Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/04/2011

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City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 5: Land Use f) Mixed -Use Mixed Use includes retail, commercial, entertainment, office, institutional, high density residential, transit hubs and park and recreation uses. The Comprehensive Plan anticipates two areas of Ramsey to be designated as Mixed Use; the first area stretching from the west side of Armstrong Blvd. to the west side of Ramsey Blvd. and a second area south of State Highway 10 west of Feldspar St. The COR Mixed Use Area: The COR Mixed Use area is proposed to be located in portions of Section 28 and 29 stretching from the west side of Armstrong Blvd. to the west side of Ramsey Blvd., north of the railroad. Mixed Use was chosen for this site because of the proximity to major employment areas, major transportation corridors and a future commuter rail station serving the Northstar Commuter Rail Corridor The Northstar Commuter Rail began service in 2009. The area east of Armstrong Boulevard is governed by The COR Master Plan, which provides specific land use and design guidance for this area. The purpose of The COR Mixed Use Area is to establish a community hub that integrates places to work, play and live and embraces transit oriented design in anticipation of the potential future commuter rail station. In 2009, the City's Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) purchased a portion of the project to release from a foreclosure process. The City began a revision exercise to take a fresh look at the project and clean up certain title issues that were preventing the project from moving forward. The result was a new development plan that anticipated larger - scale retail to anchor the development to support the goals of the center of the development. This area was largely guided as medium density residential. Mixed -Use enhances the functionality of a transit hub at this location because it creates efficiencies by being able to send and receive people who might work or live in the area. Because a large portion of the area is undeveloped, it has the opportunity to be organized in a pedestrian friendly environment that supports mass transit. A commuter rail station in this location would be spaced approximately 3-5 miles from stations to the north near downtown Elk River and south in Anoka near 7th Avenue. It will take advantage of good accessibility from the north via Armstrong Boulevard and from the east and west via Industry Avenue and Highway 10, all arterial roadways. Mixed use development would be transit oriented to support the station. Development should be intense with multi -story buildings rather than one level building. Commercial and residential buildings should be linked by a pedestrian -way so people can park at the station and stroll through commercial shops. It should be directly connected to areas of major employment (Ramsey Business Park, AEC Energy Park, Anoka Enterprise Park and future places to work) and Anoka Hennepin Technical College. This could be done through a shuttle bus service, which would serve not only places to work but also residential neighborhoods. It also should make connections to City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Page 5-30