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Item 4
110 1 Item # 4. City of Elk River MEMORANDUM TO: Planning Commission FROM: Scott Harlicker, Senior Plann= 'r \ DATE: June 10, 2003 SUBJECT: Case No. CU 03-12 Request by Trails End Holdings — Elk River, LLC for a Conditional Use Permit for Auto Parts Store Request Consider a request by Trails End Holdings for a Conditional Use Permit for a 7,000 square foot auto parts store 60-Day Rule To comply with the 60 day rule,without an extension,this item needs action by June 23, 2003. Location Lot 1, Block 2, Elk River Crossing 3rd Addition Zoning/Land Use PUD (Planned Unit Development) /HE (Highway Business) Attachments • Location Map • • Development Plans • Building Elevations Memo to Planning Commission/CU 03-12 May 27,2003 Page 2 • • Memo from City Engineer • Elk River Crossing PUD Design Standards Standards for Issuance of a Conditional Use Permit The issuance of a Conditional Use Permit can be ordered only if the use at the proposed location: 1. Will not endanger, injure or detrimentally affect the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity or the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience or general welfare of the neighborhood or the city. 2. Will be consistent with the comprehensive plan. 3. Will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding vacant property. 4. Will be served adequately by and will not adversely affect essential public facilities and services including streets,police and fire protection, drainage, refuse disposal, water and sewer systems,parks and schools; and will not, in particular, create traffic congestion or interference with traffic on adjacent and neighboring public thoroughfares. 5. Will not involve uses, activities,processes, materials, equipment and conditions of operation that will be detrimental to any persons or property because of excessive traffic, noise, smoke,fumes, glare, odors, dust or vibrations. 6. Will not result in the destruction, loss or damage of a natural, scenic or historic • feature of major importance. 7. Will fully comply with all other requirements of this Code, including any applicable requirements and standards for the issuance of a license or permit to establish and operate the proposed use in the city. If denial of such a permit should occur,it shall accompany recommendations or determinations by findings or a report stating how the proposed use does not comply with the standards set forth in section 30-654. Overview The applicant is proposing to construct a 7,000 square foot auto parts store. The property is located between the Panera Bread building and the Sterling Bank site in Elk River Crossing. The property has frontage on Zane Street and on Highway 169. Parking and Circulation Access to the site is provided by two existing shared driveways. One driveway is shared with Sterling Bank and is located on the north side of the site;the second driveway is shared with the Panera Bread site and is located on the south side of the property.The applicant has provided access around the rear of the building. • Document2 Memo to Planning Commission/CU 03-12 May 27,2003 Page 3 • The parking requirement for this project is 35 spaces, one space for every 200 square feet of floor area.The applicant is proposing 38 spaces. Deliveries to the business will be conducted at the rear of the building.An overhead is located on the back of the building. Building Elevations The applicant is proposing a rectangular building that is 70 feet wide by 100 feet deep.The exterior is proposed to be a mix of dark tan split faced block with face brick columns and a 6'7" light tan EIFS band around the top.The north and south elevations are broken up with a 18" bump out. Some minor cornice detailing was attached to the front and rear elevations. The design standards for the Elk River Crossing PUD include the following: • Buildings 100 feet in length should incorporate recesses, off-sets,pilasters, or angular forms so that no uninterrupted length exceeds 50 feet. • Buildings should have architectural features and patterns that provide visual interest at a pedestrian scale. • The features should be an integral part of the building fabric and not applied trim, graphics or paint. • Variations to rooflines and cornice details should also be used to add interest to the building. • Facade colors should be subtle,neutral or earth tone colors. • • Facades of a building which are visible from adjoining properties or public streets shall include certain design elements found on the front facade. The attached building elevations were submitted in response to the Commission's comments at the May 27th meeting. Elevations of the dumpster enclosure are required.The enclosure should match the material of the building. Grading,Drainage and Utilities Grading,drainage and utility issues are addressed in the City Engineer's memo. Landscaping The landscaping as proposed complies with the landscape ordinance. Signage The wall signage shown on the front building elevation complies with the signage