and-a-half story homes built before the end of World War II and, west of Arona Street, ramblers built between 1945 and 1952. Most lots are under 7,000 square feet. The houses face east-west streets laid out in a grid pattern. Most blocks have alleys and sidewalks. The neighborhood is similar to St. Paul's Como neighborhood to the south. Recently two large apartment buildings and fourteen townhomes were added to this neighborhood at Falcon Heights Town Square at the southeast corner of Larpenteur and Snelling. North of Larpenteur and west of Snelling. This diverse neighborhood adjacent to university agriculture fields has a broad range of housing, including older homes on large lots facing Snelling Avenue, a 1950s development of suburban ramblers, and a small complex of up-scale townhomes built in the 1990s. Lot sizes vary from about 10,000 square feet to over 25,000 square feet. There are no alleys and few sidewalks. Afour- building apartment complex is located at Fry and Larpenteur. • South of Larpenteur, Snelling to Fairview. Three apartment complexes, interspersed with commercial properties and public land, stand on the south side of Larpenteur, west of Snelling and adjacent to the State Fairground and University fields. Hollywood Court, a tiny single-street, one block neighborhood of homes built before 1950 on lots of about 7,000 square feet, is tucked in between the State Fair and the TIES building at the southwest corner of Snelling and Larpenteur. Access to all of these residences is from Snelling or Larpenteur only. These residents are largely cut off from the other City neighborhoods by these busy streets. Fairview, Lindig and Tatum Streets. This area reflects the same kind of diversity seen in the neighborhood along the west side of Snelling: individually built homes on large lots (10,000 - 53,000 square feet) on Fairview, Roselawn and Lindig and a development of post-World War II ramblers on 9,000 - 10,000 square foot lots along Tatum. The absence of sidewalks, the quiet location, and the "common back yard" identity of the unbuilt back lots north of the end of Lindig street reinforce the semi-rural character these residents prize. Falcon Woods. With access only from Roselawn Avenue on the north, winding streets and wedge-shaped lots, this neighborhood has the most "suburban" character in the city. The homes were built in two stages, the northern portion in the 1950s and the southern in the 1980s. Typical lots are about 10,000 square feet. Maple Court, a complex of 24 attached condominium townhomes built in 1993, stands just to the south of Falcon • Woods off Prior Avenue north of City Hall. Although this neighborhood has no Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-20 • sidewalks along the residential streets, it is well provided with pedestrian connections to Prior and Larpenteur to the south and to Community Park on the west. University Grove. Located between Hoyt Avenue and the University golf course, west of Cleveland Avenue, University Grove is a distinctive neighborhood originally intended for University faculty and staff. The Grove is adjacent to St. Anthony Park, one of St. Paul's most desirable neighborhoods. Homes in the Grove were built between the 1920s and the 1970s in a myriad of styles, each individually architect-designed. Homeowners are lessees of their lots, which remain the property of the University of Minnesota, and properties are subject to neighborhood association governance as well as City zoning code. The neighborhood features common green areas in the interiors of blocks, plenty of sidewalks and pedestrian paths, and a small neighborhood park. 1666 Coffinan, a 92-unit condominium apartment building for retired University employees stands at the north side of the neighborhood at Coffinan and Larpenteur Existing Housing in Falcon Heights Falcon Heights Housing: Density, Condition, Value and Age • The City is fully developed with single-family housing at net densities ranging from 2 • to 6 units per acre. Existing multi-family housing ranges from 12 to 46 units per acre and is primarily located along Larpenteur Avenue. Overall, Falcon Heights exceeds the Metropolitan Council's 3 unit per acre benchmark. There is almost no private vacant land available for the development of new housing. • The City's housing mix has remained remarkably stable but home ownership has decreased from 59.5% in 1990 to 54.0% in 2007, primarily due to the addition of 175 rental apartments in Falcon Heights Town Square. • Anecdotal evidence, mostly through discussions with rental property owners, reflects a consistently low vacancy rate among rental properties. • Housing quality is very good. According to the Ramsey County Department of Records and Revenue, all housing was rated "Average" or better in 2006, except for 12 properties which were rated "Fair." None were rated "Poor." • Housing values remain strong. In 2000, median value of asingle-family, owner- occupied home was $161,400 compared to a median value of $126,400 in Ramsey County. In 2006, the median value was $273,100, with 90% of owner-occupied housing valued above $214,500. • Nearly half of the housing stock (45.5%) was built between 1950 and 1969. Only 17.7% has been built since 1974. • Approximately 15% of the City's housing stock (excluding dormitory or group • housing) is located on the University of Minnesota campus in Commonwealth Terrace. It is entirely under the jurisdiction of the University. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-21 • Approximately one third of the City's total housing is comprised ofmulti-family • units. • The City has 33 existing Section 8 subsidized housing units and no public or subsidized seniors housing. In addition, students in Commonwealth Terrace must meet low income guidelines to qualify for student housing. • Falcon Heights has two apartment buildings for senior citizens: 1666 Coffinan Street (condominium, 93 units) and 1530 Larpenteur Avenue (rental, 56 units). • If there are constituencies whose housing needs are not being met, they are likely to be students or senior citizens who want to remain in the community after they sell their homes. Table 11: Housing Unit Mix - 2007 Number of units % of total Sin le-famil ,detached 1145 50.9% Sin le-famil ,attached '' 71 3.2% Multi-Famil 702 31.2% U of M Student Housin 331 14.7% TOTALS 2249 100% * Duplexes, triplexes and townhomes Table 12: Housing Tenure 1980 1990 2000 2006 Percent Owner Occu ied 56.4% 59.5% 58.3% 54.0% Percent Renter Occu ied 43.6% 40.5% 41.7% 46.0% Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% Please see Appendix B: Falcon Heights Housing Profile for additional detailed tables. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-22 • Table 13: Residential Density in Falcon I3eights • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-23 Acreage figures are from City GIS parcel data, not Metropolitan Council Land Use map; thus, land in categories D, E, F, and G is already eliminated from the gross residential acreage. ;~'+ -~-+ .~ Qj .~ Figure 9: Housing Density by Parcel • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-24 • Home Values in Falcon Heights, 2007 (Houses, Townhomes and Condominiums) 0000000000 ~0000OOOOOo ONMM~ rM1.t7Md' Od'C37rM~ttl`OM00 N r M In CO f~ d0 0 r CO N Q}NNNNNNNMMC~ t6 0 0 0 0 p O 0 0 p O ( 0~ 0 j,~~~~C~~ONInCfl~ ,~O~tOrMM~I`(3yM NrMlnCflt`a0 rCq ~ r N N N N N N~ M M O 2 Figure 10: Home Values 2007 (Houses, Townhomes and Condominiums). Data: Ramsey County Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-25 Falcon Heights Housing by Year of Construction Future Directions Homes by Year Constructed - 1875 - 1886 1887 - 1932 ® 1933 - 1939 ~ 1940 - 1944 ~ 1945 - 1952 0 1953 - 1964 ® 1961 - 1969 - 1970 - 1978 ~ 1979 - 1987 ~ 1988 - 2000 Metropolitan Council forecasts predict the need for approximately 250 additional housing units in Falcon Heights by 2030. The challenge for Falcon Heights will be to find room for this housing in a community that is fully developed with no significant vacant land and limited land appropriate for redevelopment and infill. The City's strategy to meet this challenge will be to support redevelopment that adds medium to high density housing in the Larpenteur corridor as opportunities arise. (Please see the Larpenteur Corridor section for detailed discussion.) The other significant challenge for Falcon Heights will be to preserve the quality and character of its mid-20th Century neighborhoods. The well-maintained cottages, ramblers and ranch-style dwellings behind green lawns on tree-lined streets have a "retro" charm that, with the convenient location of the City, makes Falcon Heights a desirable place to live. However, by post-1990 suburban standards, the lots, homes and garages are relatively small, and today's residents desire more living space. The City's challenge is to • • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-26 Figure 11: Housing by year of construction. Data: Ramsey County • encourage reinvestment and home improvement that respects the style and character of the existing housing and the proportion of landscaped space, while creating more usable space and convenience. This plan establishes four broad categories of residential use as follows: Traditional Neighborhoods (R-1 and R-2) These areas correlate with established single-family residential neighborhoods (University Grove, Falcon Woods, Northome, Northeast and Maple Knoll) where only very limited in-fill residential development is possible due to the absence of vacant land. These are neighborhood conservation areas where it is the City's intent to preserve neighborhood values and aesthetic character, encourage the continual upgrading of the housing stock and maintain existing development densities of six or fewer units per gross acre. At neighborhood edges, it is the City's intent to consider compatible residential redevelopment at higher densities. Traditional Medium Density Residential (R-3 and R-4) These long-established multi-family buildings are generally located along Larpenteur and Snelling Avenues in close proximity to areas of higher activity such as the Snelling and Larpenteur Commercial Core and to the two main bus transit routes that cross the City. Densities range from 12 to 46 units per gross acre. Off-street parking is limited. The City's policy for the last 20 years has been to limit new medium density residential • development to 12 units per gross acre. As this is unlikely to meet projected needs for housing by 2030, the City will consider compatible redevelopment at higher densities, should opportunities arise, especially in the Larpenteur Corridor. Where medium or lower density redevelopment is proposed for these zones and other transitional areas, the City will require that rebuilding not reduce the amount of available housing in the City overall. To provide for attached townhome development and other medium density housing, the City will reinstitute the R-3 zoning district discontinued since the last comprehensive plan,. Transit-Oriented/Multi-Use Residential The new Falcon Heights Town Square at the southeast Corner of Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues is an example of a kind of housing that is becoming more common in the inner suburbs of the Twin Cities. Retail space may occupy the ground floor, while upper floors are residential. Buildings are set forward toward the street, and parking is moved underground or to the interior of the property. Falcon Heights Town Square's largest building, the closest to Snelling, is one story taller than any other multi-unit building in the city. To meet projected housing needs, the City intends to consider similar multi-use development, with increased height limits and housing densities similar to comparable properties in the City, along the Larpenteur corridor, should any of the larger properties, presently zoned for business or medium density residential, become available for redevelopment. Substantial green spaces will be preserved between future development • and existing neighborhoods to provide connectivity between neighborhoods (pedestrian, Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use 8~ Housing, Page II-27 motorized and non-motorized traffic) and to preserve natural resources prized by Falcon • Heights residents, including open space, views and access to natural light. New Neighborhoods (P-1/R-1 ~ P-1) Although it is unlikely that the University of Minnesota will release any of its agricultural land for private development, it is the City's responsibility to take that remote possibility into account in its planning. If land should become available, future neighborhoods in these areas will be designed to conserve public open land, especially adjacent to existing neighborhoods, to include pedestrian and bicycle paths and access to transit, to provide connected street plans compatible with existing Ramsey County street names and address numbering, and to provide a variety of housing types and prices, including multi-family and compact single family residential use. Until that time, it is in the City's interest to designate these lands as reserved for public use and establish overlay districts to ensure that any future changes in use meet the objectives of this plan. Housing and Neighborhoods: Goals and Policies Housing/Neighborhood Goals 1. To improve the quality, appearance and maintenance of housing in neighborhoods and the health of residents. • 2. To enhance access and safety for pedestrians and non-motorized transportation. 3. To minimize land use and traffic intrusions that adversely impact established neighborhoods. 4. To continue the well-maintained residential character of existing neighborhoods. 5. To encourage the availability of housing for a population of diverse ages and income levels. 6. To protect open space and natural resources, preserving the urban/rural aesthetic that Falcon Heights residents value. 7. To meet the needs of the projected growth in households to 2030. Housing/Neighborhood Policies 1. Adopt and encourage "best practices" to promote public health and encourage an active lifestyle for residents. Require a health impact assessment for new development/redevelopment. 2. Enforce the housing chapter of the city code to assure the maintenance of existing housing stock. Pursue improvements to this chapter such as adoption of a uniform standard, such as the International Housing Maintenance Code. 3. Pursue and encourage housing rehabilitation programs, such as the Housing Resource • Center. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-28 • 4. Continue to support rental assistance programs through the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority Section 8 Program. 5. Encourage home ownership by participating in community land trust programs, as opportunities and funding allow, to keep a proportion of homes affordable. 6. Monitor and maintain the quality of rented single-family housing by requiring registration and regular inspection of rental housing. 7. Space group homes in residential districts with not less than 1/2 mile between homes, as allowable by state statutes. s. Continue to eliminate zoning code violations and nuisance conditions that adversely affect neighborhoods. 9. Maintain the single-family character of the existing residential neighborhoods and discourage redevelopment that maybe considered a change in use unless irreversible blight can be demonstrated. 10. Allow the remodeling of existing residential structures and accessory uses without adversely affecting the character of the neighborhood or substantially reducing required open space. l l . On transit routes, allow the replacement of existing medium-density multi-family structures at equal or higher density, incorporating best practices for conserving green space and promoting active living. • 12. Enhance and upgrade the value of residential properties through street maintenance and improvement programs that complement and enhance the residential character of neighborhoods, including the addition of walkways and lighting. 13. Maintain the present mix of housing but consider a variety of housing types and cost ranges if existing business or multi-family properties are redeveloped or if University of Minnesota property becomes available. Establish design guidelines and standards to ensure that any new development promotes good health and preserves public open space. 14. Permit only compatible businesses adjacent to residential uses and in mixed commercial-residential development, and place special conditions upon business uses to assure compatibility when appropriate. 15. Require that any re-subdivision of existing lots on developed blocks in residential areas conform to other lots within surrounding blocks, and be accessed in a similar manner. 16. Continue to build the Neighborhood Liaison program, Community Emergency Response Team and other community organizations for communication and security. 17. Encourage neighborhood connectivity by installing sidewalk systems and decorative street lighting to make streetscapes more welcoming. 18. Continue to implement an aggressive shade tree program and replace removed trees • as quickly as possible. 19. Encourage landscaping practices that reduce water consumption and minimize runoff. