HomeMy WebLinkAboutChapter 3 - Land Use - FINAL MC doneRosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
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CHAPTER 3: LAND USE
LAND USE SUMMARY
ROSEMOUNT LAND USE PLANNING
Introductory Statements:
Rosemount last completed a major update to its Comprehensive Plan in 2009. The 2009 Plan was
preceded by planning efforts to plan for continued growth and development within the City,
especially for areas north of Bonaire Path and east of Akron Avenue. Since the 2009 Plan was
adopted, the City has seen significant residential growth in the areas around the Akron Avenue and
County Road 42 intersection and northeast of downtown Rosemount. Prior to development of
these areas, the City conducted community planning efforts focused on specific growth areas (the
42-52 Plan and Akron Avenue Area AUAR in particular) that served as a basis for a significant
portion of the land use changes adopted as part of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update.
New commercial development in the ten years since the last major plan revision has been focused
on the downtown area or the commercial corridor south and southeast of the downtown. The City
continues to plan for new commercial growth along the County Road 42 corridor at key
intersections adjacent to South Robert Trail and Akron Avenue, with the expectation that new
residential development in these areas will increase demand for goods and services on a local and
regional level.
Industrial land uses take up the largest amount of the City’s developed land, with heavy industrial
users such as Flint Hills Resources and CF Industries occupying large areas in the eastern portion of
the City. The City’s updated land use plan continues to recognize these areas as important for
promoting regional economic activity, but does not call for further expansion of heavy industrial
uses into new areas. The City is planning for new business park and light industrial uses east of
Akron Avenue to help serve as a transition between the heavy industrial users and planned
commercial and residential areas.
The economic downturn of the late 2000’s has had a significant impact on the pace and demand for
new development over the past decade, which has altered the expected timing of development
within certain areas in Rosemount. The City has seen a fairly consistent level of development over
the past decade; however, this development has taken the form of predominately single family
housing. City-wide, the available supply of developable land has steadily diminished over this time
frame. Two new growth areas are expected to accommodate new development in the next two
decades; the University of Minnesota’s UMore Park property and the largely undeveloped southeast
portion of the City. While most of the City’s growth between 2020 and 2040 is expected to occur
east of US Highway 52, the timing of such growth could be impacted if the University of Minnesota
proceeds with development of its Rosemount land.
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Starting in early 2016, the City began making preparations for updating the 2030 Comprehensive
Plan, and started the process with a community meeting in February of 2016. In addition to
updating the background socioeconomic and demographic information for the land use plan, the
City elected to focus on three specific planning areas. The areas chosen for further review represent
those sections of the City that are either expected to see the most pressure for land use change
within the time frame of the Comprehensive Plan or where there is an interest in promoting high
quality development or redevelopment. The three planning areas included the North Central Rural
Area, Southeast Planning Area, and Downtown Rosemount. Each of these areas will present
different planning challenges in the future and warrant special consideration. To help provide
opportunities for more intensive public feedback related to each of the smaller planning areas, the
City established a task force comprised of Planning Commissioners and affected stakeholders that
met on a regular basis to discuss future land use issues for each area. A brief summary of these area
planning efforts is as follows:
• North Central Rural Area . The potential for expansion of the City’s transitional residential
land use category east of Robert Trail South and north of 130th Street was the focus of
discussions within this planning area. In addition, the City also reviewed the potential to
extend urban services into the study area, noting that most of the area would likely be served
outside the timeframe of this Plan. The City Council ultimately decided to keep the rural
residential land use designation with the understanding that this may be a future discussion
topic as urban development starts to move toward this neighborhood from the southeast.
Care should be taken to consider this area when sizing infrastructure in contiguous
developing land. The City of Rosemount recognizes the unique rural and natural qualities of
this land located between the urbanized portions of Rosemount and urban development in
adjacent communities located further north. Areas that were previously guided transitional
residential will keep this designation, with a slight expansion of this designation to the north,
along the west side of Bacardi Avenue.
• Southeast Planning Area . A significant portion of the City’s future growth between now
and 2040 is planned for the area east of US Highway 52 and south of County Road 42.
There are roughly 4,000 acres of predominately undeveloped/agricultural land in this part of
the City, and the future land use plan allocates a large portion of this agricultural land for
future growth. The updated land use plan pushes residential development north to County
Road 42, with a mixture of regional commercial, business park, and light industrial uses
north of the county highway. The timing for extension of public services across US
Highway 52 will play a key role in determining when development will occur. Maintaining
land in urban reserve while allowing some reasonable interim uses prior to the extension of
services will be a key issue for this planning neighborhood. The City should evaluate the
interim uses permitted for the area so their implementation does not significantly delay
reasonable, orderly development.
• Downtown Rosemount. In advance of the Comprehensive Plan update, the City formed a
task force comprised of Planning Commissioners, City Council Members, Port Authority
Members, and Downtown stakeholders to update the 2004 Downtown Framework Plan.
The updated plan helps establish the City’s preferences for future growth and redevelopment
in the Downtown, while providing a common vision for those interested in investing in the
Downtown. The study built on the City’s successful prior redevelopment efforts, including
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the South Robert Trail Library, Steeple Center, Waterford mixed use project, and senior
housing projects that have helped revitalize Downtown. The plan ultimately supports the
continued use of a downtown mixed used zoning classification that will encourage a variety
of commercial, residential, and pubic uses in the Downtown.
Perhaps the most significant departure from the City’s previous land use plans is inclusion of land in
UMore Park (University of Minnesota) within the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA)
boundary and removal of the Agricultural Research designation for much of the university property
outside of the interim use large scale mining area. The updated land use plan recognizes that
portions of the University property will likely be developed within the time frame of the Plan;
however, the City will be tracking growth and development within UMore separately from other
portions of the City. The overall plan for land uses within the UMore Park property is the result of
many years of planning discussions between the City of Rosemount and the University of
Minnesota, which culminated in the preparation of an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR)
for the entire property (land within Empire Township land is also included in the review). The
AUAR for UMore was completed in 2013 and updated in 2018, and anticipates a wide mix of uses
and activities throughout the site. The City’s future land use map provides a more generalized
allocation of lands uses than the AUAR, with a predominately business park land use pattern east of
the Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) and residential land uses west of the college. Large
Scale Mineral Extraction was approved as a 40-year interim use on large portions of the property.
All mining and reclamation in the northern dry mining area must be completed by the end of 2028.
Purpose of Land Use Plan
The Land Use Chapter serves as the guiding document concerning the use and development of land
within the City of Rosemount. This chapter has been drafted to comply with the City’s obligations
under the Minnesota Land Use Planning Act and plans for growth and development of the City out
to 2040 (with specific system plans using projections that extend beyond this date). The overarching
purpose of the plan is to:
• Plan for provision of efficient and cost-effective public services for Rosemount residents
and businesses.
• Accommodate anticipated future growth according to the 2040 Met Council Regional
Framework.
• Provide an overall guide for the other plan elements associated with the 2040 Rosemount
Comprehensive Plan.
Land Use Goals and Policies
Early in the process of updating its land use plan, the City of Rosemount established a series of goals
and policies to help guide this work and to clearly state the primary objectives for the plan. These
goals and policies are listed as follows in no particular order of importance:
1) Manage the rate of development that occurs within the City.
a. Discourage the development of property that would require the extension of urban
services through undeveloped properties.
b. Deny the subdivision or rezoning of land that lacks adequate infrastructure,
including as collector streets, public utilities, parks, or public safety services.
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2) Ensure that interim uses allow for productive use of land before development occurs
without preventing or inhibiting the orderly development of land.
a. Existing mineral extraction operations shall be required to have an approved
reclamation plan that allows development to occur per the Land Use,
Transportation, Utilities, and Parks and Open Space Elements.
b. Asphalt plants, concrete recycling, and similar potentially incompatible interim uses
shall be adequately screened, buffered, and/or located as far from residential
property as possible and may be required to relocate prior to the development of
nearby residential property consistent with the Land Use Plan.
c. Discourage interim uses from locating within the 2030 MUSA.
3) Create specific neighborhood plans to guide the development expected in unique areas of
the City.
a. Implement the Development Framework for Downtown Rosemount updated in
2017 and the South Urban Gateway Analysis for Reinvestment Study (SUGAR)
b. Work with the University of Minnesota and its consultants and/or development
partners to create a plan for the potential mixed-use redevelopment of the UMore
Park property, generally consistent with the development scenarios included in the
2013 AUAR.
c. Create a specific area plan for development of the land surrounding the intersection
of US Highway 52 and County Road 42.
d. Consider drafting additional specific area plans as opportunities with large land
owners become available or if residential development is imminent east of US
Highway 52.
e. Encourage the preparation of environmental review documents to evaluate large
land areas for environment and infrastructural impacts and identify potential ways to
mitigate these impacts before development occurs.
4) Provide appropriate land uses to create a diversified economy.
a. Encourage the development of office buildings within the Business Park and
Community Commercial designations to provide a high intensity of employees and
tax base per acre.
b. The four Heavy Industrial businesses within the City shall submit Planned Unit
Developments to the City that illustrate any future development plans for their
businesses.
c. The Heavy Industrial business shall only be expanded within the currently zoned
and guided Heavy Industrial property, in conformance with an adopted Planned
Unit Development.
5) Expand opportunities for shopping and jobs for Rosemount residents.
a. Guide land for commercial development at key nodes along County Road 42,
including intersections at Business Parkway, Biscayne Avenue, 145th Street, Akron
Avenue, and Emery Avenue.
b. Promote regional commercial uses at the intersection of US Highway 52 and County
Road 42 to take advantage of the significant traffic volumes and high visibility at this
intersection.
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6) Maintain Downtown as the commercial and social center of the community.
a. Promote opportunities for redevelopment of existing downtown sites for
commercial, office, retail, and mixed use projects consistent with the 2017
Development Framework for Downtown
b. Provide improvements to encourage pedestrian access and connections to adjacent
neighborhoods and develop connections between Central Park and the rest of
Downtown.
c. Require new development and redevelopment to adhere to design standards to help
maintain a sense of community while proving flexibility to encourage business
variety.
d. Consider improvements that enhance the sense of place and recognize the unique
qualities of the City’s historic commercial center.
7) Provide appropriate transitions between land uses.
a. General Industrial land uses should not be located next to residential development.
Topography, landscaping, less intense land uses, or other forms of buffering shall be
used to transition between General Industrial land and residential, recreational, or
institutional land uses.
b. The area north of Bonaire Path West, west of Bacardi Avenue, and south of 130th
Street West will be allowed to develop as urban low density residential with the
expectation that the densities in this area will transition from higher in the southeast
to lower in the northwest.
c. The City will consider expansion of the MUSA into the transitional residential area if
residents request the expansion or if there are septic system failures that create health
and environmental concerns.
d. Landscaping, topography, additional setbacks, or other forms of buffering shall be
used between incompatible land uses and along major collector or arterial street
frontages.
8) Encourage connections between different portions of the community and promote a unified
vision for Rosemount.
a. Create a trail connection across US Highway 52 that ties into the regional and local
trail systems east and west of the highway.
b. Incorporate design elements into streets, boulevards, and other public spaces that
provide a unified theme throughout the community.
9) Identify areas for preservation of rural land uses outside of urban growth areas and provide a
reasonable transition from rural to urban uses within the City’s growth areas.
a. Existing rural residential areas in the northwest portion of the City will retain this
classification, and the City will not plan to extend public water and sewer services
into this area. An existing area of transitional residential between Dodd Boulevard
and Robert Trail South and in the vicinity of 128th Street West will remain due to the
small size of the lots in this area.
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b. Land that has been acquired by Flint Hills Resources as a buffer area north of
Bonaire Path and east of Akron Avenue will be guided for agricultural use, with
larger areas within the buffer used for farming or left as open space. There is no
expectation to reguide to industrial or permit expansion of the refinery use.
10) Encourage the redevelopment of blighted, nuisance, contaminated, or underdeveloped
property.
a. Work with Dakota County Environmental Management, the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency, Metropolitan Council, Department of Employment and Economic
Development, or other applicable agencies to leverage funds, resources, and
expertise to redevelop property with environmental concerns.
b. Work with the University of Minnesota, the Department of the Army, Dakota
County Environmental Management, and other applicable agencies to ensure that
UMore Park and the former Gopher Ordnance Works have environmental issues
addressed with any potential UMore Park development.
c. Use the resources available to the City through its City Council and Port Authority to
redevelop blighted, nuisance, contaminated, or underdeveloped property.
d. Encourage the creation of Development Response Action Plans (DRAP) per the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency guidelines for former dumps and other
properties with environmental concerns.