requirements allowed by the Elk River Crossing PUD.No freestanding sign is shown on the plan. One monument style freestanding sign not exceeding 100 square feet in size and not exceeding 10 feet in height is allowed. • Document2 Memo to Planning Commission/CU 03-12 May 27,2003 Page 4 IIIRecommendation The revised site plan addresses the site plan issues raised by staff at the May 27th Planning Commission meeting.The Commission will have to decide if the revised building elevations comply with the design standards of the Elk River Crossing PUD Agreement. Staff feels that additional detailing would such as changes in the brick pattern, additional windows,unique wall lights, canopies and changes in the height of the roofline are needed so that it complies with the standards in the PUD agreement. • • Document2 •IVER °k ;�II' irrR ,rO 000 00000 1!,!-0 PLAZA °IV, �� ST � " s-, - 21 o I 1 ip. t% 0•0.1w 00,1 ,2 ,,„,,, 4 r1/44‘ ;1)--.„ RPI LVERZ `,io --�� o ♦ 1 '. -ice .zit - 0,O o �,,i �► e.v.DD. 9liio, rQI I I I ' � 04 Aar''lit 1Mis � qi EN ' talk slogs II �� k =�� q I am. V?)o� 714IIIPPP' 1 '411�= MEM ■■■■MINGIME Min IWO 1. vie �� RV* min itimm ir A, .,..,., I pliV. ma owl k virv ' 1 go • �!!II Ann% . 71#ALIIHAL qL 182nd \1.0 ./,i�"Tow o ••Imo MEW aI'i ' � �] �jiii�i�ii�Gfi�, :,r, P AR CE O D �t�y ❑ ❑ 1 cn , HOHLE SA SITE N. O ���P z 0� %,\ 1%\a 46 ._ , c 0 OD ..$' .. ri. U PA Q" Iv %it , �•R°°`SIMI rIW w Tail S°�= 0 �IS) atirime 4�� G r w ,Lig i .'11111 Q ❑ _ i,ai• 0�• FSI — ��I�� 9OL C 9th AVENUE NW — mg EEE = =I 9 1 �! 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Irl \ Y ,i4- .../ Location Map fif N , + R1Ver Case Number: CU 03-12 TRAILS END HOLDINGS G:`\Land Projects R2\8136-15\u \PRILIMINARY\8136-15SITE.dwg, Layouts, 06/05/03 085 AM, Dale III III .9 ,,,,• OA e0 1 gg1. i i o , \5 — Q -/ N 0�� i /O // \ \ r \ .:- 9` N a \ p N aa\ \ / /00 '0 O \ A ('J \_ 1 Zc+ O 0 0 m �\\ - tea\ \ w -r- -----� r,1 ` \, \\ SOL 0 _{ 1\ \, \ g90` o0 ri i9 CIJ \,, \ '! °1 l N i = \\ %/\ hNra� o o \"3--\* \ •' snit/is\\\ - \ \ ,o '', _ -`\ ii \\ \ A ` 00°-"-..7`, \ \ \ \ V, ''''''..'' \ A \ \''.. \ 1 -- ,,, .,,, ,,, ,,\r \ .', \ , 1 I \ ,-C`.t.'+s' ° \ ,‘,01:1.4`\ .0 ' \ ,-*-1', .4 \ \ ' ,-_ - . . \ ' L/ , \\\‘',:,,C:.9 --_:-..., \ \ r _ _ 3 ▪ =/ . v___,....,..... _______, ______ \,,, ,, ____-7:i3 -- - - --- ---- _------- ,------ __:.3,4.....----- 4.„, : rte/ '/ ',�' ./ N ' f T `/i �/ /, _---- . / Nor/ ,/y /�� / _ _ ---'0' per ,�` „/N / 1 m Z 0 0 O- m a, C r D Z O O O 0 D • m m z N_ O N Zo o O m Z D aa O P = O m C m A m O r- n z N N John OliverAssociates, Inc. I hereby certify that this plan, spec- DATE' 4/30/03 REV DATE DESCRIPTION \ AUTO PARTS STORE i kation, or report was prepared by NO Civil[ngineering,Land Surveying, Land Planning me or under my direct supervision DESIGN BY DLC 1 5/27/03 CITY REVISIONS z ELK RIVER, MN 580 Dodge Avenue and that I am a duly Licensed Prof- DRAWN BY ERW TRAILS END HOLDINGS Elk River, Minnesota 55330 the sial Engineer under the laws of m 763-441-2072 FAX 763-441-5665 the state of Minnesota CHECKED BY DLC Offices in: Elk River, Burnsville DWG• 8136-15SITE.dwq -1 ' \ PRELIMINARY SITE PLAN and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Signature TEXT NONE Date 4/30/03 Reg No. 26777 FILE NO 8136 15-03 G:\Land Pro. R2\8136-15\dwy'\PRILIM INARY\8136-15GRAD.dwg, Layouts, 06/05/03 0.47 AM, Daleii • .9 ''i • .© e9 %. i w n, wmc \\ W�x�w \ o \U m ro tli 50 �- LA co o to w ( ` + o 14- n P _ N m m0 0 U x r \ m %,"" i \ e m o N o \\ o \ o �oLq/ 1 \ ‘......000°V. .,— A 1� ';', \ \ II VI -, `\ a \\ o i y N co 1S`� m m \ o r 0 '''' ,a`�- \ _ y cos mAo4.O \ I' _ao \ \\ \ w oWADw ��\ V sa . FS \ ' i \ x� 0 ti m N s. 1 f i _ J! .,\ \ / \ r ...w,;Ig \ '..,::,\_.,------\ 63 ‘ i•-• o \ t �o r��f>NC� \'' ...0=-- uoM<nm�_` `����� \ O+ r'.,..':[1 1 1' -.r.r r, Ti Cc p�y _ .. `C �.,\mom rAv o -.'-- ':- `.-",_'"'.:', a O>m-1(475 io f-o��� N ''i.'�''r- -''r',j-,'' v -.4.0 GI !., ',;\ i ri F, \ ,t v, 1\ a, \ \,o \ ADO ^ ii.=;;:J•• ';_ii \\ to \ ♦� co ',- 4),.•,: -.,-,\-,-j;1. C* \ ." I'r•'f' r'�'r \ R \ N :'r i.' \ \ '' it \ O. rnn 1\ \ \1 \ �� _Ci rr.r':i_,_, 't �' ql \ I r T \\\ off' \ \ `\ � 6\'ib`��� /`''' /,.• • 44 \p. w 10\ b\....°°1,73C6 i. o2 x3 Ufi Am m \ q N v5/ ••a Q�5 d011• CDS rn cnz Apo— ,1 \ 0,. iW�NO �r ' o pm>3m o. nmo N EA 9 A ''73C-x ------ oA°�p `�S 5 Wa S d�7j / // d y of .\ /w 83143 — z gi rn to W m i .1 .Munn c qa i^ flQ o N O r= a r^,mayy,�.��,-,- ^£ y b., ;', : 1 ; IN • u c 0 0 A `'r�'M'7T HI D �b`,sy=', R m -- ' mrk rd sski[" _' ' Tv }.wFii't ' '' ii g • .70 in.A.h4)4V. 1 . z mhr s O 0 trxt.zl�C y'. auO V 1 D Z N m REV I hereby certify that this plan, spec– DATE 4/30/03 DATE DESCRIPTION \I\.) AUTO PARTS STORE John Oliver & Associates, Inc. ification, or report was prepared by NO. civil tnp.ne.rinp, Land surveying, Land Planning me or under my direct supervision DESIGN BY DLC 1 5/27/03 CITY REVISIONS Z ELK RIVER, MN 580 Dodge Avenue and that atEI am ineer undertheof 0 o E(k River, Minnesota 55330 g DRAWN BY ERW TRAILS END HOLDINGS 763-441-2072 FAX 763-441-5665 the state of Minnesota CHECKED BY DLC Offices in: Elk River, Burnoe DWG 8136-1551TBunten/We PRELIMINARY GRADING PLAN and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Signature TEXT NONE Dote 4/30/03 Reg No 26777 FILE NO 8136 15-03 G:\Land Projects R2\8136-15\dwg\PRILIMINARY\8136-15UTILITY.dwg, Layouts,06/05/03.8:54 AM, Dale . • N01 Vii Bg, w / / / / / 3 Ca / v WC* Z••:-....".