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-29 4. Business and Commercial Districts • Although Falcon Heights is primarily a residential City outside of its large public institutions, it possesses a small but important business community distributed along Larpenteur Avenue. (Please see the Larpenteur Corridor section for additional information about business and commercial lands in Falcon Heights.) It is vital to the sustainable future of Falcon Heights and to the health and well-being of its residents that the City retain and improve the existing viable businesses and encourage businesses that offer goods and services to the nearby neighborhoods. Existing Business Land Use in Falcon Heights The City is served by a central business district at the intersection of Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues, a limited business district (offices and professional services) at Prior and Larpenteur, and a number of smaller businesses along Larpenteur, mostly oriented toward local retail and service needs. The third largest business zone, also on Larpenteur, is occupied by Hermes Nursery, the last of the flower and nursery businesses for which Larpenteur Avenue was once famous. A retail cluster on Hamline Avenue between Hoyt and Idaho has been a valued neighborhood retail center for generations. Presently this location is occupied by a pharmacy, a coffee shop, a dental clinic, a recording studio, offices and an auto repair business. • Snelling Larpenteur Commercial Core The Snelling/Larpenteur commercial core was originally developed in the 1940s and is the only large retail area in Falcon Heights. By the 1980s, due to outdated design and amenity standards and access limitations imposed by the high traffic volumes on Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues, it was no longer functioning well in its original use as an auto- oriented shopping center. As presently configured, the Snelling and Larpenteur thoroughfares impose severe limitations on the extent to which the area can accommodate pedestrian traffic or function as an integrated retail center. As a result the four quadrants of the district have evolved somewhat independently over the last several decades. The northeast quadrant, known as Falcon Crossing, was redeveloped in the mid 1980s utilizing tax increment financing for public improvements in support of private investment. The redevelopment replaced retailer Flower City, which was destroyed by fire in 1982, and a row of older neighborhood businesses. An aging restaurant was replaced by Dino's Gyros in 2004 as part of the redevelopment on the southeast corner. Dino's and Falcon Crossing share parking and access. Falcon Crossing has a history of full occupancy. The quadrant is expected to remain relatively stable, although traffic, parking and pedestrian safety will continue to be a challenge. The northwest quadrant, occupied by a small shopping center, a restaurant, furniture store • and gas station, underwent some significant cosmetic upgrades in between 2003 and 2006. Since 1990, small businesses catering to neighborhood needs have somewhat given Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-30 • way to larger "destination" retailers, though these locally owned businesses are still in scale with the limited space and parking available on the site. These limits, along with proximity to a residential neighborhood and access issues imposed by the highways, pose challenges for any future redevelopment. None is anticipated at this time. Falcon Heights' last Comprehensive Plan characterized the southeast quadrant of the Snelling/Larpenteur core as the best opportunity for redevelopment. The redevelopment of this site was accomplished between 2003 and 2007 with the construction of Falcon Heights Town Square by Sherman Associates, Inc. The new mixed-use development provides 175 apartments: 56 in a senior apartment building and 119 in amulti-family building, of which 25 are designated affordable. Fourteen owner-occupied town homes are also part of the complex. The multi-family building contains 12,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor. Parking is removed from the streetscape into the interior of the block and underground. In the next two decades, the most likely quadrant of the Snelling/Larpenteur Core to see redevelopment is the southwest. Preserving the original art deco building would be a high priority in any future re-purposing or redevelopment of the southwest quadrant. The property, long the home of Harvest States Cooperative, is now owned by TIES, a non- profit corporation serving technological needs of school districts. Although TIES leases out space to other entities for office use, the site as a whole is underutilized, and the western porrion of the property, still occupied by the building that once served as Falcon • Heights fire station and city hall, is used for little besides overflow parking. General improvements to the Snelling/Larpenteur commercial district since 2000 include: • Increase in landscaped area, container plantings and trees • Elimination of billboards and replacement of unattractive and disorganized signage by new, less intrusive signage at all three commercial corners • New bus shelters • Refurbished street lights Remaining issues: • Street and walkway configuration that is hazardous to pedestrians • Minimal landscaping separating walkways and streets from parking lots • Visually obtrusive overhead electrical and telephone lines and utility structures • Difficult vehicle access from public streets due to street improvements that have improved traffic flow at the expense of retail accessibility. • High proportion of paved surface contributing to storm water run-off and detracting from the visual attractiveness of the area. Based on its size limitations and fragmentation, the Falcon Heights commercial core will not be able to compete successfully with nearby retail centers in Roseville for specialty retail and "mall" shopping. Its primary role will be that of satisfying the neighborhood • convenience retail needs of a relatively small market area consisting of Falcon Heights and parts of Roseville and St. Paul. Its secondary role will be to function as a specialty retail/service and office center with particular emphasis given to the retention of existing Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use ~ Housing, Page II-31 businesses at Snelling and Larpenteur. Additional housing should be considered as an • element of any future redevelopment, to take advantage of this location at the intersection of two important transit routes. Future Directions Retaining viable businesses and maintaining commercial properties, while improving the mix of local goods and services, is a high priority for the City of Falcon Heights. Based on the lack of a vacant land resource and the adequacy of commercial services in the general market area, the City of Falcon Heights does not intend to create additional commercial areas on land that is under the City's land use controls in 2007. Instead, the City intends to encourage improvement and redevelopment of existing commercial business areas in a manner that is in keeping with competitive contemporary retail/service standards of design and quality for acommunity-oriented business district. It is also the intent of the plan to • create an attractive, easily accessible, walkable and visually secure commercial area for retail customers. • minimize adverse impacts on adjacent residential areas. • Where appropriate, consider additional housing as an element in any redevelopment of existing commercial property, in order to meet projected housing needs by 2030. • Given the limited land area for commercial use in the city, 1.8% of the total land use, it is the intent of the city to attract businesses that serve the people who live and work in Falcon Heights and nearby, rather than a broader consumer base. The broader consumer base is served by the larger, more diversified and readily accessible commercial areas in the adjacent cities of St. Paul and Roseville as well as nearby Minneapolis. The plan also intends to include only businesses that are compatible and complementary to the adjacent residential areas, and to exclude uses that are not fully compatible with adjacent residential uses or are not consistent with the community focus of the city's commercial districts. This is especially important because, given the limited land supply and corresponding limited transitional areas, all commercial structures are within 270 feet of residential structures; and many commercial buildings are within 40 to 50 feet of residential buildings and homes. An exception may include the expansion of the Snelling/Larpenteur core west of Snelling Avenue, should the University or State Fair choose to divest themselves of the agricultural and fairground lands north and south of Larpenteur, east of Fairview. It is the City's intent to guide these areas toward medium to high density residential use mixed with compatible businesses that serve the local area The City's existing Land Use Plan establishes three categories of commerciaUbusiness • use including the Snelling/Larpenteur Commercial Core, Neighborhood Convenience and Limited Business as follows: Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-32 • Snelling/Larpenteur Commercial Core (B-3) It is the intent of the City to see all four quadrants of the intersection of Larpenteur and Snelling Avenues maintained and improved as the community's only major commercial/shopping center as well as a junction of vibrant neighborhoods. It is intended that the core maintain its mixed use character, including transit-oriented housing, that it be upgraded and redeveloped, as appropriate, to improve its accessibility and its commercial viability as a community retail area, while meeting standards of design that are consistent with the City's goals. It is the intent of the City that the core continue to provide limited retail trade, business services and offices to satisfy the needs of the immediately surrounding community and complement the adjacent residential areas. Some uses which draw from a larger market area are permissible provided they do not have the potential for negative impacts on adjacent residential property. (Warner Stellian Appliances, The Source Comics and Games and Central Pediatric Clinic are existing examples of "destination" uses in scale with this location.) It is further intended that each individual quadrant of the core be planned and developed as an integrated unit or cluster of shops, businesses, and -where appropriate -residences that are capable of functioning as a unit and sharing parking to the maximum degree possible. The City will consider housing-only redevelopment in the southwest quadrant as long as it is compatible with the transit-oriented, urban character of the other three • quadrants, preserves the historic TIES building and provides a significant share of the City's housing needs projected by 2030. Activities and improvements that will be considered for the Snelling/Larpenteur Commercial core include: • Establishment of sign and design guidelines for improvements throughout the core. • Placement of electrical and telephone utilities underground. • Planning and implementation of parking, circulation, lighting and landscaping improvements. • Improvements that increase pedestrian safety. Neighborhood Convenience Commercial (B-1) Located at the extreme eastern boundary of the City of Falcon Heights and on small parcels scattered along Larpenteur Avenue, these existing retail goods and service areas are intended to continue to provide only limited service to relatively small market areas. They are not intended to expand beyond their present boundaries and any changes in use are intended to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. These centers generally consist of freestanding buildings which function independently of one another. Limited Business (B-2) These areas are primarily intended to accommodate a limited array of service • establishments including governmental, professional and general office and studio uses and banks and financial institutions. It is the City's intention to consider mixed use including housing and neighborhood convenience retail businesses (as in B-1), in Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-33 addition to the present uses, should these areas become available for redevelopment, in • which case these properties will be eligible for reclassification. Mixed Use Commercial/Residential The new multi-use complex at Falcon Heights Town Square in the southeast quadrant of the Snelling/Larpenteur Commercial Core is unlikely to be the only such development in Falcon Heights. Recognizing the projected need for approximately 250 additional housing units in Falcon Heights in the next twenty years, it is the City's intent to encourage additional residential capacity combined, as appropriate, with commercial use, if redevelopment is proposed for any properties in the Larpenteur Corridor. In addition to the existing categories of commercial/business use, the City intends to establish a new flexible multi-use category as an overlay district where infill development is likely to be proposed. CommerciaUBusiness Districts Goals and Policies CommercialBusiness Goals 1. To allow an appropriate range of businesses that satisfy the convenience goods and service needs of residents. 2. To ensure maximum compatibility with adjacent neighborhoods. . 3. To ensure access and safety for pedestrians and those using non-motorized transportation 4. To improve the image and function of the Larpenteur Corridor and the commercial core at Snelling/Larpenteur. 5. To improve access, traffic circulation and on-site parking for the Commercial Core at Snelling/Larpenteur. 6. To provide convenient parking in sufficient amounts to meet parking demand. 7. To provide high density mixed use development close to bus transit routes when larger sites are redeveloped. CommercialBusiness Policies 1. Guide development toward existing neighborhood/ convenience commercial areas in clusters rather than in strip developments along major streets. 2. Require health impact assessments and environmental impact assessments for new development or redevelopment. 3. Require sufficient parking but encourage shared parking with other land uses to minimize hard surface coverage and improve the visual appearance of parking areas. • 4. Promote attractive parking areas and infiltration by requiring landscaped traffic islands and setback areas. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-34 • 5. Encourage and facilitate aesthetic improvements to building facades, parking, signage, landscaping and lighting throughout the Larpenteur Corridor and Snelling/Larpenteur commercial core. 6. Encourage building and sign designs to be in scale with the small town character of the City. 7. Maximize land use compatibility by requiring buffering, screening and landscaping between new commercial uses and residential areas and, wherever possible, between existing commercial uses and residential uses to minimize conflicts. 8. Require that any redevelopment project that may logically extend beyond the area already zoned for commercial use have a straight boundary that generally correlates with a public street line or the rear lot lines of residences and take all of the property to the project boundary. Further, where such extension of a project takes place, extraordinary setbacks and landscaping be required to mitigate neighborhood impacts and storm water runoff and to conserve open land. 5. Agricultural and Institutional Comprising two-thirds of the City's total area, the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus/golf course and the State Fair are the uses that have the potential to most • influence growth over the next 20 years. Both institutions are autonomous which means that the City has no regulatory authority so long as land is used for its intended public purposes. While both institutions provide most of their own services, continuing close communication is essential to minimize conflict and coordinate public service deliveries. Particular attention needs to be given to transit and sanitary sewer coordination/ cooperation and to emergency preparedness. University of Minnesota The St. Paul campus, comprising 452 acres, houses the University's Colleges of Biological Science, Veterinary Medicine, Food/Agriculture/Natural Resources and part of the College of Design, as well as the Raptor Center. The campus had a 2007 enrollment of approximately 6000 students and a dormitory population of 505 students (Bailey Hall). (The University no longer separates enrollment statistics for the two Twin Cities campuses, counting them as one.) Additionally, Commonwealth Terrace, a married student apartment complex, contains 464 housing units, of which 331 are in Falcon Heights and 133 are in St. Paul. Following a decline in the 1980s and 1990s, enrollment has increased significantly since 2000 on the Twin Cities campuses. Demand for student housing near campus has also increased. Private development of new student housing on University land could come under the City's land use jurisdiction. Only one such project is under consideration at this • time within Falcon Heights, a proposed fraternity house at the southeast corner of Commonwealth and Cleveland adjacent to Commonwealth Terrace. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-35 Though it is within the City's limits, the University is autonomous. The University provides its own police, fire, public utility and bus services. The City bills it for sewer service. The University Golf Course occupies 204 acres of land along Larpenteur Avenue between Cleveland and Fulham. No major improvements are proposed which would cause it to grow beyond present boundaries: Although not under the City's jurisdiction, the golf course is considered a valuable community asset. The University has conducted agricultural experimentation and research at this site for over 100 years. It is not known to be interested in selling any of its land for private development, an action that would bring such lands under the City's regulatory control. Nevertheless, plans can change, and the City is prepared to incorporate these public lands into its updated comprehensive plan should the University decide to sell or repurpose any of the campus in the future. State Fairgrounds The Fairgrounds property comprises 288 acres. It is the site of the State's largest outdoor event, drawing people from all over the State to Falcon Heights. Like the University of • Minnesota, the State Fair is autonomous which means that the City has no regulatory control over Fairgrounds lands. Periodically, there have been discussions about moving the State Fair to a different location where traffic could be better handled. The City does not favor relocation of the Fairgrounds but would entertain the use of some land in the vicinity of Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues for non-fair commercial or mixed-use development provided it does not exacerbate parking problems during the State Fair. Any non-fair use of land would fall within the City's regulatory jurisdiction and the City should make sure that any land use change is compatible to the objectives outlined in this plan. Future Directions It is the current policy of the University to retain ownership of all of its land and that of the State Fair to continue to operate in Falcon Heights. It is the City's intent to encourage both but, recognizing that circumstances change, the City wishes to influence future institutional policy directions to reflect the City's best interests. To that end, the City intends to recognize the present and likely future use of these lands by designating them as public lands, discontinuing the dual P-1/R-I zoning continued in the last comprehensive plan. To take into consideration the possibility of institutional change, the City intends also to establish overlay districts to guide possible future development • after the planned in-depth study of the Larpenteur and Snelling Corridors. This comprehensive plan will be amended to include the results of that study. