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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.b. Parks Master Plan Update � ROSEMQ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting: July 24, 2017 AGENDA ITEM: Parks, Trails and Open Space System AGENDA SECTION: Master Plan —2040 Comprehensive Plan Old Business PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation AGENDA NO. Director 6 b. ATTACHMENTS: Proposed Chapter 2 of Master Plan — APPROVED BY: dls Communi Characteristics RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to move forward with the Chapter 2 —Community Characteristics as presented by staff with updated demographic comparison numbers. ISSUE The City of Rosemount is in the process of working to create oux 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Cities, townships and counties in the seven-county area prepare compxehensive pla,ns as required by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act.The Metropolita.n Council requires cities to upda.te their Comprehensive Plan every ten years, so our most recent plan was a 2030 Comprehensive plan that was adopted in 2009. The Comprehensive Plan defines the e�ected xesidential, commercial and indust�ial development and contains forecasts for population,household and employment gYowth through the year 2040.There are several components that make up the Comprehensive Pla,ns including a chapter on Parks,Recxeation, Trails and Open Space.The City's curxent Parks,Trails and Open Space System Master Plan was completed in 2008 as part of the 2030 Compxehensive Pla.n. Staff expects that the work we will be doing to create a new 2018 Parks Master Pla.n will be only an update to our 2008 pla.n and not a complete rewrite. A majority of the work will be completed in-house by Parks and Recreation staff,with input from the Parks and Recreation Commission and the general public. Sta,ff would like for the Parks and Recreation Commission to the review the Community Characteristics section of the 2008 Master Plan and provide input to staff on possible updates. 2. Community Characteristics Community characteristics are shaped by people and their surroundings. Rosemount is home to active people, good parks, strong schools and solid infrastructure. The regional and local settings, existing parks, description of major stakeholders and partners,and growth forecast are described below. Regional Setting Rosemount is bordered by Apple Valley to the west and by Eagan and Inver Grove Heights to the north. T'hese cities have highly developed park and trail systems. The Mississippi River and Nininger Township form the eastern border of Rosemount. Empire and Vermillion Townships are located to the south of Rosemount. Dakota County Parks is the implementing agency for regional parks and trails in and around Rosemount The locations of the current and proposed county parks,North/South Urban Regional Trail and the Dakota, County Mississippi River Trail are shown on Appendix A Many of the Dakota County Parks are located near Rosemount. Lebanon Hills Regional Park is located on the north border of the city, Spring Lake Park Reserve is located in the northeast corner of Rosemount, Dakota Woods Off Leash Dog park and the new County Park named Whitetail Woods Park are located south of Rosemount in Empire township. Regional Parks such as Lebanon Hills Park, Spring Lake Park Reserve Dakota Woods and Whitetail Woods are designed to provide natural resource based recreation and education opportunities. City of Rosemount In 2017, Rosemount is a developing community of approgimately 23,574 people. The city is located in the east-central portion of Dakota County and on the developing edge of the southeast portion of the Twin City metropolitan area. The western part of the city is largely developed and the eastern portion is devoted primarily to agriculture, open space and industrial uses. The historic downtown area is located around the intersection of TH 3 and 145�Street and contains a mix of business,residenrial,public and institutional uses. Two major land owners, Flint Hills Resources and the University of Minnesota, (U of NIl� own approximately 7,500 acres of land in the city (30% of the area of the city). These areas are primarily undeveloped and contribute to the open and agricultural character of the city. In 2007, Flint Hills Resources has recently donated 57 acres of agricultural land to the City of Rosemount to be used as the site for an athletic faciliry. The primary focus of land use for UMORE Park, the University of Minnesota property in Rosemount, has been agricultural research. The University is currendy looking a developing a portion of their land for residential and industrial development. The UMORE property also is home to the Lone Rock Trail, and the UMORE Property just south of Rosemount is now preserved open space managed by the DNR as a wildlife Management Area. A portion of the UMORE property is being included as an area of development in this master plan. Rosemount High School, Rosemount Middle School, Rosemount Elementary School and Shannon Park Elementary School are part of Independent School District 196 and are all located in Rosemount. The school sites have a number of athletic/recreation facilities that supplement city facilities and are generally available for public use during periods of non-school use. Dakota Counry Technical College (DCTC) is located on County Road 42 near Akron Avenue and has expanded their campus to include recreation and sports facilities for their students and the greater community. In the fall of 2007, Intermediate School District 917 educaring students in grades K-12, constructed a new school in Rosemount. St.Joseph's School is