‘09 �/Og GS ,� \ 4�i1. of/ d\0 ."qs,11 l/ Y'a 8t ,1 0 - \\ ao�1 OI` j• N N'f 1 "'m>x 1 al NJ S rte'- $coo— OW 11 C iJi u \\\ `08 V J _\ ......,./ , \ 'll' m / C7 ' A\ - ' \ m C7 , �e \ _� N m �A�,d \', _ \ o o r .d �1,\ It \v, _---- -\ \ ^ \`64) _Po �7,1, `\ \'---- \ \ ti m \ t'1 \ \lc; 000200000 \ r'N .\ \._--- i 1 \ \ \ \ - am x ( ... \ \ \ ` 1 ,'tw \\\ \"•l ` /' Yj i'''r - '\ \'\ \\ ,, \ - ,\ \\ \ _ -is-,° tr 1 V\ •� m 1/' A° i 1t�// z � ./ = NS t 4 1- -�'' c /,/. '/°Ofd e>/ /00 / ----' \P,Y / /' air /°/S A 00/'o / / dw O fa t W N — p I A A > V-Z1p> ➢ 6Cg `13 _ tnNA ➢ Z�� 2 O N m_i� A V1 .i A O c,--,2 { -1 N � 7tm � - _I _ m• = > m '=p m A ' Z 4Z)A.0 A 225 o Z A O mm A ili I - m A= < m ,.,. .to < 'IF r'' vz g o ➢ m N <y m p u [r n� y rA I L VI , _ r' {N Z ti ➢ _ N m A r- moo m �F A x X A x p A S W mm 0I .3 Fi ' CA 1 S F o Z Z p Z �` m < Am 20 v p o p v p p o v i v1 • Z fl � JZ m m z Z { 1n "1 S mcn Zm A D m A F lml m N m p< A -I 0 - Z 2 rl m to N O Z N = I hereby certify that this plan, spec- REV DATE 4/30/03 DATE DESCRIPTION \CA i AUTO PARTS STORE John Oliver & Associates, Inc. ification, or report was prepared by NO ciuu Engineering,Land Surveying,Land planning me or under my direct supervision DESIGN BY DLC 1 5/27/03 CITY REVISIONS 0 580 Dodge Avenue and that I am a duly Licensed Prof- po ELK RIVER, MN Elk River, Minnesota 55330 essional Engineer under the laws of DRAWN BY ERW 763-441-2072 FAX 763-441-5665 the state of Minnesota CHECKED BY DLC TRAILS END HOLDINGS DWG 8136-15slrEdwa Offscea sn: Elk River, Burnaville P` \ PRELIMINARY UTILITY PLAN and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Signature TEXT* NONE Date 4/30/03 Reg No 26777 FILE NO 8136 15-03 G:\Land Projects R2\8136-15\dwg\PRILIMINARY\8136-15LAND.dwg, Layouts, 06/05/03 08- .58 AM, Dale • 4111 a 4 14.. 4 ,a .Q 68 1. / / mN --- / N / / . 4.-t-_ -*,;(. ..' 7-4W7, „7._ ,._ �� \ / ,ls,,_ or/ N i vetN \\ \93 _ -- \ ,1i,\ OIIITTTC'0 ` 1 \ \ itA" y -o , \,) \ II m \ to m D \ 0 0 0 \ /N n 1'•1\111 - _- \\\ - "/ - / ,� \ -- N/ 1z \ '* ta., �1� �1 \ \ „ \\ •� 0000• N _ ,'i y1\ \�'\ \\ , �`� \ �pop� f 11\1 I �/ r LT, \ \ \ fr�:\ \ `'I�� ; \ N\ \ � " igoo \ 1 ' o• ••o. • JW Wii -------- / -------- 1SSI1 / / / N t i 2 X X 3 a n u w U N e. 4 ti ? 4 ins S'>IR SB Qiu> gnv> 51—4 'R gC '�v s -, oN,°, n3 .,v»m_ .y ♦ `" ^' lA P"P a Nos 3 'F ; 8 a2n2 ° n n'tHlo="g1F'a; cS > °_> nnal� o >_ > 1-.. gig- � � ra'e c$Zif moyN °un -a o�'o�n=30 noo�, °' v� oc,°nc c - o 0 8'S ^-lF-,- s v 5 ;2 3*g 74 R$, A i l ,^ g v . ° 00 onc!:i ' i_j! iI a n a -yr 31, ) v° mn . 55 no ga'o 5o no'ov aaP2 o,, o�n o^ gi V) o� 3 � 3 'o� o '7,0. o' ai a o ', aaa -ao" ,o ar-.:'? o ka �R kN I o D a$ EF .°.o^-,? nga3o =>io'° '�, '° on'°. 370 3 �o mo nm= t7 m -" -Qoa•'a•' uu • 2.-9.o = g ncnm + I n 11'ao ao° oo �°o Z sg as-9' s a_. o�n�o R al g owo wtrl Lz ;, m N o m ci ca a ^i °: n 47 ? c a n n o o n �9' o o'c° v 'a o a- `,“30 o o,°v ° k4 �o D n F P ^ 0 a a {i m n N a _ �o R I' q . ,T-611,-0 `a a c a �Q C.„6-. o +S E o 3 mans ", 1– r vZ o 0 o nQ °v 3� -^_�'c n �3 na ^- o 5, °a Z m s 00 .6 . 5 Seo anaaoll .. •''. 2r^0o w^oa_ nn^T' g 3 90'_ 3 -I n M 3 n e c,qn R ,nnna° a c •o ?E vn,.. r'o°,a' 3 3 m 3 Hno $auV° p a 3 oao a o 2 U) o m m m m m a ^ o §* 3',3'.4'2.3-3,8g-315.9� n 2 � .n a ? u n 9 ' n o' z 9 m m m m m 8 a u 3 .eecu O3ao o �ua9 3 k 3 I. 0 n a09.„3-^ .n n o a'o' ' a m 3 - o u ] Ess 0 0, aa a s o'_c°o N = '" ° 3 N R »naa 52 °. R =ia '" v° 3 ' 3 ' -... C116a.-.11, a I s a 0 3 b s a 11 - a= mowSI 2 +� T - m e, c =f n erR a on v, -Pm Al John Oliver Associates, Inc.TO PARTS STORE I hereby certify that this plan, spec- ification, or report was prepared by DATE 4/30/03 NO DATE DESCRIPTION Caval Engineering, Land Surveyang, Land Flannang me or under my direct supervision DESIGN BY DLC Z ELK RIVER, MN 580 Dodge Avenue and that I am a duly Licensed Prof- 1 5/27/03 CITY REVISIONS Elk River, Minne.ota 55330 essional Engineer under the laws of DRAWN BY ERW 783-441-2072 FAX 763-441-5865 the state of Minnesota CHECKED BY DLC TRAILS END HOLDINGS s \ 0ffvoe. in: Elk River, Burnsville . DWG 8136-15SITE dwq PRELIMINARY LANDSCAPE PLAN and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Signature. TEXT NONE Date 4/30/03 Reg No 26777 FILE NO 8136 15-03 • TO.MAGA I W.L.PERRY e.Ai� EL ASSOCIATES i ,,---ars SYSTEM - 1 • VI t - Mtlei�•12Al'. � �z __-= UCAIT WR(TYPICAL) �� D - •=100)201110 IDDED __ DY Olfr{{ODVAL OW 7lLOlfilJ ODS=_-ROCWOOOSPXYi6 540 LEONARD M.N. ti _ p..�. wril il �Ry p..