11) Encourage and promote sustainable development, green building, and resource
conservation.
a. Consider requiring green building standards or energy conservation practices for
developments that receive public funding and/or assistance.
b. Provide education and resources to residents and businesses about available energy
conservation and resource management measures.
c. Encourage the use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED),
Minnesota GreenStar, Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines, EnergyStar, or
other sustainable building practices during development.
LAND USE FORECASTS
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL COMMUNITY DESIGNATION
Rosemount Designation
The Metropolitan Council updates its 30-year forecast for the Twin Cities metropolitan area at least
once every decade, and the most recent forecast is part of the Council’s regional development
planning process known as Thrive MSP 2040. With this forecasting work, each community is given
a general community designation. Community designations group jurisdictions with similar
characteristics for the application of regional policies. The Council uses community designations to
guide regional growth and development; establish land use expectations including overall
development densities and patterns; outline the respective roles of the Council and individual
communities, and develop strategies for planning for forecasted growth.
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All of Rosemount is designated as “Emerging Suburban Edge” under the regional development
framework. Emerging Suburban Edge communities include cities, townships and portions of both
that are in the early stages of transitioning into urbanized development. Emerging Suburban Edge
communities are expected to plan for forecasted population and household growth at average
densities of at least 3-5 units per acre for new development and redevelopment. In addition,
Emerging Suburban Edge communities are expected to target opportunities for more intensive
development near regional transit investments at higher densities and in a manner articulated in the
Metropolitan Council’s 2040 Transportation Policy Plan. This designation represents a change from
the 2030 framework when Rosemount was split between “developing area” and “agricultural area”.
Some of the major planning and policy considerations associated with this designation that are
carried forward throughout the land use plan include the following:
• Plan and stage development for forecasted growth through 2040 and beyond at overall
average net densities of at least 3-5 dwelling units per acre. The future land use table and
other supporting information documents that the City is projected to achieve a net density
of 3.71 units per acre for projected growth between 2020 and 2030 and 3.14 units per acre in
the subsequent decade for land that has been guided for sewered residential development
since the 2020 land use plan (outside of the UMore area). As noted later, the overall density
projected is 3.44 units per acre. Including potential residential development within UMore,
these numbers decrease slightly to 3.44 and 3.06 respectfully, but are still above the 3 units
per acre threshold. With the UMore property included, the total density estimate is 3.27
units per acre. Map 3.7 describes the areas used to determine these densities. Table 3.6
includes calculations for all residential property guided for development since the 2020 land
use plan.
• Target higher-intensity developments in areas with better access to regional sewer and
transportation infrastructure, connections to local commercial activity centers, transit
facilities, and recreational amenities. The land use plan update provides opportunities for
commercial, medium, and high density residential development at various nodes along the
County Road 42 and County Road 46 corridors that align with the intersection of collector
roads.
• Identify and protect an adequate supply of land to accommodate growth for future
development up to and beyond 2040. The City’s MUSA boundary has been staged to
accommodate all growth projected in each 10 year planning period based on the low end of
the density range in the Plan. Development areas beyond 2040 have been included in the
City’s plans to account for the ultimate building out of all land included within the
Metropolitan Council’s urban reserve area.
• Plan for infrastructure needed to support growth. The City’s system plans have been
developed using the land use plan for guidance to establish the timing and location of future
growth. The system plans reference the City’s post-2040 land use plan noted above.
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General Implications of Metropolitan Council Designation
The City has planned for new residential development to meet or exceed a minimum of three units
per acre. This density is achieved through a mix of residential land use classifications that are
intended to provide a high degree of flexibility for the City and developers. While future residential
development in Rosemount is expected to maintain the historical pattern of predominately single
family homes on individual lots, the City has incorporated several areas of medium and high density
residential land uses in strategic locations with the expectation that on average the City’s overall
residential growth will exceed three units per acre. Furthermore, while the primary future
development may continue to be single family dwelling units, the City anticipates differing lot sizes
and development patterns that will provide variety, affordability and density.
Under the previous land use plan, the City provided a detailed analysis of the amount of vacant land
that was guided for urban development as part of the 2020 Plan but had yet to be developed. This
land was then removed from the City’s overall density calculations because the Metropolitan Council
had not established minimum density requirements up to that point in time. The City further
demonstrated that all residential development subsequent to the 2020 plan would conform to the
expected range of 3-5 units per acre. In order to simplify this analysis for the 2040 Plan, the City is
estimating that the revised future land use plan (Figure 3.4) guides 1,286 acres for sewered residential
development that was not previously planned for urban residential development in the 2020 plan.
Across the entire 1,286 acres, the City is projecting an average net density of 3.47 units per acre
(outside of UMore).
The City also amended its 2030 land use plan in 2015 to update the density ranges for the medium,
and high density residential land uses in order to better align with the classifications used by the
Metropolitan Council. These changes are carried forward into the current plan. Specifically, the
City increased the medium density residential category from 5-10 units per acre to 6-12 units per
acre. The high density category was revised from 10-24 units per acre to 12-30 units per acre. The
low density residential category was not amended at that time; however, the 2040 land use plan
adjusts the high end of the density range for this category from 5 to 6 units per acre. The City has
further adjusted the low end of the LDR classification from 1 to 1.5 units per acre to better match
the current market conditions and historical densities seen in Rosemount while still providing
flexibility for different types of single family neighborhoods in the community.
The overall housing projections will be further evaluated in the housing chapter in order to
demonstrate compliance with the City’s affordable housing requirements. Historically, the City has
provided both an overall net density for all residential development, and a density that is projected
out in five year increments based on estimates developed by the Planning Department. The updated
plan will provide projections in ten-year increments using a similar methodology to that used in the
previous plan. These projections illustrate that the City will meet or exceed the household and
population projections in its 2015 System Statement.
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Regional Issues
The type of development, and mix of development types, expected to occur in Rosemount between
now and 2040 is consistent for a community at the edge of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area. On a
regional level, a large number of Rosemount residents are connected to shopping and job
opportunities west and north of the City. As Rosemount continues to grow, the City would like to
see more of these commercial services and job centers located within the City. Connectivity to the
greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area is important for Rosemount, and will be a significant issue as the
City expands further to the east and south.
The transition from rural to urban is also an important planning consideration for Rosemount,
especially as new growth occurs east of US Highway 52 in areas that are far removed from existing
developed neighborhoods and services. Locally, maintaining the small town feel people enjoy will
be harder as the community continues to expand eastward. The City will continue to pursue
opportunities to address neighborhood connectivity and community cohesion when considering
future development and community planning.
2040 FORECAST
General Observations
According to the 2010 Census, the City of Rosemount had a population of 21,874 people within
7,587 households. This represents an increase of 7,255 people and 2,845 households from the 2000
census. Using data from the City of Rosemount Building Division, the City created an additional
1,257 housing units between 2010 and 2019, resulting in a January 1, 2019 household count of 8,844
and an estimated population of 24,866. This represents estimated growth of 2,992 people over the
nine-year time span
While these numbers represent a fairly steady rate of growth, it is slower than previous decades.
Population growth was impacted by the recession of the late 2000’s and also by gradual reductions
in the average household size. Due to these and other factors, Rosemount remains 500 units short
of the Met Council’s 2020 projections for households, although development in the intervening
years should help close this gap.
The City’s updated population, household, and employment forecasts are found in Table 3.1.
Households and population are expected to increase on a linear basis after 2020; employment
growth is expected to occur as new development areas are made available and will therefore coincide
with the projected residential growth.
TABLE 3.1: METROPOLITAN COUNCIL FORECASTS
2010 2019 2020 2030 2040
Population 21,874 24,866 25,900 31,700 38,000
Households 7,587 8,844 9,300 11,600 14,000
Employment 6,721 7,176* 9,900 11,500 13,100
Sources: Met Council, Rosemount Planning, *Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2018 Q4)
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UMore Projections
Although the City is guiding large portions of land within the UMore Park area for urban
development and including these areas within the 2040 MUSA boundary, all such areas are being
tracked separately for purposes of documenting the City’s future population, household, and
employment forecasts. The above forecast table therefore does not include any projections for
growth and development within the UMore area. If development occurs within UMore over the
next decade, it is expected to reduce demand for development east of US Highway 52 which would
likely delay growth and land absorption in that part of the City.
There are 745 acres of land east of US Highway 52 guided for residential purposes within the 2040
MUSA, compared to 901 acres within UMore guided for similar uses within the 2040 MUSA. Full
build out within either of these areas individually will not require any modification to the City’s
regional growth forecast; however, if the City experiences demand for service extensions and
development east of US Highway 52 in conjunction with development within UMore, the City will
revisit its growth forecasts and request modifications to the regional forecast at that time.
Taking into account all of the UMore land included within the 2040 MUSA, the City is estimating
that there is the capacity to accommodate 2,700 additional households and an additional 2,500 jobs
above the 2040 regional forecast consistent with the areas identified for residential and non-
residential development on the Future Land Use Map.
The proposed MUSA boundaries and future development areas indicate that the City has sufficient
land guided to accommodate its share of the regional growth as dictated by the Metropolitan
Council’s regional forecasts.
Other Observations – Implications of Regional Forecast
In comparing the City’s 2040 projections to the previous Land Use Plan, the overall population and
household numbers have been moderately decreased from the 2030 Plan. The reduction accounts
for the economic downturn at the start of the previous decade that significantly reduced demand for
new housing units throughout the metropolitan region. The updated forecast essentially delays the
projected growth under the previous plan out an additional ten years (for instance, the 2020 MUSA
boundary becomes the 2030 MUSA). The City will need to accommodate an additional 5,385
households between now and 2040 as part of its Land Use Plan. This amount is in line with
projections from the 2030 Plan, but now pushes this growth out to 2040.
In order to determine the amount of land needed for new growth and development, the City will be
focusing on land within the 2030 MUSA boundary that is either vacant or undeveloped at present in
addition to areas within the 2040 MUSA boundary (which are predominately agricultural lands). The
City does not need to add a large amount of new residential land to accommodate the household
projections through 2040 because the forecasts are somewhat lower than under the previous Plan.
Projected growth between 2019 and 2040 is consistent with the City’s historical growth trends dating
back to the 1980’s (with a moderate leveling-off in the 2010’s) as illustrated in the following chart.
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CHART 3.1: HISTORIC AND PROJECTED POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD GROWTH
Under the previous plan, the City presented an analysis that examined projections using the low end
of each type of residential land use in addition to numbers that were derived from actual platting and
development data for the City. This approach was helpful for determining the actual household
projections for the City based on past development trends. The present plan adapts this
methodology by only using the low end of the density range to project future housing growth while
removing land that was guided for residential development prior to 2020 from these calculations. In
order to ensure Rosemount complies with the minimum density requirement there is additional land
designated to accommodate medium and high density development. With this revision, the City
projects overall residential densities will exceed 3 units per area between 2020 and 2040.
As a community at the edge of the metropolitan area’s urban growth boundary, Rosemount’s
municipal boundary includes a large area that is part of the urban reserve – areas that are planned for
future urban services and development but outside of the time frame of the 2040 Plan. To help plan
for this long-range growth, the City has developed an ultimate build out map that will be used for
long-range planning purposes. This map includes all future development areas beyond the 2040
scope of the official future land use map, and is included as an exhibit in the Water Resources
chapters of the Plan. The City will require minimum lot densities of 1 house per 40 acres within the
urban reserve area to retain this land for the City’s future growth needs beyond 2040.
Socioeconomics/General Demographic Issues
The Community Context Chapter of this Plan identifies several significant trends that will influence
the City’s land use plan, highlighted by the following general themes:
• As the City’s population continues to age, demand for alternatives to detached single-family
housing units that allow for “aging in place” is expected to increase. Differing housing styles
and densities will allow residents to stay within Rosemount rather than looking elsewhere for
their housing needs.
• While the population continues to get older, the City has seen a loss of younger residents in
the 18-30 age bracket. Housing affordability is a key component of retaining and attracting
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this age group within the community, which at present is hampered by a relatively small
supply of housing that is affordable at lower income levels.
• The majority of workers commute out of the City to find employment; the City would like to
retain more of these workers within the City by increasing the supply of locally available
jobs.
• As land development opportunities continue to diminish in surrounding communities, the
demand for vacant land in Rosemount is expected to increase. The pace of growth within
the City is expected to increase as new development moves further out from the central part
of the region.
The plan update reflects the need for additional medium density and high density residential
development opportunities to provide for alternative housing arrangements for a changing
population and to provide more opportunities for housing that is affordable for residents. The
higher densities will also be necessary to maintain the City’s overall residential densities within the 3-
5 units per acre range, to accommodate the expected demand for different housing types, and to
meet the City’s obligations to plan for affordable housing.