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-36 • Agricultural and Institutional Lands: Goals and Policies Agricultural and Institutional Lands: Goals 1. To encourage the State Fair, as it currently operates, to remain in Falcon Heights. 2. To encourage the University of Minnesota to retain its agricultural research lands in Falcon Heights. 3. To continue to communicate and cooperate with University of Minnesota and State Fairground staff in planning considerations which include traffic and pedestrian circulation, conflict avoidance with nearby business and residential areas, visual appearance and drainage considerations. 4. To promote the evolution of a vital civic, cultural and recreational precinct around the Cleveland/Larpenteur intersection that serves both the City and the institutions and provides an attractive gateway to the area. Agricultural and Institutional Lands: Policies 1. Work with the University of Minnesota and the State Fairground staff to keep • informed of any significant changes in long-range development plans. 2. Encourage the University of Minnesota physical plant to expand south of Larpenteur in areas adjacent to the built campus rather than in agricultural lands and open spaces. 3. Encourage the University of Minnesota to formulate future plans for the Larpenteur/Cleveland area to be compatible with nearby cultural and recreational resources, planned and existing. 4. Regulate all non-university development/use of University owned lands. 5. Create a university housing overlay district to establish design guidelines and standards for privately owned university group housing (such as dormitories or fraternities) developed on University owned land that may come into the City's jurisdiction. 6. Regulate non-State Fair development on the State Fair property. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-37 6. Future Land Use • In summary, the City of Falcon Heights does not expect large scale changes in land use by 2030. Redevelopment will be market-driven and is most likely to be concentrated along Larpenteur Avenue on sites that are presently zoned for either business or multi- family residential use. The map below is based on assumptions that have been outlined in this section. • The University of Minnesota will not convert any of its land to private use and development. • The State Fair will continue to use the full extent of its present land for its institutional purposes. • Owners of residential properties on Tatum Street will combine their back lots north of Lindig street, now designated as "vacant," with their street front parcels, and those parcels will be reclassified as single family residential and kept as a natural area. • The market will encourage redevelopment of larger commercial properties along Larpenteur Avenue. The City will guide this redevelopment toward higher density residential use, including mixed use, of no less than 28 units per acre. • Existing single-family neighborhoods in Falcon Heights will continue to be highly valued places to live. • There will be demand for additional transit-oriented housing close to Larpenteur Avenue. • There will be increasing public demand for redevelopment that supports pedestrian • and non-motorized access to shopping and public amenities in the city. • The City of Falcon Heights will carry out in-depth studies of both the Snelling and Larpenteur Corridors after this plan is adopted and amend the plan, if appropriate. Future land use in Falcon Heights is shown in the following maps and table. • Figure 13: Planned Land Use 2020 from the last Comprehensive Plan • Figure 14: Planned Land Use 2020, revised according to this chapter • Figure 15: Planned Land Use 2030 Figure 16: Planned Land Use, summary map 2008 - 2030 Table 14: Future Land Use In Figures 13, 14 and 15, the following definitions apply: • Low Density Residential: 0 to 8 units per acre, single family homes • Medium Density Residential: 8 to 12 units per acre, including attached single family • Multi-Family Residential: 12 to 30 units per acre. Some existing buildings are higher • Mixed Use Residential: 28 to 50 units per acre, mixed with office/professional or retail use. For other use category descriptions referenced in the maps, please see pages I-26 through • I-28 and pages I-30 through I-34. 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F 5 ~t s~ ~,. - ~. ~ ~; r+ t~, ' ,~ ~ ' r :; ~'~ ? .fir. ~Cr 4 fN '. 3f1~13/Vd~aNb~3n31~ .~ z.c .. ~~ a:'~t. ~ uks YJ Figure 13: Future Land Use 2020 -Existing Comprehensive Plan (Data: Metropolitan Council) Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-39 3 Nand 3NIlWtfH ~ `~ ~ m ~ to ~ ~ ~ _ a a~ - 'o ~ 3 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o _ ~ ~ v vU- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 'Dl O a S ~ ~ t~ ~ U U C7 ~ fn to ~ ~ ~ C ~ yy V C C C C C C C m~ ~ IA ~ '~ -a _ ~ O ~ O O ~.+ r 'a+ '8 ~ ~+ r+ 'r 'w 'r u ~ 0 _ l E ~'= a tb 7b td th ?h 7b Th E 3 ~ ~ `+ ~ ~ ~ z a v _= 5 = ~ ~ __ ~ ~ ° ~ ~ ~ID~I~~I~~O ~L_J 311N Ab' JNIll3NS w w ~ ~ ~ z t/1 . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ p O ~ U W Q C J C C t~ .~ LL O Figure 14: Future Land Use 2020 -Revised d 1~'dl 3 /\~l D • • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-40 • N p ~ ~ V _ A T A -~ _~~c~~ ~~~~~~ V~ g m tlr v ~ ~ o ppm v „QQ s2 u .Z y A~ ~ To W a a a To ~ a a ~ ~' ~ ® 2~ g ~ ~~~~~~~~~~o~ ~~~ ~,~1n1n1~ct~ulnts ~ ~'~~~~'~ ~ ~ £ c c c ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ z a • 0 M O N N C N J N a..~ L .~ C O U (Q LL Figure 15: Falcon Heights Land Use 2030 Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use 8~ Housing, Page II-41 N ~ p • 3f1N nd 3 N Il WtlH ~ ~ ~ = LL ~' ~ ~ U ~ g u m ~ m ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ u ,r Li 2 ~ ~ N A u ~ ~ r . .. t7 ~ ~ (R ~ ~ U ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ U m ~ ~ ~ j ~ ~ ~ a ~ ~ ~ `~ Q .~ S C~ C~ .~ a U ~ Z J T2 ~~ ao~±~ooa®o~ oo ' lll NS 1--' 3 N3/1 d N O M ~ ~~ . o N ,., p ~--~ ~ ...-T--~- ~ -'~ 44 W V1 Y i ~ ~t~ } ~ r " z Q 0 V - y,~ Q ~,. • ~ ,-~ W'C - ~ ~ + x ~/^ ~/ I r 1 ~ t~ ' 3f1N3Ad dN~dl3A3 D ~ •~~ ~., " ~i c9i ~ . ~v ~v ~ J ° R -~ ~ is ~ ~ ~ ! ~ ~ ~ m N C ~ 5 . _ (1 ~ ~ t ~ ~ ~ t ~ = ~ .,~ ~ ~~' ~ ~ 7 ~ ~' ~ ~ ~ ~ a+ r.. r. ~ ~ J .. j 1 32l1S `dHlfl ( -~ ~ ~ ~ m m u m • Figure 16: Falcon Heights Land Use -Summary: 2008 - 2030 Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-42 • Table 14: Future Land Use -Falcon Heights • Residen#ial Total 329:55 330;29 325.46 Sin le Famil Residential * 270.34 270.86 270.86 Farmsteads 0 0 0 Multi-famil Residential 59.21 59.43 54.60 Mixed Use 15.12 21.14 25.87 Mixed Use Residential 4.91 10.93 19.89 Mixed Use Commercial 10.11 10.11 5.98 Commercial 14.09 9.07 9.07 Industrial Total 0 0 0 Industrial and Utilit 0 0 0 Extractive 0 0 0 Railwa 0 0 0 Institutional * 456.25 457.75 457.75 Parks, Recreation 8~ Preserves 184.56 184.56 184.56 Ma'or Vehicular Ri hts of Wa 2 2 2 Ai its 0 0 0 A riculture and Undevelo Total 277.03 274.59 274.59 A riculture 274.59 274.59 274.59 Undevelo ed Land * 2.44 0 0 O n Water D D 0 Total 1278.60 1278.60 1278.60 Assumes the vacant lots north of Lindig will be combined with the adjacent residential lots on Tatum by 2020. No extension of Lindig is anticipated, nor building of additional homes on those properties; 2129 Larpenteur will change from SFR to Institutional; vacant lot on Tatum will be developed as MFR The categories in the above table are based on the Metropolitan Council's Generalized Land Use Categories, subject to the following: Agriculture: In Falcon Heights, all land designated for Agriculture is used for University of Minnesota research. It is not considered vacant or available for development during the life of this plan. Future acreages assume no change in UM or State Fair uses. Single Family Residential: Single family detached homes. In Falcon Heights the average residential density for this category is over 4 units per acre; the range is 0 to 8 units per acre. Multi-Family Residential: This category includes all multi-family buildings and attached single family residences. The range is 8 to 50+ units per acre. For multi-family apartment buildings in Falcon heights the 2007 average density is 28.4 units per acre. Mixed Use Residential: Land containing a building with multiple uses in combination with at least one residential unit. The only Mixed Use Residential property in Falcon Heights in 2007 has a 45 unit per acre density. Future redevelopment for mixed residential use would be at or above the current average of 28 units per acre. Mixed Use Commercial: Land containing a building with multiple uses with no • residential or industrial uses. The only such property in Falcon Heights in 2007 is the TCCU property, which hosts the farmer's market. It is assumed that the market would continue to be located in the remaining limited business portion of the TCCU site. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part II: Land Use & Housing, Page II-43 r~ • III. Physical Systems: Transportation, Utilities, Storm Water Management Prepared by: Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. 10901 Red Circle Drive, Suite 200 Minnetonka, MN 55343-9301 952.912.2600 1. Introduction Falcon Heights is currently a City of approximately 5,600 residents located in Ramsey County, Minnesota bordered by the cities of Roseville to the north, St. Paul to the south, and Lauderdale to the west. The Minnesota State Fairgrounds and the University of Minnesota -St. Paul Campus make up over half of the City's total incorporated area. Figure 1, below, provides the general location map for the City. Gaon i_, BUaaf4 Ciick Pf _eLien La p _ ..~.. _ ~._.._.__... ~~~ .._ ._ _ __. "f ., ~ ~ , _..7 4.ii~ Pwk ~~ ~ Hrmklyr. .., i. _.®__......._,~s7ouMa ,_ Pvk ,_ ___._ ___ ~ Mew ._~ ~ I i ~ FALCQN ~ i ~'~_ HEIGHTS I A~ sna~~,,, _. ~ t~rmae?in ~ f .. _.._. t _4 ~Prton ~ ~~ !ti~ Gysai meter ! i~"- - i ruioc _ I (_ s -. ~. ~ I I ('gvmma i4 ~ ~ .,~ ~ - t' 1 ~ ,: l4grY6 t f 4 ` ., I t._ .. ~ . _.. N~7r k'-ndinsdair ~. ~ ,. FbRe 91 ~ ~ . i } ; __. Rooeuillc m_l . _.._~ ~ _.. ~ i __ Y3okten 1 ,ram .__! ' 3 __._...___. _ ,_ -- . _.I. ~ j Mmn@iG94F j! 7 5i. ~ ~-__.~ I __, r Erne ~ ~__ _ _. 4 PzMx ._fi s,~-..~.. ML"m tiWp k._1_ `_ GRYOF F#lCQ1f HEiGHT$ Ytripa j (369f j ricnn T rs ~. ~ ! ~ 3 Y. ,'.., _ ..! ', i ,._' i i3 r ~~ HW Lak`j1 Bca~ ~ar~ _....-~u{i Lake ~.At~a 4 .......~ _.._....f_. _. _ -- .r..._ CMida 4 ! tbartA ~ _ ~ rta~lewma ~ Si ~'aui I __,. i _. ~, -~ '. 9t'Pwl r.~i i ' t~ I ~ ;~ ' ~ ~,~ ~~ i ,~_~ ; > ~ ~ Fwr I! snoMnu ~~ rteneoca ~ .,,;,. i ~~~ i 1 I i JV4iD ~.., -___"~ ~. SL Pair) `~ . tlgtpO! . GOMPREHENSIVEI PLAN SEH rx;r' -:~ Y'ti~E GENERA!- LQCATIQN MAP FIGURE 1 Figure 1 -General Location Map Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-1 • Purpose of Plan Update This report summarizes the results of a comprehensive plan update for the City of Falcon Heights. The plan update included a review and evaluation of the following: • Transportation system. • Sanitary sewer system. • Storm water management. Water service is provided to Falcon Heights by St. Paul Regional Water Service. The system is already in place, and no expansion is anticipated over the life of this plan. The main purpose of the plan update was to evaluate the existing and future transportation and the sanitary sewer system needs of the City, as well as the infrastructure improvements and expansions necessary to serve the current and future residents. Also, a review and evaluation of the City's storm sewer system was completed and a storm water management plan was developed. The City's present and future needs have been evaluated and recommendations made for necessary improvements to maintain adequate service levels for the transportation, sanitary sewer, and storm water systems. This plan update will serve as a guide for future • infrastructure improvements for these three systems. Scope of Plan Update The approach used for this plan update started with an assessment of existing transportation, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer system condition and an evaluation of the City's needs. Current and future needs were evaluated over a 20+-year planning period extending to the year 2030. A review and evaluation of the existing transportation system is provided in Section 2. A review and evaluation of the existing sanitary sewer system is provided in Section 3, which also includes a summary of recommended sanitary sewer system improvements. A review and evaluation of the existing storm sewer system is provided in Section 4. A recommended storm water management plan is also provided in this section. Recommended Goals and Policies for the City are located at the end of each section. As a result of needs changing over time, the City's planning process for the transportation, sanitary sewer, and storm water management will be continuous. Long- term projections and improvements provided in this plan update should be reviewed, re- evaluated, and revised, as needed, to assure effective future planning efforts. Proper future planning will help assure that infrastructure improvements are coordinated and • constructed in the most effective manner. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-2 • 2. Transportation System The transportation plan is a key part of the City's Comprehensive Plan as it covers all modes of transportation, including highways and roads, bicycles and pedestrians, transit, and aviation. This plan expresses the location, limits, function, and capacity of all facilities in the City of Falcon Heights. Highways and Roadways The City of Falcon Heights is afully-developed suburban community with awell- established roadway network. MnDOT has jurisdiction over Snelling Avenue (TH 51), Ramsey County has jurisdiction over the County State Aid Highways (CSAH) and the county roads, and the City has jurisdiction over the rest of the roadways in the city. Functional Classification System The existing functional classification system as defined by the Met Council is reported in Figure III-2, on the following page. Snelling Avenue, Larpenteur Avenue, and Cleveland Avenue are "A" minor arterial roadways. Fairview Avenue, north of Larpenteur Avenue . and Hamline Avenue, north of Larpenteur and Como Avenues are "B" minor arterial roadways. Roselawn Avenue and Hamline Avenue, south of Larpenteur Avenue are collector roadways. All other streets in the City are local roadways. No changes to the "A" minor arterial system are recommended as part of this transportation plan update. The primary function of minor arterials is mobility. "A" minor arterials are classified by the Met Council as "reliever" routes, which provide direct relief to congested principle arterials. "B" minor arterials provide important connections through the City and region. Collector roadways provide access to adjacent land by connecting the local street network and the arterial roadways. Collectors may need to accommodate higher speeds traffic and also serve direct property access. Local roadways are intended to serve direct property access. Local streets are characterized by short blocks and a grid system. 2030 Traffic Forecasts The Metropolitan Council guidance provides two options for developing traffic forecasts. One option is to use the regional model and the second option is a historical trend analysis, which is recommended for developed communities. The City of Falcon Heights is considered a developed community. Redevelopment may occur during the planning time frame, but none that would be expected to result in traffic growth significantly different than the historical growth. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-3 wZ >Q i g ¢ ~z oUt~ N pt%LU w 2 ~ ~ W J U)~ w w ~ ~ ~ ~g ~'W ~ g NLL ~~~ = 0o Z ~~ ° ~ ~ o ~^ n a w = Z Z ~ J J ~ZW ~ ~ ~ J ~ do ~ (~ a (..) W W sC Q~ ~ f xJ) Z ~ ~ Z Q ~ C ~ Q m U J N N W it N x o^~ U (!~ lU ~ ~ f K K N o , W ~~~ W O U ,- ~,w. _ X06 00 8 t'V 6 / _` N ~~~, ~ .,, ~.r ,,, o a , „ ~ .~„ x„~„ ~.~ tQ01~`8S) ~'^~' « ~OOd`8#~) "~' ~d6~ fib) _ _~Q /y~_ J) _ ,~, MiiwgRMD(q ~ .~a~ N~Tk~MrfR~ .... -....;.: ~ ~ ~ W ~~ o - ~~,,:. ~ o , ~ w a~w°+v ~~ina ~ N O ~ ~ w I; !~ th ~, ~ ~ ` Vi1l3HRa ~. ~ ~ LL'J9yl Nom... t006`s) °~' oos~s M;wW,~ °~ _ ~ ~- ° - ~ m ~ _I aapr--, ~pHiytlS N ~ ~ c' ~ , , ~ _ ..... y.,,,, , ,.,, aoau tldad ~~"+ ~ ~ ~ Mi1F6YBB - - ~ ~ _,. ._.,. b K ~ _{ ,t ._ _ a„~, a,~ r C 1000`6) ~009`Z {~) '` ~ C ~o ~.,~ ,~ r N r. ~ _~ Ci7M ®inaw - !~ ~ ~~ ;...m !