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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-15-2001 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AGENDA June 15, 2001 • 7:30 A.M. MOUNDS VIEW CITY HALL - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. CALL TO ORDER A.M. 2. ROLL CALL (Present = P, Absent = A) Belting McDonald Carlson Walther Field Ericson (5taff) Johnson Parrish (Staff) Marty 3. APPROVE EDC MINUTES May Minutes will be available for Approval at the July Meeting 4. SPECIAL BUSINESS A. Introduction of the City's new Planning Associate Jim Atkinson 5. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS, STAFF AND EDA LIAISON A. Report of Commissioners —No Materials Attached 14- 0j/ lib 111 B. Chamber of Commerce Update —No Materials Attached C. Report of Staff — No Materials Attached bii k11." 4 i dr .1/ re d. , ,t1 F( ,r'i; i. Manufactured Home Park Revitalization Program County Highway 10 Reconstruction. and Revitalization Study (?;* iii. Acquisition of 2091 Hillview Road iv. Longview Estates Subdivision v. Minneapolis Metro North Convention and Visitors Bureau 6. EDC BUSINESS A. Presentation and Overview of the Comprehensive Plan —Jim Ericson B. County Road H2 Residential Infill Development—Aaron Parrish C. Discuss Disetronic Medical Systems Business Retention Visit. — No Materials Attached / LA/ 7. ADJOURN A.M. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: July 20, 2001 N:\DATA\GROUPSTCONDEV\EDC\Agendas\Agenda01\06-15-01.cloc cm cv Item No. 6A, Meeting Date: June 1591, 2001 ( ) LD)s Type of Business: EB 0 -.0 --,.. EB:EDC Business IN:Informational Item °4'tess•Partnecs City of Mounds View Staff Report MINEIMMO11 To: Economic Development Commission From: Aaron Parrish, Economic Development Coordinator Item Title/Subject: Presentation and Overview of the Comprehensive Plan Date of Report: June 9, 2001 Background After an extensive review by the Metropolitan Council, the City Council is currently in the process of adopting the final version of the City's Comprehensive Plan. As some members of the Commission may recall, a significant amount of time was spent drafting the Economic Development Element of the Plan. An Executive Summary of the Plan has been included for your review and/or discussion. Future Land Use Maps will be provided for reference at the meeting. Community Development Director Jim Ericson will be available • to provide a brief overview and to respond to any questions the Commission might have. Necessary Actions 1. Discuss Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary aierezawr._ ./2"Ter..44;4t Aaron Parrish, Economic Development Coordinator (763) 717-4029 Attachment#1: Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary 4110 • CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW OiP 1111(1. C���J:4MEM teFs • F'artne�Sr��S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN • Executive Summary June, 2001 APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION: February 16, 2000 APPROVED BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL: November 8, 2000 • IMM • I This Executive Summary was prepared as a supplement to the Public Hearing draft of the Plan given to the City Council for review at their work session meeting dated Jun 4, 2001. • 0 Executive Summary Table of Contents Introduction 2 Community Background 3 Demographics 4 Land Use 5 Housing 10 Public Facilities 11 Transportation 12 III Economic D 1 eve opment 13 Implementation 15 Future Land Use Map 17 Change in Designated Land Use Map 18 ill Introduction • This comprehensive plan represents the third official update to Mounds View's original comprehensive plan that was prepared in 1959. Previous updates occurred in 1975 and again in 1979 in response to the Metropolitan Land Planning Act of 1976. While the current update is again in response to a legislative mandate, the City recognizes that comprehensive planning is a continuous process that must respond to changing conditions both internally and externally. The Mounds View Comprehensive Plan is a policy document. The term policy is a reflection of the flexibility intended in the application of the plan. The plan is not to be viewed as a hard and fast graphic layout of the community, nor are the goals and policies to be viewed as ordinances or law. These are guidelines that typically must be reviewed and applied individually and collectively to each development, improvement or decision that is presented. The goals and policies contained in the Comprehensive Plan form the basic and fundamental plan for the community. Their purpose is to guide all public and private actions and development within the community and also serve the more passive function of establishing evaluation criteria for the development and change that subsequently occurs. The goals can be defined as the desired end products with the policies being the means to that desired end. The individual policies are not included in this summary for sake of brevity. To assist in the updating of the comprehensive plan, the Mounds View Planning Commission conducted three community forums. The Planning Commission conducted these forums to help • Mounds View citizens understand what the comprehensive plan is and most importantly to give citizens a chance to talk about what Mounds View should be like in the future. The first draft of the revised plan was presented to the community at a community forum and an official public hearing was conducted. Following the hearing the Planning Commission recommended the document to the City Council. The City Council, after public input approved the document for review by adjacent communities and the Metropolitan Council. The Met Council approved the document on November 8, 2000. • Page 2 Community Background: • The City of Mounds View is located in the northwest corner of Ramsey County adjoining Anoka County. The communities of Arden Hills, Shoreview, North Oaks, New Brighton and Mounds View, as well as portions of Spring Lake Park, St. Anthony Park and Blaine, were all part of the original Mounds View Township. In 1891, New Brighton became the first village in the township to incorporate; Arden Hills the second in 1951, followed by North Oaks in 1956 and Shoreview in 1957. Also in 1957, small portions of the township were annexed by Spring Lake Park, Blaine and St. Anthony. The remaining four square miles of the township became the Village of Mounds View on April 2, 1958 with a population of 5,738. The first Planning Commission was established in 1959 and the first comprehensive plan for Mounds View was completed in that year. The City adopted a revised comprehensive plan in 1976 in accordance with the Metropolitan Land Planning Act passed by the Minnesota legislature in 1976. The current plan was adopted in 1979. Mounds View is generally flat with slopes that range from zero to six percent. There are few areas that have slopes in excess of twelve to eighteen percent, a grade that would pose substantial limitations on development. Wetlands and ponding areas serve as holding areas for storm runoff, filter ground water supplies, and provide habitat areas for wildlife. Wetlands have been protected, for the most part, as Mounds View has developed. The City of Mounds View works cooperatively with Rice Creek Watershed District to ensure that development does not adversely affect wetlands and drainage. Drainage systems include ditches, drainageways and storm sewers. Storm water problems are limited to some local trouble spots. There is no need for major expansion or major alteration to the current system. New development will be reviewed to ensure that the current system is not adversely affected. The majority of the soils present in Mounds View offer slight to moderate limitations to development. 1 40 Page 3 Demographics III The first census taken in Mounds View was in 1960. Mounds View's population has grown from 6413 in 1960 to 12,738 in 2000. The Metropolitan Council estimates that Mounds View's population will decrease slightly to 12,200 in 2010 and 2020. This estimate is based upon a number of assumptions, the most important of which is the declining rate of persons per household. The median age of the population has increased from 20.9 in 1970 to 33.5 in 2000. Estimates indicate the median age of Mounds View's population will continue to increase. According to Ramsey County, Mounds View ranked twelfth out of the sixteen communities in the county in median household income at $37,717. St. Paul, Lauderdale, Falcon Heights, and Little Canada had a lower median household income than Mounds View. North Oaks, as one would imagine, topped the list at $114,470. Mounds View residents have a high rate of high school graduation but a low rate of college graduation in comparison to other communities in Ramsey County. Household Income Municipality %< %$10,000 %$25,000 %$50,000 %> Median $10,000 to to to $100,000 Household $24,999 $49,999 $99,999 Income Arden Hills 3.6 13.7 31.8 36.2 14.5 $50,660 • Falcon Heights 11.7 28.3 27.7 24.3 8.1 $31,661 Gem Lake 1.9 18.4 26.9 42.7 9.9 $52,091 Lauderdale 10.4 31.3 37.2 18.6 2.5 $30,000 Little Canada 6.1 24.8 44.3 22.5 2.3 $34,015 Maplewood 8.9 20.2 40.6 27.4 3.4 $37,856 Mounds View 5.9 21.8 45.2 25 1.8 $37,117 New Brighton 7.2 20 36.4 29.9 6.5 $40,324 North Oaks 2.1 1.2 8.1 29.8 59.1 $114,470 North St. Paul 10.4 22.7 35.5 28.8 2.7 $37,617 Roseville 6.5 23.2 35.2 29.4 5.7 $37,862 St. Paul 17.7 29.5 34.2 16.2 2.5 $26,498 Shoreview 3 12.6 35.9 39.9 8.4 $48,828 Vadnais Heights 3.4 16.2 39.8 35.5 5.4 $43,929 White Bear Lake 5.7 19.5 41.3 29.4 4 $39,062 White Bear Township 3.4 9.9 42.6 37.7 6.4 $46,798 _ Source:Ramsey County Policy Analysis Division III Page 4 General Land Use & Goals • The intent of Mounds View's land use element is to show the use of land and water including lakes, wetlands, natural drainage courses, and adjoining land areas that affect natural water resources for residential, commercial, industrial, and other public and private purposes. This element describes the overall land use pattern and how it is related to the community's future housing needs, environmental conditions and protection, surface water management and historic preservation as required by state statutes and Metropolitan Council guidelines. Goal 1: Maintain a cohesive land use pattern that ensures compatibility and functional relationships between activities and uses. Goal 2: Preserve and protect property values. Goal 3: Ensure that community development is compatible with features of the natural environment and is accommodated without destroying desirable environmental features and natural amenities. Goal 4: Prevent development that is not accompanied by a sufficient level of supportive and service facilities (utilities, parking, access, etc.). Residential Land Use & Goals • Residential development will continue to be the primary type of land use in Mounds View. The established residential land use pattern should be maintained and enhanced to provide a quality environment for all density conditions and for all housing types. Within this context, low-density single-family detached neighborhoods are to be preserved. However, in order to provide additional housing opportunities and to ensure environmental quality, medium-density single-family attached housing should be introduced to provide a transition between these neighborhoods and existing or new higher intensity multifamily or commercial uses. This should be done in appropriate areas through redevelopment of individual parcels or through larger mixed use planned unit developments. All new larger scale residential development should be undertaken on a planned unit development basis. This should be done not only to help ensure that the type of high quality development desired by the community occurs, but to take maximum advantage of the limited amount of vacant land remaining in the community. In areas that contain land of marginal development quality, cluster type development should be utilized to reduce site work and prevent destruction of sensitive areas. In all cases, residential development should be adequately buffered from adjacent commercial development. This does not preclude the possible removal of a limited number of existing residential uses which are inconsistent with the adopted future land use plan to provide for better transitions between residential and commercial uses. Development standards should be strictly enforced for all use types to ensure that a satisfactory environment is created. Goal 1: Preserve the identity de trty and improve the quality and appearance of existing neighborhoods. Page 5 Goal 2: Provide safe, healthy, and attractive residential environments that offer a broad and full choice of housing opportunities to meet the needs of all segments of the population. Goal 3: Encourage a creative approach to the use of land and related residential development. Goal 4: Protect residential land uses that are impacted by noise in the vicinity of the Anoka County-Blaine Airport. Commercial Land Use & Goals Mounds View has a relatively low percentage of commercial development. The commercial tax base of the city should be expanded to provide additional desirable commercial uses in Mounds View to provide products and services to Mounds View citizens. The County Highway 10 corridor is the most appropriate place for commercial tax base expansion to occur. The Mounds View land use plan establishes a hierarchy of four commercial land use types. The lowest intensity commercial land use designation is neighborhood commercial which would allow for uses intended to serve the daily convenience shopping needs of individual neighborhoods. The next level of commercial land