Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 10/09/2014

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department constructs a trail overpass or underpass of the widened road at no cost to the regional park implementing agency. The Metropolitan Council will consider conversion of regional park land to other uses only if the conversion will not harm the Regional Parks System. The following criteria will be used to determine whether regional parks system lands may be exchanged for other land or a facility: Issues with respect to the existing park system unit: • Whether the park system unit can continue to meet Council standards for sites and site attributes established for the particular type of park system unit (regional park, park reserve, trail greenway or special recreation feature) • Whether the park system unit will continue to function as originally planned • Whether environmental features (wildlife habitat, water quality) will be adversely affected and can be protected with the new use • Whether the loss of site or function will be made up through acquisition of a site with comparable characteristics adjacent to or in the immediate area of the current location • Whether the park system unit benefits from a facility in exchange for the parkland • Whether the need for the conversion, as in the instance of transportation improvements, is generated by the recreational park system unit Issues with respect to the alternative use: • The land area needs of the proposed project • Whether the specific site requirements for the proposed project are unique to the area proposed for conversion • Whether the proposed project is consistent with Council policies • Whether the proposed project is of greater benefit to the region than having the regional parks system unit remain in place For those changes that represent a potential system impact, the Council will use a process comparable to the review period for plan amendments that have a potential impact on the regional system. The Council will use an expedited review or conversions such as small exchanges of land to provide right - of -way for access, an expedited review will be used. Lands in the Regional Parks System may be subject to proposals for converting their use for a number of reasons. Some very limited conversions may be accommodated and still not affect the ability of the remaining area to offer the facilities and services planned. A well- designed transit waiting station or a properly located and operated yard waste compost site could be of positive value to the regional system and can be worked out between the proposing parties, the implementing agencies and the Council in accordance with the system management guidelines. However, most conversions are likely to detract from the ability to provide the type and quality of outdoor recreation experiences promised in the master plan. Some of the undesirable conversion impacts will be obvious and direct, such as unsightly landscapes or structures, barriers to movement,