Agenda - Planning Commission - 07/09/2015 - Work Session

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Ramsey Town Center Development Guidelines 15 TCi Mixed Use Core Overview Guidelines that address building location, organization of space and parking options tend to focus on what can be measured — dimensions, setbacks, number of spaces and so on. But in addition to these issues, site development guidelines must also describe the aesthetic qualities and design character of a preferred `urban form' for the Mixed Use Core. The compact and higher density blocks that define this sub -district encourage a mix of uses, with a continuous built edge along street frontage. Innovative parking strategies support this mix, providing easy access to destination shopping, restaurant and entertainment venues. Together these elements will promote the core area as the center of activity — the place to see and be seen within the Town Center. Site development guidelines include the following: TC1 Land Use • Encourage both vertical mixed use (within each building) and horizontal mixed use (within each block) throughout this district • Promote housing density at the core, specifically targeting locations along Sunwood Drive, Town Center Drive, along park edges and above street -level uses around the Civic Square and Downtown Commons • Include a mix of housing, civic, retail, restaurant, entertainment, performance and other uses that encourage a variety of activities throughout the day. TC1 Building Placement • Generally, buildings should be located at the street right-of-way line (zero setback), but also allow recessed space for outdoor dining and other street level activities providing some minor deviation for variety • Greater emphasis should be given to architectural elements, materials and other design features for buildings located at primary intersections, for example, at Sunwood and Town Center Drives, or where streets intersect with parks, such as the streets that front on or end near the Civic Square. These locations can often be seen from Site Development several directions, perhaps terminate a view from a distance down the street or sit at a prominent node; They will likely become future landmarks or helpful orientation/wayfinding icons as the Town Center develops • Minimize openings between buildings, although limited driveway access and some provision for pedestrian connections through blocks are encouraged — gaps between buildingsto accommodate surface parking lots, greater building setbacks or other purposes are discouraged • Encourage recessed entries and windows to create street -level interest, variety and enhance pedestrian scale along street frontage TC1 Parking Strategies • Provide parking spaces for typical daily use, satisfying both quantity and location needs through a mix of on - street, small surface lot, underground and ramped parking solutions • Provide options for additional/overflow parking to support holiday traffic and special events including porous pavements, turf parking areas (Netlon and other soil amendments) or shuttle service from nearby parking areas • Encourage shared parking solutions that target around the clock shifts in destination, audience or take advantage of peak/off-peak hours of operation for various uses within the core area • Promote municipal parking ramps as the primary facility to meet public parking needs within the core area • Minimize surface parking lots in favor ofother solutions including underground parking to serve residential buildings, on -street parking to serve retail shops and parking ramps • Locate surface parking lots away from the major streets, either behind or to theside of primary buildings; surface parking lots along major street frontage are not allowed in the core area • Discourage driveway access to parking facilities along Sunwood Drive in favor of side streets or Civic Center Drive