use is community commercial. Community commercial uses provide products and services to the community as a whole. Regional commercial uses provide products and services to customers beyond the City's boundaries as well as to the community as a • whole. The fourth and most intensive commercial land use type is the highway commercial land use designation. These uses are primarily oriented to the pass-through auto user and include fast food restaurants, gas stations, and auto accessory stores. They typically generate relatively high traffic levels and should be located along arterial roadways. There is a very limited number of pure office uses in Mounds View. Office uses are typically found in light industrial business park buildings. Existing office uses are small one story professional buildings. Additional office buildings could be an important way to expand the City's tax base and provide additional high quality jobs with potentially less impact on adjacent neighborhoods and roadways than with commercial uses. Goal 1: Commercial development along County Highway 10 shall be considered in order to provide a broad tax base and expanded employment base in Mounds View. Goal 2: Provide safe, convenient, attractive, and accessible commercial development within Mounds View. Goal 3: Major retail sales and services will be developed in planned and concentrated centers. Goal 4: Maintain small neighborhood commercial areas, located in accordance with the comprehensive plan in locations that will best serve residential areas. S Page 6 Industrial Land Use & Goals 4110 The primary industrial area in Mounds View is located in the southeast corner of the City generally in the area of the intersection of County Highway 10 and Interstate 35W. The Mounds View Business Park provides a major portion of the industrial uses in the community. The business park is developed with the exception of a site on County Highway 10 at the west end of the business park which is projected for a future building expansion. In addition there are vacant sites and single family residential uses at the southwest quadrant of the intersection of County Highway 10 and Woodale Drive where future business park expansion could occur. Redevelopment of older industrial and commercial buildings along the north side of County Road H west of County Highway 10 for light industrial use should also be considered. Long term future industrial expansion should also be considered for the current Townsedge Terrace Manufactured Home Park and the adjacent Skyline Motel site along Old Highway 8. Goal 1: Industrial development shall be considered in order to provide a broad tax base and an expanded employment base within Mounds View. Goal 2: Ensure that industrial development is compatible with adjacent land uses and is accommodated without destroying desirable environmental features and natural amenities. Existing Future Change Land Use Category Acres Percent Acres .Percent ent Acres Percent ent • \ \ A /II \ fiVIINY i . ijt Residential 1,327.87 50.36% 1318.86 50.01% -9.01 -0.34% j.... .. ... :y' Yr...>iK 1:1'�'i3�J.,.`: a::fA:o..N``z c�;,: ulf .L.. afau.'.;'. :.......?>:>»>:ryL'kiiii' :''::".' »K<"u" ... ..:.'::. „6N.J»>. f.�:Za'.o.>i. >»G �C,).+:�,j�: f`� 4 0�>. k> ...f :.»>:.::......> .h �4o:::i:.:tKKy9,>,.:. i"') .' A��k�.ii:.», .i ''`X: c Commercial 76.38 2.90% 112.69 4.27% 36.31 1.38% �. `l� T+ +Ji 3:.»:<4::�f1 t. , ...:.��,,.:.:�:::: . ... : \. „+..::•,fi%ice.�E::::i>:.i;t n . ..,:.,,,. , rl Industrial 184.97 7.01% 223.52 8.48%amp,x :h: 38.55 1.46% - ,f�ii itiMng Institutional 89.57 3.40% 89.45 3.39% -0.12 0.00% mak..+ .y:.,.::: ..,.,. .:...� �\�\+,.<..... Recreational and Open Space 308.28 11.69% 313.87 11.90% 5.59 0.21% : : .... .......::.:.::.::.:.. ...�..�\.. .:.:;..�..:::...:..:,:,:i:::o-:.+,fid f.\.. ii>:.:,: ,\\\ l :*"?•^.r.M Utilities and Streets 578.57 21.94% 578.57 21.94% 0 0.00% ::.�., ,: 1,i k�> _ .ems»� '., iaWM Vacant 71.32 2.70% 0.0...0 0.00% -71.32....... -2.70%.70 % 1q, r11 : t • :yr1h .•/ 1Cl , » : \/ , Wng TOTAL 2,636.96 100.00% 2636.96 100.00% 0.00 0.00% S Page 7 Future Land Use Plan • The map on page 17 represents the proposed future land use plan for the City of Mounds View. The land use plan acknowledges that Mounds View is a fully developed community and emphasizes the need to maintain and enhance the existing land use pattern. It must be emphasized that this plan is general in nature and that each specific development proposal should be reviewed by the community to ensure compatibility with existing built environment and with the City's goals and policies. The map on page 18 identifies those parcels or areas that would undergo a change in proposed land use designation. Definitions The following definitions help describe each land use category: SFD: Single-Family, Detached: Single-family dwellings and platted lots. SFA: Single-Family, Attached: Land containing one or more buildings with two or more dwelling units, each of which has primary ground floor access to the outside and which are attached to each other by party walls without openings. Examples include two family dwellings, three family dwellings, town homes, and town home outlots. MF: Multifamily: Land containing one or more buildings with three or more dwelling units, one or more of which does not have primary access to the outside and which are attached to each other by party walls without openings. Examples include fourplexes, apartments, cooperatives, and condominiums. • MHP: Manufactured Housing Park: Land that has been planned, improved, and subdivided for the placement of manufactured housing for dwelling purposes. NC: Neighborhood Commercial: Neighborhood commercial uses would typically be located in a predominantly residential area. Examples would include small, detached retail establishments, neighborhood shopping centers, convenience grocery stores (not supermarket), Laundromat (self service washing and drying), professional offices, day care centers, and barber/beauty shops. CC: Community Commercial: Land use principally engaged in the provision of goods or services with a primary service to the community. Such uses would typically be located in a small commercial/retail center. Examples would include community shopping center, retail, service oriented businesses, funeral homes,banks, savings and loans, restaurants and/or bars,veterinary clinics, and day care centers. RC: Regional Commercial: Land use principally engaged in the provision of goods and services with a primary service area of 10 or more miles. Regional commercial uses would typically be located in or near a large commercial/retail center. Examples would include nurseries, full line department stores, supermarkets, regional shopping centers, parking structures and lots, theaters, lodge halls, restaurants, hotels and motels, and amusement parks,and sport/public assembly facilities. HC: Highway Commercial: Land use principally engaged in the provision of goods and services that primarily services customers attracted from a nearby major transportation arterial. Examples include hotels, motels, drive-in/fast food restaurants,gas stations, car washes, and automotive service stations. OFC: Office: Land use predominantly involved in administrative, professional, or clerical services. SExamples include office buildings, medical clinics and offices, and dental offices. MU-PUD: Mixed Use - Planned Unit Development: Land containing a building or buildings with a combination of uses, including residential, commercial and/or office uses. Page 8 LI: Light Industrial: Land used primarily in the manufacture, processing, fabrication, assembly, packaging, • incidental storage, sales, and distribution of predominantly previously prepared materials, finished products or parts. Examples include greenhouses, food and drink processing plants and storage, light manufacturing and assembly, small machine and tool and die shops, flex industrial centers, mini warehouses, and research and development facilities. IN: Institutional: Land used primarily for religious, governmental, educational, social or health care facilities excluding clinics. Examples include nursing homes, private hospitals, tax exempt properties owned by federal, state, county, city or school districts, fire stations, libraries, private schools, churches, cemeteries, and monuments. HI: Heavy Industrial: Land used primarily in the manufacture and/or processing of products from large bulky predominantly raw, extracted, or hazardous materials; or use engaged in the storage of flammable, explosive, or other materials that may pose a threat to public health or safety. Examples would include foundries and heavy manufacturing plants,grain elevators, and commercial warehouses. SRO: Sport/Recreational; Outdoor: Land used primarily for public recreation activities improved with playing fields, playground or exercise equipment and associated structures. Examples include baseball fields, football/soccer fields,golf courses,golf driving ranges, and playground equipment. SRI: Sport/Recreational; Indoor: Land containing a building or buildings developed, used, and maintained primarily for recreational activities. Examples include ice arenas, indoor soccer fields, domed recreational facilities, large scale health/fitness clubs, indoor swimming pools, sport/public assembly facility. OSN: Open Space; Natural: Predominantly undeveloped or unaltered land preserved in its natural state for • environmental or aesthetic purposes. Examples include wetlands,timberlands, and nature preserves. OSP: Open Space; Passive: Land used and maintained for resource protection, amenity, or buffer, which supports unorganized public recreational activities and which may contain trails, picnic areas, and public fishing/boating docks. ROW: Right-of-Way: An area or strip of land, either public or private, on which an irrevocable right-of- passage has been recorded for the use of vehicles or pedestrians or both. Examples would include skyways, street right-of-way, sidewalks,paths, and trails. UTL: Utility: An area or strip of land, either public or private, occupied by a power plant or substation, electric transmission line, oil or gas pipeline, water tower, municipal well, reservoir, pumping station, water treatment facility, communications tower, or similar use. VAC: Vacant: Land not currently used for any defined purpose that may or may not contain buildings or other structures. WAT: Open Water: Permanently flooded open water not including wetlands, or periodically flooded areas. Examples would include lakes, streams, creeks, rivers, and ponds. 1110 Page 9 Housing Background and Goals • The City of Mounds View is a fully developed suburban community in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. Residential land uses are and will continue to be the principal land uses in Mounds View. The intent and content of Mounds View's housing element therefore is directed towards maintaining and improving the quality and diversity of the existing housing stock and providing infill housing where possible. The housing element looks at four areas as required by Metropolitan Council guidelines. These include housing goals and policies, existing housing supply, future housing needs, and housing programs that have and/or will be used to achieve the goals. Housing Goals: Goal 1: Maintain a broad and full choice of housing opportunities. Goal 2: Maintain and upgrade the existing housing stock of the City. Goal 3: Administer housing programs in an efficient and cost effective manner. Existing Housing: • A majority-71 percent—of Mounds View housing is owner occupied. The majority of the housing supply is"single family" at 55 percent. Apartments make up 25% of the housing supply while manufactured homes make up 12 percent. The remaining housing units are distributed among duplexes, fourplexes, townhomes and condos. The housing values in Mounds View continue to appreciate--the average sale price of a home in Mounds View has increased 25 percent in just two years. According to the 1990 Census, 31 percent of the housing units in Mounds View are deemed affordable. (This figure will be updated as soon as more detailed 2000 Census data is released.) The City's housing stock meets or exceeds all benchmarks established by Met Council for affordability and livability. It is a goal to maintain our housing stock within these benchmarks while attempting to improve the overall housing quality of the City. With an aging housing stock, lower valued homes, and lower income families the City will continue to have to address substandard housing. It is the goal of the City to address housing issues now before they become a bigger problem. 