11/23/1998 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • COUNCIL MINUTES NOVEMBER 23, 1998 Council Member Dahl suggested directing staff to submit the Plan to neighboring cities before it goes to the Metropolitan Council. Mayor Sullivan stated the Plan will go to neighboring cities as part of the submittal process. Livable Communities Demonstration Account Contracts, Brian Wessel - Mr. Wessel stated the City of Lino Lakes received a $220,000 grant from the Metropolitan Council's Livable Communities Demonstration Account. The purpose of the grant is to hire nationally recognized experts to accomplish three (3) things: 1. Refine the master plan for The Village as a demonstration of a pedestrian oriented, mixed use development. 2. Design a development framework that provides mechanisms to ensure implementation of the master plan. 3. Study the feasibility of combining commercial storefront space and living space in the same structures to provide a live/work environment. Community Development staff and the Town Center Group have begun the process and intend to accomplish the objectives of the grant within the entire Town Center. The end result will be a plan for compatible, diverse uses on all four quadrants on the I-35W/Lake Drive interchange. Early discussions and plans are beginning to address the integration of transportation, housing, commercial, civic and recreational uses, plus connections within the Town Center to make a safe, walkable environment. Calthorpe Associates, a nationally known urban planning and design firm that specializes in Traditional Neighborhood Development, has visited the site and produced preliminary plans for The Village within the context of the entire interchange area. Peter Calthorpe and Matt Taecher, principals of the firm, are involved in many projects around the country that have become reality. They are interested in the unique opportunities within the Town Center. As a part of their contract with the City, they will be including the expertise of the Design Center for American Urban Landscape at the University of Minnesota School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. They will also subcontract with the Maxfield Research group, a local marketing research group, for local supply-side data. Zimmerman/Volk Associates is a market research group that is also well know for its cutting edge work in housing analysis. They go beyond traditional market research and study the residential mix that best matches the lifestyle and economic characteristics of households with the highest potential to move into this type of mixed use development. The intent of this group of experts, working with staff, the Town Center Group, and consultant Dennis Grebner, is to complete the redesign of The Village, the transportation and land use study of the Town center, and the development framework by mid 1999. 25