-- - GRAIL RANK KR 481104 ella Wail RE earrtitt 7 1 i MASH tril U PHONE 01110 414-1740 FAX 01104 414.1744 FRI RR it/YRFrr.Lrla'1Y eawlit 1'l naw,sdS IdYErJY'isareat w7rlaf r..r.r.or linr!J"llrot it-_=--"i1^1 IKIKII7.,WKIG'7i IKi---- EL •IW-0 4 -- - '-- --- -- - -------- --------- -- - -- ----- -- ------- -- --------- -- - - -- N mwF.nyr um FACE OM O PILASTER SOUTH ELEVATION TO SRO an -I O. SKIT FILE CV BUILDING FACE-M. SCALL IN•1'-0 CONTRACTOR'S ELECTRIOAN IS TO PROVIDE(2)20 NT COWS FQ EACH EALOFG SIGN NO MME DIRECTLY TAU M PHOTOCELL/ CAORACTOR IS TO INSTALL 4 VINYL TN1E CLAOc GOIFMT ex 1 S.F SIGN INX MGM ADDRESS*rem MOWED BY CONTRACTOR IS TO RETOIN NC ADVANCE AUTO PARTS. rima ALL M ND09lART COOICTDNS AFTER M SIGN IS INSTALLED FAML W-I. � a, {R ` 6 •°11-H' F J_�F.X.-EL • - _ - , _ _ 0:P5RYHT-ALL MARTS t 113,11C4r TerlPI.iY- - ri, DFS S1TB7 OMMAN THE ONMNfS AIN FROrRTT Of ALL PERRY ASSOOATtl MID b LY__rrri..=___.. ., = M ARARE FOE USC A DICRIM - tl ...n i OIITECT O0-TX. - - _-- _ • ..�i Howarc R. Green Company May 19, 2003 File: 820870J-0240 Mr. Scott Harlicker Senior Planner City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 RE: AUTO PARTS STORE SITE PLAN REVIEW LOT 2, ELK RIVER CROSSING 3RD ADDITION Dear Mr. Harlicker: As requested, we have reviewed the submittal for the proposed auto parts store on Lot 2, Block 1, Elk River Crossing 3rd Addition. The submittal was prepared by John Oliver and Associates and dated April 25, 2003. It consisted of a preliminary site plan, preliminary grading plan, preliminary utility plan, and a preliminary landscape plan. Based on our review and comments received at the site plan review, we would offer the following comments: • 1. The intent for all of the sites along Trunk Highway 169 in Elk River Crossing was to maintain an open corridor behind all of the buildings. This site has a proposed dumpster located at the rear of the building that would prohibit vehicle traffic from one site to the other. The dumpster location should be moved to the north or south side of the building. 2. We have reviewed the Panera Bread site plan to the south and verified the abutting elevations. We have also reviewed the Sterling Bank approval to the north. It appears that the elevations shown on the north line are different than those in the approved Sterling Bank site plan. The grading plan needs to match the approved Sterling Bank plan to the north. 3. This site will likely need to apply for an NPDES permit prior to any work on the site. 4. The fire chief has asked for a hydrant to be located internal to the site. The location he has chosen is the island at the northeast corner of the building. 5. Show United Power Association easement along Trunk Highway 169 frontage. If you have any questions regarding any of these comments, please call. Sincerely, Howard R. Green Company • TerryJ. Maurer' P.E. TJM:sw Ltr-051403-Leeseberg 1326 Energy Park Drive • St. Paul, MN 55108 • 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389 • DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS Architectural Character 1. Facades and Exterior Walls The Elk River Crossing development will represent the eastern terminus of the Main Street corridor which connects Highway 169 and the Central Business District. As such, the exterior appearance of the buildings should include elements of buildings found along the corridor and in the Central Business District. Facades should be articulated to reduce the massive scale and uniform impersonal appearances of large retail buildings and provide visual interest. Buildings over 100 feet in length should incorporate recesses, off-sets, pilasters or angular forms so that no uninterrupted length exceeds 50 feet. The wall projection or recess should be a depth of approximately 3% of the length of the uninterrupted building length. Buildings should have • architectural features and patterns that provide visual interest at a pedestrian scale. The features should be an integral part of the building fabric, and not be applied trim, graphics or paint. Variations to roof lines and cornice details should also be used to add interest to buildings. Exterior building materials and colors comprise a significant part of the visual impact of a building. Therefore, they should be aesthetically pleasing and compatible with materials and colors used in the Central Business District and along east Main Street Facade colors should be subtle, neutral or earth tone colors. The development shall use a consistent palate of materials and colors throughout. Facades of a building which are visible from adjoining properties or public streets shall include certain design elements found on the front facades. Predominant exterior facade materials should include, but not limited to, one or more of the following: • brick • native stone • tinted, textured, integrally colored concrete masonry units. • stucco • tilt-up concrete panels with exterior facades as referred to in these • standards Predominant exterior building materials shall not include the following: • smooth faced concrete block • • smooth faced or raked faced tilt up concrete panels • prefabricated steel panels. 