CC WORKSESSION PACKET 01292019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING PROCESSINTRODUCTION SERVICE AREA VISION PARK PLANS IMPLEMENTATION EAST OF THE RIVER PARK MASTER PLAN OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE Minneapolis barely extended beyond St. Anthony Falls when Cleveland proposed the first park system. The Minneapolis area has greatly changed and grown. Today the study area is developed with a mix of residential, commercial, industrial, public, and institutional uses. Industrial uses are located south of I- 35W and along railroad lines. Commercial and high density residential buildings are near the river and along major roadways, and the University of Minnesota is located in the southern portion of the study area. The terrain varies from flat urban streetscapes to the scenic Mississippi River gorge. Much of the housing was built from 1900 to the 1940’s. Industrial development occurred later in the 1950-1970’s. Gross Golf Course, the Mississippi River, Ridgeway Park, Deming Park, Columbia Golf Course and Hillside Cemetery are the primary green spaces within the study area. Bridal Veil Creek used to be a prominent feature with the creek moving through many wetlands, ponds and finally over the Bridal Veil Falls into the Mississippi River. Today the creek is almost completely underground in pipes and has pollution and water quality issues. There is a shortage of trails and parks east of the river in Minneapolis and the adjoining communities in the search corridor for the Grand Rounds Missing Link. Due to the close proximity to the University of Minnesota, this area has a high volume of bike commuters. Truck access and movement are important elements of industrial areas, including Mid City Industrial. Most parkways restrict truck access. Unlike the early Grand Rounds development that occurred in a relatively undeveloped EXISTING CONDITIONS Minneapolis, there is a well established City and County road network in the area provide a framework east of the river along much of the preferred parkway route. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad line and the BNSF railroad yard run through the east central part of the study area. An inventory and analysis of existing land cover for the Missing Link alignment was done using the Minnesota Land Cover Classification system developed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Metro Geographic Information System. The result of the inventory shows, for the most part, that the area is highly developed with industry, commercial and residential uses. Open or ‘green’ space along the route can be considered at Gross Golf Course and Sunset/ Hillside Cemetery. While these areas are open and provide for a high percentage of pervious surfaces, they are not natural or native landscapes; rather they are highly manicured and maintained, constructed landscape systems. Along the route, there are no known or identified natural, unique or sensitive land cover types. 258