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

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Community Development Director Gladhill described the history of the COR which originated from the 2020 Comprehensive Plan (1998-2001). In the plan was described how the area was an agricultural use and due to growth forecasts, Ramsey decided to protect its rural areas and concentrate this new growth into a more centralized area. The question arose of what is a mixed -use development. In the 2001 general election, an advisory question for the ballot was developed, essentially a survey question for residents. The question was "Do you want a Town Center with restaurants, shopping, and other amenities along the Highway 10 Corridor?" This was around the same time as the Northstar Commuter Rail transitway planning. Between 2009-2010, the City began a process to provide a new vision for the development to better match current market conditions at the time, the revision of the plan to the COR plan today. Community Development Director Gladhill then asked the commissioners to choose their top 3 components of the original master plan for Ramsey Town Center. ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN (PREVIOUS) Commissioner Nosan asked what the "West 30" referred to in the original plan. Community Development Director Gladhill described the area to the North and West of the roundabout at Sunwood Drive guided for retail. Commissioner VanScoy asked about redevelopment and the current zoning of the West 30. Community Development Director Gladhill explained the vision as a more traditional suburban retail center, while still maintaining a higher degree of architectural standards. Discussion ensued about parking standards for traditional suburban retail. Commissioner Bauer explained how he wrote down shared parking, such as the ramp next to the Municipal Center [and apartment complex] and how it is critical not to lose the idea of shared parking. Commissioner VanScoy explained how density requires parking. Commissioner Nosan responded how the church [Northgate Church] is a great example of successful shared parking. Mixed -Use was the next topic. Community Development Director Gladhill asked if it meant vertical mixed use within a single building or different types of single -use buildings within a single block. Chairperson Levine commented it did not mean different uses within a single block. Commissioner Nosan expressed concern about too much mixed -use in the area. She explained currently it seems to be only the residents actually living in the COR who use the area. Planning Commission Special Work Session/July 9, 2015 Page 2 of 8