4111 Page 10 Public Facilities • The public facilities of a city include those lands, buildings, services and systems that are provided on a public and semipublic basis in the interest of, or as a benefit to its residents. The importance of these facilities should not be underestimated because they enhance the image and quality of life of a community. Mounds View's public facilities are in place. The focus of the public facilities element is on the maintenance and improvement of the existing facilities in Mounds View. Goal 1: Plan public facilities and services in a coordinated and economic manner on a basis that is consistent with the nature of development within the community. Goal 2: Ensure the provision and maintenance of facilities and services necessary to meet the needs and interests of the community. Goal 3: Cooperate with other units of government to provide facilities that are complementary to each other. Goal 4: Ensure adequate distribution of and provide for safe, easy access to all facilities and services within the community. Goal 5: Minimize public investments in storm drainage, water supply, and sanitary sewer. Goal 6: Improve, maintain and redevelop parks and open space to serve neighborhood and community needs. Utilities The City's water system includes one 500,000 gallon elevated storage tank, a two million gallon reservoir, and six wells. Mounds View pumps an average of 1.5 million gallons of water per day. The system has adequate capacity to handle its needs into the foreseeable future. There are two regional sewer interceptor sewer lines and a lift station operated by the Metropolitan Council. Treatment occurs at the Metropolitan Waste Water Treatment Plant. The Mounds View sanitary sewer system consists of municipal sewer mains, force mains and four lift stations. According to Metropolitan Council estimates total sewer flows will rise from current flows of 535 million gallons per year to between 579 and 767 million gallons per year. The system has adequate capacity to handle existing and potential future development. The City of Mounds View has an active program to reduce excessive inflow and infiltration(I/I) of its sanitary sewer system. The City's Public Works Department annually performs cleaning and televised inspection of approximately one quarter of the wastewater system. Noted during these inspections are offset joints, cracks in pipes, and leaking manholes. At least $30,000 is budgeted annually to seal these leaks. It is anticipated that future street reconstruction projects will result in either new sanitary sewer mains the installation of in-place linings. The City Council has reviewed a sump pump inspection program and will likely initiate a project in the near future. Page 11 Transportation Plan & Goals • The roadway system in Mounds View is in place. The system consists of state and county roads that function as principal and minor arterials and county and city roads which function as collector and local roads. County Highway 10 runs diagonally through the middle of Mounds View and has historically been viewed as a barrier in the community. The jurisdiction of County Highway 10 was turned back from the state (MnDOT) to Ramsey County in 2000. While the City of Mounds View acknowledges the importance of the County Highway 10 corridor for moving traffic, the City has determined that there is an excessive amount of right-of-way being maintained for County Highway 10. The City will develop a design theme to enhance the image of the County Highway 10 corridor and work with the county to implement it. The City will also work with Ramsey County to develop a plan that makes more efficient use of the right-of-way in the future when County Highway 10 is reconstructed. The emphasis in the future on local roads will be on road maintenance and replacement as necessary. Emphasis will also be placed on minimizing traffic levels as necessary in residential neighborhoods. In 1992, the City adopted a resolution establishing a comprehensive trailways system policy to help promote safe bicycling in the city and to provide a trailway system that connects recreational opportunities within the community and provides a link between Ramsey and Anoka counties and to neighboring cities' trail systems. The City will need to identify preferred future trail and pathway locations and construct them over time to provide recreational opportunities and a safe alternative travel mode to the automobile. • Goal 1: Develop a balanced surface transportation system giving attention to all modes and related facilities. Goal 2: Identify needed improvements to the various elements of the transportation system to provide for safe and convenient movement by all modes. Goal 3: Provide sufficient off-street parking to meet normal demands of land uses. Goal 4: Support the development of a transit system that provides a broad range of transit service options to provide an alternative to individual automobile travel. Goal 5: Plan, implement, and maintain a comprehensive trail system to provide safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycle circulation and to provide recreational opportunities for Mounds View residents. Goal 6: Coordinate all City transportation planning with County, Metropolitan Council, State, Federal, I-35W Corridor Coalition, and other local transportation plans. Goal 7: All elements of the street system shall be planned, improved, and maintained according to the most appropriate standards, giving due consideration to both land use and transportation goals and policies. Goal 8: Develop and implement a County Highway 10 corridor design theme to present 110 Mounds View as an attractive and desirable community. Page 12 Community Economic Development Goals • The redevelopment or expansion of an existing business, new commercial or industrial development, or residential housing will be considered even if it involves the possible acquisition, demolition or relocation of an existing business or residential homes. The redevelopment or expansion of an existing business, or new commercial or industrial development, or residential housing will be considered if a reasonable opportunity for public input has been provided, particularly by those business owners and homeowners who could potentially be affected. Whether or not such parties support (or, at a minimum, do not oppose) any proposed redevelopment, expansion, new development or new project will be one of the more important factors in determining the City's position with respect to any such proposal. In the final analysis, the City's goal will be to determine whether the actual or potential benefits to the City (from any such proposal) outweigh the actual or potential negative impacts on individuals, businesses or the community as a whole. The City will actively market itself to selected target audiences as a prime location for specific types of businesses and industries. In order to continuously refine and review its objectives as economic conditions and realities change, the City (through the EDC and/or the EDA) will annually update its list of targeted businesses and industries. Although the City will respond in a timely and businesslike manner to all requests for information about the City's suitability as a business location, City staff members will focus their attention on those requests that come from businesses of the type that appear on the City's target list. In light of the increasing mobility of businesses in general, the City's future economic development efforts will focus on retaining existing businesses and industries in the community, in some cases by helping to create circumstances under which they can expand to meet their customers needs and/or their own desire to grow and prosper financially. Given the fact that the City is almost fully developed, and in order to improve the City's tax base and improve the City's visual aesthetics, the City also intends to devote significant attention to redeveloping aging, obsolete, blighted or otherwise underdeveloped structures. Additionally, the City will explore the opportunities that are presented by the few remaining parcels of undeveloped property. In some cases this may involve assisting the owners of such parcels with the marketing of their properties to prospective developers. Economic Development Goals Goal 1. Retain existing businesses that make positive contributions to the local economy. Goal 2. Provide a reasonable and prudent level of assistance (financial or otherwise) to enable existing businesses to expand their operations and/or facilities in Mounds View. Goal 3. Attract new commercial and industrial development. Goal 4. Encourage the development of new office space, warehouse space and retail operations that will enable Mounds View to offer services, facilities and goods that are not presently available or short supply. Page 13 Goal 5. Pursue the redevelopment of parcels and sites that are aesthetically displeasing, contaminated, blighted, abandoned, or otherwise underdeveloped. • Goal 6. Facilitate communications between and among the City, Ramsey County, local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, local educational institutions, and any other parties or entities having a direct or indirect interest in the continued economic prosperity of Mounds View. Goal 7. The City will continually develop and review more specific priorities in order to provide guidance to City staff, business owners, developers, and residents with respect to intended areas of concentration(geographic and otherwise). • • Page 14 Implementation 1111 The Mounds View Comprehensive Plan is a policy document. The plan is not a law or ordinance but is meant to be a flexible guide. For this plan to be effective, an implementation plan must be developed to outline specific actions that the City will take to reach the goals and achieve the vision that the plan sets out for the City. The following outlines the actions the City will take to implement this plan. Land Use: 1. The City will review its current zoning map to determine if inconsistencies exist with the adopted comprehensive plan map. The City will process rezonings as necessary to remove inconsistencies. 2. The City will also review its City codes including zoning, subdivision, and housing codes to address inconsistencies with the comprehensive plan and to assist in its implementation. 3. Develop and adopt a specific land use plan for the County Highway 10 corridor. 4. Update, adopt, and implement a second-generation storm water management (watershed) plan. Housing: 1. Continue existing housing programs and develop new programs to improve all aspects of the housing stock in Mounds View. 2. Work with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and other funding agencies to fund programs to maintain existing housing stock and provide new housing. 3. Maintain the housing stock within Metropolitan Council Livable Community benchmarks. 4. Continue to work with the North Metro I-35W Corridor Coalition on housing issues. 5. Explore opportunities for providing"move up" and life-cycle housing. 6. Work with the Metropolitan Airports Commission to provide noise attenuation for residences impacted by airplane noise. Public Facilities: 1. Maintain existing facilities. 2. Continually evaluate programs to insure that they meet the needs of Mounds View citizens. 3. Maintain water and sanitary sewer system infrastructure. • Page 15 Transportation • 1. Maintain and reconstruct streets as necessary and consistent with the City's streets policy. 2. Work with Ramsey County to develop a plan for the future reconstruction of Highway 10. 3. Work with the Metropolitan Council Transit Organization to improve transit service in Mounds View. 4. Encourage the use of transit and travel demand management techniques within the community. 5. Implement the City's trailways plan. 6. Support compliance with the Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release entered into on May 15, 2000, by and between the City of Mounds View, Metropolitan Airports Commission, and Metropolitan Council that limits the runway length of the north-south runway to its current length of 4855 feet and prohibits the installation or operation of an Instrument Landing System or Microwave Landing System on the north-south runway. Support continued classification by the Minnesota Legislature of the Anoka County-Blaine Airport as a "minor use airport" and oppose any proposals to expand the definition or characteristics of a "minor use airport", including but not limited to runway length, of minor use airports. Economic Development: 1. Update and implement the City's Economic Development Plan. P P Y p Intergovernmental Coordination: 1. Continue to work with other governmental agencies and private companies to more efficiently and cost effectively provide desired city services. 2. Continue to participate in the North Metro I-35W Corridor Coalition. Other: 1. Annually assess progress in implementing the comprehensive plan and to identify any issues that may require plan amendments. 2. Formally review the comprehensive plan every five years to ensure that it remains current. 