~`a ; a~isd~aaod-~3antH~srowowta~en,nr~e~ watumopdQN • Historical traffic volumes have been collected from MnDOT's traffic flow maps for the period between 1980 and 2005. Historical growth rates were projected to 2030 along a linear trendline to determine the 2030 traffic volumes. For instances where the trendlines indicated a historical decrease, it was assumed that no growth would occur and the 2005 ADT would remain the same through 2030. See Figure 2 for the existing and 2030 traffic volumes on collector and arterial roadways. Most roadways are expected to experience minimal growth in the City with the exception of Snelling Avenue, which, as a regional facility, is expected to experience the greatest amount of growth. Future roadway capacity deficiencies have been identified based upon the future daily traffic forecast. The existing numbers of through lanes on the collector and arterial roadways are also displayed in Figure 14 as well as the number of through lanes anticipated to serve future demands. The existing roadway network should serve the 2030 traffic volumes with the exception of Snelling Avenue. Options for increasing capacity will need to be evaluated in light of proposed 2030 traffic volumes along Snelling Avenue. (For discussion of Traffic Analysis Zones in Falcon Heights, please see pages I-14 to I-16. in the Forecasts section.) • Access Management The primary goal of managing access locations in any corridor is to improve safety and flow. Different roads serve different purposes. Arterials provide movement for through traffic. Local roads provide access to local land uses. Conflict occurs when a roadway is forced to perform unintended functions. A local street that serves too much through traffic creates issues for the neighborhood it serves. Conversely an arterial roadway that serves too much local access creates safety and flow issues for the through traffic. Therefore, guidelines have been established for access spacing for each type of facility. See the table below which highlights access management guidelines. According to MnDOT, Snelling Avenue is categorized as an Urban Core Minor Arterial south of Larpenteur Avenue. The urban core designation recognizes that the arterial roadway traverses through a mature portion of the local street system where existing block lengths and land uses have established a more frequent access condition. North of Larpenteur Avenue, Snelling Avenue is categorized as an Urban Minor Arterial. The recommended access spacing for these types of arterials, and also the other types of roadways in the City, are described in Table 1 below. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-5 Table 1 -Access Management Guidelines Urban Core Minor Arterial 1 block Urban Minor Arterial 1/4 mile (1/8 mile for a conditional secondary intersection) Urban Core Collector 1 block Urban Collector 1/8 mile Local 1 block As the Snelling Avenue corridor and other arterial roadways evolve, opportunities to limit and reduce access should be undertaken to address safety and capacity issues. Roadway Safety Roadway crash data related to the City of Falcon Heights were obtained using the Minnesota Crash Mapping Analysis Tool (MnCMAT). Locations of reported crashes during 2003 through 2005 are displayed graphically in Figure 3, on the following page. During this period a total of 331 crashes were reported. Of these, 82 percent occurred on minor arterials traversing the City including Cleveland Avenue, Larpenteur Avenue, and Snelling Avenue. The highest frequency of crashes generally occurred at the highest volume intersections. Intersections that experienced an average of five or more crashes per year are: • Snelling Avenue at Larpenteur Avenue. • Snelling Avenue at Roselawn Avenue. • Larpenteur Avenue at Cleveland Avenue. • Larpenteur Avenue at Hamline Avenue. A more rigorous investigation of crash rates, types, and severity is suggested prior to drawing conclusions regarding appropriate corrective measures. As improvements in these corridors are considered, these safety concerns should be explored more thoroughly. • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-6 - _ _ -- ~ W Z Q M p W W C7 -J ~ N iD N= ~ w t11 d v s" , CA ~ ~ Z Z ~„~ .- In ~ < ~ o M ~ C7 O ~ ~ W ~ v ~_ ~OV U LI. a = o ~ ~ ~ W ~ $ ,~ 0 11 a ~ r ~ ,_ U J ~ V1 ~ j a --____-_--,t------..~ ..~...__~.~, E ! ~ _ s k Nao~raNS en teoa'9NB . NWkIfNB ..,. ti ~ t 3; etl3HlV ~ 1tl3ffW ~. 3 .. ...,. a i 7. '.. 1 s }i!!!1Y x / ': NOFION ~ ~ ~ ~ NC7L7IMe ..., T , 44 ,.. . ...,.r J,. ~~ cj .. i z ~~ '; i .~„ .. , ~w,,,3Na ~ NYl ;A„ c _ ___ roamnNrr/ ~~wq_- L~\ a+nOtl'JHO~ j a i W ~. ..: rs11~9~11- a3 F ~ ntle ~~ ~ J ~, 33 1 +~.~ AnM1 tlaY/13NV4 !-'lN~ON I~ i 'NO$T3N E,>~atlYN ~ ~ / „~, ; ~ i 5.-.N~y~ ~ ~ ~LaeYJlti 1.. ~~.....,. :. ~:~. M31Aa0'e ~ ~ #NUtlWe M9iMIWe MaNtlltle aN3+~9l.$ 1 1 f ~, aaNn ~ ~ ~+ra„m 1 ..... _ ... fMeYi ~ ~ ' ' ire 1 u6, ~ i ~~9 _. i ~ ~ troy ~ ~ ~ y:C~ 1 ' '~ 4V tl0ltld ~ ' :. I i ~ ewnW ~ a~a.Y~e l 0 `- ! 4 aMOena ~ ~' ~ gam' 'b z oAOe ~ p~nenan " $$ a3Dl]3 q4 , i ~ s _~~. r` "~"~~ r 5 l ~ ~ s ~. i ~ i _ . _ " t WW I _'.ay ~~ Y ~ `. _.. t i ~ i ' x ' S~IiN dW~OMY_....._.. ' i 1. ~[ ~,,µ ~ _.. ",Y ', x yP^'~ T i _ R r ,~a~'~G f` YMYL:OOaI^tDDZ/U6 ' ~ " '"5 ~ ~ i ~I~1aWJ3iWi'13iM91i5S191001OL0{oaN~fltidl aw•w~goOdM Operational and Facility Concerns • An assessment of the existing and forecast operational concerns through the community have been completed using the traffic forecast data, crash data, and coordination with Ramsey County and MnDOT. ~ Existing and Forecast Congestion Issues Capacity deficiencies are identified in Figure 15, on page 61. Snelling Avenue is the only minor arterial with a projected deficiency. Snelling Avenue crash history indicates a relatively high frequency of crashes. Many of these are suspected to be related to congestion experienced in the corridor. • Planned Improvements For the "A" minor arterial roadways, Figure 14 shows existing and proposed number of lanes. Basing the additional lanes needed in the future condition on the 2030 forecast Snelling Avenue is the only roadway that may require some capacity improvements. Generally, the existing road network through the City should adequately serve traffic demands in the City to 2030. There are no planned improvements to the City's roadways that would increase the • capacity. The City does have an aging roadway network that will require maintenance and some neighborhood roadways maybe reconstructed in the planning timeframe. Special Use Areas The State Fairgrounds are located in the southeast part of the city. In March of 2007 they were contacted to discuss this comprehensive plan update. At that time they did not foresee any major changes in land use or their transportation network. The University of Minnesota is located in the northwest section of the city. They were contacted in April of 2007 to discuss this comprehensive plan update. At that time the University said that they are in the process of constructing a 140,000 square foot museum in the southwest quadrant of Cleveland and Larpenteur Avenues. Primary access for this building will be on Larpenteur Avenue. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-8 • Connection Between Land Use and Transportation The connection between land use and transportation requires integrated strategies that advance regional economic land use and growth management goals. Achieving goals for regional growth with limited ability to expand the transportation system requires strategic investment in facilities coupled with encouragement to broadly implement travel demand management techniques. Below are some techniques for connecting land use and transportation: • Plan and invest in multi-modal transportation choices based on the full range of costs and benefits. • Make more efficient use of the regional transportation system. • Encourage travel demand management strategies, including flexible work hours and telecommuting. • Focus highway investments first on maintaining and managing the existing system, and second on slowing the growth of congestion. • Implement a system of fully interconnected arterial and local streets, pathways, and bikeways. • Promote the development and preservation of various freight modes. • Support airport facilities investments. • • Serve the region's economic needs. Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan The trail system consists of on and off-street bikeways and exclusive pedestrian sidewalks. Off-street bikeways are intended to be separated from pedestrian ways or sidewalks where possible. Off-street bicycle/pedestrian trails are generally intended to be eight feet wide with paved surfaces and signs. The existing trail system is shown in Figure 4 on the following page. The City is investigating a potential bike/pedestrian route along Fairview Avenue, part of Larpenteur Avenue and south down Gortner Avenue. This route can be seen in Figure 5 on page 11. The bicycle and pedestrian trail network provides adequate accessibility to the transit corridors and transit facilities, which can be seen in Figure 6 on page 12. r~ U Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-9 W Z ~}- ~ ~ ¢ ~ Q J O ~ ~ a $ o w v ~ ~ U `Z 0 o ~q W ~~ ~ o Z I i W UZZ = r ~ 3$~ ~ ~ ~ LL L p ~ a ~ ~ ~ (~ ~ ~~~ ® ~ ~ W Z w ~ W O ~~ ' ~ ~ a U W ' 1f MOVUNS Ntftraix lYTi:tYiP1tl' '._ itrw,wN'', ttrrona+r Ntf 7NJSW',, .. M _. ~p Jf NOfflRi ~ ~ ra-~onv i 1f AM(gt1 «xvow,~ws __ ~~ # 4 YtT.f27A'tMf'f tilYJ 159iOXIT .. „ if NIHS'~1 .. lllt27l~Ypy `n N~NLYVy a~ anr~ ~NXnrx 1 fbDOlf r--•`••,••••.. :.._ MiAYpMf1M. N?1Y M1717Mt {i tf ~'IRY6i'.0~ i ~NttA~O®OtOY N/i~blb0.7 ~ ; *~ ( _...N1f 000AlRdMI... Nli ti001Wi11tid! g ., ~ ".. ~ . r u einasv Nlcrap» ~, Nlfll>'~>' Q ~ N'lYSNifiit ' ..~ ~ M37f'711idiffl '.. t 99 M1J'~L'NL YIIwYiiRtlf ... spli®uDao _.., . _ ~ _ ~ , X@ ._'!WOl~tNab.>+~f _. $A O t~@# ~ i 3 v. 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Six bus routes currently serve the City, routes 3, 61, 84, 87, 121 (Campus Connector), and 124 (St. Paul Circulator). Transit Market Area The City is the Market II Transit Service Area. Market Area II has a moderate concentration of jobs, housing and activities. Typically Market Area II has a population density of 9-14.9 persons /acre augmented by contiguous High Transit Dependency areas. Typical service options in this market area are regular route locals, all day expresses, small vehicle circulators, special needs paratransit (ADA, seniors) and ridesharing. Area II has a primary emphasis on big bus /regular route service. The frequencies of service are typically 15-30 minutes or 30-60 minutes depending on land use patterns and time of day. The span of service is typically 12-20 hours per day, seven days a week. The access is typically spaced .5-1.0 miles apart with six to eight stops per mile. Future Transit Facilities • The Central Corridor is an 11-mile Light Rail Transit LRT route Tanned between ( ) p Minneapolis and St. Paul running along University Avenue. There is a planned stop at Snelling Avenue. Bus service connecting Falcon Heights, including the University of Minnesota and State Fair, will connect to the LRT stop at Snelling. The Red Rock Corridor is a 30 mile transportation corridor starting in Hastings and running along Highway 61 and then west along I-94 through St Paul and then to Minneapolis. Planned stops are not defined at this time, but like the Central Corridor there would be stops that could be serviced to Falcon Heights via bus service. Aviation The nearest airports to Falcon Heights are the Anoka County (12 miles north) and Downtown St. Paul (9 miles southeast) reliever airports which provide general aviation access while reducing congestion at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which is 10 miles south of the City. Falcon Heights is not within the airspace protection zones of these facilities. The City will work as a contributing community with the Metropolitan Airports Commission. The City will monitor progress and participate as appropriate in the public process of improving the MSP International Airport. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-13 Transportation System: Goals and Policies This section provides recommended goals and policies for the City's Transportation Plan. Highways and Roadways Highway and Roadway Goals • To promote safety on all streets. • To avoid unnecessary street congestion and the resulting negative effects on air quality. • To develop and maintain efficient hierarchy of streets to move larger volumes of traffic safely on relatively few through streets and discourage high volumes of traffic on residential streets. • To maintain the transportation infrastructure of the City. Highway and Roadway Policies • Coordinate all City street planning and design with County, Metropolitan and State agencies. • Require adequately spaced driveways along arterial streets when access cannot be limited to cross streets. • • Maintain roadbeds and curb and gutter on City Streets. • Prevent parking on residential lots (other than driveways) especially during State • Fair activities. • Enhance the appearance and image of major roadway entry points to the City. Right of Way Preservation The City is responsible for identifying and preserving right-of--way for transportation uses such as roads, transit, bikeways and walkways. Below are some techniques to identify and preserve right of way: • Prepare an Official Map for corridors planned for expansion • Possible early acquisition of properties prior to environmental study, as specified in the Transportation Efficiency Act (TEA-21) • Purchase of development rights • Purchase options • Letters of agreement with developers • Right of first refusal • Donations of property • Contributions, exchanges of property • Access management • Use of local government land use tools • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-14 • Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Trails Goals To provide an interconnected park and open space system that provides pedestrian and bicycle linkages throughout the City. Continue coordination between the University of Minnesota and the City regarding the trail network. Parks and Trails Policy • Build trails as an integral part of the upgrading of collector and arterial streets. Transit Public Transit Goals • To improve the quality of and increase the emphasis on public transit, non- motorized and pedestrian travel. • To encourage planning and design that increases and complements transit use. Public Transit Policies • • Continue to work wi th the Metropolitan Council to determine future transit services consistent with the City's transit market area and its associated service standards and strategies. • Reduce overall travel demand by cooperating with the University of Minnesota in developing a Travel Demand Management (TDM) strategy and encouraging programs that provide alternatives to single occupant automobiles. • Evaluate the need for and the location of transit services in conjunction with surrounding communities. • Coordinate public transit with all transit planning and delivery agencies to improve transit services (MTC, RTB, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority). • Continue to coordinate with the County Regional Railroad Authority in the implementation of LRT plans. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Inftastructure, Page III-15 Aviation • Aviation Goals • To protect the City's airspace from vertical obstructions that could impede air traffic. • To regulate and ensure the compatibility of land use with aviation. Aviation Policies • Require that heliports comply with the licensing requirements of MnDOT, the approach and altitude standards established by the FAA and the noise standards established by the MPCA as requirements of Conditional Use Permit Approval. • Require that no tall towers (obstructions over 500 feet tall) be built within the City. • Monitor the progress and participate, as appropriate, in the public process of enhancing or replacing MSP International Airport. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-16 • 3. Sanitary Sewer System The City of Falcon Heights owns and maintains a sanitary sewer system which also serves the University campus. The City discharges all sanitary flows to the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) interceptor system. The State Fair operates and maintains its own sanitary sewer system separate from the City's system. The City's sanitary sewer system facilities include: One small sanitary sewer lift station Forcemain associated with the lift station • A network of gravity sewer piping and manholes Existing Sanitary Sewer System The City's sanitary sewer collection system has been in operation in excess of 50 years and consists of approximately 68,800 LF of gravity sewer. A lift station serves a small area near Larpenteur Avenue and Coffinan Street. The existing sanitary sewer system facilities are illustrated on Figure 7, on the following page. This figure shows the City's existing collection and trunk sewer system. The extents of the existing sewer service area is not expected to increase through 2030. • The system is constructed of various pipe materials including vitrified clay pipe (VCP) and polyvinylchloride pipe (PVC). The collection system ranges in pipe size 8" to 18" in diameter. Sewer flows generated in the City are collected and conveyed to number of discharge points into the St. Paul sanitary sewer system. A MCES metering station is located by the intersection of Hamline Avenue North and Hoyt Avenue West and measures sanitary sewer flow entering the MCES interceptor system. All other discharge points are estimated by MCES for billing purposes and are based on water consumption rates. In 2004 MCES re-evaluated this method to consider significant irrigation use by the Fairgrounds and university resulting in a lower and more accurate sewer flow entering the MCES system. Existing Sanitary Sewer Condition The evaluations provided in this report are based on field inspections, construction as- built drawings, and discussions with city staff. The condition of the sewer collection system was evaluated using previous closed circuit televised (CCTV) inspection records. The lift station was evaluated for pumping performance. A pump down test was performed at the site to estimate the pumping capacities. This data was then compared to the rated capacities. Based on this information, the lift station has the capacity to • continue serving its area where it is located. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-17 ~ LU Z >a ~ ~ ~ } ~ h w ~ D s Z c~ QF -~ _ 0 o . w ~ .~ .~ ~ ~ o Z cn a j T ~ ~ ~ ~, dam, Z t /~ N v, I.f~ c.