HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.c. Central Park Expansion Planning StudyAGENDA ITEM: Central Park Expansion Planning Study
AGENDA SECTION:
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Eric Zweber, Senior Planner
AGENDA NO. 2.C•
ATTACHMENTS: Central Park Expansion Alternatives
APPROVED BY:
G
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion Only
4 ROSEMOUNT
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Worksession Date: February 11, 2009
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
The City has been considering improving and /or expanding Central Park for a number of years. The
expansion of the Central Park frontage and access is identified within the Development Framework for
Downtown Rosemount (Framework), which was adopted in July 2004. The Framework identifies the northeast
corner of 145 Street West and South Robert Trail as Crossroads North. The Framework identifies the
importance of expanding the frontage and public access to Central Park, including the possible acquisition
of Polfus Implement and the BP gas station.
The City has applied for funding to expand the park numerous times, including 2004, 2005, and 2008
Livable Communities Demonstration Account grants. Last year, the City received a $20,000 planning
grant from the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA). The grant is a one to one
match, meaning the City contributes $10,000 and the CDA contributes $10,000. The grant was requested
to develop planning alternatives for Central Park including what can be done with only the land that City
currently owns, what can be done if the City acquired the Polfus property but not the BP property, and
what can be done if the City acquired both the Polfus and BP properties.
DISCUSSION
Since receiving the grant, staff has met with the property and business owners of the Polfus and BP
properties, surveyed Central Park and the adjacent properties, developed a number of different design
alternatives, and had the Parks and Recreation Commission review the altematives. Staff has selected five
alternatives that show the potential improvements and /or expansion that can occur at Central Park
including one that uses the property that the City all ready owns (Alternative F), one that requires the
acquisition of only the Polfus property (Alternative D), and three that require the acquisition of both the
Polfus and BP properties (Alternatives A -2, G, and H). Staff would like to review these alternatives with
the City Council and gather their input before scheduling an open house to gather public comment
regarding the alternatives.
Alternative F shows the improvement of Central Park using the property that the City currently owns.
This alternative is dominated by the extension of the bike trail to the pedestrian crossing at Burma Avenue
and 145 Street. This would serve as the beginning to the Interpretive Trail Corridor which is planned to
extend from Downtown Rosemount to the Mississippi River. It is anticipated that a number of the trees
to the east of Polfus would be removed to install the trail and to expand the visibility of the park from
145 Street. It appears that a small easement would need to be acquired from the Polfus property to allow
the alignment of the trail due to the lift station located on the north side of the intersection Burma Avenue
and 145` Street.
The four remaining alternatives all have a number of common features. All four have the bike trail
extended to the pedestrian crossing at Burma Avenue and 145 Street and all four have the entrance of the
parking lot for City Hall and Central Park reconstructed to align with the intersection of Burma Avenue
and 145 Street. Staff has realigned this entrance for two reasons, first to provide a visual corridor along
Burma Avenue that connects Central Park with the Waterford Commons project and second to improve
the safety on 145 Street at the intersections of Burma Avenue and City Hall due to the intersection
offsets. Currently, there are conflicting left turns when a car is turning left onto Burma or into City Hall.
This safety issue is expected to get worse after the Waterford Commons project is open.
Reconstruction of the entrance to City Hall to the intersection of Burma Avenue and 145 Street would
require relocation of the lift station on the north side of the intersection. This lift station serves all of
Downtown Rosemount and the residential neighborhood east of Chippendale Avenue via a sanitary sewer
running under Burma Avenue. It is estimated that relocation of the lift station will cost almost $500,000.
Staff recognizes that there is a substantial cost associated with improving the intersection offsets and the
Council may want to defer this improvement until there is a higher need for the modification.
Alternative D demonstrates what is possible if only the Polfus property is acquired. This alternative shows
a fountain in the center of the former Polfus site with sidewalks connecting to 145th Street and the
existing Central Park. The area between the fountain and City Hall parking lot is intended for a more
active use, while the area to the west of the fountain is more passive with gardens and walking paths.
Alternative G demonstrates what is possible both BP and Polfus are acquired and turned completely into
park. This alternative shows a fountain and gazebo in the center of the acquired land with sidewalks
connecting to South Robert Trail, 145 Street, and the existing Central Park. The areas to the west, south,
and east are intended for a more active use. The area north of the fountain and adjacent to the
neighboring businesses shows an extension of the gardens and walking paths for a more passive use.
Alternatives A -2 and H demonstrate what is possible if both BP and Polfus are acquired and both a park
and commercial building is constructed. Alternative A -2 shows a fountain along South Robert Trail with a
3,000 square foot commercial building along 145 Street and parking behind. This alternative splits the
new fountain area from the existing Central Park but provides a space for a business that may build off of
the Interpretative Trail, such as a bike shop. Alternative H shows a 3,000 square foot building along South
Robert Trail and a fountain directly at the corner of South Robert Trail and 145 Street. Visually, there is
more of a connection between the fountain area and the existing Central Park, but shared parking lot and
access to the commercial building splits the park area in two.
When reviewing these alternatives, they should be viewed more as phased developments of the park than
incompatible alternatives. The City can start with Alternative F today, then expand to Alternative D if
there is an opportunity to acquire Polfus, and then determine which of the three remaining alternatives is
desire when the BP site is acquired. Staff is not looking for the City Council to choose a preferred
alternative to pursue solely, but instead seeking guidance on ways to improve any of the individual
alternatives or if any single alternative should be thrown out. Based on the comments received, staff will
revise the alternative as need and plan for an open house in the near future to gather public comments on
the alternatives.
2
The tentative schedule for the remaining actions to complete the planning grant is as follows:
Open House for Public Comment Early March
Port Authority Review Late March
Parks and Recreation Commission Review Late March
City Council Review and Approval April
RECOMMENDATION
Provide comments or changes to the five Central Park design alternatives and authorize staff to conduct
an open house for the design alternatives.
3
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