05/01/12 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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Development Manager Lazan advised of the discrepancy that exists between the area calculations /unit counts and engineering calculations on trip generation. The trip counts were calculated when residential units were at 2,500 and 2,800. However, staff realized there was a disconnect with the Comprehensive Plan housing unit count following one path and the engineering calculations a different path. When staff tried to pull them together, it resulted in 1,500 housing units as being the maximum that the existing transportation system and improvements, over time, can accommodate Development Manager Lazan noted the Metropolitan Council put a lot of money into this project and wants to know where it is going. He explained density can be created to meet more of the Metropolitan Council's goals; however, it will result in a further gap in the engineering side in what traffic can be accommodated. Development Manage Lazan stated an in -depth traffic analysis was not conducted when the HRA started the AUAR so increasing beyond the maximum will necessitate diving into numbers at each access point and where density falls. Commissioner Tossey raised the option of meeting the Metropolitan Council's goals half way, by eliminating or limiting the scope of Lake Ramsey and increasing housing on the north side. He stated concern that townhouses may not be feasible in the area north of Bunker, Section 22, due to the topography. Development Manager Lazan explained the density can be increased in The COR without reducing Lake Ramsey but trips in and out need to be addressed. He stated staff will get aggressive on the internal trips we capture to solve some of the traffic trips. Commissioner Strommen asked whether the traffic studies done on the original plan for 2,500 housing units was flawed so it needed to be redesigned to 1,500 housing units. Development Manager Lazan explained when you take the 2,500 -unit number and trip matrix, the math does not work. The number of trips calculated for 2,500 housing units was much lower than it should have been for that number of rooftops. Commissioner Strommen noted the reality is that it was redesigned to meet the market of today, not when the Ramsey Town Center was designed. She stated she understands the Metropolitan Council wanting 2,500 housing units, but it is a different world today. Mayor Ramsey stated the Metropolitan Council was told they would get 2,500 housing units so it invested in the community. But, the City re- visioned the project for a reason, because it did not meet market reality. Development Manager Lazan stated the HRA can make the numbers work through internal capture and densification. He noted the reality is that the HRA took out what is arguably the least quality suburban density (sea of townhomes) and put energy into a transit village with 70 units /acre, a train station, and plazas, so it is frustrating to work through this issue when Ramsey is doing what Metropolitan Council wants for TOD grants. Senior Planner Gladhill stated staff can present to the Metropolitan Council that Highway 10 improvements are needed to gain that density and the full picture needs to be looked at. Housing and Redevelopment Authority / May 1, 2012 Page 5 of 8