2. Entryways Entrances should be clearly defined and visible. They should incorporate devices such as canopies, overhangs, recesses/projections, arcades, raised parapets over the doors, peaked roof forms, display windows, architectural details such as tile works and moldings which are integrated into the building design. Lighting General site and street lighting (excluding general parking lot lighting) shall be a design that is compatible and connects with the lighting utilized in the Central Business District. It shall be at a pedestrian scale. Wall lighting fixtures shall be consistent with the pedestrian and general site lighting. General parking lot lighting shall be at a height no greater than 30 feet. Poles and fixtures shall be a design that compliments the street and general site lighting standards and fixtures. • Loading Areas, Trash Collection and Outdoor Storage g Loading docks, truck parking, HVAC equipment, and other service functions should be incorporated into the overall design of the building and screened from view of adjoining properties and streets. Trash compactors and dumpsters should be within an enclosure constructed of the same materials and colors as those used in the building. Outdoor areas used for the sale and/or display of seasonal inventory shall be permanently defined and screened with walls and/or fences and landscaping. Outdoor sales and display areas, except for garden centers, shall not exceed 5% of the ground floor area of the building. Canopies Canopies located over pump islands are allowed provided the architectural design, colors and character of the canopy shall be consistent with the principle building on site. The fascia of the canopy shall not be illuminated. Canopy lighting shall consist of canister spot lights recessed into the canopy. No portion of the light source or fixture may extend below the bottom face of the canopy. Signage • Signs shall be an integral part of the overall architectural design of a building and the project, rather than contrasting with it. They must consist of materials and design which compliments the architectural elements of the building and project. Signs must not be visually distracting or tend to dominate by means of location, size, color or lighting. All signs shall be internally illuminated. All freestanding signs shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet from all property lines and shall not obstruct visibility or encroach in any drainage or utility easements. Development Sign One freestanding development sign identifying Elk River Crossing will be permitted at the corner of Main Street and Highway 169. The sign shall be a monument style sign with a maximum height of 30 feet and a width of 16 feet. The number of tenants allowed on this sign shall be limited to 4. Total sign area shall not exceed 225 square feet and shall not exceed 10 feet in width. The sign shall be constructed of brick, face brick or colored rock faced block and may include decorative brick and/or decorative glazed block as 110 accents. Entry Signs Two entry signs shall be allowed, one at the Main Street and Zane Street intersection and one at the Tyler Street and 179th Avenue intersection. These signs shall be a monument style sign with a maximum height of 8 feet and a width of 16 feet. Total sign area shall not exceed 128 square feet. The sign shall be constructed of brick, face brick or colored-rock faced block and in may include decorative brick and/or decorative glazed block as accents. These entry signs may identify no more than 4 tenants. Monument Signs for Freestanding Sites Each of the freestanding buildings within Elk River Crossing will be allowed to have a freestanding sign. The freestanding sign must be a monument style with a maximum height of 10 feet and a maximum area of 100 square feet. The sign shall be constructed of brick or face brick and in may include decorative brick and/or decorative glazed block as accents. Wall Signs for Freestanding Sites . Wall signs for each freestanding building must consist of individual letters and shall not have more than 1 wall sign for each principle building, except that where a principal building abuts 2 or more public streets, 2 wall signs - 1 • will be allowed. Awning signs and canopy signs, including canopies over gas pumps, shall be included as wall signs. Awning and canopy signs shall not be illuminated. The sign area shall not exceed seven (7) percent of the area of the building wall, including doors and windows, to which the sign is to be affixed Wall Signs Retail Building North Side of Home Improvement Store Wall signs for the retail building attached to the north side of the proposed home improvement store shall consist of individual letters. Capital letters shall not exceed 36" high, lower case letters shall not exceed 24" high. Signs shall be for store identity only and shall not be allowed on the rear or side of building. Signs shall not extend closer than 3 or 4 feet from the projected lease line. If the space is leased by a single tenant, sign area shall not exceed 10 percent of the area of the building wall, including doors and windows, to which the sign is to be affixed Major Tenant Wall Signage