a private I{8 school also in Rosemount that built a new school in 2009. Opportunities to pa.rtner with local educational entities on the development, costs and use of recreational facilities should continued to be aggressively pursued. Rosemount First Baptist Church and School also have outdoor recreation facilities that are currently only used by the church and school. Existing Park System Rosemount currently has 30 parks totaling 540 acres. The parks are located primarily in the western and central portions of the city. The parks and trails provide a wide range of recreation opportunities to Rosemount residents, area employees and visitors. Appendix B contains a map of the egisting parks. A detailed listing of park amenities and an updated parks map are published on a quarterly basis in the City's Parks and Recreation brochure and are also available at the Parks and Recreation Department. Existing Trail System Rosemount's trail system is a well defined combination of internal park trails,trails connecting neighborhoods and county trails. In 2010, the Rosemount Citp Council adopted a Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan that identifies all existing trails and sidewalks in the city,as well as those places in the developed parts of the town where sidewalks and trails are needed. The trails include paved off-street tra.ils, striped on-street bike lanes and unpaved trails in natural areas. Natural Resources The city is home to many natural resources including Schwarz Pond Park,Carrolls'Woods,the Wiklund Preserve and the Mississippi River.You can find oak savanna,oak woodlands,wedands,and small lakes throughout the City.The University of Minnesota and Flint Hills Resources properties have natural resource sites that warrant evaluation and appropriate protection or management in conjunction with any land use changes or significant development.Rosemount has planned for developing greenways and also has identified a connection between Rosemount's downtown and the Mississippi River called the Interpretive Trail Corridor. In essence,the trail is springboard for celebrating several community values.The unique approach to trail design integrates functional use, scenic value,historical and environxnental interpretation,and ecological restoration. The area between Highway 55 and the Mississippi River contains some significant natural resources.Remnant prairie areas, high quality oak forests and flood plain forests are located along the river valley and bluffs. These areas are home to a variety of wildlife including unique species, such as bald eagles and loggerhead shrikes. This area is part of the Mississippi River Critical Area and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (1�TRRA) and has specific land use policies and management strategies to preserve the unique character of the river corridor. In 2006, the City developed a Natural Areas Map that identified the natural resources in Rosemount and was developed to use as a reference tool for preserving or enhancing the resources prior to development. Additional information regarding the environment and natural resources is included in the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Historic and Cultural Resources Rosemount has a rich history with a strong link to agriculture and railroading. Rosemount's variety of transportation connections (river,rail,and highway) spurred industrial development. The Gopher Ordinance Plant was built in the south central part of the city during World War II. The plant was closed and the land 2 was conveyed to the University of Minnesota for an agricultural research center. The property still has physical evidence of its former use in the form of large chimneys, building ruins and other artifacts that are suitable for historic interpretation, education and recreational use. The Gopher Village housing development is located near Biscayne Way Road. Some of the remaining farmsteads reflect Rosemount's agricultural heritage. Other historic resources include the former St.Joseph's Church, which has been converted to a communiry gather space. Demographics Rosemount's population, based on the most recent census conducted in 2010, is younger and has a higher percentage of households with children than the average Twin City metropolitan area community. This has equated to requests for Rosemount to have active park space and activities for youth and adults. Given the high proportion of existing and forecasted single-family homes, the high percentage of families and children is likely to continue as the community grows.The Minnesota League of Cities states that it has been estimated that by the year 2040,there will be more retires than school aged children. Table 2.a—2000 Demographic Comparison'�NEEDS TO BE UPDATED with 2010 census date'� 2000 Twin Ciry Metropolitan Census Cate o Ci of Rosemount Area Avera e Median a e 313 ears 34.3 ears Avera e ersons er household 3.08 2.53 %of households with children 54% 35% %of households w/residents over a e 65 12% 17.3% %of owner occu ied housin 88.3% 71.4% Source: US Census 2000 Forecasted Growth- By 2040, the population of Rosemount is predicted to reach approximately 38,000. These new residents will create a demand for municipal services including parks, trails, schools and open space. As the city continues to develop, additional needs will be created by commercial, industrial, business park and other types of development. As the land available for development diminishes, the recreational and open space opportunities available on the Flint Hills Resources and University of Minnesota properties will become increasingly valuable. Table 2.b—Growth Forecast Year Po ulation 2020 25,900 2030 31,700 2040 38,000 3