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The Urban Design Framework <br />The proposed urban design frameworkbuilds on the existing strengths of Lake Elmo, <br />including a compact. assemblage of streets and blocks, a distinct edge, an historic main <br />street and good access to parks and open space. The plan extends these qualities to <br />likely new development to the east, north and west. in addition, it proposes engaging the <br />existing residential neighborhood to the south with the village core and new <br />neighborhoods. <br />Several key recommendations underpin the long-range framework plan: <br />• Turn Stillwater Boulevard from a State owned road to a City owned road and <br />change it from a rural to urban section through the Old Village. Bring new mixed - <br />use development to wide sidewalks to create a true "Main Street." <br />• Strengthen historic Main Street by preserving historic buildings, adding carefully <br />integrated and designed infill projects, and replacing or upgrading "soft" <br />properties. <br />• Create a perimeter lane at the edge of the Old Village to (ink existing and new <br />neighborhoods directly together. <br />• Create "gateway roundabouts" into the Old Village where the perimeter lane <br />intersects with Stillwater Boulevard, to provide a transition from the rural to the <br />urban section and calm traffic. <br />• Extend the existing pattern of streets and blocks to the perimeter pedestrian lane, <br />and develop guidelines for a compatible pattern and scale of streets and blocks <br />beyond. <br />• Establish safe, walkable connections from the historic core to the centers of each <br />new neighborhood. <br />• Use new civic or public buildings to anchor one end of the city/neighborhood <br />walking route; anchor the other end with a new neighborhood amenity (park, <br />water, etc.) <br />A series of possible initiatives, such as a new town hall, a combined Family Service <br />Center and YMCA and a new library would, if located strategically, provide a unique <br />opportunity to establish key connections between the core and new neighborhoods. By <br />placing these civic uses near the edge of the Old Village and linking them to new <br />neighborhood centers beyond on landscaped streets that extend from the existing block <br />pattern, the walkable character if the existing village would be enhanced and new <br />development would strongly echo the character of the historic core. <br />III-9A-5 <br />