Total wall sign area for major tenants should not exceed 7% of the front facade of the principle structure and must consist of individually mounted letters and corporate logos. Letters shall not exceed 6 feet in height and logos shall not exceed 10 feet in height. All signage shall be internally illuminated. Other Signs All other signage that may occur within Elk River Crossing and not specifically mentioned herein shall comply with the City of Elk River Sign Ordinance. All requests which are not consistent with conditions, character and intent of the Elk River Crossing PUD may be denied by the City. IIISupporters say a transit-oriented comeg ty along the Northstar • Corridor will be built even if the Le islatt oesn't fund the rail line. Ramse envisions billion-dollar urban village By Larry Werner City officials envision a Norman, Ramsey's city ad- builders for all the housing tion, where commuters Star Tribune Staff Miter transit-oriented communi- ministrator. The Ramsey lots.And it is all buttressed will board the Northstar ty similar to the North Town Center "will place by a market study showing commuter train,if the Leg- Ramsey, the Anoka Shore suburbs of Chicago, Ramsey as one of the hubs the area will support the islature ever funds it. Sup- County city known to met- with the flavor of a Europe- of the metropolitan area, a planned retail and enter- porters say the project will ro residents as a stoplight an town square. destination." tainment components. happen even if lawmakers amid RV dealerships along "Ramsey has been for The project won seed On the southern edge of don't fund the line, but busy Hwy. 10, will break years the poster child for money from the Metropol- the development, where they say the train would ground soon on a billion- urban sprawl where people itan Council,support from the Burlington Northern help. dolldr plan to turn 322 moved up and bought in- prominent developers who tracks run alongside Hwy. acre of vacant farmland expensive land for their have purchased the land 10, the project's architects RAMSEY continues on A7: into an urban village. starter homes," said Jim and letters of intent from envision Front Street Sta- —Asenseofplaceisthegoal. RAMSEY from Al Burns Twp._ _�-T At a glance Anoka and Coon Rapids are >l• >~Population:18,510 ce i Ramsey Twp. (,,,,,,,,„ * Character:Semirural considering similar projects' ,Ti: Itasca L. developeddcommunity , Ecld L. > in 2 h acre Eddy �z lots with septic tanks. Other developers also are City Council member and ) c p investing tens of millions of member of the Met Council. Sunfish i; ) a s Natural features: dollars in the 80-mile corridor The council gave $850,000 to @ s Grass L ,':.t-' Mississippi and Rum between Minneapolis and St. the project. '•... .,---....2:,•i H rivers, significant Cloud hoping that a commuter "I think it's irresponsible 2 miles jss�.rs• , ,'t woodlands and 1p�,' •• Anoka 1 line will be a catalyst for new and shortsighted not to do it," [ wetlands. communities of housing, retail she said. "We're trying to make ANoka , '- 0 AREA OF Future:Becoming more and offices clustered around a downtown center so we can ' ppm. ,WAS [I urban, with smaller lots, train stations. say: This is Ramsey; this is Just up Hwy. 10 from Ram- where we live; we're proud of HENNEPIN 'RAMSEY and is planning a town sey, for example, Pratt Homes this.'" i t„,,, 'i center with shops, y p4 -r Star Ti dune and Oakwood Development Mpls• , j,,,.,., St. restaurants, offices and are beginning work on a cluster Overcoming obstaclesCARVEk Paul more than 2,000 of homes and commercial Steffen has worked to over- townhouses and buildings adjacent to the depot come obstacles to the town apartments. planned for Elk River. In Big center and its 2,000 multifam- SCOTT DAKOTA Lake, Edina Development is ily homes, stores, movie the- —1 planning a similar mixed-use aters, offices and public build- project of multifamily homes ings. She persuaded the Met future in the artist's renderings that he and his partner, Bruce and commercial development Council's then-chairman, Ted of shops, restaurants and con- Nedegaard, don't need city on 300 acres near the proposed Mondale,and her fellow coun- dos near the train station. money to make the town cen- Big Lake Station.The company cil members to increase a Terry Hendrickson sees ter happen.He said that the va- is planning a larger develop- $50,000 grant to $850,000 un- government subsidy of private cant land is under contract and ment on 1,500 acres along the der the state's Livable Commu- enterprise and an urban threat that builders have signed let- tracks in southeast St. Cloud, nities Act. And she persuaded to the lvay of life he moved to ters of intent for all of the lots said company owner Rick David Elvig, a businessman Ramsey to find. planned for townhouses, Lewandowski. whom she had taught in confir- He was the most vocal op- apartments and senior hous- Anoka and Coon Rapids are mation class when he was a ponent on the City Council, ing.And, he said, a market-re- considering similar projects. child,to