HomeMy WebLinkAbout#09 - Washington County 2040 Draft Comp PlanSTAFF REPORT
DATE: 9/4/2018
CONSENT
ITEM #: 9
TO: City Council
FROM: Emily Becker, Planning Director
AGENDA ITEM: Washington County Comprehensive Plan Adjacent Jurisdictional
Review Comments
REVIEWED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
Jack Griffin, City Engineer
BACKGROUND:
Washington County has completed a draft of their 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update and has
submitted for adjacent jurisdictional review. The review period ends September 26, 2018.
Staff has prepared draft comments for the review.
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL:
The Council is being asked to review and approve Staff comments regarding the Washington
County 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update.
PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS:
Below provides a brief summary of each chapter within the Draft Washington County 2040
Comprehensive Plan along with recommended comment by Staff. Of particular note are
italicized comments.
Chapter 2: County Context. This Chapter assumes Lake Elmo to have a 40% increase in
population from 2020-2040.
• Staff Comments: Staff has no comments in regards to this chapter.
Chapter 3: Goals and Policies. Outlines visions, goals, policies, and strategies for 2040
Washington County Comprehensive Plan.
• Staff Comments: Staff has no comments in regards to this chapter.
Chapter 4: Land Use. Washington County does not regulate Lake Elmo’s Land Use. The
only mention of Lake Elmo within this chapter is the recognition that Lake Elmo does not
currently have ordinances or other tools in place to assist in preserving privately owned
historic and cultural resources. There are no resources within the City that are on the National
Register of Historical Places.
• Staff Comments: Staff has no comments in regards to this chapter.
Chapter 5: Transportation. Public transportation, trails, and improving highways and
bridges are recognized as a top priority within Washington County’s Transportation Plan.
• Existing Road Functional Classification Changes (p. 5-7)
o CSAH 17 from Highway 36 to CSAH 14 has changed from a minor expander
to minor connector (both subcategories for minor arterials).
o CSAH 10 from minor expander to minor reliever.
o CSAH 13 from CSAH 14 to I-694 from a major collector to minor reliever.
• Jurisdictional Changes (p. 5-10)
o County 13B has changed from a County to local jurisdiction.
o CSAH 14 has changed from MNDOT to County jurisdiction.
o Areas of CSAH 15 at the intersection of CSAH 14 and Hwy 36 to the east of
CSAH 17 have been identified as over capacity
• Regional Bicycle Transportation Network (p. 5-39)
o A Tier 2 Corridor for the Regional Bicycle Transportation Network is
identified along CSAH 14 with a connection from CSAH 19 to CSAH 14.
• Forecasted Traffic Volumes (p. 5-47)
o CSAH 17 (Lake Elmo Ave N) from the intersection of CSAH 14 going south
have decreased from 8001-15000 annual average trips a day to 0-8000 annual
average trips a day.
o CSAH 13 (Inwood Ave N) in the portion directly south of CSAH 6 have
increased from 0-8000 annual average trips per day to 8001-15000 annual
average trips per day.
o CSAH 14 have decreased from 15,001-30,000 annual average trips per day to
8,001-15,000 annual average trips per day.
o CSAH 15 from the intersection of Hwy 36 to 50th Street have decreased from
15,001-30,000 annual average trips per day to 8,001-15,000 annual average
trips per day.
• Volume/Capacity Analysis (p. 5-48)
o Some small northern sections of CSAH 15 are shown as approaching
capacity, changed from over capacity from the 2030 Plan.
o Some new sections of CSAH 13 are shown as approaching capacity.
o A new section of CSAH 10 is shown as overcapacity.
• Minimum Right-of-Way Changes (p. 5-50)
o Minimum right-of-way on CSAH 14 (Stillwater Blvd N) has changed to 180
feet from CSAH 15 (Manning Ave N) to where it intersects with CSAH 6
(Stillwater Blvd N) and to 220 feet to the west of this intersection. This was
due to this road becoming a County road.
• Interchange (5-54)
o One new interchange is indicated that would affect Lake Elmo at the
intersection of CSAH 17 and Hwy 36.
• Capital Improvement Program (p. 5-62)
o Manning Avenue Interchange: 2018
o CSAH 14 west of Manning Avenue Interchange and CSAH 15 south of
Manning Avenue Interchange: 2022
o CSAH 17 north of I-94: 2018 Pavement Preservation Project
o CSAH 17 further north: 2018
o CSAH 13 north of CSAH 6 to CSAH 14: 2021
o CSAH 13 north of CSAH 14: 2022
• Staff Comments: For the most part the City can support the County’s
Transportation Plan. The plan identifies both Goals as well as Management Tools
and Implementation Tools. The following are noteworthy for City input and or
comment.
o The executive summary identifies a limitation in funding resources and
indicates a requirement, therefore, to collaborate with local and regional
partners to leverage available resources.
o Both the Management Tools and Transportation Goal #1 reference the
Cost participation policy #8001 as proposed implementation practices. The
City should consider commenting on the need to revise or eliminate the
Cost participation policy #8001 due to a lack of local funding resources
needed to participate; due to inequitable distribution of transportation
costs across Washington County communities; and due to the inability of
the City to utilize assessing authority for the local share due to County
implementation practices.
Note: Washington County’s Cost Participation Policy (#8001)
determines the appropriate division of cost in funding cooperative
highway projects, traffic signals, and bridge construction projects
with MnDOT, municipalities, and other agencies. For highway and
bridge projects, the cost splits differ for cities with populations
greater than 5,000 and for those with populations less than 5,000.
