Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/01/2013

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When considering dedicating the entire Subject Property for a public park, Staff has the following comments: over the course of the last decade, as new single family homes and town -home developments have been platted near the Subject Property, the Park and Recreation Commission has examined the need for recreational amenities and associated trail connections. Finding that there is adequate recreation and open space in the larger vicinity of the former Municipal Center, the City has focused on trail development; and, this part of Ramsey now has the most comprehensive trail and connected trail system within the entire City. A summary of park amenities nearby the Subject Property includes the two community parks of Elmcrest and Alpine; and play equipment at Alpine, Woodland Green, Solstice and the school. Athletic fields at Alpine, Elmcrest, the school, Solstice, Woodland Green and Bear Park. Open space at all of the above, plus Sunfish Lake Park and the scout camp as well as other city -owned lands. In addition to the common recreational amenities at these parks, at Alpine there is a concrete skate park, free canoes and kayaks at Sunfish Lake, and ice skating and a warming house at the 60-acre Ramsey Elementary immediately west of the former Municipal Center. Better Locations Residents at the public open house indicated there are "better locations" for a data center in Ramsey; and that the Subject Property should not be considered. Considering the requirements of a data center development, the Subject Property is the only substantial available site in the City of Ramsey. Requirements include: redundant fiber, redundant electricity, city utilities, minimum distance from city services, minimum distance from train tracks, minimum distance from a river, minimum distance from an electrical substation and a substantially sized site. It was suggested by an attendee of the Open House that the site at the north east intersection of Saint Francis Boulevard (Highway 47) and Alpine Drive should be explored. This site is adjacent to Bill's Superette and Evergreen Pointe Townhomes. Staff did review the feasibility of this site. The site may be able to sustain some sort of data center development; however, it would not sustain the size or scenario being discussed with the current concepts and would be much smaller, if at all. The physical conditions such as site criteria, setbacks, wetlands, and actual property boundaries limit these opportunities. Anoka Hennepin School District Use Several residents indicated the Subject Property should be used for an Anoka Hennepen School District school campus. Staff made contact with the School District and has received word their organization is not interested in the Subject Property now or into the foreseeable future. Fire Station Use At the public Open House, a number of residents questioned why the City's Fire Station #2 needed to be moved from it's current location. The City's Fire Department has examined said possibility. It has been concluded the configuration and condition of buildings located on the Subject Property are inadequate for a permanent fire station. SECTION 2: REVISED FEASIBILITY STUDY/CONCEPTS As a result of the public input process, staff made a number of revisions to the proposed data center development scenarios as follows: Building setbacks Building setbacks are proposed to be increased from 125' to 200'; which is over three times the distance normally required by City Zoning Code. Increased building setbacks help mitigate noise, safety, visual/aesthetics and compatibility concerns. Attached to this case are examples of setbacks for data centers in other communities. Placement of generators and air conditioning units It is proposed all generators be enclosed or placed within a data center facility. It is also proposed air conditioning units be enclosed or located at the center of data center facility roof tops. Proper location of generators and air conditioning units help mitigate noise and visual/aesthetics concerns.