run what turned out to and he was able to block the search company has studied With encouragement and be a successful campaign project from moving forward the Ramsey trade area and has funding from the Metropolitan against,the only City Council when the city charter and state determined that the project Council, the planning agency member who consistently op- law required four of the five can work commercially if the for the seven-county metro posed the dream. council members — a "super- town center captures only 10 area, cities have been develop- Now, she and Elvig dream majority" — to approve the percent of the shopping and ing projects with main-street together of the new downtown. zoning changes necessary. His entertainment dollars now be- shopping, restaurants and of- Ground will be broken on the opposition was neutralized by ing spent in nearby cities. fices adjacent to transit ser- project this summer, and pro- a 2001 change in state and city The project will be driven, vices. Met Council and state ponents say the effort will pro- law that said a simple majority Feges said, by the hot market planners identified the 80-mile vide an alternative lifestyle in could change a city's compre- for townhouses and condo- corridor between Minneapolis Ramsey, where ramblers and hensive plan, and he lost his miniums. That has allowed and St.Cloud as the best bet for two-stories sit on 21/nacre lots seat to Elvig last fall. Ramsey Town Center to get the commuter rail, and federal and where there is little to offer His cause was hurt also by a financing needed to build the funds await an agreement by those who want condos or referendum in which 61 per- billion-dollar development. the Legislature to provide$123 places to shop without driving cent of the voters said they Commuter rail, he said, million in state money. to Elk River or Coon Rapids. support a town center. would make everyone more Meanwhile, all eyes are on I think what's happening is Despite that result, he said: comfortable, including other Ramsey, developer Lewan- that people are starting to real- "I believe the majority of peo- developers along the tracks. dowski said, because no other ize there are no services here," ple who moved to Ramsey did Lewandowski said that Gov. metro suburb has promised a Elvig said."And they're starting so because they wanted to be Tim Pawlenty, who hasn't yet more ambitious transit-orient- to realize we're going to have to out of the city. Now what's taken a position on the North- ed makeover of its community continue to raise taxes until we happening is they're being star Corridor, will eventually along the Northstar corridor. get some commerce. So you're asked to spend or guarantee a see that it gets built. Yet the process has created getting a different groundswell lot of the financial investment "We're making investment political intrigue and legal ac- of people here — people that in order to change that which based on it's going to happen," tion in a big-lot bedroom con- are young adults,dual income, attracted them to Ramsey in he said. "He IPawlentyl may munity that has such an identi- working hard every day. They the first place." not have said it yet, but we in- ty problem its officials often don't want to have to drive over tend to give him a lot of rea- have to explain,"We're the city, to Coon Rapids to buy their Good prospects sons why he should say yes.To not the county." groceries and have their ice John Feges, president of us it's a foregone conclusion." "We intend to watch the cream melt by the time they get land acquisition and develop- Ramsey project and follow home." ment for the Ramsey Town Larry Werner is at what they're doing," Lewan- Not everyone sees Ramsey's Center, disagrees. He insists lwerner@startribune.coul. dowski said."We intend to look .4----------.—.....„.-—,—.s......„x w..2.......s,r.,....xri. •.a.,r_.s s„.m.•x..Zci,.dJF,M..ds,x at,.'..164...44.4,..4 4.3.. r,..«..,......- -,..... to what Ramsey's doing and use it as somewhat of a pat- tern." Why Ramsey? "Why not?" Norman said. The Ramsey city administrator got the ball rolling in the spring of 2001 by taking 40 communi- ty leaders to suburban Chica- where people have lived and shopped near commuter- rail stations for generations. That civic field trip sparked a campaign to transform the heart of Ramsey into a devel- opment of townhouses and places for shoppers, workers and commuters headed south to Minneapolis or north to St. Cloud on the Northstar line. It also will provide a badly- needed seise of place, said Natalie Haas Steffen, a former III METRO Alk • Quarryowners hope to raise profile of gravel Supporters say new tax will make pits more attractive to suburbs that are rapidly sealing gravel want pretty malls and retail. They don't reserves forever with houses and malls. give a damn about aggregate," said Peter While it's almost unheard of for a busi- Fischer, an owner of Fischer Sand and BY BOB SHAW So why does gravel get treated like ness owner to favor higher taxes, many Aggregate in Apple Valley. Pioneer