The primary purpose for this difference is the absence of direct
State Aid funding to municipalities with less than 5,000 residents.
The policy also guides the county’s cost participation when
communities use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and for
jurisdictional changes or turnbacks.
o The City should continue to support the County policy regarding the goal
to balance access and mobility. The City could suggest language changes
to emphasize that the County maintain flexibility when working with the
local government.
o The City should continue to support the County policy regarding right-of-
way acquisition strategies. However, the City should consider
commenting that the County must emphasize efforts to better define right-
of-way corridor needs proactively, both in advance of development
applications, and during development applications.
o The plan indicates that planning efforts regarding TH36 have not yet
begun. The Trunk Highway 36 Corridor is important to Lake Elmo and
perhaps a set of overall goals should be identified to guide these future
planning efforts. Goals could be incorporated from the work completed for
the TH36 South Frontage Road Study, Lake Elmo Avenue Interchange
Concept Planning, and the Manning Avenue Interchange
Concept/Preliminary Design.
Chapter 6: Water Resources Plan. Shows that Lake Elmo is the lowest of the Cities that
use public water within Washington County, averaging below 50 gallons per capita per day.
The Lake Elmo/Oakdale Special Well and Boring Construction Area (SWBCA), which was
established due to Volatile Organic Compound at the Washington County Landfill. It also
mentions perflurochemicals (PFCs) near the Lake Jane Landfill and that over 200 homes
have been connected to city water as a result.
• Staff Comment: Engineering has no major comments regarding the Water
Resource Plan. The plan addresses several areas of overlap with Watershed and
City processes already in place as has always been the case. The primary areas
addressed include:
o Prevent future groundwater contamination by ensuring sound management
of solid and hazardous waste within the county. No comments by
Engineering.
o Implement sound watershed management practices in cooperation and
conjunction with state and local government entities engaged in water
management programs. No comments by engineering.
o Continue implementing SSTS ordinance in accordance with Minnesota
Rules 7080-7083. Conduct a countywide assessment for SSTS; Continue
to provide financial assistance for SSTS replacement through the SSTS
loan program; Explore additional financial assistance options for residents
including local and state grants; Strengthen education efforts related to
SSTS for homeowners, realtors, and other stakeholders; Promote
development of community sewer systems in areas with high rates of
noncompliant SSTS or where small groups of homes make such systems
feasible. The City should express continued support for these efforts.
o Collaborate with state agencies and local communities to promote and
support the efficient use of groundwater resources to ensure that drinking
water supplies are adequate for projected growth in the county.
Groundwater and Surface Water Protection. Engineering has no
comments.
Chapter 7: Parks, Trails and Open Space. Sets overall goals and policies that guide
development of count-controlled sites and facilities.
• Parks. Of these facilities, Lake Elmo Park Preserve is the only facility located within
Lake Elmo. This facility offers a boat launch, fishing pier, swimming, camping,
picnicking, field games, play equipment, natural areas, restrooms, trails, hiking,
biking, cross-country skiing, equestrian, and in-line skating. Annual use estimate of
Lake Elmo Park Preserve in 2016 was shown to be 519,900 visitors, which had by far
the highest total visits of 2016. Proposed development of the park includes expanded
paved and soft surface trail network, expanded picnic areas, expanded camping
facilities and areas, updated playground structures, updated trail and recreation
facilities, updated maintenance facility, and vegetation restoration.
• Trails. The draft Plan includes the Central Greenway Search Corridor, which is a
multiple use trail that will run north-south through the center of Washington County.
The Lake Elmo segment will be determined through a master planning process.
• Staff Comment: The City should express support for the County’s efforts to develop a
master trail plan, both regional park trails and along all County roadways.
Chapter 8: Housing. Lake Elmo has median rents below the metro median, likely because of
the limited availability of rental units within the city. As of 2017, there were 0 senior housing
units, and the demand forecasted is 503. Arbor Glen added 84 units. Lake Elmo is one of five
markets that have a housing demand of 1,100-1,900 units, and much of this demand is for
executive priced homes. The demand for new general occupancy rental housing is 104 units.
• Staff Comment: Staff has no comments in regards to this chapter.
Chapter 9: Resilience and Sustainability Plan. This summarizes the current strategies
related to resiliency and sustainability in the County and it presents an implementation plan
for future decision making processes. It recognizes four key areas that are linked in some
form to a resilient, sustainable and equitable future: hazard mitigation/community
vulnerability, healthy communities, energy, and solid waste management.
• Staff Comment: Staff has no comments in regards to this chapter.
Chapter 10: Economic Competitiveness. This highlights initiatives that remain a core part
of Washington County’s planning activities. The chapter indicates forecasts a 95.8% increase
in employment in Lake Elmo, increasing from 1,941 jobs in 2010 to 3,800 jobs in 2040. As
of 2010, Lake Elmo accounted for 2-4% of Washington County’s employment and is
projected to account for 4-6% by 2040.
• Staff Comment: Staff has no comments in regards to this chapter.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends, as part of tonight’s consent agenda, that the Council approve the above-
outlined comments to Washington County in regards to their Draft 2040 Comprehensive
Plan. If removed from the consent agenda, the following motion may be made:
“Move to approve Staff comments to Washington County in regards to their Draft 2040
Comprehensive Plan.”
ATTACHMENTS:
1. The Draft Washington County 2040 Comprehensive Plan can be found at the
following link: https://www.co.washington.mn.us/404/Comprehensive-Plan