Resolution #14-07-147: Receive Update on Highway 10 Access Planning Study and Consider Removal of One Riverdale Drive Extension Alternative East of Tungsten Street

The purpose of this case is to respond to a request from Village Bank to remove one (1) local road extension (Riverdale Drive) from the Highway 10 Access Planning Study for the purpose of allowing a current subdivision/plat request to move forward as presented. The Planning Commission recently reviewed the Preliminary Plat on July 10, 2014, but was not comfortable moving forward without direction from the City Council and feedback from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT).

It is important to note that the request for plat/subdivision also involves several legislative decisions by the City, most notably an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan and subsequently Zoning Code for purposes of allowing a single-family residential development along a proposed extension of Rivlyn Avenue. There are several components to this plat request, and detailed analysis is included in the attached technical report.

The request to remove an alternative from the Highway 10 Access Planning Study will take close coordination with the City of Anoka, as this alternative has impacts to developable area for that municipality. Staff is working on scheduling time to meet with the City of Anoka to discuss further. Adoption of the ordinance should be contingent upon completing discussions with the City of Anoka. Staff is forwarding the request to the City Council in advance at this time in order to potentially keep on a timeline for the August Planning Commission. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 15.99 requires that a City act upon a written request within 60 days, so this request cannot be postponed indefinitely.

Please note that the action tonight is not to consider approval of the proposed plat. The proposed action by the City Council is to consider adopting a resolution requesting the removal of the 'backage road' alternative for an extension of Riverdale Drive east of Tunsten Street. A separate alternative, the 'frontage road' concept exists as a viable alternative for a proposed local road connection in order to remove multiple, direct accesses to Highway 10. The Planning Commission will then be comfortable continuing review of this land use application with direction from the City Council to this matter.

Notification is not required. Extensive public outreach as occurred related to this land use application as well as the Highway 10 Access Planning Study.

The City of Ramsey has received an official application for a Plat known as Ridgepoint from Village Bank at our eastern border with Anoka. Previously, the City had requested that the Developer postpone further review until the completion of the Highway 10 Access Planning Study, as the request included a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Now that the final Open House has been completed, the Developer has formally requested that the City move forward with review of the Preliminary Plat and has submitted a complete application. With that in mind, we are now operating under the 60 Day Rule (Minn. Statute 15.99). We have issued the allowable 60 Day Extension, but will likely review again in August.
 
The Planning Commission has requested direction from the City Council regarding the Highway 10 Access Planning Study before the Planning Commission is comfortable in making a recommendation on the Plat. By approving the plat, the current alternative (“backage road”) would need to be eliminated from the Highway 10 Access Planning Study. An additional alternative (“frontage road”) does exist with the current Highway 10 Access Planning Study. The alternatives are shown in the attached exhibits .
 
Some assumptions that have helped Staff frame the discussion include, but are not limited to the following:
 

1. The Backage Road creates a double frontage for existing single-family homes along Rivlyn Avenue (just to the south)
2. The Backage Road may eliminate the possibility of a portion of the current single-family proposal along the extension of Rivlyn Avenue
   1. Physically, removal of one (1) if not two (2) lots would likely be required to be consistent with the Backage Road
   2. The Developer has indicated that the project pro-forma would not be sustained even with the removal of one (1) to two (2) lots from the proposal.
3. The Owner of a significant portion of this frontage along Highway 10 (adjacent to the proposed Plat) appears opposed to both the Backage Road as well as the Frontage Road, and has requested relocation in either scenario/alternative
4. The Frontage Road would allow the current proposal to move forward without modification

Bolton and Menk has prepared some Future Land Use Map concepts that demonstrate that in addition to the possibility to work with existing buildings and structures, there are several redevelopment scenarios of property adjacent to the Plat and Frontage Road

All costs associated with reviewing this land use application are the responsibility of the Applicant.

Staff recommends that the City Council Adopt Resolution #14-07-147 requesting that Mn/DOT remove the backage road concept as an alternative for the extension of Riverdale Drive east of Tungsten Street, contingent upon discussions and coordination with the City of Anoka.

Motion to adopt Resolution #14-07-147 requesting that Mn/DOT remove the backage road concept as an alternative for the extension of Riverdale Drive east of Tungsten Street, contingent upon discussions and coordination with the City of Anoka.