HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 6031
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RESOLUTION NO. 6031
CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
ST ATE OF MINNESOTA
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE RELOCATION OF A POSTAL SERVICE
DISTRIBUTION FACILITY TO THE TCAAP PROPERTY
\VHEREAS, the City of Mounds View shares a common municipal boundary with the City
of Arden Hills and is linked by Interstate 35W, County Road H and Highway 10; and
WHEREAS, the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP), located in Arden Hills,
represents one of the largest tracts of developable land available in the metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, the late Congressman Bruce Vento formed the TCAAP Reutilization
Committee on August 30, 1994 to recommend the long range conceptual uses for the TCAAP site
ultimately resulting in the adoption of the resolution commonly referred to as the Vento Plan; and
WHEREAS, The City of Arden Hills formed its own TCAAP Reuse Task Force, a 14
member group beginning in May 1995. The task force met on average 3 times per month and held
four public hearings the result of which was the TCAAP Framework Plan which was ultimately
. incorporated into the City's Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, a stated goal of Arden Hills' Comprehensive Plan, which has been approved by
the Metropolitan Council, is to "Develop the TCAAP land sequentially as it is released, with
integrated land uses according to the TCAAP Framework Plan;" and
WHEREAS, in an effort to accommodate new residents in the Twin Cities area in the future,
the Metropolitan Council calls for growth and redevelopment along transportation con'idors; and
WHEREAS, reuse of the TCAAP property consistent with the Vento Plan and TCAAP
Framework Plan has the ability to accomplish significant public policy objectives including:
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Remediation of the wildlife corridor area;
Accommodating additional job and population growth by taking advantage of
existing infrastructure;
Reduced highway congestion by improving the transportation system around the
TCAAP property to improve local and regional traffic flow;
Growth in the property tax base for Arden Hills, the Mounds View School District,
Ramsey County, and the region through fiscal disparities tax base sharing;
Increased housing production that reflects market demand, changing demographics,
and employment locations;
Increased recreational facilities to accommodate the identified lack of baseball fields,
soccer fields, along with other needs currently being evaluated;
Offsetting enrollment and revenue declines in the Mounds View School District
through residential development designed to attract families;
WHEREAS, a letter of interest was sent to the General Services Administration for the early
transfer of TCAAP to the City of Arden Hills; and
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WHEREAS, Arden Hills is leading a planning process to determine its vision for the
redevelopment of TCAAP based on the Vento Plan and the TCAAP Framework Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Arden Hills is a city of9, 700 residents occupying 9.4 square miles,
of which TCAAP represents 38% of the total land area in Arden Hills; and
WHEREAS, TCAAP represents an opportunity for Arden Hills and the north metro region
to secure the long range future of its residents that will allow Arden Hills to foster new growth that is
complimentary with the existing feel and vision of Arden Hills providing for economic development,
housing opportunities, and recreational access in a connected community; and
\VHEREAS, the United States Postal Service has expressed its desire to locate a new and
consolidated major distribution facility to the TCAAP site; and
WHEREAS, the presence of the United States Postal Service on the TCAAP site will risk
the financial viability of the TCAAP redevelopment by providing fewer acres to offset the costs for
remediation necessary to implement the late Congressman Bruce Vento's vision for the site.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Mounds
View, Minnesota, has detem1ined:
1. The proposed post office facility is not compatible with the vision of the Vento Plan
or the TCAAP Framework Plan since a large postal distribution facility will
negatively impact the mixed use character ofthe Vento Plan so as to endanger, ifnot
preclude housing, commercial, and recreational development.
2. That to adopt a disjointed development model involving the United States Postal
Service would undo the years of regional planning and preparation by numerous
individuals and groups to prepare for the reutilization of the site.
3. That a large postal distribution facility would create more adverse noise, traffic, and
visual impacts than any other use indicated in the Vento Plan.
4. That this use does not promote the health, safety and welfare ofthe citizens of Arden
Hills and would have the potential to adversely impact the residents of Mounds
View.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of
Mounds View strongly opposes the location of a postal service distribution facility on the TCAAP
prope11y.
Adopted this 9th day of June, 2003.
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ATTEST:
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James Ericson, Interim City Administrator
(SEAL)