Finding areas for high density residential development has proven challenging for the City if
property is not already guided for such use in existing developed areas. To ensure there are
opportunities for lifecycle and affordable housing, additional areas of high and medium density
residential land will be set aside in specific areas in the Land Use Plan.
EXISTING LAND USE
EXISTING LAND USES
Existing land uses within Rosemount can generally be categorized across three major geographic
areas: the western urbanized area, eastern industrial area, and southern agricultural area. The urban
area includes a range of different residential densities, retail commercial and businesses, and the
public and institutional uses that form the fabric of the community. The industrial east side is
concentrated north of County Road 42 and on both sides of US Highway 52. The agricultural area
is predominately located south of County Road 42 and east of Biscayne Avenue with a smaller
extension of agricultural land north of County Road 42 between Akron Avenue and Rich Valley
Boulevard (all of the land owned by the University of Minnesota within UMore Park falls under this
category).
The City’s existing land uses as of 2016 are summarized on the generalized land table below (Table
3.2) along with a comparison to the amount of land devoted to each land use category in 2005. The
table includes data from the Metropolitan Council and Metro GIS used to track land uses
throughout the metro area. This information is aggregated across the entire City, and individual
categories are summarized on a more generalized level than the City’s land use plan. Unused areas
within large residential lots and underutilized commercial and industrial lots are considered
undeveloped land. The City does not classify land that cannot be developed under current zoning
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requirements to be undeveloped, hence the difference in reporting between this and the future land
use section.
TABLE 3.2: EXISTING LAND USE – METROPOLITAN COUNCIL AND METRO GIS
2005 2016
Land Use Acres Acres Percent Percent
Change
Single Family Detached 2,555 2,936 13.0% 14.9%
Multifamily/SF Attached 320 415 1.8% 29.7%
Farmstead 160 94 0.4% -41.3%
Office, Retail, Commercial 140 157 0.7% 12.1%
Mixed Use 35 44 0.2% 25.7%
Industrial and Utility 1,700 1,802 8.0% 6.0%
Extractive 180 393 1.7% 188.3%
Institutional 375 417 1.9% 11.2%
Park, Recreational or Preserve 910 1,088 4.8% 19.6%
Major Highway 335 323 1.4% -3.6%
Railway 50 50 0.2% 0%
Open Water 1,155 1,158 5.1% 0.3%
Agriculture 9,270 8,312 36.9% -10.3%
Undeveloped Land 5,365 5,342 23.7% -0.4%
Total 22,550 22,531 100.0% -
Land Available for Development
Part of the City’s analysis of existing land uses includes a review of land that is available for
development. The purpose of this work is twofold: 1) to develop an accurate projection of land
currently available for development in order to identify the amount of new land that will be needed
to accommodate the City’s growth projections and 2) to provide a baseline to use in determining
compliance with the Metropolitan Council’s minimum density requirements. In terms of the latter,
the City is expected to guide future residential land at a minimum average density of 3 units per acre
across the entire City, however, land that was guided for residential development as part of the 2020
or earlier plans is exempt from this requirement.
To simplify this analysis, the City is estimating that there are 720 acres of land included within the
2030 MUSA that were not previously guided for sewered development in 2020. This analysis does
not account for any land re-guided since the 2020 plan, west of Akron Avenue, and does not take
into account any planned residential development within the downtown area. The primary
difference between the 2020 and 2030/2040 land use plans is the addition of new residential areas
east of Akron Avenue and north of County Road 42, and east of US Highway 52 and south of
County Road 42.
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
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Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-16
As part of the 2020 land use plan, the City created a medium density residential category (which was
not used in previous plans), and applied this guidance to several townhouse developments west of
Akron Avenue. Rosemount subsequently approved a series of land use plan amendments that
decreased the overall area guided for medium density residential in response to the significant
reduction in the demand for townhouses after 2008. With the 2040 Plan, the City has added new
areas of medium and high density residential to off-set these previous reductions, and expects the
townhouse and multi-family market to continue to rebound from the previous decade’s economic
downturn.
TABLE 3.3: CURRENT LAND USE AREAS FOR DEVELOPED AND UNDEVELOPED LAND
Land Use Designation Land Use
Abbreviation
Developed
Land Area
(Acres)
Undeveloped
Land
Area* (Acres)
Total Land
Area (Acres)
Agriculture AG 0 3,811 3,811
Agricultural Research AGR 0 3,103 3,103
Rural Residential RR 1,196 610 1,806
Transitional Residential TR 763 30 793
Low Density Residential LDR 2,706 1,408 4,114
Medium Density Residential MDR 248 350 598
High Density Residential HDR 68 90 158
Downtown DT 13 51 64
Commercial C 205 734 939
Business Park BP 228 1,231 1,459
Light Industrial LI 45 460 505
General Industrial GI 2,485 370 2,855
Waste Management WM 238 0 238
Public/Institutional PI 408 0 408
Parks and Open Space PO 0 721 721
Floodplain (and River) FP 960 0 960
Total Land Uses 9,563 12,969 22,532
* Land that was guided for development but has not yet developed since the plan adoption. Rural residential parcels over 7.5 acres are
considered undeveloped.
The above chart examines the amount of land within the City that is developed or undeveloped at
present (generally defined as land available to accommodate future growth or that has been re-
guided from the current land use) that is also located within the 2040 MUSA boundary. The chart
uses the City’s future land use designations (as opposed to the Metropolitan Council/Metro GIS
current land use classification system) in order to provide a better frame of reference for an analysis
of the City’s future land use plan.
Nearly all of the land conversion from vacant/agricultural land to developed land since 2009 has
occurred in the area east of Bacardi Avenue, north of County Road 42, west of Akron Avenue, and
south of Bonaire Path. This is within the area that was guided for residential development in the
2020 plan prior to the establishment of the Met Council’s minimum density levels.
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-17
Development Trends
A considerable portion of the growth and development within Rosemount over the past decade has
occurred in residential areas, with corresponding losses in agricultural land. There were modest
increases across the commercial, industrial, and institutional categories, and significant increases in
extractive uses both in terms of total land devoted to and the overall percentage increase of these
uses.
Looking forward, the City expects to see a continued transition of agricultural areas and vacant land
to residential uses, but also anticipates that there will be a much greater level of commercial and
industrial development focused on the County Road 42 corridor, UMore business park area, and the
Highway 42/52 intersection.
EXISTING REGIONAL PARKS, PARK PRESERVES AND SPECIAL
RECREATION FEATURES
Regional Park Acknowledgment
The City’s Land Use Plan acknowledges that there are several regional parks and greenway areas
either located within or near the City boundary as follows:
• A portion of Spring Lake Park is located within the eastern portion of Rosemount along the
Mississippi River. The park is guided for Parks/Open Space on the City’s future land use
map.
• Lebanon Hills Regional Park is located immediately north of the City’s boundary with Eagan
in the northwest part of the City. No portion of the park extends into Rosemount.
• Whitetail Woods Regional Park is located approximately two miles south of the City in
Empire Township.
• The planned Rosemount Greenway, Vermillion Highlands, and Mississippi River regional
trails all wind through Rosemount. The City’s Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan
incorporates the regional trails as part the City’s plans.
Map 3.3 identifies these recreation and greenway features. Those portions of the regional park
system that are located within the City boundaries have been guided as part and open space on the
Future Land Use Map. The trails and greenway corridors are included in the City’s Park and Open
Space Plan. The City will continue to work with land owners and developers to address regional
trail alignments with new development proposals.
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-18
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-19
FUTURE LAND USE
FUTURE LAND USE
Planned Land Uses – 2040
The Future Land Use Plan shows two MUSA boundaries: a 2030 MUSA describing those areas
expected to develop before 2030 and a 2040 MUSA for lands expected to develop between 2031
and 2040. The 2030 MUSA includes the currently developed areas of Rosemount; the developable
land north of County Road 42 and west of US Highway 52; the general industrial land south of
Minnesota Highway 55; and the land surrounding the intersection of County Road 42 and US
Highway 52. The 2040 MUSA includes the general industrial land between Minnesota Highway 55
and Pine Bend Trail; the industrial and commercial land south along US Highway 52 and east along
County Road 42; and residential property located approximately one mile east of US Highway 52
and three quarters of a mile south of County Road 42.
In order to accommodate the City’s projected land use needs out to 2030, the land use plan increases
the amount of land for development in the southeast portion of the City by moving the 2030 MUSA
line outward from the 2020 boundary depicted on previous Plans. The boundary of the 2040
MUSA has been left in the same location as earlier plans since the City’s expected residential growth
up to the year 2040 can be accommodated within this area.
Compared to previous plans, the updated Future Land Use Map reduces the amount of land that has
been guided for business park development primarily by extending residential development in the
southeast part of the City to County Road 42. The City is planning on a transition from High and
Medium Density Residential areas adjacent to County Road 42 to areas of Low Density Residential
further to the south. The general arrangement of uses in the southeast part of the City is consistent
with the 2030 Land Use Plan and the 42-52 Corridor Plan prior to this.
Other major highlights of the Future Land Use Map include the following:
• Continued implementation of the master development plans for the Akron Avenue/County
Road 42 area, including commercial development along the highway corridor and additional
townhouse and multi-family development east of Akron Avenue.
• Establishment of a regional commercial node at the intersection of County Road 42 and US
Highway 52 and a community commercial center at the Minnesota Highway 55 and County
Road 42 intersection.
• The guiding of land east of Akron Avenue and north and south of County Road 42 for
Business Park development.
• Preservation of the north central and northwest portion of the City for Rural Residential
development.
The City of Rosemont will continue to plan for transitional land uses around the heavy industrial
and manufacturing areas in the eastern portion of the City, and specifically around large businesses
such as Flint Hills Resources, CF Industrials, Spectro Alloys, and other larger users in this area.
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-20
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-21
The City is not planning any further expansion of land guided for general industrial uses, and within
these areas, Heavy Industrial zoning is limited to the developed areas of the four heavy industrial
businesses.
TABLE 3.4: PLANNING LAND USE TABLE
Land
Use
Res
Min
(upa)
Res
Max
(upa)
2020 % of
land
2030 % of
land
2040 % of
land
Full
Build-
out
% of
land
Agriculture n/a 0.025 5,340 23.7% 5,006 22.2% 3,811 16.9% 2,282 10.1%
Agriculture
Research*
n/a 0.025 3,200 14.2% 3,103 13.8% 3,103 13.8% 1,079 4.8%
Rural Residential n/a 0.2 1,828 8.1% 1,803 8.0% 1,803 8.0% 1,803 8.0%
Transitional
Residential
n/a .2 or
.33
930 4.1% 793 3.5% 793 3.5% 793 3.5%
Low Density
Residential
1.5 6 3,391 15.0% 3,729 16.5% 4,113 18.3% 6,077 27.0%
Medium Density
Residential
6 12 290 1.3% 463 2.1% 598 2.7% 1,052 4.7%
High Density
Residential
12 30 110 0.5% 130 0.6% 158 0.7% 253 1.1%
Downtown* 20 40 64 0.3% 64 0.3% 64 0.3% 64 0.3%
Neighborhood
Commercial
14 0.1% 11 0.0% 11 0.0% 54 0.2%
Community
Commercial
370 1.6% 373 1.7% 591 2.6% 654 2.9%
Regional
Commercial
366 1.6% 340 1.5% 340 1.5% 340 1.5%
Business Park 845 3.8% 1,030 4.6% 1,456 6.5% 2,394 10.6%
Light Industrial 570 2.5% 505 2.2% 505 2.2% 505 2.2%
General Industrial 2,580 11.5% 2,855 12.7% 2,855 12.7% 2,855 12.7%
Waste
Management
238 1.1% 238 1.1% 238 1.1% 238 1.1%
Public/
Institutional
342 1.5% 408 1.8% 408 1.8% 408 1.8%
Parks and Open
Space
525 2.3% 721 3.2% 721 3.2% 721 3.2%
Floodplain 960 4.3% 960 4.3% 960 4.3% 960 4.3%
Vacant Land 569 2.5% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
TOTALS 22,532 100.0% 22,532 100.0% 22,532 100.0% 22,532 100.0%
Notes:
* The City’s future land use table and projections do not include land with the UMore area. This area is tracked under a
separate table in the subsequent section.
* The City is assuming 20% of land in downtown category will redevelop for residential purposes by 2030.
* Full build-out out is listed for planning purposes only and includes developing areas within UMore (please note
corresponding decrease in AG category at full build-out).
