Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 11/12/2020

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Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Date: 11/12/2020 By: Mark Riverblood, Engineering/Public Works Information Title: Note Draft Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan 5.3. Purpose/Background: The primary purpose of this case is to note and provide comment on this planning document, which will be an update to The COR Design Guidelines and Framework (only for the Downtown District), which is the second attachment. The first attachment is the Draft Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan and has much to do with streetscapes, stormwater elements and the pumphouse, but also touches on sidewalks, the Regional Trail and other pedestrian elements and wall{ability (which are included within the Commission's purview). It is anticipated the planning document will go to each of the boards and commissions for comment, and then to City Council, perhaps as soon as January. As indicated, the purpose of this case is to obtain feedback on Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan, but also to advance the planning activity for several interrelated projects around Center Street —some of which having timelines that require the work to commence soon. A summary of these projects (and a brief description of the interrelatedness) is as follows: Center Street sidewalk(s) in front of the Sapphire building: The city has collected money for the sidewalk/streetscape improvements for a city -lead construction project. The developer has the Sapphire apartment building ready for these improvements. The specific design work for matching the public realm (sidewalk and streetscape) to the adjoining and parallel private sidewalk and building has not been completed. The sidewalk should be constructed in the Spring of 2021 Center Street streetscape/trail (west side) near the interface of the Affinity at Ramsey building and Municipal Plaza: East of the Affinity building is a narrow area of the park, south of a new segment of Ramsey Parkway. This is also the Central Anoka County Regional Trail which is a temporary section of bituminous, with the plan to convert it to concrete, (like the the finished 10' foot concrete trail to the south, parallel to Center Street). The 2020 Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes a proposed project page for this, with some of the preliminary conceptual work done. Municipal Plaza at the interface with Affinity: This area is largely unfinished but does have turf established, but with no irrigation, following the Affinity project's completion. The preliminary concept plans for the park, show a plaza -like extension of the streetscape/trail blending into the park for a usable, programmable space. The final design (to include public furniture, hearth, landscape, for the narrow north portion of the park) should be considered for completion in 2021 to match the Affinity project's edge. This would allow for the irrigation system to be designed for this park area as well. Additionally, the city has the obligation to 'take over' the irrigation for the median swale within the Ramsey Parkway, (this city property is presently being served by the Affinity building at their expense). Completing this specific park area would be of benefit to the future residents who will reside on either side of this space as well as other park patrons, including for Happy Days' programming. .,, Municipal Plaza, south of the above (the larger, Happy Days site):