~ ~ lJ~ W ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ `n ~ ~ Z ~= a o W _~ W H L1J cn g O ~ ~ W J . ~ W ~ / _ ``\ W >C W ~ ~ 'otseoBt~sx ~ ~ 9 raMrol+o~ a ~-as+aeae+r~ 44 ~ dfll7PJ51~"' qN M ~.. , 'S1 ~ -~ ~,~ m m ~ : $ ---.~ .t Q -~5 lfP. O N c ILNOA(i~Gl ..~y.... esq. a - is .. ~ ~~ ~..~ 1 ~ __ _ _ 1 I~ is ~y ~ k a" >r~Irr~67N+'~nra~ * 1y, _,._ Z' s ~ ~ wvs-.cs ~t.. (Pxtu'AUYLINVS JNILSIX3 • C3EIfi£MdtSl'J10010101oaiejtiMdidl 7uaun 3 20 A. 'IPA } I ~ ~ r ~ ~ `~ ~ W 1C CC L __.. e .. --' - f ' __-- - te/AOMM00 ~ MIel~ei00 i. _ _ _~, ;> If if i1~OD '~ i; . ~~ ~ ; 1 ~~~ ~~ -~....~,,..... N{t L J ( G ~ l ~'f ____~ I ~ M1l MMT6ip f 1 1t~~~ _. ~ i Al~~e ~ ~ * ~ .____._......... ........_..~....~» ....e.........e ..m u... \. • Sewer Flow Quantification Projected flows for the sanitary sewer system were estimated using historical sanitary sewer flows and population projections provided by MCES. The amount of sanitary sewer measured by MCES in 2005 was recorded as 240.85 MG. The population of the City in 2005 was estimated by MCES to be 5800. Table 2 summarizes the project sanitary sewer flows for the City for up to the year 2030. Table 2 -Sanitary Sewer Flow Projections 'i!. ' :.i .,~ Sewered Po ulation 6,100 6,100 6,100 Sewered Households 2,350 2,400 2,500 Sewered Em to ent 3,900 4,050 4,200 Average Annual Wastewater Flow 0.91 0.89 0.88 MGD Allowable Peak Hourly Flow 2.91 2.85 2.82 MGD • Existing and Potential Sanitary Sewer Related Issues Sanitary Sewer Collection System Previous CCTV inspection documents were reviewed to determine the condition of the sanitary sewer at the time of the inspections. It is possible that additional deficiencies exist in the system today would need to be addressed in the short-term. The City is currently televising the entire sanitary sewer collection system. This section should be updated following completion and review of data from the CCTV effort. Deficiencies and defects identified include mid-segment sags in excess of 4-inches, offset pipe joints, and significant joint separation. These types of defects can severely impact the capacity and structural integrity of the collection system and should be addressed. The locations of these defects are shown in Figure 8, on the following page. While some of these types of defects can be resolved cost effectively using trenchless technology, the sever sags and offset joints should be corrected using conventional open trench methods and should be, if possible, coordinated with the City's street reconstruction program. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-19 ~ _ W Z ~a ~ r r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ap W~W~ w c? '- J ~ ~ t ~ v {/~ w Z ~ w = Zo- LL ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o O~ g ~ ~Q z ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ Z ~o~o ~~. w ~ ~ ~ .. ~ ~~ ~ m~ ~ a~~a ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ z ~ a ~ W W f ~ ~~ ~- ~ V1 U ..*.~,,, ~i ~ ~' R ~ ~ ! ~ y`.~„~u "___.~ ..{gyp ~ .~«. _._~. _.~ n~. _,_V 1~, ~... Myr,p~y~7O~. ijq .. _ _ __ _ __. r i '` 1! ~.. 3 4 .s1'I~dYR1A4B--ods. - ,.~ `:~ ~ ~ ~ ~~It Yi.lbb! ~ __ _ ~ ;; _ ~4_ it u~snaout~ea - _° _.---a-__ r~faltwa,lrairr -'~ - 1 ~~ ~ ~ , ~isrj~iwt j ~ .' ' ~~ EE ~ ~~ ~ ..~ E ~ i$SjI t ~' f•.,: - Mlii~4yf 1. ~ I `. '~ ~ ' ~. . 8 M i~`iG~M" x/71- i s ~ ~ ~ __ WY LS 1YB" (pxw~d3d 31O~19i8'£3!I(191d4SI~Jh00tO101~1gi1311"dtidl W~~ . Inflow and Infiltration Reduction The City of Falcon Heights, like the majority of the communities in the metropolitan area, has spent considerable time and energy managing inflow and infiltration (I/I) within their sanitary sewer collection system. The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) has implemented a surcharge program which is designed to encourage metro communities to reduce I/I entering their portion of the sanitary collection system. While the City has not exceeded the pre-determined maximum peak level established by MCES the City should continue its effort to minimize I/I and should prepare and implement an I/I reduction program. The I/I reduction program would be used to isolate and prioritize sewer rehabilitation in the sanitary sewer collection system, both on the public and private side of the system. The City should continue with the cleaning and closed circuit television inspection, conducting a sewer rehabilitation program, including conducting follow-up inspections in neighborhoods with significant I/I potential. Sanitary Sewer System: Goals and Policies This section provides recommended goals and policies for the City's Sanitary Sewer System. • Maintain Operational Efficiency Maintain Operational Efficiency Policies • Initiate reconstruction or rehabilitation program for sanitary sewer to repair or replace segments of system in distressed condition or determined to be over capacity. • Initiate and continue a closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection program to provide updated condition observations of the collection system at a minimum of every five years. • Complete annual inspections and cleaning of lift station. Inflow and Infiltration Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Plan Policies • The City should implement an I/I reduction program to isolate and prioritize sewer rehabilitation in their sanitary sewer collection system. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-21 Sanitary Sewer System Recommended Improvements This section discusses recommended improvements to address existing sanitary sewer system deficiencies. The improvements are shown in Figure 8 and are summarized below. This section should be updated following the completion and review of data from the City's current CCTV effort. Correction of Deficiencies Pipe Settlement Review of CCTV video footage has revealed a number of pipe settlements in excess of fl- inches. The dip that is created by these settlements cause low velocities and sedimentation of solids which results in on-going sewer maintenance problems. These pipe segments are difficult to repair without removing and replacing the settled sections of pipe. It is recommended that the entire segment from manhole to manhole be replaced for each settled location identified. If possible, the timing of these improvements should be incorporated into the City's street reconstruction program. Root Intrusion • The review of CCTV video footage also revealed a significant amount root intrusion in • the sanitary sewer system. Roots can cause flow restrictions and require continuous sewer monitoring and maintenance. It is recommended that the City implement an on- going sewer rehabilitation program to address this problem. The program would include rehabilitation of the sanitary sewer using trenchless methods for sections identified through CCTV inspections. CCTV Inspection It is recommended that the City implement a CCTV inspection program for the sanitary sewer collection system. This program will allow the City to monitor the system and respond to problems in a proactive manner. Capital Improvement Plan This section summarizes the recommended sanitary sewer system improvements and presents a capital improvements plan that prioritizes the improvements and provides a schedule for the timing of implementation. Budget cost estimates are also summarized. Budget cost estimates are based on 2007 dollars and adjusted annually at 3%. (See Appendix C. ) Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-22 ., • • Table 16 Cost Estimates for Short-ran a Sanit Sewer Im rovements 0-5 years) Pro'ect Estimated Cost CCTV Sanit Sewer Ins ection* $60,000 Reconstruct Sanit Sewer** $275,000 Rehabilitate Sanit Sewer*** $310,000 *Includes CCTV of entire city in 2007 **Includes all segments shown in Figure 8 ***Assumes 10% of sanitary sewer to be rehabilitated every CCTV cycle. Table 17 Cost Estimates for Medium -ran a Sanit Sewer Im rovements (5-10 years) Pro'ect Estimated Cost CCTV Sanit Sewer Ins ection* $134,000 Rehabilitation of Sanita Sewer** $385,000 *Includes CCTV of entire city in 2012 & 2017 **Assumes 10% of sanitary sewer to be rehabilitated every CCTV cycle. Table 18 Cost Estimates for Lon -ran e Sanit Sewer S stem Im rovements (10-20+ years) Pro'ect Estimated Cost CCTV Sani Sewer Ins ection* $152,000 Rehabilitation of Sanit Sewer** $720,000 *Includes CCTV of entire city in 2022 & 2029 **Assumes 10% of sanitary sewer to be rehabilitated every CCTV cycle. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-23 4. Storm Water Management Purpose of Storm Water Management Plan The City has developed this Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) section of the City's Comprehensive Plan to meet regulatory requirements, and to plan for future alterations in the existing drainage system due to redevelopment activities. The City is within the Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD), the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, and the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD), as shown on Figure 9, on the following page. The CRWD completed its Stormwater Management Plan in 2000, and the RCWD completed its Water Resource Management Plan in 1997. Since the City is located entirely within two watershed districts that implement extensive surface water management programs, and the lack of surface water features within the City, the City wishes to use this section to serve as its local water plan. The City will continue to work to ensure the City's Goals and Policies and Development Standards are consistent with both Watershed Districts as the plans and rules are revised. Most of the City is located within the Capital Region Watershed District, and the City uses their plan and rules as a guide to implementing stormwater management policies within the City. The City is completely developed with a mix of commercial, residential, public, and open space uses. The public space consists of the University of Minnesota - St. Paul Campus and the State Fairgrounds. • Water Resource Management Agreements Storm sewer maintenance agreements are in-place between the City and both MnDOT and Ramsey County. The agreement with MnDOT is for the Snelling Avenue reconstruction project through Falcon Heights, and states that the City is responsible for storm sewer facilities located outside the Snelling Avenue rights-of--way. The City is therefore only responsible under this agreement for the Snelling Avenue East and West Frontage Road storm sewer systems and their connections to the Snelling Avenue trunk line. The agreement with Ramsey County states that the City has a responsibility for maintaining the trunk storm sewer lines and connections from City storm sewer systems for all County Road segments throughout the City. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-24 __ ~ W Z ~ > Q c ~ a> = m ~ w (!3 J ~ ~ W ~ u. z Z a ~ > O g~ _ ~ O v W ~ 0' Y C7 o f ~ _ ~Q 2 D 14 y a w e ~ H ~' v~ W' Z ~ G W ~ ~ -' ~' Q a' L1J ~p ~ '~ to U 0 ~ u {,~ .C N Z ~ U a ~ ~~ ~ ~ U ,,~ _ ~ _~. ~~ ,,, ~ ~ ,o.x», ~~ ~~~. i .~~ ~ _...__ .._.._., ~ ~ ~~ rC.~ _ _- __ t i ~- _~ ~_ dry( ! -} ~_ """~~ ~ ~ ~ ---_ _~-_ -__ d '~~ ~ ~a__._.. ~ ~ ~~ ~~- -' ~ ~-" ~~~ ~- ~ ~ -. -_~ -- - i'_~_ is _ _ I't r~ r'a#nws-~ ~ x~rrr ~' p ~ a,~_ ~ _.~_ ~ ti ~_ ,~ _. __ ~ ~ ~ ,._~_ ;-' ! i - ; ._ r ..~ ~: tel. ~ ~ G ~ _ _,- z~- ~,:~~ '~'~ -1i ~' ~~ ~m r~ ,: ,~ ~`` _ ~ w„ ~`~_ ~~ t ~ ,~ !`~ ,~ ~_ t ~'' ti 1' '-~ ~ ~ ~Z l..z ~ ~ ~t~-- _ !~ 4 f.. 1, ~,a ,, ~ * ~ ~~~ ,l -q ~ i1 ~.~. ;, ~ 1r~ i ~~ ~ ~: r_; _ _. _ ~ _. Land and Water Resources Inventory The land and water resources inventory is a summary of information provided in the Capital Region Watershed District Plan and the Rice Creek Watershed District Plan. Climate and Precipitation The climate of the City of Falcon Heights is similar to the overall Seven County Metropolitan Area. The climate consists of fairly short summers with an average temperature of 70 degrees F, and snowfall covers much of the ground from late fall to early spring, with an average winter temperature of 17 degrees F. Average annual precipitation is 28.32 inches, including approximately 46 inches of snowfall. 30-year average temperature and precipitation for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Weather Station are summarized in Table 3, below. Data obtained within the CRWD Plan are available from the University of Minnesota - St. Paul Campus Weather Station and the Office of the State Climatologist. • Table 4, on the following page, illustrates the probability of a rainfall event occurring in any given year. The recurrence interval is a measure of the probability of occurrence of the storm event. For example, a rainfall event of 5.9 inches has a 1 % probability of occurring in any given year which is expressed as once in every 100 years, the 3.6-inch • rainfall event has a 20% probability of occurring in any given year, which is expressed as once in every five years. Table 3 -Minneapolis-St. Paul Weather (30 Year Record) Average Temperature and Precipitation 'i'enu erature Preci nation in Janua 12.2 0.95 Februa 18.2 0.88 March 31.0 1.94 A ril 46.4 2.42 Ma 58.5 3.39 June 68.2 4.05 Jul 73.6 3.53 Au st 70.5 3.62 S tember 60.5 2.72 October 48.8 2.19 November 33.1 1.55 December 17.9 1.08 Year/Mean 44.8 28.32 • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-26 • Table 4 -Storm Events Recurrence Interval Probability of Exceedance % ~4-hour Rainfall ..Amount in) 1 100 2.4 2 50 2.8 5 20 3.6 10 10 4.2 25 4 4.8 50 2 5.3 100 1 5.9 Additional description of the climate of the area is provided in the CRWD Water Resources Management Plan. Topography The City of Falcon Heights is part of the Anoka Sand Plain. This is a glacial outwash plain and consists generally of fine sand with small depressions. • Geology Geologic maps of the City area are published in the Geologic Atlas of Ramsey County, Minnesota (Minnesota Geological Survey, 1992). The uppermost geologic formation is quaternary deposits. Figure II-1 in the CRWD Plan shows the extent of these deposits. The quaternary deposits are associated with the Des Moines Lobe (Grantsburg Sublobe) and Superior lobe of the Wisconsin Glaciation. In the District, these consist mainly of meltwater deposits. In the central portion of the watershed, quaternary deposits consist of meltwater stream sediment, generally coarse sand with pebbles. As mentioned above, the Anoka Sand Plain extends into the northwest part of the District. In the north central and northeast portion of the watershed are deposits of till, consisting of loamy sand and clay. Figure II-2 in the CRWD Plan shows the bedrock for the District. Bedrock geology in the City of Falcon Heights consists of Decorah Shale, which acts as a confining layer. The Decorah Shale is green calcareous shale with thin limestone interbeds. The Platteville and Glenwood Formations underlie the Decorah Shale. The Platteville consists of fine-grained dolostone and limestone. The Glenwood consists of thin green sandy shale (3-5.5 feet thick). • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-27 Soils The soils of the City of Falcon Heights are found in Figure 23 on the following page. The main soil classification groups are based on hydrologic features of the soils. Hydrologic soils groups are used to estimate runoff from precipitation. Vegetation, soils composition, and slope area are all used to determine the soils runoff potential. There are four hydrologic groups, Table 5, below, provides a summary of the four hydrologic soil groups. Table 5 -Soil Classification Hydrologic Description Grvu A Soils having high infiltration rates when thoroughly wet (low runoff potential). Deep, well drained to excessively drained sand or gravelly sand. B Soils having a moderate infiltration rate when thoroughly wet. Moderately deep or deep, moderately well drained or well drained with moderately to moderatel coarse texture. C Soils having a slow infiltration rate when thoroughly wet. Soils that have a layer that impedes the downward movement of water or soils of moderatel fine texture or fine texture. D Soils having very slow rates of infiltration when thoroughly wet (high runoff potential). Soils consists of clays with high shrink-swell potential, soils that have a permanent high water table, soils that have a claypan or clay layer at or near the surface and soils that are shallow over nearly im ervious materials. Urban Areas of development that are covered by asphalt, concrete, and Land buildin s. Data from SCS, 1977. Groundwater Groundwater needs protection because it is a source of drinking water for the metropolitan area. The Ramsey County Soil and Water Conservation District has written two documents for the County that describe both the status of groundwater in the county as well as the anticipated role of each local government in the protection of groundwater resources. • • Ramsey County adopted the Groundwater Quality Protection Plan in May 1996. This plan outlines the roles and responsibilities of county and local governments, including watershed management organizations, in groundwater management in the County. The main responsibility assigned to the WMO (now the CRWD) is to adopt the County plan • and amend or incorporate this plan into the CRWD Watershed Management Plan. There Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-28 ~ W Z a O ~ >Q ~ w U} d O ~ ~ ~ ~ ~z Z N i go J ~ W = ~ W C7 2 ~ LL ~ p v ~ ,~ ~ ~ W W Z V •w c A O ~ ^' ~ W D D D a ~ C y O Q a m m U U~ W m ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~=111 .~ ,_ I _, r«.. .r. .. _.. _. ... ~ .... _ ... ......~ . . i' (~ "„1 f~ ~ f~ ! { ~ ~ 1 1 ~ I _- _, ' 1f~ _ ~ - :. ~ } ~ ,: r: _ ~. J i •, IIOOr7~ ~~ t? _ _ _~ .i ti i ~~, _ ,-- '^•~ ~t - . i~ x ~ f _, ... ~. _ _ _ r .. ,~: .; ,, _ ~-7oo~r ~- - ~; ~ it „ _.._.u... ~ _. _- ti __. _ t~ .:i = ~. ~ i .v ~ ... ... ~ ~x h { ~ --. ~~! -._. _ ._~. .t ~~~t p _._ '~~ '.;fir ~ ~. ~r a~ =,~- v ~." l q~ y . an ww + f ~~ Y YMi ~~~ .~xe++~w'ena~---- ~- i j, ~1 ~~l1iR~ yi6 p. . ~ i ~ '~' i !. '~' ~ ~ yy gH011oA r 'E81 M 7}{ }li9ftf :- l iWlRI ~`3 l~nii8 ~ { ~, .,V t ~ ~ ~ .e.,.ar~ ,,.a..,c....' ~ ~ ~ r-Y. R ~' ,f. ~~ i } '-- -_ - ~ ~_ 1 C _ - .,_, awtroir. _..... . ~ ~ _ ~._._ - ~ ..,~~ ~ . 1a i4 ~' ~ i . _ _ -ate ~~~~ 'C #, ~ ~ a~ ~~ ~ 1111 owa: ~ ~ ~ ~ - t ', t r - ,: ''~% - i ~ ~~ :f". I ~: ~ ` ~ {~ 4 '~ ~~ `{`{Z 1~ d 3 ~i k~~,„~_~~_..