09-11-2024 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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minnesota.uli.org 7 CONTEXT/BACKGROUND The City of Little Canada engaged ULI Minnesota Advisory Services for a Technical Assistance Panel to provide recommendations on the best use for three city-owned parcels, as well as providing recommendations on placemaking and guiding development in the surrounding areas. Little Canada is a unique, historic community located in Ramsey County, just north of the state capitol of St. Paul. The first white settlers were French Canadians, beginning with Benjamin Gervais, who claimed land in 1844. The first school was established in 1850, with lessons in French. The Catholic Church of St. John the Evangelist was built in 1852; its cemetery was the second to be established in Minnesota. In 1858, Little Canada became a township; it incorporated as a village in 1953, and a city in 1974. The city is 4.34 square miles, with a population of 10,819 (2020 Census). Its citizens are proud of their French Canadian heritage, with the annual Canadian Days festival drawing thousands of attendees. Strategic Planning In recent years, leadership has taken a more proactive view of planning for the city’s growth. In 2019, the City Council initiated a strategic planning process that established a practical vision for the community. With many of the initial initiatives completed by 2022, the city updated the plan that year. In alignment with the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan, city staff have taken the next steps in efforts to enhance development and redevelopment opportunities within the city.  Land Use Optimization: Determine the best use for city-owned parcels and adjacent areas, considering a mix of uses to enhance community gatherings and create cohesion between the east and west sides of the city divided by I-35. A key component of the vision for 2025 is revitalized commercial corridors.  Placemaking and Corridor Enhancement: Strategize ways to increase placemaking and enhance the Rice Street corridor, focusing on green spaces, walkability, and incorporating main street values in commercial and transit-oriented developments.  Guiding Future Development: Develop a comprehensive plan to guide future development in the targeted areas, embracing higher densities, mixed uses, and community values to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and connected city. Infrastructure Investments Upcoming infrastructure projects in the area include a 4-to-3 lane conversion project on County Road C from Little Canada to Lexington Avenue that will reduce traffic speeds and enhance pedestrian safety, scheduled in 2026. Also, the complete reconstruction of Rice Street from County Road B2 to South Owasso Boulevard is included in the Ramsey County transportation improvement plan (TIP) for 2027, which will include sidewalks and trails on both sides of Rice Street.