08-23-2000 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Smart Growth Twin Cans Rios Street Crossings Redevelopment • Encourage the redevelopment of brown fields and underutilized lands. • Promote and preserve the natural features of this area through development that enhances water quality and lake characteristics. • Create a model for community reinvestment that can be replicated in other Metropolitan communities. Development Character. The type of development under consideration for this project is transit - oriented, mixed -use development in an urban area. Summary of Key Components... The purpose of the master planning process is twofold: (1) to address issues arising from programmed improvements for this area, and (2) to strengthen and integrate land uses in the area with the transportation system. Through this process, a plan will be created that seeks to redevelop and intensify land uses at an appropriate level taking advantage of transit improvements. The land use pattern desired would create a mix of uses that complement the planned transit hub /park and ride facility, proposed commuter rail line and planned roadway improvements. Once the master plan has been developed, design issues and implementation strategies will also be addressed. The master plan will address: • Mix and intensity of uses. • New housing opportunities, housing type and density. • Proximity to existing employment centers and opportunities for new employment within the project area. • Connections between housing, jobs and transportation. Site Features Project Area. The project area includes approximately 65 acres. Attachment B shows the proposed project area. The project area is preliminary. Delineation of key properties for development, reuse, or redevelopment would be part of the master plan, and the project area may be modified through this process. The existing land use pattern in the project area consists of low- intensity commercial, industrial, and office uses that are highway - oriented and in some cases, blighted or deteriorating. Some properties also have a history of contamination. Land uses are connected only through the existing roadway network. Housing in the project area is limited to a small number of single - family residences. The transportation network includes Interstate 694, Rice Street, other County and local roads as well as two rail lines. The rail lines serve as the west and south boundaries of the project area. Two existing bus lines connect the area to employment centers in St. Paul. An underutilized and unimproved park- and -ride facility is located on the northeast corner of the I- 694/Rice Street interchange. Other suburban employment centers along Lexington Avenue, Interstate 694 and 35E and Maplewood Mall are nearby and accessible via automobile. Page 95