* 2020 land uses derived from previous land use plan and analysis; AG uses in 2030 includes all land in 2040 MUSA
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
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Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-23
In order to help track changes from the previous plan, the City has prepared Map 3.5 highlighting
the major changes.
UMore Future Land Use
The University of Minnesota has recently begun taking steps to develop its property (commonly
known as UMore Park). In anticipation of development occurring within the timeframe of this Plan,
the City is including a large portion of the UMore property within its 2040 growth area. The overall
layout and arrangement of uses has been designed to be consistent with the 2013 UMore AUAR and
with the University’s overall development and management plan for the property. The City’s
previous plans kept all of the UMore property within the Agricultural Research category created
specifically for the 3,000+ acres owned by the University, in anticipation of future amendments to
the plan. This category will now be applied only to areas outside of the 2040 growth boundary
within UMore.
Because the ultimate timeframe for build out within UMore is unknown at this point in time, the
City is tracking potential impacts to the City’s overall future land use table and population,
household, and employment growth projections separate from the overall totals found elsewhere in
this Plan. The City is also taking this course of action because any development activity within
UMore is expected to alter the timeframe for development in other portions of the City.
Furthermore, some of the Flint Hills buffer land is still included in one of the City’s urban land use
categories and 2030 MUSA, but will not be developed within the next decade. The City is proposing
to continue monitoring the pace of development over the next several years, but does not expect to
make any adjustments to its population, household, and employment forecasts until the next
decennial update. Should the City experience growth in population, household or employment
beyond that forecast, the City will initiate discussions with the Metropolitan Council.
TABLE 3.5 – UMORE FUTURE LAND USES
Land
Use
Res
Min
(upa)
Res
Max
(upa)
2020 % of
land
2030 % of
land
2040 % of
land
Full
Build-
out
% of
land
Agriculture
Research
n/a 0.02
5
3,103 100.0% 2,108 67.9% 1,471 47.4% 1,079 34.8%
Low Density
Residential
1.5 6 0 0.0% 314 10.1% 612 19.7% 653 21.0%
Medium Density
Residential
6 12 0 0.0% 176 5.7% 228 7.3% 287 9.2%
High Density
Residential
12 30 0 0.0% 22 0.7% 61 2.0% 83 2.7%
Community
Commercial
0 0.0% 30 1.0% 30 1.0% 63 2.0%
Business Park 0 0.0% 453 14.6% 701 22.6% 938 30.2%
TOTALS 3,177 100% 3,103 100% 3,103 100% 3,103 100%
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-24
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-25
The general configuration of land uses within UMore depicts Business Park development east of the
Dakota County Technical College with predominately residential uses to the west of the college. A
mix of medium and high density residential and commercial activities is planned for various nodes
adjacent to major roadways and road intersections along both County Road 42 and County Road 46.
Development will be staged so that the areas adjacent to County Road 42 and immediately
southwest of the technical college will be the first to develop (and included within the 2030 MUSA)
with the 2040 MUSA boundary approximately ½ mile further to the south. The City has previously
approved a 40-year interim use permit for a large scale mineral extraction operation in the western
side of the UMore property. Because this permit is expected to expire sometime after 2040, it is not
included in the City’s future development areas. Other portions of the UMore site that are not
expected to develop within the timeframe of the plan have been left in the Agricultural Research
land use category.
Table 3.5 includes a tabular summary of the UMore land uses. These areas have not been factored
into any calculations concerning land needed to accommodate the City’s growth projections, but are
included here for informational purposes. Land uses not found within UMore are not included in
this table.
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MUSA IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES
Residential Densities
The projections for development of the City’s future residential areas demonstrate compliance with
the Metropolitan Council’s density standard of 3-5 units per acre for Rosemount. Using the
methodology described earlier in this Chapter, the City is able to document that at the minimum
density range for each residential land use category, the average residential density across all 2020-
2040 growth areas will exceed 3 units per acre as demonstrated in the chart below. These
calculations take into account all land that was not previously guided for urban residential
development under the 2020 plan
TABLE 3.6 – POST 2020 RESIDENTIAL DENSITIES
Land Use Designation Acres Density
(Units/Acre)
Units
Low Density Residential 842 1.5 1,263
Medium Density Residential 355 6 2,130
High Density Residential 89 12 1,068
Total Residential Development 1,286 3.47 4,461
TABLE 3.7 – POST 2020 RESIDENTIAL DENSITIES WITH UMORE LAND
Land Use Designation Acres Density
(Units/Acre)
Units
Low Density Residential 1,526 1.5 2,289
Medium Density Residential 514 6 3,084
High Density Residential 148 12 1,776
Total Residential Development 2,188 3.27 7,149
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
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Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
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The City has previously requested credit for units that were platted prior to 2007 in excess of 3 units
per acre. With the density ranges included in this plan, and the amount of undeveloped land
remaining, the City does not need to request credit for past developments in order to achieve the
required minimum residential density.
FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
This section of the Land Use chapter establishes the City’s land use categories depicted on the
official Future Land Use Map (Map 3.4). The map assigns planned land use types to all parcels
within the community to guide current and future planning and development through the year 2040,
and is the official land use designation map for the City. The assigned land use designations are
intended to shape the character, type and density of future development in a manner consistent with
the overall goals and objectives identified in this plan. Any new development, redevelopment,
change in land use or change in zoning is required to be consistent with the official land use
guidance for each parcel. The official land use plan categories are listed below.
Agriculture (AG)
Purpose This land use designation is intended for the majority of land located outside the
MUSA. Rosemount has a long history of agriculture, but the community is rapidly
urbanizing. The City must balance the needs of the continued farming operations
with the expansion of the urban landscape.
Location Criteria Outside the MUSA.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Development is discouraged in the agricultural land use designations. Construction
activities should be limited to expansions of farming operations and housing for farm
families.
Utilities Private wells and septic systems are required.
Typical Uses Crop and livestock farming; farmstead housing; churches; recreational open spaces;
parks; and public buildings.
Density One (1) unit per forty (40) acres
Appropriate Zoning AG – Agricultural
Limited Secondary
Zoning
AGP – Agricultural Preserve for property enrolled in the agricultural preserve
program; P – Public and Institutional for churches, parks, or open space.
There are a number of agricultural properties within the City that are enrolled in the Agricultural
Preserve, Green Acres, or other property tax relief programs. The City will continue to support
enrollment of active agricultural properties within these programs provided that it does not inhibit
the orderly development of the City. The City discourages the use of these programs by land
owners to reduce the holding costs of land before the property develops or the use of these
programs to defer assessments of public infrastructure on properties that are to be developed in the
near future.
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
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Agriculture Research (AGR)
Purpose This land use designation is used solely for the UMore Park property that is owned
and operated by the University of Minnesota and located outside of areas designated
for future development.
Location Criteria Within the UMore Park property owned and operated by the University of Minnesota.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Land uses that support the educational and research missions of the University of
Minnesota are exempt from local land use regulations.
Utilities Private wells and septic systems are required.
Typical Uses Agricultural production; research laboratories; classrooms; offices; and conference
rooms. Interim Uses consistent with City ordinances and regulations.
Density One (1) unit per forty (40) acres
Appropriate Zoning AG - Agricultural
Limited Secondary
Zoning
None
The Agricultural Research land use classification was previously used by the City for the entire
UMore property within Rosemount. With development expected to occur over large portions of
UMore within the time frame of the Plan, the portions remaining AGR are those areas that are
subject to an interim use permit for mineral extraction or areas that are not able to be developed for
other reasons.
Rural Residential (RR)
Purpose Northwestern Rosemount is characterized by a rolling, wooded landscape that
includes numerous lakes and wetlands. To preserve the natural landscape, the City
has designated this land as rural residential to provide residential housing while
preserving significant areas of wetlands and woodlands. The keeping of horses is
anticipated within the rural residential area, but the farming of other livestock is
discouraged.
Location Criteria Located in northwest Rosemount, generally described as north of 130th Street West
and west of Akron Avenue.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Street frontage and a buildable area outside of wetlands and wetland buffers. Being
rural in nature, it is not expected that urban features such as sidewalks, neighborhood
parks, or a grid pattern of streets will be installed when the land is developed. Trail
corridors (for pedestrian, bicyclists, and/or horses) shall be encouraged to provide the
connection of the rural residents with each other, as well as to the City as a whole.
Utilities Private wells and septic systems are required
Typical Uses Single Family homes, hobby farms, recreational open spaces, parks
Density One (1) unit per five (5) acres
Appropriate Zoning RR – Rural Residential
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-29
Limited Secondary
Zoning
AG - Agricultural for lots that are greater twenty (20) acres in size.
The future land use plan guides land in the north central portion of the City for RR – Rural
Residential in recognition of its unique location at the edge of the developed and developing
portions of Rosemount. The majority of this area consists of large-lot subdivisions approved under
previous subdivision regulations, with a mixture of larger acreages that could be further subdivided
into rural lots. Approximately 1,800 acres west of the Akron Avenue and south of 120th Street is
preserved for rural residential uses, with no plans to extend public water and sewer services into
these areas except for a band of Transitional Residential along Highway 3.
The majority of the parcels that are designated Rural Residential are five (5) acres or less in size
meaning that no further subdivision would be allowed. There are a small number of parcels that are
ten (10) acres or larger in size that maybe suitable for further subdivision. The development of
these parcels will need to be sensitive to the wetlands, trees, and other natural resources unique to
this area.
Transitional Residential (TR)
Purpose This land use designation is intended to serve as a transition between the rural
residential area of northwest Rosemount and the urban development of greater
Rosemount and the adjacent cities of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights. Transitional
residential areas are intended to receive urban services sometime in the future, while it
may or may not be within the timeframe of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Development that occurs within the transitional residential designation is intended to
have urban densities, but may be at a lesser density than the other urban residential
land use designations and only with the extension of public services.
Location Criteria Areas within the MUSA that have a rolling, wooded landscape similar to the rural
residential northwest; developed residential neighborhoods with lots less than one (1)
acre in size outside of the MUSA; transition areas between urbanizing land within
Rosemount and adjacent communities.
Min. Requirements
for Development
The extension of urban service is needed for the further development of the
Transitional Residential area. All land guided for Transitional Residential within the
MUSA line has previously been developed under the guidelines of the City’s previous
plans. Extension of public services into areas guided for TR may require an
amendment to the City’s future sewer service area (2030/2040 MUSA).
Utilities Private wells and septic systems are required for rural residential land. Municipal
water and sanitary sewer are required for land to be developed at urban densities.
Typical Uses Single family homes; churches; parks; and public buildings. Duplexes or townhomes
with four (4) or less units per building may be considered as a part of a planned unit
development provided that the overall density does not exceed three (3) units per acre
and urban services are available.
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-30
Density One (1) unit per five (5) acres without municipal water and sanitary sewer. One (1) to
three (3) units per acre with municipal water and sanitary sewer.
Appropriate Zoning RR – Rural Residential for parcels without municipal water and sanitary sewer; R1 –
Low Density Residential for parcels with municipal water and sanitary sewer.
Limited Secondary
Zoning
RL – Very Low Density Residential for neighborhoods of existing non-conforming
rural residential lots if municipal water and sanitary sewer is provided; AG -
Agricultural for lots that are greater twenty (20) acres in size.
There are two major areas guided as Transitional Residential within the 2040 Land Use Plan. The
first TR district includes land that has previously been developed (or is currently under
development) within the 2030 MUSA west of South Robert Trail There are several residential
neighborhoods within this area that were constructed at urban residential densities of three units per
acre or less. The second TR area is comprised of land north of Bonaire Path and east of South
Robert Trail that has previously been subdivided into smaller residential lots served by private well
and septic systems.
The Transitional Residential land outside of the MUSA is not anticipated to be urbanized within the
2030 Land Use Plan provided the individual septic systems continue to function without causing
health concerns for the wells and wetlands. The City has a plan for providing municipal sanitary
sewer service to the Transitional Residential land outside the MUSA if health concerns from failing
septic systems arise. It is anticipated that the underdeveloped properties within the Transitional
Residential areas would develop to urban densities if municipal sanitary sewer service is installed to
supplement the costs of providing services to the existing Transitional Residential residents.
Low Density Residential (LDR)
Purpose Low Density Residential housing is the predominant land use by area within the
MUSA boundary. Low Density Residential housing is typically single family housing
or townhouses with few units per building. The houses usually contain multiple
bedrooms, bathrooms, and garage stalls per unit. Low Density Residential land
provides housing suitable for families with children, and as such, should be located
close to schools, churches, public parks, and neighborhood commercial.
