07-12-2018 Planning Commission Packet

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27 realignment of Viking Drive, eliminating a difficult intersection near the interchange area, and facilitating commercial development in the area. District 5 District 4 is comprised of a mix of fully developed neighborhoods along Little Canada Road and County Road C. Residential uses include a full range of single-family neighborhoods, twin home areas, townhouse projects, and multiple family development. The focus for the residential components of this district will be on property improvement and maintenance. Some of the attached housing areas have suffered, raising concerns over maintenance and neighborhood safety. For the most part, however, this district includes highly stable residential development, including some of the highest concentrations of multiple family housing. The City has been active in participating with owners in these areas to facilitate improvement and maintenance projects, helping to ensure continued success of these neighborhoods. Two areas of commercial development exist in this district. Along the west side of I-35E and Country Drive is a small concentration of office and office-warehouse buildings. The development in this area was originally facilitated by City assistance. There are a few residential parcels still in place along Country Drive which are both guided and zoned for eventual redevelopment matching the newer office buildings. No changes are proposed to this plan. The second area of commercial development stretches along Little Canada Road from the interchange with 35E to the west, just beyond its intersection with County Road C. This area has been in transition for some time, from a scattered district of single-family homes and a few small commercial buildings, to a more concentrated commercial center. The land use plan continues to call for commercial development in this area, with an expectation that local services and office uses are most likely. A part of the expectation for this area is its role as a connection between the primary commercial district along Rice Street to I-35E, and across the freeway to the original village area of Little Canada. The City has invested in streetscape improvements here and will continue to monitor redevelopment toward these goals. District 6 This small district lies south of Trunk Highway 36 and west of I-35E. The area is virtually fully developed with commercial uses, including a larger Abbott office, research, and manufacturing facility, a large self-storage development, and some smaller office uses along County Road B. To the south of that road lies a large retail facility in Maplewood. Development of additional office and office-warehouse uses on the small amount of remaining land in this district would be appropriate. District 7 To the east of I-35E in the northeast quadrant of the interstate and TH 36 is a large area of existing single-family residential land. This area is fully developed, and except for the possibility that a few of the larger acreage parcels may be split into an additional lot or two, no change is expected to this area.