3. Develop more effective methods of communicating with Mounds View residents and businesses. • Page 16 61EIRO E6111 • .. startribune.cam Published Sunday,June 10,2001 Legislative plan would have major impact on subsidized projects Mike Kaszuba and Dan Wascoe Jr. / Star Tribune The remaking of the Mermaid Supper Club, a landmark in Mounds View since the 1960s, was going to be a $10 million deal with a hefty public subsidy until the Legislature came along. Now the project is in limbo as state lawmakers debate tax changes that could have far-reaching effects on how tax-increment financing works. The Mermaid's large electronic message board on Hwy. 10 promises a new 500- seat convention center in October and a hotel in December. But owner Dan Hall • knows that years of planning may be unraveling. "I've got my neck out on the line," he said. The Mermaid is one of several about-to-be-built projects that could lose subsidies through the dramatic change contemplated for the state's property tax system. The Minnesota Historical Society's Mill City Museum and accompanying office complex on the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis is another, as is the $161 million Upper Landings residential village planned near downtown St. Paul. Two weeks ago, the Minneapolis Community Development Agency, the city's development arm, told the City Council that the impact from the proposed legislative changes to tax-increment subsidies ranged from "damaging to devastating." Should the changes be enacted, the impact on the use of tax-increment subsidies would be indirect, but significant. • Completed projects built with subsidies would generate less tax money than • cities and bond holders expected. New projects -- such as the Mermaid -- might p not get built at all. The changes would result from Gov. Jesse Ventura's plan to have the state essentially take over education funding, which would lower local property taxes on all buildings; and from a separate reduction in property-tax rates on commercial-industrial properties. The Minnesota Historical Society's director told legislators recently that the changes would create a $4 million funding gap for the long-planned eight-story building to be built within the ruins of the historic Washburn Crosby Mill on the banks of the Mississippi. "It would require totally rethinking the project," said director Nina Archabal. For the first year, analysts have put the loss of property-tax money from tax- increment projects statewide at more than $130 million. House leaders have offered $195 million in grants to help cities make up the loss. Some observers • fear the grant money won't be enough, considering that many of the 2,103 tax- increment districts and 436 Minnesota cities that use the subsidy might need to be bailed out. "The problem, of course, is we don't know how much we need," said Andrea Stearns, a lobbyist for the League of Minnesota Cities. "The problem may be much worse five years down the road." Others don't share Stearns' alarm. "It's the old saying, 'If you build a house of cards, should you blame the wind?" said Lyle Wray, executive director of the Citizens League, a non-profit group that has criticized what it sees as the too-liberal granting of subsidies. How it works Tax-increment financing is popular with developers because some of their costs are shifted to taxpayers. It's popular with city officials because some of the subsidy costs are shifted indirectly to taxpayers statewide. • When a city designates an area as a tax-increment district, the property taxes generated by new development there are used to payoff the public debt incurred p to improve those areas -- expenses a developer otherwise would pay. That means the additional tax revenue -- the increment -- doesn't go into the general funds of cities, counties and school districts. Cities sometimes keep the districts in place for as long as legally possible -- up to 25 years -- funneling tax revenue beyond what is needed for debt repayment into other projects favored by city officials. General taxpayers are left with a higher bill than they would pay if the special districts had not been established. "City authorities have looked on districts as cash cows [for favored projects] and have delayed paying off the obligations and putting them back on the tax rolls," said state Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope. Each year, Rest and her legislative colleagues also confront the fact that these subsidies shift some costs from particular cities to the rest of the state. That's because the state uses income and sales taxes to compensate school districts when part of their claim on local property taxes is diverted to pay for development. According to House figures, the state has paid more than $1.4 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars for such compensation since 1974. Hollowed tax bases Rep. Ron Abrams, R-Minnetonka, has challenged what he considers the abuse of the subsidy. Abrams, who heads the House Committee on Taxes, said the technique is "a perfectly acceptable vehicle in certain circumstances" such as preparing land for affordable housing or attracting a development that is "too big to fail." But too often, Abrams said, the subsidy has become "a garden-variety development tool that developers ask for on the way in." By going along, cities are "hollowing out the tax base," Abrams said. Minneapolis has used the subsidy more than any other city in terms of total dollars, according to the Citizens League. In 1999, Minneapolis had 14 percent of its tax base in such districts, compared to 8 percent in St. Paul and 6.2 percent statewide. Advocates of the subsidies -- such as Jim Prosser, former city manager of Richfield and now a consultant -- say incentives are needed to stimulate redevelopment before urban decay makes the job too difficult. Subsidies provide "a leveling of the playing field so that developers are able to buy the land [in older cities and suburbs] at close to what vacant land would be" in a less-developed area, Prosser said. The Legislature's attempts to restrict cities' use of subsidies are softened by regular exceptions. In early April, a parade of legislators and officials from Waseca, Medford, St. Louis Park, Wayzata and elsewhere sought exceptions. Before one hearing, a legislator familiar with such hard-luck pitches asked a colleague, "Did you bring the Golden Strings?" Joel Michael, a Minnesota House researcher, said the law is more restrictive on • subsidies than it was in the early 1980s. But Minnesota is "still wide open compared to other states," he said. The churning of laws and regulations has produced a labyrinth of rules whose application depends on when a district was created. That creates a market for consultants who know the ins and outs of the laws. "There's a whole industry built into this," said Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, who has repeatedly failed to win approval for a bill preventing the formation of new subsidy districts. "It seems no matter what type of restrictions we put on, there's always some creative consultant out there that finds a way around them," Rest said. Staff librarian Linda Scheimann contributed to this report. --Mike Kaszuba is at mkaszuba@startribune.corn ©Copyright 2001 Star Tribune.AU rights reserved. • .- a ......, ?A. ' .4'.1 • t . i 0 V a 1 ell t% el . , Rettl* ti0111 ri• lit "' „4, .4 al'ilis , , .. .. Oli , ...„ to, . * Ai Stir IIP if- e.- . .04t., mt opt .000.,„,,iir, 40,00000* ...t. v,if \ ' •-• 11, . .. t, Af*k lilt , - A • ,, * A i , ..- , -. ft* . .. f.4: .4. ,01 I' t k„ ' ,, . , .,., .. ' ...4,1'' 1, or r',e, 0.•.,:'''4"." '' 4. 0 ,- . .. .7. ,,•:'''' 1 ; ‘ittiati t gaild '. 4,. 1tts(ttlite Ten Principles for Reing America 's Suburban Strips •ichael D. Beyard Michael Pawlukiewicz Bankof America, • The Urban Land Institute gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Bank of America in underwriting this project. 40 About ULI-the Urban ULI Project Staff Land Institute Rachelle L. Levitt ULI-the Urban Land Institute is a nonprof- Senior Vice President, Policy and Practice it education and research institute that is Publisher supported by its members. Its mission is Michael D. Beyard to provide responsible leadership in the Senior Resident Fellow, Retail and use of land in order to enhance the total Entertainment Development environment. Project Director ULI sponsors education programs and Marta Goldsmith forums to encourage an open international Vice President, Land Use Policy exchange of ideas and sharing of experi- ences; initiates research that anticipates Michael Pawlukiewicz emerging land use trends and issues and Director, Environmental Policy proposes creative solutions based on that Hresearch; provides advisory services; and Nancy r, Stewart publishes a wide variety of materials to Director, Book Program • disseminate information on land use and Editor development. Established in 1936, the Betsy VanBuskirk Institute today has more than 16,000 Art Director members and associates from more than Book/Cover Design, Layout 50 countries representing the entire spectrum of the land use and develop- Diann Stanley Austin ment disciplines. Director, Publishing Operations Richard M. Rosan Ronnie Van Alstyne President Executive Assistant Recommended bibliographic listing: Beyard,Michael D.,and Michael Pawlukiewicz. Ten Principles for Reinventing America's Suburban Strips. Washington,D.C.: ULI-the Urban Land Institute,2001. ULI Catalog Number: R35 International Standard Book Number: 0-87420-877-7 Copyright 2001 by ULI-the Urban Land Institute 1025 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W. Suite 500 West Washington, D.C. 20007-5201 ill Printed in the United States of America.All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, Cover photograph: Post Riverside, Atlanta, including photocopying and recording,or by any information storage and retrieval system,without Georgia; Steve Hinds Photography; courtesy written permission of the publisher. of Post Properties, Inc.. ,, atrticiants p Forum Chair Planners/Urban Designers/ Market Analysts A. Eugene Kohn Architects John Gosling President Jonathan Barnett Vice President, Director of Planning and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates Professor Urban Design New York, New York The University of Pennsylvania RTKL Associates, Inc. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Forum Director Michael D. Beyard David Leland Michael Pawlukiewicz Senior Resident Fellow, Retail and Managing Director Director, Environmental Research Entertainment Development Leland Consulting Group ULI-the Urban Land Institute ULI-the Urban Land Institute Portland, Oregon Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. g Anita B. Morrison Developers Geoffrey Booth Principal Nick Javaras Director, Retail Bay Area Economics Executive Vice President Policy and Practice Silver Spring, Maryland Sales and Marketing ULI-the Urban Land Institute Location net Washington, D.C. lirsalito, California Joseph E. Brown enneth H. Hughes President and CEO President EDAW, Incorporated UC Urban San Francisco, California Dallas, Texas Bruce Leonard Tom Sineni Consultant President Starwood Urban Investments, LLC United Commercial Realty Washington, D.C. San Antonio, Texas Transportation Engineers Public Sector Robert T. Dunphy Con Howe Senior Resident Fellow, Transportation Director of Planning ULI-the Urban Land Institute City of Los Angeles, Planning Department Washington, D.C. Los Angeles, California William R. Eager Michael Dobbins President Commissioner TDA Inc. Planning, Development, and Neighborhood Seattle, Washington Conservation Herbert S. Levinson City of Atlanta Principal Atlanta, Georgia Herbert S. Levinson Transportation Consultants New Haven, Connecticut 0 Chris Luz Associate Vice President HNTB Corporation East Lansing, Michigan iii Wire face Recently, the focus of leading-edge metropolitan planners has begun to shift from reinventing America's downtowns to reinventing its newer concentra- tions of commercial growth- its suburban strips. This shift reflects the growing success of many downtown revitalization efforts- a success based on decades of public/private partnerships, planning, investment, and development. It also rec- ognizes that the ways to revitalize downtowns now are largely agreed upon. The shift of focus reflects a further reality. Current patterns of growth and development along America's suburban commercial strips are unsustainable. The aggregate effects of well-performing commercial developments that are geographically close but not physically integrated are becoming untenable. As problems increase in older suburban corridors, and as consumer shopping patterns change, the future of strip development is becoming less certain. Increasingly, suburbanites are calling for a greater sense of community and convenience in their lives, and the Urban Land Institute believes that these • demands challenge the continuing competitiveness and sustainability of aging suburban strips. To this end, it has developed ten smart growth principles to help suburban strips evolve in ways that meet the market demands of the new economy, the new consumer, and the new face of retailing. While suburban strips often represent incredible economic vitality- they are, after all, the places where most Americans shop- they are terra incognito in terms of understanding the ways they are evolving, the forces that are buffeting them, the shapes they are taking, and the roles they will play in the new ,''' economy. They have largely been { ignored as places for serious study, and .a' their fate usually has been left to the marketplace with few models of how future growth should be channeled and I 'ate, ` coordinated comprehensively to make ' , communities more livable. 0,1 What we do know about suburban ' . _ i strips is apparent to anyone who visits them: typically, they are one- dimensional forms of development that lack a distinct sense of place or ocommunity and that increasingly are a , `, R k plagued by problems to do with frag- iv ` ^ 0 .