~ C1 __.-._ =sltnaM -. ~ ~ -> ;, - --~~ a~ r.: __~ t ~` - ~~ ~ll 5, nJ t~~ -r- i. } ~ ~~ qa Ifs' are several recommendations outlined in the county plan that include participation in • wellhead protection programs, sensitive geologic area programs, well sealing programs, and aquifer protection programs. Ramsey County also conducted a Well and Contamination Source Inventory in March 1996. This report's purpose is to show locations of wells in Ramsey County that are active, and those wells that are inactive and unsealed. The CRWD has 18 public water supply wells, approximately 850 active wells, and over 11,000 inactive and unsealed wells. The report also includes information on known sources of contamination from hazardous waste generators and sites, landfills, leaking tanks, above and below ground storage tanks, and old dump sites. There is also information on Superfund sites, Brownfields, Voluntary Investigation and Clean-up (VIC) sites, Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS). Surface Water Resources There are no lakes located within the City of Falcon Heights, but a portion of the storm water runoff from the City discharges to Como Lake. Most of the City's stormwater is conveyed through the City by an existing storm sewer system. There is one Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) Protected Waters and Wetland (MNDNR No. 62-223 W) within the City as shown in Figure 11 on the • following page. There are a few storm water ponds in the City that also provide water quality and quantity protection. The City's existing storm sewer is shown in Figure 12 on page 32. Hydrology The City of Falcon Heights is a highly urbanized area. A significant portion of the City that the City has jurisdiction over is impervious and an extensive series of pipes is in place to collect and to convey storm water downstream. The University of Minnesota owns a golf course and agricultural land within the City, but the City does not have jurisdiction over these areas. The conveyance system in the City is mostly man-made. The City is divided into two subwatersheds within the CRWD. The northeast portion of the City discharges to the Como Lake subwatershed, and the central and western portions of the City discharge to the St. Anthony Park subwatershed. A small portion of the north part of the City discharges to the Rice Creek Watershed District. All subwatersheds within the CRWD ultimately discharge to the Mississippi River. The subwatersheds in the RCWD discharge to Rice Creek, which ultimately discharges to the Mississippi River. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-30 ~ WZ p} ~ T Q W ~ w _ ~ Q. ~ W Z Z r^ ~0 W Q - ~° ~ ~ W V ~Q S Z a ~ ~Z ~ v u. W W ~ ~, ~ a~ ~ to ° ~ °~ ~ ~ J a 1= pQ O ~ ~~~ ~ U I ~~ ~ 1 i; It nuu~n, __ ,.. -- I ~ .i ~ ~ r ~s ~~~ t,~ o~ ~ ~.~~ ~ ~ ~~ .~ ~, -- _ `~.~_=.. _ .__ ,.-9NM~N6 6-`~#~~..~,~.~~ ~....... ».w ~+.~...w~r~~.~.iWIHGr~w_,r+.w ~ ._. ~-'~-~i9l~I'f'll _. mlT~g" .."`~i3 ~ anaswsoa ~ ~,~,~„~ } .~ G .~.. I S. t = 7761CFIAM a ' ,~'9NiRi'ORI'~. ~..... ._... _.... ~ -Dab1L3~I11_ ~ ~; gyp 4ewasor? ~. ~ ~ ~ ~.. `~ ~ ~` He+wrs I ~ I i ~ ua~n ~ i ~F K I f crovM~w . M7YnMWi ~~~••,~ ~~~~ 6N3n315 ._ ~r . . - ~ _ ~ ,~ ~,~, ~ s --r ~ -.~~.r t ,.~~ 3 _ ` :~ N ~. .. YibLLllOi- ~ ~ /yam ~.! kOltla wspw' ~ (V ~~ ~, ~: oecM ~ ,~ f _.., Ff 3 LL ~ 8 ` t ., ~ ~ .- ~ I ~ _ __:~~ _ ,~ j ~ ~ ~ ~,,' .~ 1 ~ - ~ ~~ -, ~ . ~- .. 11N~1Maloa.. 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[ ~ ~ p K M i ' '` ,. xasatsrerf ~ { ~. •;t 7Nau+s ; ' ..__. ~__.._..___~_..~ ._~__,_._.~. f , ~. y y iaowwr T t ~ x 1. l , i } , ~ afraa~n ,. ~wYwr~frr ~ at+~r-rtan. r .,. 1 ~ ~s~ry~ illMt~"~. ,~.T.~_ [! ~~. fFr V.,~afMMl.~x~ a ~,. is ~ ~ ~1 j• '~i. ~~ ~~ ~ i __ ' ~trwnrra i ~ ~~ =a.,.amr ;~ ~ yyrww~ir r~ iP~~ WllO1S ~NLLSIX3 9 a~Id4a1eAAVS1£ • Land Use There are two large state owned lands within the City of Falcon Heights: State Fairgrounds and University of Minnesota - St. Paul Campus. The CRWD has summarized the existing storm water systems for both properties. Figure 13 on page 33 provides the current Land Use Map. State Fairgrounds Stormwater drainage from most of the Fairgrounds property flows to the University of Minnesota-St. Paul Campus. The storm sewer system for the exhibit area in the south and east portions of the Fairgrounds discharges to a 42-inch pipe connected to an open ditch on University property at a point south of Commonwealth Avenue and north of Como Avenue. The north and west portions of the Fairgrounds, mainly parking lots and a portion of Machinery Hill, flows to pastureland on University property. A storm water detention basin south of Larpenteur Avenue receives flow from two large, unpaved Fairgrounds parking lots and a portion of Larpenteur Avenue. As part of reconstruction of a section of Larpenteur Avenue in 1998, roadside ditches were replaced by a piped outlet to the Fairgrounds basin. During the project, additional basin excavation was completed. Pond size and outlet characteristics are available from Ramsey County Public Works. The flow from Larpenteur drains a total of 123 acres, which also includes runoff from the University agricultural fields north of Larpenteur and east of Fairview as well as other • city runoff. Outflow from the basin enters a ditch to the University Animal Science pastureland. Water infiltrates in the pastureland over time. Very high water conditions (not reported by Fairgrounds staff) would result in surface runoff down Randall Avenue to the ditch south of Commonwealth referenced above. At the request of the MPCA, the Fairgrounds initiated amulti-year combined sewer separation program in 1995. All of the animal exhibit buildings were separated early in the program. The sewer separation program was completed in 2002. Two additional areas have been identified since 2002 and are scheduled to be completed in 2007. University of Minnesota-St. Paul Campus Drainage from University property south of Larpenteur Avenue flows to a DNR Protected wetland located in the southeast corner of the campus. The agricultural fields have an extensive drainage the system which is connected to the University storm sewer system. Piped flow from Falcon Heights crosses Larpenteur Avenue at Gortner Avenue and joins the University storm sewer system at Folwell Avenue. An agreement was executed in the 1980's between the City of Falcon Heights and the University related to these flows. The pipe system from the northern portion of the campus (discussed above) outlets to the open ditch at Commonwealth Avenue, which also receives the flow from the Fairgrounds. University staff indicates that a parking lot near this junction is flooded following larger storm events. The University wetland outlets to the Saint Anthony • Tunnel system. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-33 ~ W Z o ~ ~ ~ c7 - J Za ~ $ ; ~ ~ ~o = ~ ~ ~w W ~ ~ ~ Li. a tiz ~ ~ ~ 3 ~ d N z m m~ d s~~~ 0 ~ ~~ ~ ' '~ U .. J~MVMftMirN «aArnrarwi ~~ i i I ~`' ~~ ~ _ ~~ = a I.~ ~ ist ! _..... I .. ~~.. l Il 1 _i.II~k ~~..m11 1 1T~~~ f ~ ~ ;~ ~ ~ ~ I__ t....~~Ii~~Tl~~l i II ~IIIiI! 'lf1 ~_; ~N~,,.~.~ _ 1 .1,1, Jl ~l _ ~ _ # fl ~I G~~~~t~.~l ,~I:.:I I ~- ,_ , .. I ~.~. I I - II~Lr1 ITC i , i1- j ~~ ail ~~ , ~- *_ I l I.-~_ ~ ~ ..n.~ ~ 1~ L~~l ,~. ~ ~ t~F 1-- G ~: ~. ~: ~~ ~~. _. ~., rrxtr~iwin~a ~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~{{ nM-9AT1tllM ~ f ~ ~ ~ ` _ ~- _ I Yr-J~r- ~~ftlrvNiN-S, ~ ~_ i -~ ~LI _~'1_I I ~ i ~ I ~J _ _'~- % LF--li -~ `~ ~ _'.-tau. ~yL _d III' If- iS 1WJfMJ Ji`i,1/7n~ W M w ~ ~- ~ ~ ~ o g 0 Z z r~l~ v, W ~~ W V1 C waAraniam--- - -' WY t~C"t I ~8 -- !66 ~pxw~pNIN02'~NIlSIX3 L a+~liV,IMAtSI~JtDOlOtO1~IQdtiU'iFd1 :7uwurc~iop • Existin and Potential Water Resource-Related I g sues Como Lake Part of the storm water runoff from the City discharges to Gottfried's Pit, which is located upstream of Como Lake and has a pumped outlet to Como Lake. The CRWD has defined an Issue Statement for Como Lake. The key issues the District wishes to resolve include: • Articulate the importance of Como Lake to the Community and the District. • Define a vision for Como Lake that includes economic, political, and social considerations. Public and agency input and evaluation is not currently coordinated. There is a need to develop realistic expectations based on currently best available science. • Evaluate available data for Como Lake to determine how best to address and manage stormwater pollutant loads to Como Lake. • Develop a clear public education and information program to serve as a link in establishing a realistic public expectation for the Lake and promote implementation of citizen-based activities to protect Como Lake. • Encourage implementation of housekeeping BMP's by citizens, cities, county, • and agencies within the watershed of Como Lake. • Consider the costs relative to improvements of the quality of Como Lake beyond that accomplished under the EPA Clean Lakes projects implemented by Ramsey County in the 1980's. Trout Brook Stormwater System Como Lake discharges to the Trout Brook Stormwater System, which carries the Stormwater flow from several communities within the CRWD, including Falcon Heights. The CRWD has defined an Issue Statement for the Trout Brook Stormwater System. The key issues that are associated with this system that make it a relevant matter include: • The interceptor is an important piece of storm water infrastructure that carries intercommunity flows from St. Paul, Maplewood, Falcon Heights, and Roseville. • Much of the interceptor is fairly old and likely in need of maintenance and repairs in the near future. • There is no other governmental entity willing to take responsibility for the interceptor at this time. • The financial implications of assuming ownership, in the context that ownership of the system may be transferred to the CRWD from the Metropolitan Council and the City of St. Paul under conditions satisfactory to the CRWD Board of Managers. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-35 Urban Redevelopment and the Utilization of Urban Best Management Practices and retrofitting Urban redevelopment in the City of Falcon Heights offers an opportunity to develop green spaces, preserve and restore historical natural resources, and provide for environmentally sensitive urban planning approaches. Often redevelopment projects have potential water quantity and quality components that can provide environmental and amenities to the site. Retrofitting and using BMPs in redevelopment is one of the main opportunities to improve water quality at sites. The CRWD and RCWD require the use of BMPs on development and redevelopment sites, and also encourage infiltration practices where feasible. Wetland Restoration and Protection The CRWD has also defined an Issue Statement for wetland restoration and protection. According to the Issue Statement, the CRWD could address the following items regarding wetlands: • Identification of the wetland functions and values within the watershed. This information is critical to the planning process. • Identify priority waterbodies such as lakes or large wetlands and wetlands tributary to District lakes. • Identify opportunities for wetland restoration or improvement projects. • Improve wetland habitat of the wetlands within the watershed that are severely degraded due to non-native vegetation. • Educate watershed community on the functions and values of wetlands in the urban setting. Curtiss Field Pond Curtiss Field pond is located within a park in the City of Falcon Heights. The pond is designed as an infiltration basin and adequately handles normal to slightly higher rainfalls, but excessive rainfalls can result in flooding of the neighboring park. The City has identified flooding problems with this pond, and should review the issue further. • • r~ U Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-36 • Storm Water Management: Goals and Policies This section provides recommended goals and policies for the City's Storm Water Management Plan. The City of Falcon Heights will reference and adopt the Capitol Region Watershed District's goals and policies that are applicable to the City. These goals and policies are consistent with the Rice Creek Watershed District's goals and policies. Intergovernmental Cooperation Intergovernmental Cooperation Goals • Coordinate with the CRWD and RCWD to pursue partnerships to provide effective, efficient and consistent water management activities. Intergovernmental Cooperation Policies • Policies WMla and WMlb: Participate in CRWD and RCWD water management forum(s) and committees. • Policy WM 1 c: Coordinate preparation and updates of local water management plan and regulatory programs with CRWD and RCWD. • Integrated Resource Management Integrated Resource Management Goals • When planning and implementing water resource management activities, evaluate the effects on other natural resources and strive for a balanced approach. Integrated Resource Management Policies • Policies WM2a and WM2b: Coordinate and cooperate with the CRWD and RCWD when establishing unique and high value natural resources associated with water resources. Coordinate with CRWD and RCWD when identifying water resources related projects in the City's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Financing Financing Goals • Utilize long-term planning, education and partnerships to minimize capital expenditures to address water resource management issues. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-37 Financing Policies • • Policy WM3a: Utilize appropriate financing mechanisms for the finance of capital improvements to the storm water system in Falcon Heights. Water Body Management Water Body Management Policies • Policy WOUALIa: Cooperate with the CRWD to establish water quality standards for the wetlands within the CRWD and the City of Falcon Heights. • Policy WQUALlb: Cooperate with the CRWD to establish target pollutant loads for subwatersheds within the City. • PolioUAL1e: Cooperate with the CRWD to set performance standards for the management of aquatic and terrestrial habitats within and adjacent to water bodies. Standards shall maximize the recreational opportunities as well as fish and wildlife habitat. • Policy WQUALlg: Fulfill NPDES permit requirements for City owned storm sewers. Non-Point Source Reduction Non-Point Source Reduction Goals • • Reduce non-point source pollution loads to City water bodies. Non-Point Source Reduction Policies • Policy WOUAL2a: Require adherence to the Ramsey County Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook for all construction sites within the District. Revise Storm Water Ordinance to reference this handbook. • Policy WQUAL2d: Require on-site detention basins or alternative effective BMPs on all new development sites and redevelopment sites as required by the City's Storm Water Ordinance. • Policy WOUAL 2e: Require NURP or similar criteria for wet detention ponds. • Policy WQUAL2f Require the use of effective nonpoint source pollution reduction BMPs in development projects. • Policy WQUAL 2h: Create and provide education to residents and business on nutrient reduction, sediment reduction and other sources of non-point source pollution, as consistent with City's MS4 Permit. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-38 • Retrofitting Existing Systems and BMPs Retrofitting Existing Systems and BMPs Goals • Require retrofitting of existing storm water management facilities and BMPs where necessary to achieve the CRWD's water quality standards. Retrofitting Existing Systems and BMPs Policies • Policy WOUAL3a: Look for retrofitting opportunities with public improvement projects. • Policy WOUAL3b: Incorporate the use of BMPs in redevelopment initiatives. • Policv WQUAL3d: Inspect and maintain all components of the storm water management system. Flood Control Flood Control Goals • Preserve existing flood levels on City water bodies at or below the 100-year flood elevations. • Flood Control Policies • Policv WOUANlb: Restrict the construction of structures within the 100-year flood elevation of water bodies within the City. • Policv WOUANlc: Require water quantity control practices on all new development and redevelopment to preserve existing 100-year elevation. • Polic~WOUANld: Evaluate the feasibility of retrofitting existing storm water management systems to achieve water quantity standards. • Policv WOUANle: Inspect and maintain City owned storm sewers. Runoff Rate Control Runoff Rate Control Goals • Reduce runoff rates to levels that allow for stable conveyance of flow throughout the water resources of the City. Runoff Rate Control Policies • Policy WQUAN2a: Require rate control practices on all new development and redevelopment to maintain existing runoff rates for the 2-, 10-, and 100-year storm events. • • Polic~QUAN2b: Protect the stability and integrity of City managed conveyance systems. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-39 • PolioUAN2c: Create and provide education to residents, community groups, • redevelopment planners and project designers on the importance of rate control, as consistent with the City's education component of the MS4 Permit. • Policy WQUAN2d: Create and provide education to contractors on proper BMP installation, as consistent with the MS4 Permit. Protection of Existing Wetlands Protection of Existing Wetlands Goals • Coordinate wetlands management with CRWD and RCWD standards and requirements. Groundwater Protection Groundwater Protection Goals • Protect groundwater resources and recharge areas consistent with the responsibilities identified in the Ramsey County Groundwater Quality Protection Plan. Groundwater Protection Policies • Policy GWQP 1 a: Adopt the Ramsey County Groundwater Quality Protection Plan. • • Policy GWOPlb: Work with CRWD and county to develop policies that encourage groundwater recharge and discourage over-pumping of aquifers. Infiltration Infiltration Goals • Encourage the infiltration of properly treated surface water into the groundwater system, where appropriate. Infiltration Policies • Policy GWQP2a: Incorporate infiltration techniques into City storm water management projects. • Policy GWQP2b: Encourage infiltration on development and redevelopment sites in the District. Stewardslip 4.4.12.1 Stewardship Goals • Cooperate and coordinate with the CRWD to implement `Major Area VI - Stewardship' of the CRWD Water Resources Management Plan. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan 2008 Draft -January, 2008 Part III: Infrastructure, Page III-40 IV. Community Systems and Services 1. Parks and Open Spaces The character and function of parks shown on the land use plan are described in greater detail in the 2008 Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan. (When complete, the Park and Recreation Plan will be appended to this comprehensive plan.) The mission of the City's Parks and Recreation Department is to provide quality parks and recreation programs that promote healthy and active lifestyles to benefit residents and foster a sense of community. Providing convenient access to parks and open spaces is considered part of this mission. Existing Parks and Open Spaces Falcon Heights has four developed parks totaling 24.65 acres, equivalent to approximately 4.3 acres per 1,000 population. This is significantly less than the National Park and Recreation Association standard of 25 acres per 1000 residents. The City does, however, embrace the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, the University of Minnesota agricultural fields and the public University Golf Course, none of which are included in the calculation of park needs. (The University recreation areas are, however, counted in • the "Parks, Recreation and Preserves" category in Table 5, page III-43, and on the Metropolitan Counci12005 Land Use data, Figure 5.) Of the 24.65 acres, the City owns less than 2.0 acres of park property. The City leases 16.5 acres of land for park use from the University of Minnesota. Falcon Heights Elementary School provides an additional 6.25 acres of park land. Four small open "commons" areas, 2.1 acres in all, are located in the University Grove neighborhood. These are not maintained by the City and are not counted in total park acreage. Of the four existing parks, one is classified as a community park, two as neighborhood parks and one as amini-neighborhood park. Curtiss Field, which serves one of the largest neighborhoods, underwent expansion and major renovation during the summer of 2004, when a portion of the former Snelling Drive frontage road was incorporated into the park. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 1 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices Table 22: Falcon Heights Parks and Open Spaces Name Size Land Park Facilities acres Ownershi Classification Community 14.5 20 year lease Community Community building, ball Park (to 2008) Park fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, skating, hockey, fitness, course, horseshoes, play equipment, picnic shelter, community garden, trails Curtiss Field 1.9 City of Falcon Neighborhood Hard court, skating/hockey, Heights tennis bang board, warming house, ball field, play e ui ment University 2.0 Yearly lease Neighborhood Hard court, skating/hockey, Grove renewal tennis bang board, play e ui ment, icnic tables Falcon Heights 6.25 Roseville Neighborhood/ Play equipment, basketball Elementary School District School courts, ball field, skating, School #623 hocke ,hard court • • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 2 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices i• • U (6 Q Cn ~ N ~. o ~~ ~~ ~~ ~o ~~ L (u .. ~_ G Uo ~~ ~~ '~ a~ 2 .? c ~ o~ U ~ L.L ~ Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 3 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices Future Directions The City completed a Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan in 1989 and is undergoing a similar process in 2007, parallel to, but independent of, this Comprehensive Plan. When complete, the new plan will be appended to this comprehensive plan. There are no existing or proposed metropolitan park facilities within Falcon Heights. However, Como Regional Park is less than half a mile from the City's easternmost neighborhood, and the proposed Mississippi Como Trail will, if constructed, pass near the City's southern border. Roseville parks are also nearby. Connections among these parks and trails would benefit all communities concerned. Parks and Open Spaces: Goals and Policies Parks and Open Space Goals 1. To develop a park system to serve both neighborhood and community needs. 2. To provide a variety of recreation programs and events for all ages, abilities and economic groups in acost-effective manner that best serves the needs of the community. 3. To promote healthy and active lifestyles for residents and visitors through quality leisure programs and well-maintained parks and trails. • 4. Provide and maintain convenient access to city parks, businesses, and neighborhoods to encourage people to be mobile and active. Parks and Trails Policies 1. Upgrade and improve existing parks. 2. Offer park/recreation programs to residents that complement recreation programs available from surrounding cities and the school district, and duplicate programs only when necessary. 3. Cooperate with the University of Minnesota and the State Fairgrounds in shared use of recreation and open space lands. 4. Acquire additional park land through the City's land acquisition and park dedication program if land is sold and developed. 5. Include park accessibility in design of new and upgraded parks. 6. Provide space for community gardens. 7. Pursue opportunities to expand trail and sidewalk facilities throughout the City. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 4 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices • 2. Other Community Facilities and Services City Hall/Community Room The City has a staff of eight full-time employees and one part time employee housed in a 15,104 square foot City HalUCommunity Center located on Larpenteur Avenue just east of Cleveland Avenue. Departments at City Hall include Administration (5 employees), Public Works (3 employees), and Parks (1 employee). The structure was built in 1982 and contains a large multi-purpose meeting room which functions both as a community room and a Council Chambers. There are currently no plans for expansion; the existing facility is considered sufficient to serve the population growth forecast to 2030. Unless substantial residential growth occurs on University of Minnesota property north of Larpenteur, there will be no need to do more than maintain and remodel the present facility. Technical Services The City contracts with the City of Roseville for engineering and information technology services. The City's staff computers and internet-based telephone are connected by cable modem to a network that covers 14 local units of government, managed by the City of Roseville. The City is represented on the North Suburban Communications Commission, • which provides cable televising of City Council and Planning Commission meetings to the community and cable TV service to City Hall. The City is a member and active participant in the Ramsey County GIS User Group, a consortium of cities, school districts, soil and water conservation districts and other agencies that share costs for acquiring and maintaining geographic data. Through the efforts of this group, public property information and maps are now available to residents on the Internet for free. Since 2001, the City has provided information and online services to residents through its website, now named www.falconheiahts.org. The City website received a major upgrade in 2006 with a move to GovOffice hosting, enabling online recreation program registration and business licensing. In 2007 the newly recodified City ordinances were added to the website. Police, Fire and Rescue Services and Emergency Readiness The City has a fire department that includes a paid on-call Chief, apart-time Fire Marshall and a force of 20 volunteer fire fighters. The department has one station located at City Hall, which serves the entire City within afive-minute response time. The City has a very good ISO or fire insurance rating of 5. The adjacent City of Lauderdale • contracts with Falcon Heights for fire department services. The City contracts with St. Paul for ambulance service. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 5 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices Even if the population continues to grow, there will be no need for additional fire • stations. Continuing improvements to the present facility plus new equipment will be required as set forth in the Capital Improvements Program. The City has contracted for police services from the Village of St. Anthony since 1999 and before that with the City of Roseville, an arrangement that has proven to be a cost effective way to deliver this important service. The University of Minnesota provides its own police, fire and rescue service. Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, the City of Falcon Heights, under the leadership of Mayor Susan Gehrz, undertook aommmunity-wide evaluation of local readiness for disasters and emergencies and developed an action plan for preparation. Out of this effort came the founding of a new City Neighborhood Commission and an innovative Neighborhood Liaison program. Over 401oca1 residents and workers have been trained through the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program to supplement government emergency services in case of a local disaster or emergency. Schools Falcon Heights belongs to Roseville School District No. 623. Falcon Heights Elementary School is located in the City. Elementary students residing east of Snelling Avenue attend • Falcon Heights Elementary School while those west of Snelling attend Brimhall Elementary School in Roseville. All Falcon Heights public school students attend Roseville Area Middle School and Roseville Area High School. Falcon Heights Elementary was temporarily closed from 1982 to 1985 due to declining enrollment. The school was reopened in September 1985 in response to growing numbers of elementary aged children, drawn from Roseville as well as Falcon Heights. Current enrollment is 425. Future Directions Police, Fire and Emergency Preparedness The City intends to continue to contract for police and ambulance services. It intends to maintain the volunteer fire department at current levels but will continue to evaluate the potential for the sharing/consolidating of fire services with adjacent communities as appropriate to maximize efficiency and minimize costs. The City will continue to participate actively in countywide and metro-wide efforts to develop a coordinated emergency response system. Schools The City intends to cooperate with the Roseville School District to foster the neighborhood • school concept. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 6 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices • City Administration If the City's population increases according to Metropolitan Council forecasts, there will be no need to expand City Hall. If, on the other hand, substantial new development takes place on University of Minnesota or State Fair properties, there may be a need for the expansion of City Administration office space on the present site. Community Facilities and Services: Goals and Policies Community Facilities and Services Goals 1. To assure maximum efficiency and economy in the delivery of public services. Z. To provide municipal services equitably to all residents. 3. To provide adequate space for municipal administration and related services. 4. To continue cooperation among the City and other governmental units including the School District, the County and neighboring cities. Community Facilities and Services Policies Provide emergency services including police, volunteer fire and rescue services comparable to surrounding communities. • 2. Continue to replace and upgrade equipment as necessary to maintain the present levels of local service. 3. Provide adequate levels of police protection. 4. Provide adequate and efficient snow plowing service. 5. Provide meeting facilities for civic groups at City Hall and park buildings. 6. Continue to evaluate options for the least duplicative and most effective and efficient delivery of municipal services including direct service, private contracts and cooperative agreements with other governmental units. 7. Encourage the Roseville area schools to keep Falcon Heights Elementary School and Brimhall Elementary School open and functioning as elementary schools. 8. Continue to expand the availability of City services over the Internet. :: Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 7 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices V. Natural and Historic Resources 1. Natural Resources The City of Falcon Heights has no lakes, streams or protected wetlands and only a relatively few manmade ponding areas, many of which are located on University owned lands. It has no woodlots other than residential street trees and it has relatively little topographic relief. This is not to say that the City is devoid of character, only that its most significant resources are not water based thus requiring considerably less regulation. The City also has virtually no privately owned vacant land that is environmentally sensitive or possessing aesthetic character to warrant consideration for public acquisition for public use. Certain privately owned lands, however, may require protective action, such as the garden lots north of Lindig Street. 2. Historic and cultural resources The City's most important and meaningful resources are manmade orman-shaped and they include huge expanses of permanent open space, wooded residential areas with tree lined streets and historical sites as manifested in the Gibbs Farm, the Gibbs schoolhouse and the University of Minnesota agricultural research lands. • Gibbs Farm is the only site in Falcon Heights in the National Register of Historic Places. • The farmstead was settled in 1849, and the farmhouse built in 1854, making Gibbs Farm one of the oldest non-native settlements in the area. The site was registered in 1975 and is now owned by the Ramsey County Historical Society, which operates it as a museum, featuring the 1854 farmhouse, the 1910 barn and an old one room school moved from another site. The museum property is designated public land and will incorporate the adjacent parcel that has previously been used as asingle-family residence and bed and breakfast inn. Although they have not been added to the National Register, there are a number of historic structures on the grounds of the University of Minnesota campus and the Minnesota State Fair. The City encourages efforts by these public institutions to preserve those buildings that have a historic value to the community. The City is home to a number of architecturally significant structures, most notably the TIES building at the southwest corner of Snelling and Larpenteur. The unique University Grove neighborhood between Cleveland and Fulham is a district of individually built architect-designed homes constructed from the 1920s through the 1970s for the use of University faculty and staff. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 8 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices • 3. Goals and Policies Environmental Protection Objectives 1. To conserve unique and essential natural resources. 2. To protect people and property from excessive noise, pollution and natural hazard. 3. To improve the health of residents and those who work within the city. Environmental Protection Policies 1. Minimize runoff velocities from newly developed sites. 2. Require stormwater management and erosion control plans for all new developments. 3. Encourage retention of precipitation as practicable by providing additional storage either on-site or through the construction of a comprehensive retention area with new development or redevelopment. 4. Minimize storm water run-off from single-family residential properties by limiting impervious coverage and encouraging practices and technologies that retain precipitation on site. 5. Encourage the removal and replacement of diseased trees on street rights-of--way and on private property. • 6. Identify and encourage preservation of trees in excess of 50 years old, whenever possible. 7. Maintain wildlife populations. 8. Monitor air quality at Snelling/Larpenteur Avenues and upgrade the intersection to assure that ambient pollution levels are not substantially increased. 9. Consider solar access protection and the use of vegetation to facilitate summer shading and winter solar gain when reviewing plans for existing development, new development and redevelopment. 10. Provide for open transitional space between new development and existing neighborhoods, to preserve the urban/rural character of the City and to improve opportunities for active living. 11. Encourage "green building" practices in new development by providing regulatory incentives to develop in environmentally friendly ways. 12. Support ametropolitan-wide integrated waste management program comprised of waste reduction, resource recovery, recycling and limited landfilling. 13. Continue to promote a curbside recycling program and encourage on-site management and/or recycling of yard wastes. 14. Maintain open space views especially along the south side of Larpenteur Avenue as a • means to protect the urban/rural character of the City. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 9 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices Historical Resource Protection Objectives • 1. To conserve historical resources in the community. 2. To protect architecturally significant structures of all ages within the City. Historical Resource Protection Policies 1. Require the protection of properties designated as historically and architecturally significant by the National Register of Historic Places and the State Historical Society. 2. Identify properties and neighborhoods that maybe candidates for designation as historically and architecturally significant by national or state agencies. 