Location Criteria Street frontage and within the MUSA.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Low Density Residential subdivisions are expected to be provided with full urban
infrastructure, such as sidewalks, neighborhood parks, and streets with good access
and interconnectivity. Attention should be paid to pedestrian and bicycle
transportation to provide access to schools, churches, public parks, and other
community destinations.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are required.
Typical Uses Single family homes; duplexes; townhomes with four (4) or less units per building;
churches; elementary and secondary schools; private recreation spaces maintained by
homeowner associations; and public parks.
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-31
Density One (1) to six (6) units per acre
Appropriate Zoning R1 – Low Density Residential
Limited Secondary
Zoning
R2 – Moderate Density Residential; R1A – Low Density Residential within
subdivisions that were developed prior to 1980.
Medium Density Residential (MDR)
Purpose Medium Density Residential land uses provide opportunities for attached housing and
other types of residential construction that provides for greater densities than typical
single family detached construction. To provide a higher level of density within
Medium Density Residential neighborhoods, individual yards outside of the units are
typically not included. As opposed to Low Density Residential, these developments
incorporate many common features outside the units, such as yards, driveways,
recreational space and shared maintenance of common areas.
Location Criteria Frontage onto collector and local streets and within the MUSA. Medium Density
housing works well in mixed-use development and adjacent to all land uses except
industrial.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Common private recreational opportunities should be provided within each residential
development to compensate for the lack of private yard space per housing unit. Due
to the density, individual garages should have access to private streets or driveways to
limit the number of curb cuts onto public local streets. Limiting the number of curb
cuts will provide the maximum amount of public parking spaces on the public street
frontages. Residential subdivisions are expected to be provided with the full urban
infrastructure, such as sidewalks, neighborhood parks, and streets with good access
and interconnectivity. Attention should be paid to pedestrian and bicycle
transportation to provide access to schools, churches, public parks, and other
community destinations.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are required.
Typical Uses Single family homes or detached townhomes on smaller lots; duplexes; townhomes
with three (3) of more units per building; churches; elementary and secondary schools;
private recreation spaces maintained by homeowner associations; and public parks.
Density Six (6) to twelve (12) units per acre
Appropriate Zoning R3 – Medium Density Residential
Limited Secondary
Zoning
R2 – Moderate Density Residential
High Density Residential (HDR)
Purpose The intent of the High Density Residential land use category is to accommodate many
of the life cycle housing options not addressed within the Low Density or Medium
Density Residential land uses. Senior and assisted living development for an aging
population, along with affordable rental or ownership units for new graduates or
Rosemount 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 – Land Use
3-32
young families, often require greater densities than are allowed within the low or
medium density neighborhoods. High density residential housing shall be constructed
of the same or better building materials and have access to the same recreational,
institutional, and commercial amenities as the other residential uses.
Location Criteria Frontage onto collector and local streets and within the MUSA. High Density
housing works well in mixed-use development and adjacent to most land uses except
industrial.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Common private recreational opportunities should be provided within each residential
development to compensate for the lack of private yard space per housing unit. Care
will need to be taken to buffer between high density and low density residential due to
the difference in scale of the uses. Residential subdivisions are expected to be
provided with a full range of urban infrastructure, such as sidewalks, neighborhood
parks, and streets with good access and interconnectivity. Attention should be paid to
pedestrian and bicycle transportation to provide access to schools, churches, public
parks, and other community destinations.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are required.
Typical Uses Townhomes with six (6) to twelve (12) units per building; multiple story apartment or
condominium buildings; churches; elementary and secondary schools; private
recreation spaces maintained by homeowner associations; and public parks.
Density Twelve (12) to thirty (30) units per acre
Appropriate Zoning R4 – High Density Residential
Limited Secondary
Zoning
R3 – Medium Density Residential
Downtown (DT)
Purpose This land use designation is intended to provide for the variety of land uses that make
a successful downtown. These uses include civic functions of government, schools
and educational services, and gathering spaces, as well as a variety of uses that would
allow residents to live, work, shop and recreate all within Downtown. The focus of
this land use designation will be to regulate the performance standards of properties
and buildings (such as building materials and appearance; shared parking; and
pedestrian-focused streets and building frontages) over the segregation of land uses
that typically occur in the other land use designations within the Comprehensive Plan.
Location Criteria The downtown area is roughly bounded from one block west of South Robert Street,
to the railroad tracks on the east, and from 143rd Street East on the north to just
short of County Road 42 on the south.
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Min. Requirements
for Development
This land use designation is more concerned about the appearance and performance
of buildings and properties within Downtown rather than the uses that actually
occupy the buildings. Land uses that can meet the performance standards described
by the Development Framework for Downtown Rosemount, the Downtown Design
Guidelines, and the Zoning Ordinance should be allowed to develop downtown. The
Development Framework for Downtown Rosemount plans approximately 25% of the
land area Downtown for residential land uses.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are required.
Typical Uses Public buildings; elementary and secondary schools; libraries; churches; gathering
places; parks; townhouses; apartments; condominiums; retail; restaurants; bars; and
offices.
Density Zero (0) to forty (40) units per acre (residential uses)
Appropriate Zoning DT – Downtown; P – Public and Institutional
Limited Secondary
Zoning
R3 – Medium Density Residential; R4 – High Density Residential; C4 – General
Commercial
Neighborhood Commercial (NC)
Purpose This land use designation is intended to provide areas for commercial businesses that
focus their services to the surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Location Criteria The size of each Neighborhood Commercial district is intended to be less than five
(5) acres in size. The district should be located adjacent to collector or arterial streets,
but the access to the commercial area should be equally focused on pedestrians and
bicyclists as the automobile.
Min. Requirements
for Development
The development of Neighborhood Commercial areas is dependent on an existing or
developing residential neighborhood, a developed street network, and a system of
sidewalks and trails.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are required.
Typical Uses Restaurants; retail; gas stations; convenience stores; and personal services.
Intensity Expected Floor Area Ratio of 0.15 to 0.20
Appropriate Zoning C1 – Convenience Commercial
Limited Secondary
Zoning
C4 – General Commercial
Community Commercial (CC)
Purpose This land use designation is intended to provide retail, professional offices, and
personal services that serve the daily and weekly needs of the residents of Rosemount.
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Location Criteria The size of each Community Commercial district is intended to be at least 50 acres or
greater in size. Close proximity to arterial streets is needed for visibility while
individual business accesses shall be provided predominantly from collector, local, or
private streets.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Individual businesses within the Community Commercial district are intended to be
served through frontage roads, backage roads, and cross-access easements that
supplement the collector and local street network. Traffic patterns should also be
designed to adequately serve automobiles, delivery vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists
throughout the district.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are required.
Typical Uses Retail; offices; personal services; restaurants; gas stations; and auto oriented businesses
not requiring outdoor storage.
Intensity Expected Floor Area Ratio of 0.15 to 0.20
Appropriate Zoning C4 – Community Commercial
Limited Secondary
Zoning
C3 - Highway Commercial
Regional Commercial (RC)
Purpose This land use designation is intended to provide commercial opportunities for
businesses that have a regional draw; businesses that have products residents need to
purchase, rent, or lease annually or less often; or auto-oriented businesses that require
outdoor storage.
Location Criteria The size of districts intended for auto-orientated businesses may be as small as 10
acres, while the size of districts intended for businesses with a regional draw should be
a minimum of 50 acres. Auto-orientated business districts should be located along
arterial roads, while regional-draw districts should be located at the intersections or
interchanges of principal arterial roads.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Frontage and backage road systems
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are required.
Typical Uses Hotels; theaters; big box retail; post-secondary education; vehicle sales and rentals;
auto repair garages; tool repair; machinery sales; contractor yards; and general retail.
Intensity Expected Floor Area Ratio of 0.20 to 0.25
Appropriate Zoning C3 – Highway Commercial
Limited Secondary
Zoning
C4 – General Commercial
Two Regional Commercial districts are provided within the Land Use Plan: an approximate 20 acre
district bounded by South Robert Trail, Canada Circle, and the Union Pacific rail line; and an
approximate 350 acre district surrounding the intersection of County Road 42 and US Highway 52.
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The 20 acre Regional Commercial district is intended for auto-oriented businesses. This district
provides an area where the auto-orientated businesses currently located Downtown, or the
contractor businesses located southwest of County Road 42 and South Robert Trail, can be
relocated.
The 350 acre Regional Commercial district is intended for businesses with a regional draw or with
products that are sold annually or less often. Big box retail, theaters, or hotels are appropriate uses
in this area; the Regional Commercial area also provides a place for existing vehicle sales businesses
currently located in other parts of the City to relocate.
Business Park (BP)
Purpose The intent of the Business Park land use category is to promote development of
businesses with a large number of employees that offer wages to support an entire
family and that are further constructed of high quality buildings providing both beauty
and tax base to the community. Establishments within the business park district are
intended to have little or no outdoor storage, with the majority of the business
activities occurring completely indoors.
Location Criteria The size of each Business Park district is intended to be greater than 150 acres. The
district should be located adjacent to heavily traveled arterial roads to provide both
visibility and access to these major employment centers.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Within the MUSA and with access to a collector and/or arterial road to serve the
district. The street network within the business park should be designed to
accommodate truck and freight traffic while also providing opportunities for transit
services along with sidewalks and pedestrian improvements for employees to use
during breaks and lunch periods.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are encouraged. Private well and septic systems
may be permitted as an interim system before water and sanitary sewer are available
provided: 1) an on-site septic system meeting current requirements can be installed on
the premises, and 2) on-site infrastructure required to connect into the public water
and sanitary sewer system is installed so that the site can be connected when public
utilities are extended to the development’s boundary.
Typical Uses Office; retail and office warehouses; research laboratories; post-secondary education;
distributors; and manufacturing.
Intensity Expected Floor Area Ratio of 0.25 to 0.35
Appropriate Zoning BP – Business Park
Limited Secondary
Zoning
C4 – General Commercial near intersections of major roads; LI – Light Industrial
adjacent to industrial planned areas or in areas that will not impact primary views
along major roads and that can be accommodated in areas internal to the business
park.
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Light Industrial (LI)
Purpose The intent of the Light Industrial district is to provide opportunities for high paying
manufacturing, assembly, or wholesaling jobs that require less intense land
development along with some outdoor storage. Light industrial businesses are
expected to be constructed of quality building materials. Uses within this district
should not generate the external noises, smells, vibrations, or similar nuisances
normally associated with medium or heavy industrial uses.
Location Criteria Light Industrial land uses are intended to buffer general industrial lands uses from
commercial or residential. The size of each Light Industrial district is intended to be a
minimum of 60 acres and located with access to arterial and major collector roads.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Within the MUSA and with an access to an arterial or major collector roads. The
street network should be designed to accommodate truck and freight traffic.
Pedestrian access shall be accommodated through the city, county or regional trail
corridors.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are encouraged. Private well and septic systems
may be permitted as an interim system before water and sanitary sewer are available
provided: 1) an on-site septic system meeting current requirements can be installed on
the premises, and 2) on-site infrastructure required to connect into the public water
and sanitary sewer system is installed so that the site can be connected when public
utilities are extended to the development’s boundary.
Typical Uses Manufacturing; assembly; professional services; laboratories; general repair services;
contractor offices; post-secondary trade or vocational schools; public buildings; and
warehousing.
Intensity Expected Floor Area Ratio of 0.10 to 0.20
Appropriate Zoning LI – Light Industrial
Limited Secondary
Zoning
BP – Business Park when adjacent to business park, commercial, or residential
planned areas; GI – General Industrial adjacent to general industrial planned areas.
General Industrial (GI)
Purpose The intent of the General Industrial designation is to provide opportunities for
employment with wages that can support an entire family, although the businesses
typically have a lower tax base per acre than other commercial and industrial uses.
General industrial businesses normally generate noises, smells, vibrations, and truck
traffic that can be disturbing to non-industrial land uses. General industrial land
should not be located next to residential developments. Changes in topography,
landscaping, less intense land uses, or other forms of buffering shall be used to
transition between general industrial property and residential, recreational, or
institutional land uses.
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Location Criteria The size of each General Industrial district is intended to be greater than 400 acres in
size. Access to the district should occur along arterial or major collector roads. To
provide the greatest buffer for residents traveling the arterial or major collector
roadways from the nuisance generated by the industries, the least intense and highest
quality buildings and structures should be located adjacent to the roadways.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Development is encouraged to occur within the MUSA, but is not required. Due to
the large size of each industrial facility, it is anticipated that the majority of the traffic
circulation shall occur on private roads within the industrial sites. Any public streets
constructed within the general industrial district should be designed to accommodate
truck and freight traffic. Any rail service to general industrial businesses shall be
designed with switching and storage yards interior to the site to minimize the number
of rail crossings of public streets and the frequency of train schedules. Pedestrian
access shall be limited to the city, county or regional trail corridors with appropriate
safety and security measures.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are encouraged. Private well and septic systems
may be permitted as an interim system before water and sanitary sewer are available
provided: 1) an on-site septic system meeting current requirements can be installed on
the premises, and 2) on-site infrastructure required to connect into the public water
and sanitary sewer system is installed so that the site can be connected when public
utilities are extended to the development’s boundary.