�,. ,��- � mentation, cong85tion, inconvenience, inefficiency, USterk}rat|nn, and visual blight. Created in a generally laissez-faire environment well suited to the first- ganonation' low-density scale of postwar suburbia, they are no longer suited to the denser, more complex urban context of metropolitan America. While a single automobile-oriented shopping center is easily accessible, dozens lined along the same suburban arterial are not. Consumers continue to shop there, of course, but in the coming years, increasing choices will undoubtedly force majorchanges in the strip environment if they are to retain their competitive position and eco- nomic vitality. Already the new face of retailing is beginning to change the how, when, where, and why of shopping, which will have profound implications for suburban strips. Today's consumers have unprecedented options- and these options continue to increase, not only in shopping centers and stand-alone stores but also in spe- cialized |Vcations, including resurgent downtowns and suburban downtowns, new centers,wn mixed-use deve|opments, streetfront shopping, transit stops, train ilii tions and airports; off-price entertainment megamalls; and historic, cultural,sports, and entertainment districts. A common thread running through many of these options reflects an increasing connectivity to other aspects of daily life; a mix of activities; a stronger sense of community; and more attention to the anvinonment, the experience, and the enjoyment of shopping. The, m ' ye ohe' mn��t\� er|s' - . n idlimmjniu, , _ ' ~ ,� ~ .I I are in tune with what today's consumers are looking for but not finding in most suburban strips.TheodvgOtofnOnStone shopping ^/-` - ^ 'the Internet, which offers con- ^ through venience, competitiveprices, and wide selection of merchandise, inoroao eythe pressure even more for changes " ` II /�int� s�ip ��mn�� si�et� S�p ~ �iL ' ` ' �� � ' "/^ � �� ~ ~ . has offered these same �enants - ' � /:1� , ^although �`less efficiently. , " i o ^ . built market, increasingly populated by --"le_ '' . _ ^ ....az--7--;7 + sophisticated shoppers with better ) '"^ options, the competitive position of " strip centers will graduallybaeuoUad - less there issignificant rethinking -0 their role, a repositioning of their fer|ngs and a restructuring of their �-ft�r . _'''- layoutto reflect the more ~. ' m physical � . < ..,%, . m NI 1 | ` -�a� mature nature of the communities that surround them. This erosion will not hap- pen overnight, but to the extent that convenience disappears from the strip, the changes will be hastened. As part of its mission to examine cutting-edge issues and propose creative solu- tions for improving the quality of land use and development, the Urban Land Institute sponsored a charrette on smart growth solutions leading off a series of forums seeking solutions to specific land use and growth management problems. The goal of these forums is to find ways to accommodate growth that enhance the economy, protect the environment, and preserve and improve a community's quality of life. During three days of intensive study of three strips in the Washinoton. D.C., metropolitan area, teams of planning and development experts from around the country toured and studied three very different suburban strips. The teams were made upofleading commercial developers, public planners, architects, economic consultants, transportation specialists, and advisers.pnopekxd The three strips were chosen as representative of different prototypes of subur- bon commercial environments. Rockville Pike in Montgomery County, Maryland, is a booming, mature strip plagued by legendary traffic congestion; the Route 1 corridor in Fairfax County, Virginia, represents an older deteriorating strip bypassed by the market; and Route 301 in Charles County, Maryland, represents an emerg- ing exurban strip facing first-generation development pressures. merg'ingexurbanstT|pfnoingfimt'genenetiundeve|opnlentpnessures. ULI believes that the lessons learned from these very diverse strips can be applied to strips in every city in America. ULI teams were assigned to each strip and given the following tasks: to identify the critical issues and challenges that strips face; to determine the most effec- tive ways to reinvent strips to ensure their long-term competitive position; and to set strategic principles to guide suburban planners and developers in this effort. These principles were consolidated and refined byth� thn�� t�»mssothat they could be applied universally to all types of suburban strip development. ULI had the support and participation of the three county governments in whose jurisdictions the strips were located. Each provided detailed briefing books, pre- sented background information, and led tours of their strips. A presentation out- |ining the teams'findings and recommendations was made in Washington, D.C., on June 2, 2000. to county officials, dove|opers, and other invited guests. en Principles Ignite Leadership and Nurture Partnership Anticipate Evolution • Know the Market Prune Back Retail-Zoned Land E Establish Pulse Nodes of Development • o Tame the Traffic • Create the Place El3 Diversify the Character • Eradicate the Ugliness 0 Put Your Money (and Regulations) Where Your Policy Is • 0.,, ,, ,,,,t,, Ignite Leadershipand 0 ... Nurture Partnership , , , Local government and the business community, working together, must cre- ate a smart growth partnership to envision what they want their strips to become, to construct strategies for achieving their vision, and to develop detailed plans for implementing the changes that are needed to accommodate growth. To be successful, partnerships must include individual citizens, local interest groups, landowners, shopping center representatives, retail and residen- tial tenants, and local planning and economic development agencies. Public and private leaders must encourage the stakeholders to debate alterna- tives to their strips and decide how they should evolve. Too often, stakeholders have difficulty seeing beyond what currently exists and envisioning alternatives that would create a more livable environment. Strong leadership and imagina- tion are required to motivate them to move ahead, recognizing that suburban strips are immature forms of development that can be improved as they grow. Successful partnerships to reinvent suburban strips require the creation of formal • planning and management entities that are subordinate to but separate from the governmental agencies responsible for the larger community or county. Such management entities need to take over "ownership" of a strip and manage its future. The public/private entity should be a nonprofit development corporation, a business improvement district, or a combination of the two. As it directs the reinvention of the strip, the entity should perform the following functions: 1011111i ' ' ' ö Reach consensus, with 410k , Jr the active participation of color :iiir the public and private .: ' ,, stakeholders, on the corn ' INmunity's vision of what . .. f r,tl Y% LW •.:. the strip should become; • ■ Participate in the �: development and redevel- opment of the strip con- y sistent with the partner- „_ . , -,.. "-I ship's vision; ' `+ Il Acquire, assemble, and Nov parcel out land to permit 3.. new forms of infill devel- w opment; 0 2 11/0 • Coordinate and participate in real estate development and infrastructure financing; • Coordinate actions of public agencies that are responsible for government services; • Stay on top of traffic issues and manage parking efficiently so that its pres- ence does not dominate the landscape; • Keep a steady hand on security 0 matters and monitor and correct securi- •4,h 0 ' (ill D a 1-- F-- ty problems as they arise; z I 1) I. III Coordinate the collection and I iiir f 0 z dissemination of market, economic, 1 • i ,- i- ..1' social, demographic, and traffic ' u, data and information to prospective vestors, developers, retailers, con- ilk mers, and public agencies; and • r'.1• Asc, 1111r o w , ..._....,.. • Handle marketing and promotion. c Nig 1 - I. reet .....,„. .4 - - -It a r Ida k.. 4. e. „,irr:ist m. it wriu,t ; w ii 0 . wilimit -4-ett it „ , ils i teit 1111. . • ... - ' 11 CC , , i z i It' A i , . in ak i to > ., • i'', 4 -7 11 ilk . ... , ,,,., . .., , 0 w u. 3 --, . ,, • A ticipate Evolution What worked in the past may not work in the future. Although end-to-end shopping centers have become the norm along many suburban arterials, no one seriously believes that this format represents the most convenient, liv- able, or efficient long-term arrangement. What then should the evolving pattern of strip development look like in the coming decades? The retail environment is changing rapidly as it looks for ways to stand out in a crowded marketplace and meet the expectations of increasingly sophisticated and jaded consumers. Intense competition from new shopping destinations and the threat posed by nonstore shopping alternatives have retailers constantly looking for new formats, innovative combinations of stores and entertainment, mixed uses, and unusual retail environ- . 4 4111 - . _ i ments and experiences. Increasingly, -4'• ` ` ,� i6 retail development is reconnecting . j . V, " with the larger community around it, kB s " 4 , becoming integrated into a total desti- "' i / ,,; nation where people can participate _ t, .� even when they are not shopping. ` 4, 1-0,,. •• i :4 9 ''''4104/'"'"1 . These fundamental chanes are being °a >' driven by market demographics that . •` ` are evolving as rapidly as the retail environment. The population is aging. At the same time, younger people -‹ f m; remain single longer, or many choose ,, ,. a single lifestyle or single parenthood. ' ,, , Those who marry tend to choose a two-career and two-income standard of " living. And increased immigration, with - tYmany new people from diverse cultural backgrounds, is resulting in more cos- k mopolitan expectations. In response to Z this demographic sea change, retailing can be expected to take on a new face 00 in place of the freestanding retail strips that were designed for a differ- ent time and a different consumer. i . 1 x The new face of retailing will not & ,t appear overnight. However, as land 8 = values, densities, and congestion 4 „,, „, ,. ..,41,4,..; f#,..,,,,,,,, t1„, � � ,,,,,,, • , ist, „4„,;„;,„,. .,., .ra q�+ �i.;•-:,, .,',..A',,,*:. - k izt lie , , _,,,,e,,,z, t. C . 7_ .. t.,‘„i„:.„4,.,,,, 4,4 , .„ . i , ,..4",...„,,, ,. .„.„r, 1 i air,,, ,a: I 4, 4, , )401.i.„ .„ ,... „,„,,.. ,,,.. , ,, , ' a 4, ,._.,..t, ,... 0 t @ 4 fir increase along suburban strips, pres- sures gradually will mount for new , OM development patterns and land uses to .. . -4. '„. , accommodate these changes. What can •, , 0„.,.„4�.,, suburban strips do to anticipate this evolution and keep pace with market o ..x ,!:::),1.."7:„:::, 1 • demands? Z y# , . r F • • Be ready to respond to changing •''�:,:,.'; x` .r, consumer preferences. For example, Z .',�,`..„1;::::,* town centers currently are on the rise, > .'r,�►,r . J y and there is a growing interest in streetfront retail in pedestrian-friendly, > d , t f' walkable settings. • Adapt the strip to emerging life- les. Today, there is growing interest - mixing residential and retail uses in 4 well-designed environments. Mixed-use '� - I 1 t projects can provide an attractive, con- _ { i. ' ., • venient, and stylish setting for resi- _:� ° �t '- dents and a captive market for retailers. ” f � i, ,i I ( ” t ;'w"-°-aF- ■ Provide a sense of community by , 7 t Z developing public gathering places, a ` _ , I more livable environment, and more .: 1-1,,-, °o convenience in daily life. This will }" , 0 require new types of housing products such as residential clusters, patio homes, zero-lot-line homes, and residences over shops. • Make new amenities available along the strip such as parks, recreational oppor- tunities, entertainment and cultural activities, public services, and dining out. ■ As new community trends emerge, adopt measures to prevent the strip from becoming obsolete with out-of-date retail concepts and products. 4111 5 'a w Ithe Market -, . :, ,,„, ,,, ,„..,,.; .* „..., ,,, 1 AII strips are not created equal. Each is at a different point in an evolution- ary continuum that leads over time from a single low-density strip center to a complex mix of strip malls, power centers, regional malls, community cen- ters, stand-alone big-box stores, and other commercial activities. In some cases, this process is short-circuited by more competitive locations or changing demo- graphics. Some strips stop growing, deteriorate, and never reach their anticipat- ed potential. Specific solutions for an individual strip will vary widely 0/!1111. 11121depending upon the market; what will work in one type of '4strip may not be possible in another. Suburban strips with- -� == out regional access will most likely reflect the demograph- {k-110,,,:,,0„ ics of the immediate trade area today and in the future, x A - while those with regional access generally will serve multi- 1 ple markets and have the potential to provide a more diverse retail mix in terms of product offerings and price z points. An understanding of which markets are accessible col and a realistic view of how these markets can best be 0 '. .I ), s= rt ' g served should guide revitalization and development plans. " ` Planning for the future of a suburban strip requires that a community know its market and understand its unique potential. The following assessment should be made: r ii,,. . ' - . J, '0 F i "VIM 11., 110. , ../If it , lie ,.:...., Ili l Ill r 1 i 091 I , . 7, , r0, :,,,:; ','r !t_ ?yt.. ,,118:0 4-. l'f 1)4 'r ... a fir 1 • .. • , j . ____ - O t 7 3 0 N 6 # .1€ '7.4 -%',',-"0", ;,..,1 ir m a 4fitki , 41 ■ Identify the strip's trade area. ).. N ... ■ Determine the specific market forces at work where the -, strip is located. z ‘ o • Determine a realistic assessment of where the strip fits in the overall retail continuum, i.e., its level of maturity in z the marketplace relative to other retail destinations, and \ = i. the amount and nature of the competition. v o 0 • Determine the shopping patterns of the market and set , o ti reasonable expectations about how they are likely to evolve. ` 8 ■ Recognize that different types of arterials serve different types of markets, and be prepared to serve those markets that your arterial serves best. • Build on the position that the Different Markets: strip holds in the regional hierarchy of Different Demand retail locations, and be reasonable about what is economically feasible, which will change over time. • Recognize that a corridor will '` likely be composed of many distinct — V 1 neighborhoods with different popula- Population .