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Suburban Edge: Managing <br />rapid growth and change <br />The Suburban Edge includes communities that <br />have experienced significant residential growth <br />beginning in the 1990s and continuing to the <br />2010s. At least 40% of the land in these cities is <br />developed, but significant amounts of land remain <br />for future development. These communities <br />generally do not have large-scale agricultural <br />areas. <br />The Suburban Edge includes regional and sub - <br />regional job and activity centers, like Maple <br />Grove's The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, as well as <br />more local and small scale centers, like <br />downtown Chaska, that serve the local <br />population. <br />The Suburban Edge tends to have auto -oriented development and transportation patterns. <br />Neighborhoods are often self-contained subdivisions characterized by cul-de-sacs and limited <br />access to major thoroughfares for traffic movement. Recent development has included both <br />subdivisions of single-family detached homes as well as townhome developments offering more <br />options for housing affordability. Most cities in the Suburban Edge have access to regional trails <br />and include some existing residential neighborhoods with sidewalks and connection to trails. <br />Suburban Edge cities are seeing increasing demand for transit service from park -and -rides to <br />regional destinations. <br />The balance of proximity to more developed areas and a significant supply of developable land <br />presents an opportunity for the Suburban Edge to develop new workforce housing. Locating <br />future development close to existing urban services and infrastructure will use regional <br />investments efficiently. Connections via roadway, transit, and trails to centers in adjacent <br />Suburban and Urban communities will further integrate the Suburban Edge into regional fabric. <br />Addressing walkability and expanding local trail networks is important for residential <br />neighborhoods in order to increase connectivity in existing and new neighborhoods. <br />With water supply issues facing many Suburban Edge communities, planning efforts should <br />focus on how to protect water supply resources and identify viable alternative sources of water. <br />Similarly, with much of their development yet ahead, Suburban Edge communities can protect <br />and preserve open spaces, natural areas, and water recharge capacity within future <br />development patterns. <br />The Council forecasts that the cities in the Suburban Edge will add xx,000 residents, xx,000 <br />households and xx,000 jobs between 2010 and 2040. This represents growth of xx percent in <br />population, xx percent in households and xx percent in employment over the three decades. <br />Suburban Edge communities are: [add list here] <br />DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT <br />Last revised: February 21, 2014 56 <br />