3. Identify properties that possess historical or architectural significance within the Falcon Heights community but which may not be candidates for state or national designation. 4. Support and encourage community efforts to protect properties that have been identified as having historic or architectural significance in the community. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 10 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices VI. Economic Development/Redevelopment The City of Falcon Heights has virtually no privately owned vacant land available for development. Already small in population, size and geographic area and having limited tax base, it is prudent for the City to continue taking advantage of opportunities to collaborate with and create partnerships with other government entities to provide a full range of high quality public services. If University of Minnesota policies change so as to allow the sale of land for private development, there could be a substantial opportunity for the development of approximately 102 acres between Larpenteur and Roselawn Avenues east of Fairview. In this case it will be the City's intent to assume regulatory authority and encourage developments that are consistent with the goals and policies of this Comprehensive Plan. Such development will be designed to be a walkable, vibrant urban neighborhood, incorporating housing, business and retail areas, parks and trails, accessible to transit and respecting the urban/rural open space character that is highly valued by the City's residents, especially adjacent to existing neighborhoods. The same principles will apply to any State Fair land south west of the Snelling and Larpenteur intersection, should this land be sold for development. • Economic Development Goals and Policies Economic Development Goals 1. To continue the growth of the City's tax base by maintaining and upgrading the existing housing stock, redeveloping blighted areas, rehabilitating deteriorating buildings and properties, retaining businesses and improving aesthetics. 2. To guide any future private development of University of Minnesota lands and the State Fairgrounds lands west of Snelling Avenue according to the values and objectives of this comprehensive plan. Economic Development Policies 1. Encourage growth in tax base through upgrading of retail centers and small business zones 2. Encourage high quality urban design that incorporates attractive, safe and walkable/bike-able spaces. 3. Plan for the possible expansion of limited and neighborhood business and mixed business and residential use along Larpenteur Avenue, west of Snelling Avenue as designated on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. 4. In the event that a portion of the State Fairgrounds property becomes available for development over the life of the plan, allow mixed use development near the • Snelling/Larpenteur commercial core that provides services to residents and to the University of Minnesota and State Fairground users. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 11 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices 5. In the event that the University of Minnesota lands north of Larpenteur Avenue east • of Fairview Avenue become available for development over the life of the plan, allow neighborhood related uses such as housing, parks, open space, neighborhood scale commercial development and limited business use. (See The Larpenteur Corridor section.) 6. In the event that the University of Minnesota lands north of Larpenteur Avenue east of Cleveland Avenue become available for development over the life of the plan, allow and encourage uses complementary to the Gibbs and Bell museums and to the parks and other recreational amenities in the Cleveland-Larpenteur area. 7. Pursue the dedication of the Community Park to the City prior to the sale and redevelopment of the University property north of Larpenteur and east of Cleveland Avenues. 8. Carefully evaluate the City's potential financial exposure and seek guarantees from developers where public financial assistance is to be provided in support of redevelopment. 9. Collaborate with the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Fair to produce a land design framework making Falcon Heights a place of enduring quality and character. • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 12 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices VII.Implementation 1. Land Use In pursuit of the goals and vision outlined in this plan the City will need to take the following actions: 1. Conduct a detailed corridor study of the Larpenteur and Snelling Avenue corridors in Falcon Heights. The University of Minnesota has developed useful tools for enlisting public participation in this process and providing public education about what is economically feasible. It is recommended that this study be done before any major redevelopment project is undertaken along Larpenteur. 2. Use corridor study findings to define the extent of new special development districts or overlays in anticipation of redevelopment to meet forecast housing and business needs over the lifetime of this plan. 2. Zoning And Subdivision Ordinances The City will need to make a number of adjustments to the zoning and subdivision ordinances to bring the chapters into conformance with this Comprehensive plan. At a • minimum the following ordinance amendments will be required: 1. Extend exclusively public designation to all public/institutional lands, eliminating dual zoning 2. Create a new multi-use zoning designation for the Larpenteur corridor areas that have been identified as candidates for multi-use redevelopment by 2030. 3. Restore the R-3 Medium Density Residential District to the zoning ordinance to accommodate town-home development where lot sizes are too small to accommodate high density redevelopment 4. Revise the R-4 zoning designation to more accurately characterize the multi-family housing existing in the city, to update design standards and to guide redevelopment of existing R-4 sites. 5. Revise off-street parking requirements for commercial and multi-family properties to provide for a safer, more attractive and pedestrian-friendly environment; also, to reduce the amount of impervious surface on private property. 6. Create a new single-family residential zoning district to be appied as an overlay, where appropriate, to land presently owned by the University of Minnesota, incorporating the principles and objectives in this plan. 7. Re-examine and revise the purpose statements for all districts • 8. Revise the Zoning Map to reflect new districts. Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 13 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices 3. Housing Since the City has virtually no private vacant land available for the development of new housing, it will emphasize the maintenance of the existing housing stock and encourage the construction of additional housing in the Larpenteur Corridor if opportunities for redevelopment arise. If that occurs, the City will make every effort to satisfy unmet needs for affordable housing. Measures that maybe considered include: 1. Provision that at least 10 percent ofmulti-family rental projects be affordable housing, if housing assistance is available. 2. Continuation of support for Section 8 rental assistance vouchers for low and modest income residents. To encourage home ownership and rehabilitate affordable housing, the City will also 1. Implement some form of licensing and safety inspection program for rentals in single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes. 2. Participate as appropriate in Federal and State housing programs as may be made available 3. Seek partnerships with non-profit community land trust organizations that promote affordable home-ownership and rehabilitation of housing. • 4. Continue to participate in partnerships with non-profit community organizations which provide home maintenance and rehabilitation resources to both home- • owners and owners of rental residential properties. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 14 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices • 4. Storm Water Management Plan Im lementation P Implementation Priorities and Cost The implementation plan includes information on plan amendments and financing alternatives. At this time the City does not have any storm water issues included in their capital improvement plan. The City will continue to cooperate and coordinate capital improvement projects with the Capitol Region and the Rice Creek Watershed Districts as the Districts add projects within the City to their Plans. At this time no specific projects have been identified in their Plans. Paying for water management projects and administrative activities has become more complex in recent years. In the past, special assessments against benefited properties financed most of the necessary improvements. However, the financial options have broadened considerably. The question is, which method(s) best suits the needs of the City. The major categories of possible funding sources are: • Ad Valorem Tax • Special Assessments • Trunk Storm Sewer/Development Fees • • Storm Water Utility Fees • Grants Amendment Procedures The Falcon Heights WRMP is intended to extend through the year 2017. For the plan to remain dynamic a means must be available to implement new information, ideas, methods, standards and management Amendment proposals can be requested any time by any person or persons either residing or having business within the City. • Request for Amendments Written requests for plan amendment are submitted to the City staff. The request shall outline the need for the amendment as well as additional materials that the City will need to consider before making its decision. Staff Review A decision is made as to the validity of the request. Three options exist, 1) reject the amendment 2) accept the amendment as a minor issue, with minor issues collectively added to the plan at a later date 3) accept the amendment as a major issue, with major issues requiring an immediate amendment. In acting on an amendment request, staff shall recommend to City council whether or not a public hearing is warranted. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 15 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices • • Council Consideration The amendment and the need for a public hearing shall be considered at a regular or special Council meeting. Staff recommendations should also be considered before decisions on appropriate action(s) is made. • Public Hearing, Council, CRWD and RCWD Approval This step allows the public input based on the public sentiment. Council shall determine when the public hearing should occur in the process. Based on the Public hearing, Council could approve the amendments, and if necessary, refer the amendments to the Watershed District Boards for comment and approval. • Council Adoption Final action on an amendment following approval by the CRWD and RCWD is Council adoption. However, prior to the adoption, an additional public hearing could be held to review the plan changes and notify the appropriate stakeholders. • Annual Report to Council A brief annual report should be made by City staff summarizing development changes, capital improvements and other water management-related issues that have occurred over the past year. The review should also include an update on available funding sources for water resource issues. This annual report is also part of the City's MS4 Program. Grant programs are especially important to review since they may • change annually. These changes do not necessarily require individual amendments. The reports can, however, be considered when the plan is brought up to date. The report should be completed by July 1st to allow implementation items to be considered in the normal budget process. Copies of the report should be filed with the CRWD and the RCWD. The annual update can also serve as an important public information tool. A summary could be published in the City's newsletter. The plan will remain in effect through 2017. The plan should then be reviewed for consistency with current water resources management methods. At that time, all annual reports and past amendments can be added to the document. Depending on the significance of changes, a new printing of the plan maybe appropriate. At a minimum, the Capital Improvement Program should be amended every five years. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 16 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices • 5. Capitol Improvement Plan General Capital Programmed office and council chambers improvements are minor and include furniture and audio visual upgrades. Also included are continuous improvements to our online services and computer equipment. Public Safety The City intends to refurbish our Telesquirt fire engine in 2011, which will extend the life of the equipment for another 10-15 years. A utility vehicle is also budgeted for response issues that do not require a full fire truck to respond. Fire department equipment is replaced annually based on a set schedule. Parks and Recreation/Public Facilities Major improvements budgeted include resurfacing of tennis and basketball courts, streetscaping along Larpenteur Avenue, and new public works vehicles and maintenance equipment. Infrastructure • Ongoing expenses include sidewalk and curb repairs as well as tree removal and trimming. Sealcoating of the streets is a two year project that occurs every seven years. The next time this project will be completed is in 2011 and 2012. Also budgeted are repairs to the city hall parking lot. • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 17 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices • Appendix A: Falcon Heights: Population Proi'ile Data in the following tables is based on the 2000 U. S. Census, with additional information from the Metropolitan Council Table Al :Population and Households 1990-2007 1990 2000 2006 est.) Total Po ulation 5390 5572 5776 Households 2016 2103 2249 Vacanc Rate % 2.0 1.5% Not available Po ulation in Households 4939 5060 Not available Household Size 2.45 2.41 Not available Po ulation in Grou Housin 441 512 505 Group housing population includes UM dormitory Table A2: Comparative Demographics Falcon Hei hts Ramsey Count USA Median A e 2000 30.9 33.7 35.3 Percent Under 5 ears 7.6% 6.8% 6.8% Percent 18 ears and over 78.5% 74.6% 47.3% Percent 65 ears and over 12.2% 11.6% 12.4% Percent Minori 1990 18.7% 8.2% Percent Minori 2000 22.3% 22.6% 24.9% Percent Forei n Born 19.3% 10.6% 11.1% Home lan a e other than En lish 22.5% 15.8% 17.9% Hi h school aduates A e 25+ 95.6% 87.6% 80.4% Bachelor's degree or higher (A e 25+ 70.3% 34.3% 24.4% • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 18 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices • Table A3: Economic Characteristics Falcon Hei hts Ramsey Coun USA Median Famil Income 1999 $51,382 $45,722 $41,994 Housin Tenure 2000 Owner Occu ied 57.9% 63.5% 66.2% Renter Occu ied 42.1% 36.5% 33.8% Median Housin Value Owner Occu ied 2000 $161,400 $126,400 $119,600 Owner Occu ied 2000 in 2005 $ $183,051 $143,356 $135,644 Owner Occu ied (2005 $252,300 $218,900 $167,500 Families below overt level * 8.8% 7.4% 9.2% * The poverty rate for households was 19.2% in the census tract that includes University of Minnesota housing and 1.7% in the remainder of the City. Table A4: Age Distribution, 1990 - 2000 A 1990 2000 Chan e ge Number % of total Number % of total Number Percent Under 5 ears 444 8.3% 423 7.6% -21 -4.7% 5 to 9 349 6.5% 351 6.3% 2 0.6% 10 to 14 244 4.5% 271 4.9% 27 11.1 15 to 17 112 2.1 % 153 2.7% 41 36.6% 18 to 21 509 9.5% 673 12.1 % 164 32.2% 22 to 24 276 5.1 % 273 4.9% -3 -1.1 25 to 34 1,173 21.8% 1,024 18.4% -149 -12.7% 35 to 44 788 14.6% 762 13.7% -26 -3.3% 45 to 54 354 6.6% 629 11.3% 275 77.7% 55 to 64 403 7.5% 336 6.0% -67 -16.6% 65 to 74 414 7.7% 303 5.4% -111 -26.8% 75 to 84 258 4.8% 281 5.0% 23 8.9% 85 and older 56 1.0% 93 1.7% 37 66.1 Total o ulation 5,380 100.0% 5,572 100.0% 192 3.6% Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 19 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices Appendix B: Falcon Heights: Housing Profile Data in the following tables is based on the 2000 U. S. Census, with additional information from the Metropolitan Council. Tables are from the Community Housing Profile for Falcon Heights unless otherwise noted. Table Bl: Occupied Housing Units by Type and Tenure Type of housing and units in 199 0 200 0 structure Owners Renters Owners Renters Sin le famil ,detached 1,101 35 1,104 52 Sin le famil ,attached 3 47 28 95 Du lexes 2 6 6 23 Buildin s with 3 or 4 units 0 21 0 35 Buildin s with 5 to 19 units 2 526 0 520 Buildin s with 20 or more units 86 179 83 145 Mobile homes 0 0 0 5 Other units 6 2 0 0 Total occu ied housin units 1,200 816 1,221 875 Table B2: Housing Costs -Owner Occupied (2000) Cost # Units Percent <$50,000 0 0 $50,000 - $99,000 54 4.4% $100,000 - $149,000 422 34.6% $150,000 - $199,000 564 46.2% $200,000 and above 181 14.8% Median Value $161,400 Totals s ecified units 1221 100% Table B3: Gross Monthly Rent Paid (2000) Gross rent Number of units Less than $200 12 $200-$299 8 $300-$399 126 $400-$499 295 $500-$599 138 $600-$699 148 $700-$799 92 $800-$899 7 $900-$999 11 $1,000-$1,249 4 $1,250 or more 12 • • Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 20 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices ire 39 0 2 16 9 0 12 5 44 Falcon Heights Comprehensive Plan Draft January, 2008 Page IV - 21 Part IV: Parks, Community, Economic Development, Implementation, Appendices O N N ~ ~ O O O ~ O O O O N N N ~ 0 o O o O 0 ~ O ~ O O 0 O ~ ~ 00 O O N 0 0 I O I O GC it it a 7 d a e~ U U Y~ "'Q D a a ~ncfl ~oocfl~ ~n~n~n ~ ~ r- ~ N M ~ N N J ~ } ~ ~ Z - W ° O O O 0 0 O W a 0 a 0 ~ O O O O O O ~ Q N N N ~ ~ N Q = W U } ~ m c\o m m m 4. c c c c c O N O O O O O O O O ~ ~ to In O N M n r J ~ O O ~ p = O O Z N ~ J ~ a O O O Z O O O IJJ O ~ ~ N 1 ~ ~ O O O O O O ~ o O O O O ~ J N ~ ~ 'a ~Q ~U j Q Z ~ - !W- U H O w U Z f-- in Q cn Q W ~ ~O w ~~ ~_ ~ ~. 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