< Node tions, incomes, growth rates, and lev- Higher Income els of access. These differences should Faster Growth ' „,,,, lead to wide variations in activity and More Through-Traffic character along different parts of Multiple Land Uses the strip. Regional Draw • Understand the complex interplay between land values, densities, market "'' demographics, access, demand for dif- ferent types of retail offerings, and z the level of competition in the strip's Less Population Node 2 market area; in other words, know Lower Income . ale market! Slower Growthco 7 Less Through-Traffic o 0 c Limited Land Use Variety a Local Draw 7 676; Tort Y.t * 41t PurgeRetail-ZonedBack 3 The zoning technique used by most suburban communities is to designate everything along the arterial highway strip for commercial uses and wait for retailers and developers to gradually fill in all of the individual sites. In this type of environment, new development sprawls outward even as sites closer to the city remain vacant and older retail centers deteriorate. Retail overzoning thus has had the effect of extending strips prematurely in discontinuous and inefficient ways as developers leapfrog over one another onto sites farther and farther away from the city. When economic conditions change, as they constantly do, some strips, or parts of strips, are left to deteriorate even before they have been fully developed. This leaves them unfinished indefinitely, at risk to competition from newer and more enticing shopping environments, and difficult to revitalize because of their char- acteristic sprawl and lack of focus. By pruning back the amount of land zoned for retail, suburban communities can stimulate retail growth, encourage revitalization, and improve the quality of their shopping strips. It simply is not necessary for every major parcel along every arterial to be zoned for commercial or retail use. Suburban communities should take the ' following steps: r • Limit the quantity of commercially zoned land along emerging suburban strips to give landowners and retailers y ,- the incentive and economic strength to maintain a high-quality environment, IV? `' react more swiftly to societal trends, ,� 'o"" .• and evolve on site as the retailing world changes. * Rezone excess commercial land in older strips to encourage reinvestment �*' and improve the quality of existing retail properties. 0 0 8 5 1 ,:1'. d . Create Variety Along the Strip Single-Family .,, , r: ,.,..asResidential and ` `� Higher-Density, Open-Space Zone ,, Mixed-Use Zone ■ Scale retail-zoned land to reflect a realistic assessment A Node 1 of the size, strength, and character of the market. Lower-Density, � ' ;: Mixed-Use,and ...) . ■ Stimulate infill, new forms of mixed-use, and pedestrian- Open-Space Zone " oriented retail development on remaining retail-zoned land. a, 1 , .::-.14,',,r ■ Limit the extension of infrastructure- to prevent sprawl ' and congestion- as long as the existing infrastructure is / underused. ■ Structure zoning in mature strips to encourage denser Higher-Density, Node 2 ' ,.. forms of development that can be reached by multiple Q Mixed-Use Zone co access modes. 0 single-Family o ■ Reserve some of the previously zoned retail land for 3 Residential and 7 Open-Space Zone housing, office space, civic uses, recreational facilities, and open space. Reduce opportunities for and resist predatory behavior • on the part of competing big-box retailers and centers. qtr; • V � " 4 u:. es r JP -fir S / ittipte., 0O w Before rezoning. After rezoning. 9 • .. e r fit= s� air, taI:iSh Pulse Nodes /7r . 4 4. .,4,,..,„: , * , Development § p .._ , -., ,;::,:$ , , ,......1., 0,.. , 1 i The suburban strip has become the main street of shopping for most Ameri- cans because of its easy access to middle-class markets, its high visibility, its convenient parking, and its adaptability to large retail formats. However, strips face an enormous challenge as they try to maintain their economic vitality in a retail world now demanding environments that strips do not provide. The typical suburban strip today consists of mile after mile ' of repetitive, indistinguishable retail landscape. As a rule, ' • ' `"t, 7__. the architecture is nondescript, with little concern for design urt "• " features or cohesiveness, and it is scaled to be appreciated _ •. ° at automobile speeds. The strip reflects little, if anything, 1"O • "�" `� about the historyor culture of the place where it is located. a •..4 -+ . ,,.. , '';• There is little hierarchy of space, land use, or form; and s •.,_ -gym - rarely is there a sense of place or community to which r !- people are drawn as more than consumers. The strip typi- ,« i' : : , - cally has become an elongated one-dimensional environ- .'i . , ;# . ". , ment, often looking much the same whether it is located `` . in different parts of a metropolitan area or in different cities altogether. This is not the new face of retailing, and it puts suburban strips at risk. To restructure the retail strip environment to overcome these market negatives, "pulses" of development must be created along the length of the strip. These peak nodes of high-intensity, mixed-use residential and commercial development should be interspersed with stretches of low-intensity land uses or open space. IP p z , III III 0 - - a • I, • • Ji 3 � ' J Y F K 10 t'7 ta; P 17 . „,f&'F 'F to .- :'' ', 0 to T fi $'' 14 S n a 0 ti Pulses of development density along N aptN PIO I `Ir It' s ` I - the suburban strip will create peaks ,. - �� . ' .4— - ; and troughs of commercial activity that will pump new life into suburban strips. -- How can pulse nodes be developed? ■ Use key intersections or major transit stops to create cores of development that are unique points of reference; nodes of intense activity; and places that are friendly, attractive, and walkable- but that differ from each other in charac- ter, function, or purpose. ■ Plan and zone higher densities in these nodes of development to facilitate vertical mixed use of three or more stories and to achieve pedestrian concentra- tions that create a lively, safe, attractive, and entertaining streetscape. IN Direct public investments and site public facilities such as libraries, schools, .Itural facilities, community meeting places, and government administrative Development Pulsing nters in the higher density zones to Higher-density,mixed-use develop- ment that is integrated horizontally raise surrounding property and vertically. values, to encourage higher-value Low-and mid-rise office,multi- land uses within the zone, and to family,and neighborhood retail 410 serve as anchors and inducements development. for spinoff private investment. ■ Use the range of public Bevel- opment implementation tools such \ .- as transfer of development rights, ' business improvement districts, eminent domain, tax abatement , policies, urban design guidelines, fiCd vertical zoning, and accelerated Lower-density approval of development projects 414191attached and ;, ; single-family to achieve the "pulse points” of `k detached live/work, high-value community .�.. , ,_ residential development. 1,, residential development. z Higher-density urban core that is inte- o Parks,recreational areas,and open °III o grated vertically and horizontally and 3 contains a finer-grain street grid, space that provide amenities and a pedestrian-oriented blocks,a critical serve as buffers. mass of activity,and a sense of place. 11 'the Traffic By its nature, suburban strip development is served primarily if not exclu- sively by the automobile and occurs where traffic is greatest. Consequently, every strip must balance a certain tension between accommodating through- trips and providing access to the activities and services of the strip itself. Traffic is, of course, the lifeblood of these activities since automobiles typically provide the only way to get to the strip or to get around. But too much traffic, or poorly planned traffic, can strangle the strip, and congestion and inconven- ience will cause shoppers to avoid it and shop somewhere else. When traffic counts reach 20,000 to 30,000 or more per day, visibility of the stores will be high and merchants will be happy, but access becomes increasingly difficult, and the strip is at risk. This is the situation that many suburban strips now face. To ensure continued mobility, traffic planning and design must • resolve the inherent conflict between through-traffic and traffic • whose destination is the strip itself. In other words, traffic must be tamed and managed so that the goose that laid the golden egg • is not killed. But this means different things in different places. ■ Decide whether the main arterial road should be a seam or an edge. A seam allows speeds ranging from 30 to 35 miles per hour and has up to six lanes with a median. As the term implies, a seam has the potential to knit the community together across the arterial. An 1/2 edge, on the other hand, has eight or more lanes and speeds ranging from 45 to 55 miles per hour. It divides the community in ways that should be respected. While traffic can be tamed, within limits, along • a seam, the community should in most cases accept an edge as an edge and not try to connect or integrate land uses, urban design, or community activities on both sides of the arterial. • Do not destroy the commercial vitality of the strip by taking too much traffic off it. Whatever solutions are chosen, they must ensure continuing ease of access to the commercial developments along the strip or they will wither and die. Transportation solutions must be scaled to the specific nature of the strip and balanced to serve multiple needs and multiple markets. • Plan for traffic volume and capacity to accommodate the needs of both through- and destination traffic; neither is going to go away. Where too much • traffic and resulting conflict exist, the community must look for alternatives. Some options that might be appropriate would be separating traffic through the use of parallel local streets or frontage roads; limiting access points to commer- 12 h r z a nx .q & z to 4.4 cial development; linking parking lots; F providing turn lanes; coordinating traf- min , f fic signals; adding bus lanes, bikeways, `TM,` n�€.; �— r, . and pedestrian links; and creating tran r t isr- v '..1 sit stops. ..f �,,' a I z i Automobile Access. Convenient access i ' °lip W o 11, can make or break a strip. Too many P z curb cuts are inefficient and dangerous Q for drivers and pedestrians alike. iw t r ave Q ° • • Consolidate driveways and intercon = g nect parcels so that automobile and pedestrian movement are possible z without going out onto the arterial highway; halving the number of access points results in about a 30 percent *crease in the accident rate. ■ Use supporting road systems and frontage roads to provide opportunities for parallel movement along the corridor. • Design intersections and access points to simplify and coordinate signal sequences and to minimize congestion. ■ Limit curb cuts to avoid excessive turning motions that snarl traffic; manage this process through zoning ordinances, design requirements, or comprehensive codes. IN Install innovative turning solutions to accommodate left turns and U-turns by looping from the right median to alleviate clogged intersections. �. Wide medians; 4innovative turns. ' m • x a # t, a fl� � � -., ••• 'I-.. *.l, '§'-fir 13 4444 4iftiti4k 4,4 Z ,.4444 _ _.. - - ■ Design and manage the strip to limit vehicular and pedes- V • trian conflicts. J ` Parking. The success of strip commercial development is pred- 0 Zf 1 - icated on free and plentiful parking. Unfortunately, parking � lots commonly dominate the landscape of the strip. Conven- e,. - - tional practice requires that every development along the strip provide for all of its parking needs on its own site between its structure and the roadway, even though this is inefficient and contributes substantially to the wasteland aesthetics of today's commercial strip. • Size prime parking lots and structures for reasonable demand; provide for peak parking in overflow areas. ■ Encourage and plan for shared parking among adjacent uses. ■ Consider the creation of a parking district to bring multiple facilities under • common management and create greater efficiencies. ■ Look for alternative parking and building configurations that provide conven- ience and avoid visual blight. Separation of through-and ■ Create parking in a carefully designed landscape. local traffic. • v a uwaa' ,k 1 COI'@ + n . f '47ZY y " 14 i B �, i g .$ 1.l' # 447-014,4• 4 a A „. '- 4,21011111.1P i • When justified by higher land prices, introduce structured parking to open up parking lots for new development a — u in more urban settings. ...1 1 ' •--► .,1 , • Avoid charging for parking. It is +t . 0.1 1 inconsistent with the nature of a strip I -* center and is likely to be effective onlya , in exceptional circumstances. Pedestrian Access. Commercial strips CL 7 are not usually thought of as pedestri- & an environments, but pedestrian trafficiii seems to be evolving into an important tool to add to the attractiveness and economic vitality of ,.. t Z. suburban strips. Communities should recognize the impor- A leit. ;. nce of a pedestrian-friendly environment and reserve space l , r s� -�"' r ensure that pedestrians can be accommodated. Pedestrian .; g .- . 