Typical Uses Manufacturing; assembly; laboratories; contractor offices; trucking and freight
terminals; warehousing; and wholesaling.
Intensity Expected Floor Area Ratio of 0.15 to 0.20
Appropriate Zoning GI – General Industrial
Limited Secondary
Zoning
LI – Light Industrial adjacent to other land uses; HI – Heavy Industrial shall be
provided sparingly and only to allow the improvement of the existing four heavy
industrial businesses.
Heavy Industrial zoning is limited to the developed areas of the City’s four existing heavy industrial
businesses: Flint Hills Resources, CF Industries, Hawkins Chemical, and Dixie Petro-Chem, Inc.
The City discourages any expansion of the number of heavy industrial business beyond four, but will
allow these businesses to redevelop and expand within the existing heavy industrial area as needed to
stay economically viable. If any of the four heavy industrial businesses desire to expand within the
Heavy Industrial zoning district, a Planned Unit Development master plan for the business
expansion must first be approved. The Planned Unit Development master plan shall concentrate
the heaviest uses to the center of the site; provide a transition of the lower-intensity uses to the
perimeter of the site; and ensure the efficient use of the existing heavy industrial property to prevent
premature expansion of the zoning district.
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Waste Management (WM)
Purpose The intent of the Waste Management district is to accommodate the need for the
management of waste generated by society while regulating the inherent
environmental problems associated with waste management. It is in the public
interest to explore all available options of waste management before expanding the
waste management district for additional landfilling.
Location Criteria In an appropriate location to address the problems and nuisances associated with
waste management.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Waste management practices that meet or exceed all county, state, and federal waste
management regulations.
Utilities Private wells and septic systems are required.
Typical Uses Landfills; recycling centers; and waste-to-energy production.
Intensity Expected Floor Area Ratio of 0.10 to .015
Appropriate Zoning WM – Waste Management
Limited Secondary
Zoning
None
Public/Institutional (PI)
Purpose The intent of the Public/Institutional district is to accommodate the civic, religious,
governmental, and educational needs of the community. Often, institutional uses are
constructed at a much larger scale than the surrounding residential uses. Care is
needed to mitigate the conflicts between the uses while maintaining accessibility from
the neighborhood. Performance measures such as setbacks, landscaping, site grading,
and quality building materials may need to be increased compared to the surrounding
uses to provide the needed buffering.
Location Criteria There is no size requirement for a Public/Institutional district and the districts are
anticipated to be dispersed throughout the community, particularly adjacent to
residential uses. Institutional uses should be located adjacent to collector or arterial
roads.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Development is encouraged to occur within the MUSA. The main access to the
institutional use should occur directly from a collector or minor arterial roadway.
Pedestrian access to and throughout the site should be emphasized to allow the
surrounding neighborhood access to the site.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are encouraged. Private well and septic systems
may be permitted for institutions that have an appropriate area for on-site septic
management.
Typical Uses Schools (elementary, secondary, or post-secondary); churches; cemeteries; public
buildings; civic uses; recreational open spaces; and public parks.
Intensity Expected Floor Area Ratio of 0.20 to 0.30
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Appropriate Zoning P – Public and Institutional
Limited Secondary
Zoning
R1 – Low Density Residential in areas adjacent residential planned uses
Parks and Open Space (POS)
Purpose As Rosemount becomes more urbanized, it is particularly important to ensure that
residents have access to outdoor recreation opportunities and open spaces to connect
with nature. The Parks and Open Space designation is intended to provide a wide
variety of recreational and open space opportunities from ball fields to nature
preserves.
Location Criteria Dispersed throughout residential neighborhoods. Land that contains significant or
unique natural resources should be considered for open space preservation.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Varies per type of recreational opportunity. Community parks and outdoor
recreational complexes are encouraged to be located along collector streets and served
with municipal sewer and water, while neighborhood parks or mini-parks may only
require local street connections. Non-recreational open space may only require an
unimproved driveway to the site.
Utilities Municipal water and sanitary sewer are encouraged. Private well and septic systems
may be permitted for large parks or recreational centers that have the appropriate land
area.
Typical Uses Recreational open space; non-recreational open spaces such as nature preserves or
wildlife management areas; and public parks
Intensity N/A
Appropriate Zoning P – Public and Institutional
Limited Secondary
Zoning
The zoning district of the adjacent residential neighborhood.
Floodplain (FP)
Purpose The intent of the Floodplain district is to regulate the land that is inundated during the
100 year flood event of the Mississippi River. It is in the public interest to limit the
uses within the floodplain to minimize property damage and public safety concerns
during flood events.
Location Criteria Within the 100 year flood elevation of the Mississippi River.
Min. Requirements
for Development
Development within the floodplain is limited to river dependent commercial
operations or the recreational use of the river.
Utilities Utilities are discouraged with the floodplain except for major transmission crossings.
Typical Uses Barge facilities, recreation facilities, accessory uses for businesses and residences (such
as parking lots, lawns, porches, and docks)
Density No residences are allowed within the floodplain
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Appropriate Zoning FP – Floodplain
Limited Secondary
Zoning
None
SPECIAL PLANNING AREA CONSIDERATIONS
As described in the beginning of this Chapter, the City identified three planning areas for special
examination prior to commencing work on the updated land use plan. Some of the major planning
considerations that came out of the public participation and City review process for these areas
include the following:
North Central Planning Area
• The majority of the north central area will remain rural residential; however, as services are
extended through developing areas to the south, the City will investigate opportunities to
size infrastructure to provide service to the Transitional Residential areas east of Robert Trail
South and to plan for unforeseen needs beyond the time frame of the 2040 Plan.
• The City will continue to pursue opportunities for shared services with the adjoining
jurisdictions of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights, especially for areas within the Transitional
Residential district that cannot be served from existing water and sewer infrastructure in
Rosemount.
• New residential development will be allowed that conforms to the City’s Rural Residential
zoning standards or is otherwise approved as a planned development that adheres to the
guiding principles for this land use category (i.e. preserving natural areas and wetlands).
Southeast Planning Area
• This planning area contains a large portion of the City’s future growth areas, with future
development expected to move generally south from County Road 42 and east from the US
Highway52.
• Larger portions of the southeast planning area are guided for agricultural land uses, and will
serve as an urban reserve for Rosemount growth after the timeframe of the 2040 Plan.
• Orderly and rational extension of services will be critical for this area to help ensure that the
timing of future development in consistent with the City’s ability to finance and construct
public infrastructure to serve the area.
• The land use plan for southeastern Rosemount calls for a transitional area along County
Road 42 to provide a buffer between the heavy industrial and waste management uses north
of this road. The plan also provides opportunities for the creation of activity nodes at
intersections along the corridor with a mixture of housing and commercial uses.
• As development occurs, the City will be seeking ways to integrate new growth areas into the
rest of the community. New trail and road connections will help provide links to the
western part of Rosemount, while County Road 42 will continue to serve as the primary
east/west connection linking this area to the rest of the City.
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• The City has identified interim uses that will be appropriate for the area to provide economic
opportunities for land owners until public services are available. Interim uses will be
reviewed to ensure compatibility with existing agricultural uses and future residential
neighborhoods.
Downtown
• Downtown will continue to serve as the center of the community, and provides a sense of
place and identify for Rosemount that is often not found in other suburban communities.
• The City will pursue opportunities for revitalization and enhancement of downtown and the
existing businesses and residences.
• The City has recently updated the Downtown Framework, and will use this plan as a guide
to help promote redevelopment of key sites within the downtown area. The market study
completed in conjunction with the framework identifies opportunities for additional housing
and mixed use projects for this area.
• The City will consider walkability and access to transit when evaluating future development
and redevelopment proposals in the downtown area.
OTHER PLANNING ISSUES
In order to help carry out the overall vision and goals for the community, the City has identified
several additional planning considerations for the future:
Redevelopment Opportunities
• As the supply of land available for development diminishes, the City will promote the
development of underutilized sites and the redevelopment of existing buildings that have
outlived their useful lives.
• Many of the City’s existing neighborhoods and commercial areas were subdivided and
constructed in the late 1970’s and into the 1980’s. As structures within these areas approach
40 years in age, the City will encourage investment in these buildings to ensure they will
continue to provide housing and business opportunities well into the future.
Transportation
• In order to adequately serve the needs of the City’s residents to travel to and from work,
school, local businesses, recreational activities, and regional destinations the City needs to
plan for an overall transportation system that addresses these needs. Chapter 8 includes a
detailed review of the City’s existing transportation system along with an analysis of
projected growth. This analysis is used to determine future road improvements and
alignments and will be implemented as new development occurs and to support the City’s
future land use plan.
• The City supports the use of transit to help provide for the future transportation needs of
the community. Transit viability is dependent on land uses that include density and
walkability, and the land use plan supports the creation of denser land uses around specific
nodes as noted below.
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• The City will continue to work with MVTA, Dakota County, and its other transit partners to
identify opportunities for new service opportunities along major corridors planned for
higher densities.
Transit Station Area Plans
• The Transportation Plan (Chapter 8) references the existing downtown transit station in
Rosemount along with a current pilot route to Dakota County Technical College that
includes a stop on the campus. The City’s land use plan calls for mixed use development
and higher residential densities in both of these areas.
• One of the existing routes served by the downtown station (MVTA Route 420) is a flex
route that provides service at any safe location along the route or within the flex boundary.
• The land use plan identifies nodes at key intersections along County Road 42 that include a
mix of commercial uses and higher density housing that could potentially serve as future
transit station areas. The City will work with MVTA and Dakota County to identify future
service extensions in the future that can take advantage of the appropriate transit sites in
newly developing areas.
Specific Master Plans
• The City of Rosemount supports the use of master planning for newly developing areas to
help ensure consistency of design and compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods.
Design Standards
• For all new development, the City will continue to implement design standards to promote
high quality development that will stand the test of time and encourage sustainability in land
and natural resource uses throughout the City.
Interim Uses
There are a number of uses that are beneficial to a growing community and for the region in general,
such as aggregate mining or asphalt plants, which may create nuisances that are incompatible with
residential neighborhoods. These uses can often occur on property that is years away from
developing, but the City has an interest to ensure that the incompatible uses cease or relocate as
development approaches. In other cases, land owners are looking for a use that can make a profit
other than agriculture before development occurs, such as event centers, solar gardens, golf courses,
or other outdoor recreation operations.
The above uses (or similar activities) can often be approved through an interim use permit which
allows uses to occur on a temporary basis, which in some cases can be in excess of ten years. The
City discourages incompatible interim uses from locating within the 2030 MUSA, and will require
that all interim use permits for incompatible uses expire as development approaches. A reclamation
plan shall be required of all applicable interim uses to ensure that orderly development can occur
after the interim use ceases operation.
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Staged Development and Redevelopment
The City’s future land use plan guides future growth and development in ten year increments in
accordance with the location of the 2030 and 2040 MUSA boundaries. Between 2020 and 2030,
new residential growth is expected to occur along the eastern side of the Akron Avenue
corridor generally north of Bonaire Path and also in the northeast quadrant of Akron Avenue and
County Road 42 along an extension of Connemara Trail further east. Potential development within
these planned residential areas is limited; however, because they are adjacent to the City’s rural
residential area to the north and the Flint Hills land buffer to the east. To provide land for expected
growth by 2030, the City will need to extend services either into the UMore land south of County
Road 42 or eastward across US Highway 52 into the southeast planning area. Within UMore, the
extension of services is expected to move generally from east to west across the site starting near
County Road 42 and working south, with the initial development occurring near the technical
college (residential and commercial to the west and south and business park to the east).
The timing of development east of US Highway 52 is dependent on urban services being extended
across the highway. Because the City cannot predict market conditions or other factors that could
expedite or delay development within UMore, the City has adopted a MUSA boundary that guides a
portion of the land east of US Highway 52 for development by 2030 and 2040. If both the
southeastern area and UMore commence with development prior to 2030, the City will need to
revisit its growth forecast and take action accordingly. For purposes of transportation, sewer, and
water infrastructure planning, the City has developed a full build-out scenario identifying future land
uses within the City beyond the 2040 time frame of this plan. Utilities and infrastructure serving the
2030 and 2040 growth areas will be sized to accommodate development beyond 2040.
