Review Concept Plan for 175 Unit Market Rate Apartment in The COR; Case of Inland Group

The City has been approached by Inland Development Group about a potential market-rate apartment building in Ramsey (purchasing city-owned land).

In order to set up an orderly review process, the City has prepared Concept/Context Maps and included Architectural Renderings with this case in advance of the Purchase Agreement phase. The purpose of this case is to introduce the topic and see what questions and opportunities exist as Inland Group continues to discuss the proposed concept with City Staff.  The concepts attached to the case are just concepts to frame the discussion. The ultimate site plan is likely to look different by the time of construction.

Staff believes that this generally meets the spirit and intent of The COR Interim Development Plan. Staff would identify any deficiencies in these concepts in future reviews with the Planning Commission and Park and Recreation Commission. As indicated, at this time the discussion is intended to be a high level review and introduction. Staff will come with a more formal recommendation on preferred alternatives at future steps.

 

Notification is not required at this time.

Staff is posing the following high-level policy questions for the Commission, relating to the relationships to the proposed park spaces in The COR. This is not a specific site plan review, but an opportunity to better guide site selection.

1. Are there any of the concepts that are simply non-starters and should be taken off the table now?
2. Are there specific questions the Commission wants the Developer to speak to at future meetings? (As the project is simply seeking potential sites in Ramsey at this time, there will be several opportunities for the city's Boards and Commissions and Developer to interact in the future.)

Comments or consensus of the Commission may be very general, like Staff's bullet points below, (or specific).
Staff's initial thoughts on the relationship to future park development finds that Concept C has distinct benefits:
~ retains the preferred park configuration
~ retains the woonerf
~ the surface parking at the northwest of the proposed 4.2 acre site has the potential for some shared parking between the apartment and the water-centric park


Notes on Residential/Retail Balance

A number of Ramsey Residents have expressed a concern about the amount of housing being built in Ramsey recently, without seeing a corresponding amount of retail development as of yet. Staff offers the following talking points to aide in that discussion. (This is not an exhaustive list of talking points on this topic, but a concise mention of the broader goal in the context of land use review.)

1. The City does have a plan for approximately 100 acres of retail development and aggressively attempts to recruit retailers that will add value to the community for many years to come.
2. The City is also planning for nearly 100 acres of new industrial growth. 120,000 square feet of new industrial space is being reviewed. Although the City cannot guarantee this development will ultimately develop, there are positive signs for commercial/industrial growth.
3. While additional residential growth is planned for within The COR, the planned housing is nearly 60% complete.
4. When recruiting retailers to the community, many share the need for additional housing units in Ramsey to provide the necessary demographics/population to shop in their stores. The City attempts to find that balance of land use planning through its Comprehensive Plan.
5. As the City grows its employment base, it aims to provide adequate housing to support the workers that work in our existing and future industrial parks.
6. Residential housing in The COR both drive the need to develop the proposed Municipal Plaza and the water-centric park (a.k.a. slash pad or 'Lake Ramsey')—and provide Park Dedication for the capital costs.
7. Housing concentrated in strategic locations is part of a broader growth management strategy that allows the community to balance and retain its defined rural character.

This case is being handles as part of normal Staff duties. The project is being proposed on City-owned property.

Staff does not have a recommendation at this time other than a request to provide thoughts on the concepts presented.

No specific action is being requested. Staff is seeking general consensus on high-level policy direction.