7) '. connections should be provided primarily within the pulse :x .40:-.4V,04 .;*:-.. , ' nodes of intense activity, among major activity centers, and ..5 , X along corridors that are designated for future retail growth. .i. ' 4 } • w In most cases, it is preferable not to build pedestrian high- aow _+_ a. , � ` o way bridges or tunnels, since it is usually more convenient tort\ ,. - ,l,, ,'�,_,, �'. z cross at grade, and some people associate an element of dan- •s* ger with bridges or tunnels. Transit. Transit stations obviously are not the solution to most strips'problems, but some strips have matured and densified enough to become urban places with opportunities for transit. In fact, it is the increased density that makes transit feasible and reduces dependence on the automobile. Although some low-density strips may always be auto dependent, transit can enhance the denser nodes of a "pulsed" strip and strengthen the market for residential and office development, adding to the strip's urban synergy. As a result, strip design, and even its loca- tion (where it is possible to plan for it), should be conducive to transit. • 15 -- - 1/4,,,,:.,i, 711:1410, 1 , '4, . ,-,.4, ' a =- the Place ,„.: ,,,,,,, go to places that appeal to them on many levels. Ideally, all the sons p[sann sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. But it is the pres- ence of other people and the ability to interact with and watch them in a safe � � )1 . and energized environment that creates the nlnst �Bnx}mNe and successful }��1����'' 1 places. As a oasu|1, diverse, well-conceptualized developments that are Co|o- cateU with other well-conceptualized developments in a coordinated, enter- wawa taining' and lively environment are worth more in real estate value than $� vA i IN stand-alone buildings in a sea of parking. This difference in value is called the "design dividend." It is no surprise to discover that such places also 4' rr maximize retail spending and rents and, as a consequence, capital value. . When people like a place, they will incorporate it into their daily lives using it and enjoying it even when they have no expressed purpose for vis- iting it. Such a place will establish a sense communityofYthat gives O focus �w * - to people's daily lives. It will be a public place where they can conveniently and happily carry out their normal day-to-doyactivities vxithoutthe inconvenience • |ncn»asing|yussociated with suburban living. The following steps should be taken to create suburban "places" that people like, feel comfortable in, and want to return to again and again. As a first phase, planning elements like these should be implemented in the densest nodes of activity. As the strip matures, these elements should be extended in line with the market to the commercial fringe. N0 Create attractive walkways and continuous streetfront experiences to maxi- mize the quality of the pedestrian environment and afford opportunities to _ _ . incn8oserotai| spending. .. . °'' ' 0 Configure sidewalks so people feel . ` `~p- r safe and comfortable; make sidewalks M '~g ~ wide, appealing, andshadx 8 � ° I ` ~ i � � � -�� ! , it �� | ` ' I. ��[` ~ ' °��� 0 Provide a hierarchyof ' « « , it ��n� � �� �m~ , � � � � ` �� � p � ~ ° scaled, direct and indirect lighting L � .4 (no sodium vapor (�hts please!) that __ ---~w�~�, - - -~~-�~--� illuminates walkways, ensures safety, highlights buildings and landmark elements, and provides sight lines to other retail uses- such as a view _ , from a cafe to cinemas, bookstores,.. � Sanduniqu9shops. a -`- 8 16 dy 49t.3 'V f I ' # } I ;`7 esti �' ' . kl' -0 A wee, s r ■ Install well-designed, high-quality street furniture to '°." fi reinforce the strong image and comfort of the place. ■ Carefully place strong landscaping elements, including mature trees, to enhance the place but not detract from the retail sight lines. ■ Vary roofscape and facade designs; retailers depend on $ diverse, appropriately scaled, and customized shopfronts. 4 MN E • Use compelling, informative, and consistent signage to 4 , tell the story of the place. ' I -`ce ;W • Design attractive corners and gateways to the develop- #' ment nodes. ` a z ■ Add vitality by requiring active uses along the sidewalks 4 ch as outdoor dining (except along the arterial), interac- e displays in shop windows, entertainment, and diverse architectural elements, styles, and setbacks. w } 4 ■ Ensure that getting to and from the site is enjoyable -AI ice..,[,. and efficient; entry routes are as important as the place ; itself. — a '�k 'f• -' • • Deter crime by designing for security; ensure street-level p, . vitality and plenty of"eyes on the streets." ti N "sleeves" r it serviceIli " s c, III Surround big boxes withofeta and ,� � o uses to minimize blank walls and dead spaces. % le �' OP W W ce ■ When land values warrant, create structured parking; ' N incorporate active retail or service uses at the first level to integrate parking structures with the retail environment. ■ Provide all the services that a community needs, increase the number of choices encountered, and maximize the range of products sold. IN Incorporate a variety of urban residential uses in the form of live/work spaces, apartments above stores, townhouses, and hotels to ensure activity around the clock. ilkCreate a distinct place-making tool kit that includes townscape elements h as narrow streets to foster the creation of community destinations along the strip. 17 i ���� ' ���. � �� � , . , ,^k ^'�N� ���' Character 4:r', ,,', ',, ' �eirsif~�� ` 1 ^� � / ����' �� i Suburban growth is inevitable, and as a society we can accommodate it in on|ytwoways: through increased density or increased sprawl. There are simply no other choices. Today, public policy in many states is redirecting growth back into developed areas, which means that Americans are beginning to choose increased density. This choice provides enormous opportunities for suburban strips to remake themselves into new forms of community centers more attuned to the emerging needs of increasingly harried suburban residents. In some ways, these new ~ suburban community cen- ters will be unlike tradi- -- `~ ' tional town centerbecause of their more fragmented, low-density pattern of development and their reliance on the automobile. ___ ' . However, in other ways, ` ; thavcou|d reflect the best _I",f'j of metropolitan living: the . ..,_:.-'1" convenience of mixed uses, 4A. ~'` -..-F: � 3 °=~� increased choices more in ~~M~~-__ - I . ir 'it004' tune with today's lifestyles,y' 4 141,11 �,t � .r4 *: ' �^. ` . - "�^r pedestrian environments, a�� ' '/ |i'~ . + d[ ' O' el � � = multidimensional character, , ) ) I. |I. v� - =_i'. I ^- , and varied densities that ~ -- ----- - permit a complete range of , . '- � ~~ ' ���{—�^� /`^�� '�,� .. -- ~~� goods and services that people dependon in their w^-=a& daily livesAnd all of this !~0°� will still be surrounded by wiz' ----- the leafy, single-family o . neighborhoods that .' . � � ^ IT Americans love As development pressures increase and land values rise along suburban strips, the character of the strips should densify and diversify, and mixed-use develop- • ment should become an essential part of this change. This will add a new and exciting divaoitvtothe strip, bring new services, create a more lively human ' dimension, and reinforce a sense of place. To achieve the new diversity, develop- ers and planners should: eve|op'eBanUp|annors5hou|d: 18 FM I• , 14 IICreate an environment in which people can live, work, , It' w: "--lis' shop, and play. ■ Plan for different types of districts along the strip rang- ing from traditional, low-density strip shopping centers to ,, ''` t denser and more urban nodes of activity. a t '► z • Accommodate a range of nonretail uses, including hous- , ,, ,, ing, hotels, offices, civic uses, and cultural, entertainment, l and recreational activities. IN Arrange the diverse land uses in ways that encourage walking and discourage driving for short trips and errands. , * ■ Rezone designated areas in mature strips for urban 'At41 mixed-use projects and higher-density housing. .i 'f Concentrate mixed uses along the major arteries to pre- a `:,, 41 rve single-family neighborhoods. 2 z W • Link the higher-density development districts, where appro- priate, with commuter rail, subway, and light-rail stations. - _ _ rte - , n nv r z � } IN. - I x , 1 . Tr.; i. 14.....:,141; :'!., ._.1.;)::,_:::,,I.:;-::::,:,, .:,, ' IiiiHkaU, I:1 .':01 ::',111114041 ., .11,..' ,' . s -# I : r f =` fifi' k .,,t. a • t 11.1 , , �, "/I,� ,. , �� :� tide tY.ittutG 410 _ i Li Huth a Mt,M. -"Sh ' i afrla+ c,r .t it 19 o c 1Ys • t the Ugliness a „..r,,, ,,,,,,,,,I...:;-,i,-,:„ .„.., 1 , . , 44,4,„,e,,,, .1:7:, „iv 1 .41,,,--mi, 1 ,- _-,7,,..4 The distinguishing characteristic of suburban strips in the minds of most Americans is their undisguised ugliness (although congestion now runs a close second). This ugliness must be eradicated if suburban strips are to remain competitive and be successful in the future. Although this is not a hopeless task, as some believe, it will take a strong commitment from public and private sectors working in partnership to make it happen. Enhancement of the physical environment heightens the anticipation and enjoy- ment of life's daily activities, especially shopping, being entertained, and eating out. In the new world of retailing, this means that shoppers want to be enter- tained in an environment that provides a memorable and enjoyable experience. Providing this type of environment „1 makes people more likely to visit, stay longer, and return ` ' ° often- the retail trifecta. Not providing it means that they .,::e4.,-.g .„; ,- will go somewhere else at the first opportunity. The ugliness of a suburban strip is apparent in many ways, . , i M 'I - from the overall first impression to the appearance of indi- ip vidual strips. The arterial is the entrance to the strip for most people. It sets the image of the strip and should be the place to start investing money on improvements. As % the strip matures, secondary streets should become the focus of attention. Improvements to the public realm Q ii t 6 1 1 lel Ilipmemi.... 1r i c AO 1 '''' I ifAr 1i i . c et ` 110 _. . a ! _ _ i--- ,. t D O Q 3 20 ' ^ | '� / -^`-�'- °`r�� ���` �^ :f � `. � � � :� � ~,�� ! ` '� ~r | ^�� ' � | / ���^ � � ' ' | ` � �' ~- ____'-_-~__ m _--_ .... -. 4' should be made as individual properties r . p_' areand � developed �� =� = ~ To eradicate the ugliness of the strip, =~ ~ 1 communities should: ^ I , 4 "i ° a. � �~ . I �^ 00 Strive harderfor excel- :. . lence, higher-quality design ~ ` _� . _ �� ` a� ��i|��U� first-floorfacades. - $ � y '~ ,,/4 ' r t ' ' , � . :4t°.5.1...,,� ° r0� for each street a set of � -�- , '� - ' ' ' , -,P., � - n�— ouenfonoab|edesign guidelines designat . ` _, 4 ' i,1 �� 11ingtypes of pedestrian-scaled stnea� ' -^° lamps, ilikt ' sidewalk pavers, tree types and • � i. ~�size3' signega and landscaping. _ • Landscape the main arterial with ~ ture trees, plants inthe med�n. lush itsedges.� ,T � N Work with the local utility and cable companies to place all power lines underground; nm|nt9nance, weather-related repair, and service disruption costs will be reduced. III Be creative with parking by placing it in courtyards, behind buildings, above stDRes, and in innovative arrangements as properties are redeveloped in new and denser configurations; this will reduce the visual blight of endless parking lots. IN Design and landscape parking areas so that cars are in a park rather than that trees are in a parking lot. 00 Create a secondary Street pattern where appropriate, and modify setback requirements to pull retail and restaurant facilities close to the arterial and secondary streets. NI Plan for a pedestrian-friendly environment with appropriate signalization and crosswalks along the arterial and secondary streets; make sure sidewalks are wide enouQhhoroutdoorco#s. II Encourage buildings that enclose and frame the corners of major intersec- tions within nterm* 'i ywithin the designated high-density zones in order to define and identify • strip. 21 kr1,‹. 'k,kt,'4r ( t Your Money rid„,,, ,,, ,. A Regulations) . ., ,” .„. _, .. j .,v,,..--. ,,. re Your Polic ..„, ,f 424,,,,,„..„-„,,,,,,...:., The public sector must be prepared to make investments and take actions to support its own public policies for reinventing suburban strips. For most strips, this represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to set the stage for the kind of development that the community wants as the strip evolves. It is an r, "•.-- opportunity that cannot be missed, _- ; .444941111141114 and the public agencies, working in 0partnership with the private sector, ' need to make sure that a comprehen- �;.; '„'�,"!" sive, incremental improvement program `, i . ,; actually happens. This can be done by -� .. 0 �" ` v— '' making capital investments that ".`; „;; '" 4 . achieve multiple purposes; for example, •lt improve traffic flow, coordinate access =i management and parking, enhance the • 0 d — aesthetic and environmental realm, and �. ""== increase pedestrianization in a holistic way. This will bring about the kind of private investment that the public is Y demanding. A comprehensive plan, an urban design plan, traffic plans, and market studies provide the tools for formulating strate- gies for successful strip revitalization, but they are only the starting point. The success of suburban strip revitalization will depend on whether the public's implementation strategies correlate with the agreed-upon plans and are funded. Public consistency and discipline in this regard will encourage the private sector to respond with appropriate actions and investments. . .ter} a+i t *'�4.;• ",te t;;C:k 1 i 11"'rrr ' ' ` •.r+r 1W _ F^ ..- I S R _#' I+Ni, i 1 F 1 - t.`, . _ �t--«*��r ry 1' U • . r •. , s✓/ 22 1„471,::;;,,,,! ::.,..