Map 3.6 highlights areas expected to develop within the City in 10 year increments based on the
planned MUSA boundaries in the land use plan. Please note that much of the land identified within
the 2030 area is either buffer land purchased by Flint Hills Resources or includes land they own for
future expansion.
Planning Considerations for Staged Development
The transportation and water resources chapters of this Plan identify improvements necessary to
serve the City’s future growth areas. Extension of urban services will be a requirement before the
City allows development to occur within each growth area. The City highly discourages “leap frog”
development where services bypass land that is within the MUSA boundary to serve a project that is
not contiguous to existing development and services.
Table 5.13 in the housing chapter includes a breakdown of expected residential construction through
2020, 2030, and 2040 by unit type. The construction of residential units is expected to follow the
geographic areas described in this section.
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NATURAL RESOURCES
This section of the Land Use Plan addresses the management of the community’s environmental
and natural resources. This plan makes the case for protecting environmental and natural resources,
develops a context for establishing Rosemount’s environmental and natural resource vision,
provides a generalized Natural Areas Assessment, recommends goals and objectives and concludes
by identifying tools and strategies to implement the community’s environmental and natural
resources vision. The City completed a natural resources inventory in 2006 that was updated in
2018, and this inventory continues to serve as a tool for evaluating natural resources within the City.
Importance of Environmental and Natural Resources Protection
Minnesota in general, and Rosemount specifically, has an abundance of natural resources. Lakes,
rivers, wetlands, woodlands, prairies and bluffs define the area’s landscape and are the basis for why
many choose to live, work and play in this community. These natural areas and their associated
benefits contribute to the community’s popularity and are a key factor its growth. However, this
same popularity and growth, if not managed wisely, could threaten many of these same natural
features and negatively impact the community’s overall quality of life. Managing the community’s
growth in such a way as to preserve, protect, and restore its environment and natural resources
offers numerous benefits including: increasing property values, supporting overall economic growth
while reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources, providing low-cost storm water
management and flood control, supplying a purification system for drinking and surface water,
providing habitat and biological diversity, contributing to air purity, and creating a sense of place and
identity for the community.
Rosemount’s Environmental and Natural Resource Vision
Rosemount’s vision describes the community’s environmental and natural resource values and how
the community wants to utilize these resources as it grows. To assist local communities in
developing their own unique vision, the Metropolitan Council established the overall goal of
“working with local and regional partners to conserve, protect and enhance the region’s vital natural
resources.” More commonly, residents may define their goals as clean air and water, parks and open
space, and the preservation of wildlife habitats and other natural features. Rosemount’s
environmental and natural resource vision is most clearly identified in two of the community’s nine
over-arching goals, which are:
• Preserve natural resources and open space within the community and ensure development
does not adversely impact on-going agricultural uses until urban services are available.
• Promote the use of renewable resources by encouraging sustainable development and
building green.
With these two over-arching goals as a guide, this plan identifies five (5) specific environmental and
natural resources goals to further define Rosemount’s natural resource vision. Two key challenges
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to realizing this vision include balancing it with the community’s continued growth and development
and protecting natural systems that cross municipal, state and even national boundaries.
Rosemount’s Environmental and Natural Resources Plan strives to use the community’s resources
in a sustainable way to promote economic development.
NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY
The natural resource inventory/assessment establishes the foundation for creating the environment
and natural resources plan. This assessment is broken into three sections: the community’s special
natural resource areas, key environmental resources, and a generalized inventory of existing natural
areas.
Special Natural Resource Areas
The Environmental and Natural Resources section identifies two (2) special natural resource areas
within the City of Rosemount. These resources are the Mississippi National River Critical Area and
the Vermillion River Watershed. Each resource is described below.
Mississippi River Critical Area. The Mississippi River Critical Area was created in 1973
by the Minnesota State Legislature and encompasses 72 miles of the Mississippi River, four
miles of the Minnesota River and 54,000 acres of adjacent lands. The Area extends from the
communities of Dayton and Ramsey on the north to the southern boundary of Dakota
County on the west/south side of the river and the boundary with the Lower St. Croix
National Scenic Riverway on the east/north side of the river. The portion of the Critical
Area within Rosemount is located east of US Highway 52 and north of Minnesota Highway
55.
This special natural resource is governed by the Mississippi River Critical Area Program, a
joint local and state program that provides coordinated planning and management of this
area of recreational and statewide public interest. The Mississippi River Critical Area
Program works in partnership with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
(MNRRA), part of the National Park System.
In response to these programs, the City of Rosemount adopted a Critical Area Plan and
Ordinance in 1980. During the City’s 1998 Comprehensive Plan Update, the City replaced
the Critical Area Plan with its own MNRAA Plan. The MNRAA Plan has been further
updated as part of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and is incorporated into this Plan as
Chapter 11. The MNRAA Plan together with the Critical Area Ordinance and the
underlying zoning districts serve as the development standards for the area. All three
documents should be consulted when reviewing any development proposal in the
Mississippi River Critical Area.
The Vermillion River Watershed. Watersheds are areas of land that drain to a body of
water such as a lake, river or wetland. The Vermillion River Joint Powers Organization
(JPO) encompasses the Minnesota, Mississippi and Vermillion River hydrological watersheds
and includes 335 square miles. It is the dominant watershed in the county containing 21
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communities in Dakota and Scott Counties; 90% of the area is agricultural but rapid urban
development is occurring in the upstream reaches.
The Vermillion River has 45.5 miles of designated trout stream. The major environmental
issues associated with this feature include storm water runoff quality and quantity and trout
habitat protection. According to Trout Unlimited, the Vermillion River is the only world
class trout stream within a major metropolitan area in the United States. In the spring 2006,
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Twin Cities chapter of Trout
Unlimited completed a survey of the trout population in the Vermillion River and found the
number of trout hatched was higher than in previous years. It is the intent of this plan that
the City should work with the JPO and other interested stakeholders to protect this unique
natural resources area.
Key Environmental Resources
This plan identifies two (2) key environmental resources within the community including surface
water and open space. These resources are major environmental systems that extend throughout the
community. As such, these resources are both effected by and have an effect upon environmental
resources within and beyond the City limits. Additional resources worthy of consideration in this
section include woodlands, prairies, soils and bluff areas.
Surface Water (Lakes, Streams and Wetlands) Management. Rosemount’s surface
water management plan includes both the Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan
and the Comprehensive Wetland Management Plan.
The Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan includes the layout of the trunk storm
sewer system and ponding areas for the entire City. The ponding areas have been designed
with a regional approach in order to control run-off and minimize flooding. The general
objectives of the plan are to reduce the extent of public capital expenditures necessary to
control excessive volumes and rates of run-off, to prevent flooding, and to improve water
quality.
The Comprehensive Wetland Management Plan was originally adopted in 1998 and
subsequently amended in both 1999 and 2005. This plan includes an ordinance that outlines
the use of lawn and garden chemicals and buffer zones around wetlands and their effect on
groundwater recharge. Use of the plan’s provisions will maximize the benefit that surface
waters can provide to Rosemount residents. The plan also includes an inventory and
assessment of wetlands in Rosemount. Additional updates to the Wetland Management Plan
are needed and introduction of some of the regulatory requirements inserted into the City’s
Zoning Ordinance rather than listed out in the Plan.
Open Space. Residents often cite open space as one of Rosemount’s most important and
desirable characteristics. Open space consists of undeveloped sites that do not qualify as
natural areas (see Natural Areas Inventory below), but still provide habitat, scenery and other
community benefits. Examples of open spaces include farm fields, golf courses, utility
corridors, woodlots and simple view sheds with no developments or parkland. The
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community’s open spaces are significant resources worthy of preservation. Several potential
methods for protecting the community’s open spaces are outlined in the Implementation
Tools and Strategies section below.
Natural Areas Inventory
In 2006, the City retained the consulting firm of Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. (HKGi) to
inventory the community’s natural areas, and further updated this map as part of the 2040
Comprehensive Plan update. This inventory consolidated natural areas into three categories:
Highest Priority, Lower Priority, and Other Natural and Greenway Planning Efforts. These three
categories are characterized below and illustrated on the Map 3.9. This map and its associated data
are intended to serve as a resource for the City to identify natural areas to be preserved, protected or
restored during the development process. Additional information about this map, including land
ownership data and the criteria used to classify an area as either highest or lower priority, may be
obtained from the City’s GIS Department.
• Highest Priority. The Highest Priority classification is comprised of areas that are the most
important water quality and habitat resources in the City. This classification includes six (6)
items: open water; wetlands; seventy-five (75) foot buffer around open water and wetlands;
land within the 100 and 500 year floodplains; Natural Community Land (as identified by the
Minnesota County Biological Survey); and Natural/Semi-Natural land cover (including at
least one of the following: land with native vegetation; presence or habitat for a state
endangered or threaten animal or plant; or land within 300 feet of a lake, stream, or water
body).
• Lower Priority. The Lower Priority classification areas are natural areas that have habitat
and water quality value but have experienced some disturbance or are dominated by non-
native species. Lower Priority areas includes three (3) items: Natural/Semi-Natural land
that does not meet the criteria outlined in the High Priority category; land having man-made
impervious surface of less than twenty-five (25) percent and at least fifty (50) acres in size;
and areas of significant tree cover (as identified by the City’s Parks and Recreation staff).
• Other Natural Area and Greenway Planning Efforts. This category includes three
proposed greenway or trail locations: the Mississippi River Greenway, the Northern Dakota
County Greenway and the Rosemount Interpretive Corridor. The City should work with
landowners, adjacent cities and Dakota County to implement these greenways.
According to the American Planning Association’s Planning and Urban Design Standards,
Greenways are lands set aside for preservation of natural resources, open space and visual
aesthetic/buffering. Greenways also provide passive-use opportunities, most often in the
form of trails and occasionally nature centers. The key focus is on protecting ecological
resources and providing wildlife corridors. In the broadest application, greenways form a
network of interconnected natural areas throughout a community. They function as part of
a borderless system that links together parks, natural open space and trail corridors.
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• Future/Expanded Natural Areas Inventory. The Natural Areas Assessment and
associated map represent a good generalized inventory of the community’s environment and
natural resources. However, a goal of this plan should be to expand on this inventory to
include additional resources both within and outside Rosemount. An expanded assessment
should work to identify additional important resources, classify criteria for ranking important
resources, and categorize criteria to create a priority map. Additional important resource
could include any of the following nine items: open space/recreation opportunities, bluff
areas and slopes, soils (including aggregate), ground water, wildlife/endangered species,
woodland/forested areas, non-woody upland vegetation, solar, and wind.
NATURAL RESOURCES PLAN
The plan section outlines five (5) environment and natural resources goals and their associated
objectives. It also identifies tools and strategies to help implement the community’s vision, goals
and objectives.
Goals and Objectives
1) Preserve, protect and restore the natural environment with emphasis on the conservation of
needed and useful natural resources for the present and future benefit of the community.
a. Protect wetlands the natural resources identified in the Natural Resource Assessment
from environmentally insensitive development.
b. Continue to support the work of the Rosemount Environmental and Sustainability Task
Force (REST) to advise the City Council on environment, resiliency, and natural
resource issues.
c. Encourage and support tree planting and restoration efforts especially plantings of
native, non-invasive species.
d. Work with development and redevelopment to reduce the use of non-renewable
resources and to reduce pollution.
e. Identify methods to quantify and reduce the community’s Carbon Footprint.
2) Utilize natural resource areas to provide an overall open space system that satisfies the
physiological and psychological needs of both individuals and the community.
a. Expand the Natural Resources Assessment to identify additional important resources,
classify criteria for ranking important resources, and categorize criteria to update the
priority map.
b. Connect and coordinate existing natural resources areas through a continuous greenway
network creating a more ecological system of open space.
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c. Encourage through development incentives, the preservation and management of all
natural resource amenities.
d. Develop partnerships with non-profit or private organizations, neighborhood groups or
other interested parties for the purpose of acquiring targeted open spaces.
e. Support the construction of soft, permeable, low impact trails in natural areas when
feasible.
3) Create a livable community where future development respects and integrates the natural,
cultural, and historic resources of the community while maintaining or enhancing economic
opportunity and community well-being.
a. Encourage the development of the “Renewable Energy Industry” such as
biofuel/biomass, solar, and wind energy production in such a way that is consistent with
the design standards and development goals of the City.
b. Use natural resource open space to physically separate uses which are incompatible by
scale or function.
c. Conduct a sustainability audit to identify and develop how the City can enhance livability
through sustainable practices.
d. Promote environmentally friendly design standards such as Active Living, Smart
Growth, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the like.
e. Study the feasibility and economic viability of creating a Green Fleet of City vehicles.
