Agenda - Planning Commission - 12/04/2003

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PROPOSED H-1 HIGHWAY 10 BUSINESS DISTRICT CASE OF CITY OF RAMSEY By: Megan Wald, Associate Planner Background: Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDot) has identified 2,930 miles of key transportation corridors that account for 1/3 of the vehicle miles traveled in the State. T.H. 10 has been identified as one of these key transportation corridors. MnDot completed a study for Highway 10 from T.H. 24 in Clear Lake to 1-35W. MnDot released a T.H. 10 Corridor Management Plan, which discusses the redevelopment and realignment of Highway 10. This study identifies a need for Highway 10 to be upgraded to a freeway from Thurston Blvd. in Anoka to the western boundary of Ramsey. The City Council adopted a resolution supporting MnDot's vision and corridor management plan for Highway 10 and pledged ithe City's commitment to work in partnership with MnDot to implement the recommendations outlined in the T.H. l 0 Corridor Management Plan. On May 13, 2003 the City engaged the services of The Tinldenberg Group to perform an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) to exam/ne the Proposed transportation' alternatives and the subsequent impacts to properties needed for the improvements of Highway 10. On July 22, 2003 the City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a moratorium on the development of certain parcels located north of Highway #10 (see site location map). The purpose of the moratorium is to restrict any new development or expansions of existing developments until such time that the AUAR is completed and the official map for Highway 10 can be implemented. The following items are enclosed for your review: 1. Ordinance establishing a moratorium 2. Proposed H-1 Highway #10 Business District Observations: Staff anticipates the City Council will adopt the final AUAR document in January of 2004. The process to officially map the highway 10 area is anticipated to be completed in March or April of 2004. The first six month term of the moratorium is set to expire on February 25, 2004. Since the properties are in a state of transition and the development moratorium is set to expire soon, it would seem appropriate to create a zoning district that addresses these properties specifically. The subject area is currently zoned B-2 Highway Business. Staff is proposing to create a new zoning district, H~I Highway #10 Business District for the properties currently within the moratorium. The intent of the H-1Highway #10 Business District is to recognize that certain parcels may be required for future improvements of Highway 10 and clearly notify land owners that the City desires to minimize the development impact within said district. The following outlines the key components in the H-1 district, it should be noted that the general performance standards are the same in the H~I district as already established in the B-2 Highway Business District. Intent: Puts property/business owners on notice that the subject properties are in a state of transition as they may be utilized for future improvements to Highway 10. In order to ensure desirable and appropriate development within the corridor, new uses and expanding existing uses 29