„, . t C t;l The following initiatives are a critical part of putting your money — 4 14 18.. and regulations where your policy is: - »Il i l !1 ■ Integrate public facilities into the strip's redevelopment strategy. Public facilities should be sited in ways that help shape the desired form of the strip and enhance the synergy among private develop- 4 1 `_ ments. The location of these facilities will leverage private invest- ment on surrounding sites, create a focus for the community, provide a convenient destination where residents can accomplish multiple tasks, and help shape a more rational development pattern. • Design zoning regulations that facilitate private developers in implementing the public's strategy. Zoning must be clearly linked o to the public's implementation plans, including effective by-right development standards as well as transfer of development rights in mature strips. Not every developer has the wherewithal to go ° ough a rezoning or a replanning effort. 4Ilif Create sophisticated development standards to accompany new zoning regu1,' '" lations. These standards should deal with landscaping, signage, architectural quality, pedestrian linkages, and other planning details so crucial to the overall xl-. health of the strip. ii I ' - , • Provide regulatory options that facilitate parceling and land assembly to accommodate recommended changes in land use configurations. This may „r ' involve changes that eliminate setbacks, provide streetfront and midblock devel- r�' , "T1 I opment on multiple sites, or combine separately owned parcels to create new i ' � development options. y; I • Seamlessly integrate all public services and actions by the many public agen- /II R., r cies that have jurisdiction within the strip. I m IN Create an aggressive nuisance abatement program to eliminate problems that d I , inhibit achieving the kind of environment that facilitates the community's vision i for the strip. Dilapidated or abandoned buildings, social problems, and incom- I' patible land uses and activities are some of the more common problems affect- , • T ,y" ing suburban strip development. M o ' 1• Adopt zoning regulations that set a minimum parcel size (ten acres or more) 3 ;^ ng the strip so as to constrain curb cuts and encourage more coordinated oai w elopment and fewer stand-alone stores. ° ■ Prevent "deadening" uses, such as ministorage facilities, from dominating the strip. 23 { '!-. . :::'-,V,V 'co 00:7),,,10::::: : � 4 `' 6.t . ; e,"2 s The Urban Land Institute hopes that the ten principles for reinventing subur- ban strips presented in this report will act as a strategic guide for commu- nities and developers around the country as they seek solutions to the problems of commercial sprawl, deterioration, obsolescence, and congested highways. Communities have an unprecedented opportunity to harness the tremendous market success of suburban strip development and translate this success into better performing community assets. The results will be more livable and sus- tainable communities, environments that are more adaptable to the emerging '' new face of retail, and property values that are enhanced as market demand • matures. ULI's ten principles are designed to be universally applied. However, it is antici- pated that the specific courses of action to be taken by individual communities will vary widely within this strategic framework. Success will not be easy or ' fast- there are no quick fixes to what has been one of the most intractable development problems of the past 50 years. But the tasks are doable, the prob- lems are solvable, and the strips are salvageable. The job must be started today, however, to correct the mistakes of the past, repair tattered and dysfunctional areas of the present, and provide a framework for future growth that incremen- tally reinvents suburban strips for the 21st century. '"111 b •f „ 4 M1 � £ Y,w�r to �._ •ipd ■ 1► r 'I'.:. 4. i` m . Air ti , . ift,* ...-.. • * SI i i m .. Pr 11!f , ill ; -.:. 47k.„.. ,m,te g J A w J A X 24 Ten Principles • Realistically Related for Reinventing America's Suburban Land Institute S&Nburban Strips • Duvv|oping o/ning soatcyic^that The SmartG/umxo/ho/Kx improve the quality of strips by 2000/0,VvrxS52 Michael D. Bc yard and Michael limiting the amOunt of retail-zoned R`�8�/o��z land. 3nm*Gnow�/:8�y�/and rau 1999/Order #S50 1 he demand of today's consumers, NN Restructuring strips to create high- nrtai| h/nna/s. ondthccxonnmya,ccou|' intensity development interspersed Rif-king Requirements for Shopping |onginythe usquoinavburhanuriy with stretcheso[|ww'imcnsi/y |und Centers development. Based on a study conduct- use or open space. 1999/Order #P92 ccl by a team of planning and develop- Shopping Center Development mvn�cxpn�s. ��ishook|c� iUvn�iMes�ho IN C'akinguo�ixPauo'nsand poming,o Handbook c/ibcu| issues and chaUengesthat snips pr»«i«c�»n«enien�n�u�ss�« 'c�ai| 1999/Order#S30 face and provides an action plan to rein- stores and also serve throughtmnhc 'ciii them to ensure their long-term corn- NN C,vacingsuburhan"p|a;os" that 1x)tllive position. Developers and corn- attract people and encourge them to iunities throughout the nation will find visit often. ihis guide an invaluable starting point for mating gm�ngiesUm�k/Uyharnoss�hc • Diversifying moUove|opnmmcdsoips mmendou» mu,kmpn�nua| ufaubu/' a»o'vc|nPnm,�pns,um, inxmusv and land values rise ban strips. Ten sma�growth prindp|v» indudn: NN [n�uncing�hop�ypica| dcsiyno[ strips to attract new and repeat Forming public/private partnerships customers. /odevelop strategies and implement change. IN Understanding the importance oY implementing and funding plans. tV Anticipating an evolution in demo- graphics and in the marketplace. . (10 1LU-theUxban Land Institute 1025 II ones Jehlc'rson Sheet, N.W. Suite 500 Wes 0^T:Thingtm` DC. Z0U07'5B]l LJLI Order#R35 ISBN 0-87420-877-7 • Ap p r®Aced • Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting June 15th, 2001 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:32 a.m. by Vice Chairperson Cindy Carlson. 2. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Dr. Greg Belting,Cindy Carlson,Torn Johnson,Wendy Marty, and Sean Walther. Member Absent: Tom Field and Stan McDonald Staff Present: Economic Development Coordinator Aaron Parrish,Community Development Director Jim Ericson, and Planning Associate Jim Atkinson APPROVAL OF MINUTES: �. v No minutes were presented for approval 4. SPECIAL BUSINESS A. Introduction of the City's new Planning Associate Jim Atkinson 5. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS,STAFF AND EDA LIAISON A. Commissioner Reports There were no reports B. NB-MV Chamber of Commerce Update Commissioner Belting that the Business of the Year was a success with three Mounds View businesses receiving awards. Commissioner Carlson provided some insight on organizational and leadership issues currently confronting the Chamber. C. Report of Staff i. Manufactured Home Park Revitalization Program: Coordinator Parrish indicated that the city received a$100,000 Community Development Block Grant to fund the Manufactured Home Park Revitalization Program. S ii. County Highway 10 Reconstruction and Revitalization Study: Coordinator Parrish updated the Commission on the current status of the County Highway 10 Reconstruction and Revitalization study. He informer nthe Commission thafthe first meeting of the Highway10 project team wo 4d be on July 11 ,2001, and that the first Community Meeting would ake place on July 16 ,2001. N:\DATA\GROUPS\ECONDEV\EDC\Minutes\Min01\06-15-01.doc - . �� ���� �� ~ .u�' u~- - -~ - -- -- Acquisitionm02091 Hillview Road: Director Ericson discussed the i to acquire a boarded up Fourplex from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. iv. Longview Subdivision: Director Ericson discussed heAotenUa|nubdkheionof ro�e�V�ffnf8i|verLakeRomdjustto�henodhqfVVmodcrmsmrk pP ' �P . v. Minneapolis sh indicated that the ordinance establishing a local lodging tax was passed by the Council enabling the city to participate in the Minneapolis Metro North Convention and Visitors Bureau. An agreement articulating the services to be provided to the City was also approved by the Council. 6. EDC BUSINESS A. Presentation and Overview of the Comprehensive Plan Director Ericson provide an overview of the Comprehensive Plan including a discussion of the economic development element and proposed changes to the future land use map. B. County Road H2 Residential In fill Development Coordinator Parrish provided additional information to the Commission relative to the proposed County Road H2 Infill Development. He indicated that the EDA recently purchased a home located at 3016 County Road H2 and that a neighborhood meeting would take place later in the month. C. Discuss Disetronic Medical Systems Business Retention Visit. Cornmissioner Carlson and Coordinator Parrish discussed the most recent Business Retention Visit conducted at Disetronic Medical Systems. 0. Adjournment There being no further business before the Commission,this meeting of the Economic Development Commission adjourned at 8:30 a.m. Respectfully Submnittmd, James Ericson Community Development Director 4111 Y«�\D&TA\GRO}PO\EC0NDEVTDCVMinvte,Wu0}\06'l5'Ol.doo ��� Apprcovved Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting September 21st, 2001 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:35 a.m. by Chairperson Tom Field. 2. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Dr. Greg Belting, Cindy Carlson, Torri Johnson, Wendy Marty, and Tom Field. Member Absent: Stan McDonald, Sean Walther Staff Present: Community Development Director Jim Ericson 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion/Second: Carlson moved and Field seconded the approval of the May 18, 2001 EDC minutes Motion Carried: 4 Ayes 0 Nays Motion/Second: Johnson moved and Carlson seconded the approval of the June 15, 2001 EDC minutes Motion Carried: 5 Ayes 0 Nays (1 Abstention -- Field) 4. SPECIAL BUSINESS No special order of business was scheduled or discussed. 5. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS, STAFF AND EDA LIAISON A. Commissioner Reports: There were no reports B. NB-MV Chamber of Commerce Update Commissioner Belting discussed the Chamber's 19th Annual Gala which had a Wild, Wild West theme. The Gala represents the Chamber's annual; social and fundraising event and included dinner, entertainment and an auction. EDC Minutes September 21, 2001 Qp p r # d Page 2 C. Report of Staff 1. Mermaid Project Update: Director Ericson brought the Commissioners up to speed regarding the status of the Mermaid development. 2. EDA Purchase of 2091 Hillview: Director Ericson discussed the four-plex located at 2091 Hillview, the blighted rental property the EDA recently purchased from HUD. The intent will be to renovate the property and return it to the rental market while erasing a neighborhood eyesore. 3. New Businesses: Director Ericson informed the Commissioners that two new businesses had relocated to Mounds View: Yahama Motor Corp in the business park and Glacier Machinery Sales at 2832 County Highway 10, leasing the former PAK Building. 4. Economic Development Coordinator Position: Director Ericson updated the Commission regarding this vacancy and the intent to advertise to fill the position. 5. Highway 10 project Meetings: Director Ericson indicated that there would be a project team meeting on October 10 and a public meeting scheduled for October 15th. Chair Field offered that speeds on County Highway 10 need to be enforced and pointed out that in his opinion, Spring Lake Park enforces its section better than does Mounds View. Commissioner Carlson suggested staff notify the Chamber of the upcoming County Highway 10 meetings. 6. Office of the State Auditor's Letter of Non-Compliance: Director Ericson confirmed the City responded to the OSA's findings by respectfully disagreeing with their findings. 7. EDC BUSINESS A. Business Improvement Partnership Program: Director Ericson indicated that the EDA had referred this item to the EDC for its consideration. The Commissioners reviewed and commented on the current Business Improvement Partnership Program guidelines, and discussed ways in which it could be improved. Commission Carlson stated that the project, while under-used, was a good tool and should be retained and improved. Some potential amendments were discussed and all agreed more discussion was necessary. B. Potential Restaurant Development within Mounds View: Chair Field discussed list of desired restaurants that should be recruited. Commissioner Carlson suggested contacting the Minnesota Restaurant Association and communicating the City's desires. Chair Field felt that the number of employers in the area, residents, the business parks and industrial parks would support other restaurant ventures. C. Amoco Site—2800 County Highway 10: Chair Field proposed that the City consider assisting with the demolition of the Amoco building as an effort to promote redevelopment, similar to what was authorized for the demo of the building at 2901 County Highway 10. Director Ericson indicated that this property and the adjacent properties were generating significant interest within the development community and that any consideration to pay for demolition should be put on hold for a while. D. Development at NE Corner of County Highway 10 and Groveland Road: Chair Field inquired about this area, stating that realty signs have been posted. Director Ericson confirmed that EDC Minutes September 21, 2001 Paae 3 Appr©did the property owners in this area have joined together to market their five parcels as one unified development site. 7. Adjournment There being no further business before the Commission, this meeting of the Economic Development Commission was adjourned at 8:37 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, James Ericson Community Development Director N:\DATA\GROUPS\ECONDEV\EDC\Minutes\Min01 109-21-01.doc