Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan

This case is to acknowledge the Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan as an update to The COR Design Guidelines and Framework.  (This first, new 2021 Center Street framework and plan, only for the Downtown District portion of this second established planning document, The COR Design Guidelines and Framework approved in 2012.)

Approval of this update and addition to The COR Design Guidelines and Framework (the second attachment below), does not approve any single project, nor does it obligate the City to any specific detail with respect to any future improvement or project. These design guides and framework plans are however, valuable planning tools that allow developers, residents and stakeholder's in Ramsey's downtown to envision the cityscape they would be investing in.

The Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan (the first attachment below) details streetscapes, future stormwater elements (water reuse), sidewalks, aspects of Municipal Plaza, the Regional Trail and other pedestrian elements/walkability. The plan also describes facade and area improvements to Pump house #3. 

The Park & Recreation Commission acknowledged the Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan at their November 2020 regular meeting; the Planning Commission on January 7th, 2021, EDA on January 14, and the Environmental Policy Board on January 25th 2021. 
 

As indicated, the purpose of this case is to establish the Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan as an update to The COR Guidelines and Framework, so as to inform planning activity for several interrelated projects around Center Street—some of which having timelines that require or allow the work to commence soon (separately from this case).
 
A summary of these projects (and a brief description of the interrelatedness) is as follows:
 
Center Street sidewalk(s) in front of the Sapphire Apartments

The City has the obligation to construct the Center Street public sidewalk/streetscape improvements for a city-lead construction project. The developer has the Sapphire apartment building substantially complete and ready for these improvements. The specific design work for matching the public realm (sidewalk and streetscape) to the adjoining and parallel private sidewalk and building is underway, and should be constructed in the Spring of 2021.
 

Center Street Streetscape/Trail (west side) near the interface of the Affinity at Ramsey Senior Apartments and Municipal Plaza:

East of the Affinity building is a narrow area of park, south of a new segment of Ramsey Parkway.  This is also the Central Anoka County Regional Trail which consists of a temporary section of bituminous, with the plan to convert it to concrete, (like the finished 10' foot concrete trail immediately to the south, parallel to Center Street). The 2021 Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes a proposed project page for this, with some of the preliminary conceptual work done.
 

Municipal Plaza at the interface with Affinity at Ramsey Senior Apartments:

This area is to grade, with turf established in the Fall of 2020, but with no irrigation or other improvements. The preliminary concept plans for the park, show a plaza-like extension of the streetscape/trail blending into the park for a usable, programmable space. The final design (to include public furniture, hearth, landscape, for the narrow north portion of the park) should be considered for completion in 2021 to match the Affinity project's finished edge. This project would allow for the irrigation system to be designed for larger area of this park area as well.  Additionally, the city has the obligation to 'take over' the irrigation for the median swale within the Ramsey Parkway, (this city property is presently being served by the Affinity building at their expense).  Completing this specific park area would be of benefit to the future residents who will reside on either side of this space as well as other park patrons, including for Happy Days' programming—and improve the marketability of the city-owned vacant lot West of Municipal Plaza.
 
Municipal Plaza, south of the above (the larger, Happy Days site):

The fill from the 2019 COR Infiltration Basin was placed in the park as referenced above. The city may also consider an underground irrigation for the park as the first phase of development, as large scale park improvements may be a few or more years out. This flat, turfed area would function as a lush park space until the final improvements to the park are funded and complete.

Pump House Plaza:

The area immediately surrounding the small Pump House No. #3 is unimproved and consists of sand-burs and weedy grasses. As part of the 2019 Metropolitan Council Local Community Development grant exploration, the Pump House site was evaluated and found that its grounds can bring significant value to Ramsey's downtown by functioning as a plaza and practical extension of the sidewalk and connected park (especially when Center Street may be closed for public events).  The cost and design of adding a public restroom to this site to serve the the area parks and trails will be evaluated as planning around the Center Street area may occur.

Pump House Exterior completion:

The facade treatment was withheld from the Pump House when it was constructed over a decade and a half ago. This was deliberate, so as to match the building with the municipal architecture in Ramsey's downtown at such time as this would be known.  It is believed that this project is timely, in that the city has made the investments in civic place and architecture, and the other related improvements (Municipal Plaza and the future Waterfront) can be considered along with this endeavor—each informing the other, thus setting forth the civic architecture for establishing the sense of place, in the very center of Ramsey's walkable downtown.  Additionally, the Pump House is stark in appearance (without the architectural cladding), and finishing the building will meet with the same standards as other private projects are held to in The COR, raising property values, and at the same time the site's utility (discussed above). The city's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) shows this project occurring in 2020-21.  (The Pump house exterior completion is the subject of the next City Council case.)

145th Avenue sidewalk:

As of the Fall of 2020, the Sapphire project site is substantially complete, including a widened sidewalk from Sapphire Street, westerly along 145th Avenue to the Pump House site. The city is required to complete approximately 100' feet of sidewalk on the south side of the Pump House to make the connection to Center Street. The planning for this sidewalk will occur alongside the above Pump House Plaza planning activity. 

Additional detail will be presented at the meeting.

Funding for the various capital improvements (all of which would be approved outside the scope of this case) are identified within the respective portions of the City's CIP, or other separate Council authorization.

Staff will highlight the Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan for the meeting, and recommends adding the plan as a supplement and update to the The COR Design Guidelines and Framework.

Motion to acknowledge the Center Street Area Framework and Policy Plan as an update to The COR Design Guidelines and Framework.