Laserfiche WebLink
1 f <br /> Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes <br /> July 15, 1997 <br /> Page 6 <br /> 1 Vote on the motion: Bergstrom, Delmonico, Franzese, Horst, and Makowske voted aye. <br /> 2 Gondorchin and Thompson voted naye. <br /> 3 Motion carried. <br /> 4 Chair Bergstrom noted this request will be considered by the City Council at their meeting on <br /> 5 July 22, 1997. <br /> 6 VII. OTHER BUSINESS. <br /> 7 1. Review of Draft Comprehensive Plan Update. <br /> 8 Chair Bergstrom thanked the members of the Task Force for being present. He stated that he <br /> 9 had observed a lot of detail and ideas from discussions at meetings in the Draft Plan was <br /> 10 quite pleased with the content. <br /> 11 Mr. Bill Weber, BRW, Inc., explained the Draft Plan included Introduction and Goals, <br /> 12 Community Profile, Land Use and Urban Design, Transportation Plan, Housing Plan, Park <br /> 13 and. Recreation Plan, Public Facilities Plan, and Implementation Program. He noted the <br /> 14 Appendix items were not included in the Draft Plan which was submitted this evening. <br /> 15 Mr. Weber explained that at the start of the Comprehensive Plan Update process, the City <br /> 16 stated it considered itself a "village" and that has been the driving force behind the <br /> 17 Comprehensive Plan. The town square is made up of Central Park and the civic element in <br /> 18 the middle of the City. There is an identifying main street and two or three identifying <br /> 19 crossroads. There is a commercial center on the north and south ends of town and there are <br /> 20 five or six very fine residential neighborhoods surrounding the core of the City. <br /> 21 There are opportunities to enhance this image with landscaping and other improvements on <br /> 22 Silver Lake Road, especially with the rebuilding of the bridge; opportunities for enhancements <br /> 23 by private entities with the redevelopment of Apache Plaza; opportunities for continued <br /> 24 enhancement in the Kenzie Terrace area as the City continues to acquire land in that area; and <br /> 25 the entrances and exits to the City can be marked clearly with defined landscaping. Another <br /> 26 possible improvement would be providing bike lanes and signage and tieing into the regional <br /> 27 bike parkways on St. Anthony Boulevard and possibly Stinson Boulevard. <br /> 28 Transportation improvements would occur primarily on Silver Lake Road with the possibility <br /> 29 of the addition of left turn lanes and enhanced appearance. Another possibility is replacement <br /> 30 of the stop sign at 29th Avenue NE with a small traffic circle. <br /> 31 Suzanne Rhees, BRW, Inc., noted there is a lot of interest in the City to improve and expand <br /> 32 the park system. There has been the creation of a Parks Advisory Task Force which is <br /> 33 investigating options for redesign of Central Park. Improvements could be made to the play <br /> 34 equipment at Silver Point Park and Emerald Park. Another-possible concept would be to <br /> 35 relocate the City's Public Works site and redevelop that property as a neighborhood park. <br />