4) Encourage activities that reduce the consumption of finite resources and ensure there are
opportunities to re-use or recycle natural resources.
a. Encourage activities that conserve energy and result in less/no pollution output such as
waste reduction, alternative transportation modes, alternative energy sources and
composting.
b. Encourage and support sustainable farming practices including Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s “Best Management
Practices” for specific crops.
c. Encourage limited and responsible use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers on
residential and public lands.
d. Reduce the waste stream and create a sustainable environment by continuing to provide
and encourage curbside recycling of reusable waste materials through educational events,
promotional materials and volunteer efforts.
e. Reduce City government’s use of scarce and non-renewable resources and actively
support similar efforts throughout the community.
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5) Work with federal, state, regional, and local governments as well as with resident groups and
nonprofit organizations to protect natural resources both within and around the City of
Rosemount.
a. Continue implementation of the Mississippi River Recreation Area (MNRRA) plan.
b. Support and encourage community efforts in environmental awareness, education and
stewardship.
c. Establish and maintain conservation areas for wildlife management and education and
scientific purposes.
d. Work with Dakota County Technical College and the University of Minnesota at UMore
Park to promote environmental education.
e. Promote the extension of natural resource corridors into adjacent jurisdiction.
Implementation Tools and Strategies
The environment and natural resources implementation tools and strategies are divided into eight (8)
categories, each of which is detailed below. These are intended to provide examples of tactics to
realize this plan. Each category should be reviewed and implemented in compliance with this plan.
1) Advisory Committee Establishment. The Rosemount Environmental and Sustainability
Task Force (REST) has been established by the City to serve as an advisory board to the City
Council on environment and natural resource issues. The REST reviews certain land use
and development proposals and recommends policies, ordinances, and procedures to
enhance the City’s environment and natural resources. The REST also provides direction
regarding creation of greenways, protection of cultural and ecological assets within the
community and guidance concerning community-wide education programs. The City
Council appoints members of the REST from residents, members of existing advisory
boards or the City Council.
2) Future/Expanded Natural Areas Assessment. An expanded assessment should work to
identify additional important resources, classify criteria for ranking important resources, and
categorize criteria to update the priority map. Additional important resources could include
any of the following nine items: open space/recreation opportunities, bluff areas and slopes,
soils (including aggregate), ground water, wildlife/endangered species, woodland/forested
areas, non-woody upland vegetation, solar and wind.
3) Economic Development. Natural Resources are a vital component of economic activity.
Uses for natural resources range from raw materials for industrial activity to environments
for active and passive recreational opportunities for both residents and tourists. Balancing
environmental needs with economic growth is a vital component of environment and
natural resource planning. One strategy to attempt this would be to promote the
development of “Clean Industry” or “Green Collar” jobs including biomass/biofuel, solar,
and wind production. Development of these industries could serve to compliment and
diversify Rosemount’s existing agriculture and fuel refining industries.
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4) Design Guidelines. Design guidelines are supplementary documents that further define
the community’s vision by identifying desired elements for a given development topic or
special planning area. For example, Rosemount has already developed design guidelines to
help direct the redevelopment of Downtown. Other development topics or special planning
areas to consider include: Energy-Efficient Development, Green Infrastructure, LEED -
ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Design), State of
Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines, Growth Management, Smart Growth and Active
Living. Once guidelines are developed they could be used to create specific zoning
standards (see Ordinance Development below). While Active Living policies are further
defined in Appendix A, the City should study development of these other tools as part of
comprehensive plan implementation.
5) Ordinance Development. To date, the City of Rosemount has created several ordinances
to implement the community’s environment and natural resources vision. These ordinances
include: Agriculture Preserve, Shoreland Management, Floodplain, Tree Protection, Wetland
Protection and Individual Sewage Treatment ordinances. Additional items for the City to
research and consider include: Open-Space Preservation or Clustering, Wellhead Protection,
Aggregate Resources Protection and Natural Resource Overlay Ordinances (see Minnesota
Environmental Quality Board Model Ordinance).
6) Open Space Preservation. The rationale for creating open space or cluster standards is to
guide development to preserve contiguous open space and protect natural resources that
would otherwise be lost through the typical development process. Examples of these zoning
techniques include: Conservation Easements, Transfer of Development Rights, Purchase of
Development Rights, Preferential Taxation, Property Acquisition and Land Banking. The
intent of these methods is not to alter the overall density of a project but rather to transfer
density from desired preservation areas to other developable areas. The result being that
private property owners are granted reasonable economic use of their property without
adversely impacting the natural or open space resources desired by the community as a
whole.
7) Education Outreach. Education outreach is an essential yet often underutilized
component of environment and natural resource planning. While environmental issues have
become more mainstream, many people do not realize how their daily personal habits impact
the environment. To this end, the City should develop educational materials and resources
for residents in the areas of composting, recycling, landscaping, energy use, personal
consumption and other conservation issues. In addition, the City should develop
partnerships with organizations whose mission is to educate the public about environmental
protection and natural resource management. Potential partners and resources for these two
strategies include the Department of Natural Resources, Friends of the Mississippi River, the
Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network, the University of
Minnesota (U More Park), Dakota County Technical College, Home Owners’ Associations
and District 196 schools as well as the Environmental (Zoo) School.
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8) Intergovernmental Cooperation. Environmental resources span across local, state and
international boundaries. Examples of this include the Mississippi River which runs through
Rosemount to several other states and into the Gulf of Mexico or the air pollution produced
by Rosemount residents and industry which flows into the surrounding region. While
Rosemount’s impact on the world’s water and air resources is relatively small, these examples
serve to illustrate the interconnection between local decisions and global environmental
resources. As a result, the City of Rosemount should develop partnerships with others
(local, regional, state, national and international) groups and agencies committed to
environmental and natural resource preservation, protection and restoration.
SPECIAL RESOURCE PROTECTION
HISTORIC SITES
The City of Rosemount does not have any nationally or locally designated historic sites; however,
there are many historic resources found throughout the City that contribute to the sense of place
and community and make Rosemount unique in this region. Some of these historic resources
include: several downtown buildings, many of which were constructed in the late 19th and early part
of the 20th Century, UMore Park which housed the Gopher Ordinance Works at the end of World
War II (the ruins of many buildings and structures are still scattered across the site) and later served
as a research center for the agricultural program at the university of Minnesota, a large supply of
residential structures between 50-100+ years old west of downtown, historic farmsteads that have
been used for farming in excess of 100 years, and the large industries initially constructed in the
1950’s and 60’s in eastern Rosemount and long the Mississippi River.
Redevelopment
The City of Rosemount has over 150 years of history and, as a result, there are many properties
within the City that have been impacted by previous development. Downtown Rosemount, the
Robert Trail South corridor, UMore Park (the former Gopher Ordnance Works), and the industrial
east side are all areas that have fifty or more years of development history. Abandoned and
demolished buildings, former dump sites, and other environmental concerns exist in these areas. It
is in the public interest to address, clean up, and redevelop these areas instead of ignoring them and
developing only farm fields and vacant sites.
The City, in cooperation with other government agencies, has an interest in seeing that the sites with
environmental concerns are addressed and redeveloped into their full potential. The redevelopment
of these properties not only eliminates the environmental concerns from worsening in the future,
but also adds tax base, employment opportunities, and housing to the community. The City will
work with the other governmental agencies to assist land owners in redeveloping their properties
that have environmental issues.
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SOLAR ENERGY
Minnesota Statutes Section 473.859, Subdivision 2, requires that local governments in the
Metropolitan Area include an element for protection and development of access to direct sunlight
for solar energy systems in the Comprehensive Plan. The rationale for including a solar access
protection element in the Comprehensive Plan is to assure the availability of direct sunlight to solar
energy systems. According to the Metropolitan Council, “a major share of energy consumed in
Minnesota is used for purposes that solar energy could well serve such as space heating and cooling,
domestic hot water heating and low-temperature industrial processes. Collection of solar energy
requires protection of a solar collector’s skyspace. Solar skyspace is the portion of the sky that must
be free of intervening trees or structures for a collector to receive unobstructed sunlight.” According
to the Minnesota Energy Agency, “simple flatplate collectors have the potential to supply one half of
Minnesota’s space heating, cooling, water heating and low-temperature industrial process heat
requirements.” The City will take the following measures to ensure protection of solar access where
appropriate:
• Within Planned Unit Developments, the City will consider varying setback requirements in
residential zoning districts, as a means of protecting solar access.
• The City will encourage the use of solar energy and other systems using renewable energy in
new public buildings
• The City has adopted an Alternative Energy Ordinance that allows for solar collection
systems on private property and has also implemented Ordinance revisions to allow
community solar gardens in areas outside of the MUSA boundary.
A map of the gross solar potential, which predicts the areas in Rosemount that could potentially
collect a higher level of solar energy, is included as Map 3.10.
AGRICULTURAL PRESERVES
State Statute 473H allows land owners to enroll land that is guided and zoned for long term
agriculture into the Agricultural Reserve program in exchange for reduced property tax rates.
Approximately 656 acres of land within Rosemount is currently enrolled in the Agriculture Preserve
program, as shown on Map 3.11. The parcels enrolled in the program are located in the extreme
southeastern portion of the City, and all but one of these is located east of US Highway 52. All
Agricultural Preserve lands are also located outside of the 2030 MUSA, with 241 acres within the
2040 MUSA and the remaining 415 acres outside of any MUSA boundary. None of these property
owners have applied to withdraw the land from the Agricultural Reserve program and the City does
not project to need these areas for future development for at least another decade.
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Minnesota Statute 473H.08 Subd. 3 provides the City the ability to initiate the withdrawal of land
from the Agriculture Preserve by changing the land use designation to some use other than
agriculture. The City has designated 120 acres north of Coates as Business Park. This 120 acres of
land is expected to develop after 2030 and the City does not need to initiate the eight year waiting to
withdraw from the Agriculture Preserve program at this time. The City will monitor the Agriculture
Preserve status of this land and act as needed to ensure that this land is available for development
post-2030.
The City will guide all other land within the preserves program with a minimum density of one
dwelling unit per 40 on future land use map. The City has created a separate land use category for
these properties and will also be monitoring these sites in the future.
AGGREGATE RESOURCES
In 2000, the Metropolitan Council in cooperation with the Minnesota Geological Survey produced a
report entitled “Aggregate Resources Inventory of the Seven County Metropolitan Area,
Minnesota.” The report indicated that there are deposits of Superior Lobe Sand and Gravel of good
to excellent quality and Prairie du Chien Dolostone within the City of Rosemount as depicted on
Map 3.12 (Aggregate Resources).
Predominate areas of aggregate resources in Rosemount are located in central and southeastern
Rosemount, and are generally situated in areas planned for future development by 2040. Larger
areas east of US Highway 52 along the Mississippi River and along the County Road 46 corridor are
located outside of the 2040 MUSA boundary.
The City of Rosemount has previously prepared regulations that permit the extraction of aggregate
resources as an interim use within designated areas provided it does not prohibit the orderly
development of the land within the 2030 MUSA boundary. There are presently seven mineral
extraction operations of various sizes operating in the community including:
• Dakota Aggregates – Approximately 800 acres (with ancillary uses)
• Shafer Contracting – 93 acres
• Bolander and Sons – 15 acres
• Vesterra Stonex – 155 acres
• Danner Construction – 75 acres
• Max Steininger, Inc. – 38 acres
• Furlong Excavating – 30 acres
In total, the Rosemount has permitted mineral extraction activities on over 1,200 acres of land
dispersed throughout the City’s future growth areas. The continued expansion of mining operations
threatens the City’s ability to plan for future development of these areas, especially as new housing
and commercial uses continue to move east of Akron Avenue and south of County Road 42. The
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City recognizes the regional benefit of aggregate resource extraction; however, in order to ensure
orderly growth and development in accordance with this Chapter, the City will consider ordinance
revisions to either further restrict or eliminate mineral extraction uses for properties within the 2040
MUSA. Any such changes will acknowledge existing operations and allow them to continue
operating under their current permits with no further expansion of approved mining areas.
Countering the advantages of a locally available source of gravel is the nuisance aspect of gravel
mining. Gravel mining generates dust, noise and heavy truck traffic. It’s presence as an interim use
may also forestall the lands development into a permanent permitted use. The Rosemount City
Code regulates the permitting requirements and operating conditions of mining facilities, in part to
address and minimize potential land use conflicts. All mining permits are reviewed on an annual
basis, which gives the City the opportunity to modify operating permit conditions as necessary to
address issues.
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