Press dirt? metro area quarry owners do.They say if The promise of tax income could Supporters of a new tax on gravel want the money goes to host cities, it will pro- change that. mote more mining and help their industry, Suburban quarries are critical for con Minnesotans use more than 10 tons of to raise the profile of gravel., sand and it a year,per person. rock taken from suburban quarries.They which suffers from an image problem. trolling costs,because gravel is cheap only It's an endangered natural resource, hope the tax—or voluntary"host fees"— "It's dirty and dusty. And (suburbs) expected to be depleted locally in 17 years. will make gravel quarries more attractive don't give a damn about the jobs. They GRAVEL PITS,4B 48 C MONDAY, MAY 5, 2003 LOCAL NEWS FROM 1B • 1'.'?.?tt.-1.. p� 'rte , "`n ,=^ �, a`'' s''r$;,s Y>' "3;' 3� //'. -...' » e c;_, ^s'1^' y'L'a s,'i,,,P Y� j '''.7., • �',�•tr"-(i, 3 .n';,.�.x,l';"._ *. L e�;nY ;"Y';:'s„ •.Y°,�_, c`..-y: :f '4'.> - ` 1 �'s3',a"?..-,/ - csK . t5,^' J. 3. 4s:r, ",, PEI I 9 `+�4•'N: St .r;-f YW rY'''':'4''''''' ^w,',,.'. " ' '.x —^.< ''3' ,'f.r. lr 11 <` Eff 3 i�,k`�r r"rs. a '0 ."t"� = ` ,"` - - 0:- 41 �.if • j t" <� 3.:-' `lr yq, �r` tiu'Xx ,,.e",,�N., ' .,�. < •s4ia�$`" �, y s, : ,,: .., ` ,.' lit -: sfr"" M f �f Cil. fi `� ,==-:.y"., ;z'k:F y•""," i ,: -.,.;s`�;,'�:x,, „ ;,.s`C •b _ i,.; i. Y'__. f.-- ^ » la(ryy��, ,t Ta'+�t f r, i" t :?ra'?3r,o k +. +`'. , ' ii '„ i PHOTOS BY CRAIG BORCK,PIONEER PRESS Dave Edmunds, manager of the materials division at Edward Kramer&Sons, a limestone mine in Burnsville, and other local gravel miners support a proposed tax on gravel and aggregate.They say it will help promote more gravel mining in the Twin Cities. Gravel pits ; (continued) i , , i r„ ,:•4., S. , ;: t' = �' ,i'- 41 when it is close.A ton of Pavel—not quite '": _s ?r"`` h'` »'':'3?;: ' '" "'3 .. ii':;' r3' ; a bathtub full—often costs from $10 to$13 '» r i ,,, ;, " ': = _ . -1'-k t 7= ' locally, but Fischer said if he has to haul it ;,,',:::14.-,'''';'," s , i''�`rt' � 3' a..3; Ni, 1 S ,s, -,:. � =�f)t''l:x� s�' r 'Y,'�. . Y r G. t, 11.,1,-.1,-4-,,:')lt more than 25 miles,the cost goes up 50 *`'43+ `'" - ,r` ",,� ,' L'•i•" :+ '' 1; ....x...,.,___ , . practice • teliett4" .....**1*- , ,,Evr-- „ ,4.,_,........ ...._ , iii, _. _ ...,, ,_, ,,,4„.. ,., , , • ..„ .... ., _,„ ........00 , „..„..,, i.,,,,,- ,,„...„- , - ” 71rir- -,- , . ye*.. : , , .. .. . ,,:,'ks'-'''''',1h- 'VA‘4,IP‘11 - " ap.,'., . ,,„ ; _ ‘44„ 1 -,,, . ,_ „ .. ,„ ;It • . ., _ 4„.,,....k.. •,.../ _ ,,,, ;, ,,„,1•464,,,_ , - � u « 3 n ,r" - y' .11 "� � 'YJ , f` ---,t i. j M .. y / Jss ;yrc. '.1+$ ta `„',' . o := -• Ysa . ` � 1 •' « a , � � --, '+ ---r'-,.: .a .- Y Ile tr.-.+- ,..e) —<.7., �� l r � T . ' � , .t �- ' ijel4Iif''di�4'I'''l:.f y, _ +,,, i 7,7 G... V,., 'fi 111.. • „,, .( ' dIU” mac, ` ... ,,,, ,,,,.,, ..-J r'. .�.. . r..- ,u,., r. ..a: at.., :;, es,,, w,..3aas AM, iiii. amu. Ala i..,. Ow ilie, j3. •. t; ta, w: s•.. a.. + r u ►, �,, �. u� K. , -,•--•,,.,.•U o ;�+nn-.:x-;�.s ... ,>n>*s; t,•:.,• ..,:-,ate ,.,... �� .,:ate•= _ '�,r. - ter, -... . . --. - Revi si on i ng colors and Crayolas,16 designers are however, it seems much closer to the city. getting frantic.Trail master plans are Suburban development is happening in the Lake Wobegon completed and labeled, lakeshore surrounding township,and the downtown mitigation graphics are being col- has been all but shuttered by better shop- The Minnesota Design Team ored, community goals have been ping opportunities at the suburban fringe, written and illustrated,and regional a mere 20 miles away. provides volunteer assistance context maps are getting their fin- Big Lake was worried about its down- to communities statewide. ishing touches. town commercial core, so the Minnesota It is the downtown commercial Design Team(MDT)was enlisted to help. Is it a model for other states? core everyone in Big Lake is worried This happily ad hoc group of landscape ar- about. And that, in a less literal chitects, architects, planners, engineers, BY ADAM R E G N A R V I D S O N, A S L A sense,is how this story begins. and other community design profession- als has been assisting Minnesota commu- ig Lake,Minnesota,started out as a nities for 20 years by facilitating two-day, resort community,located the per- on-site charrettes,designed to explore lo- fect distance(in the early 1900s) cal desires and translate those desires into from the Twin Cities.It was close enough a tangible vision. he deadline looms:7:00 PM.In to be a great weekend spot but too far away Communities apply for MDT visits and less than half an hour,about 200 communi- to become a bedroom community.Today, are selected based on community-wide ' ty residents will take seats in the Big Lake letters of support,evidence of community High School multipurpose room and watch The unabashedly casual nature of an preparedness,and demonstrated need.The their community vision unfold before their MDT visit, above,draws designers and MDT Steering Committee then enlists two il eyes. Before then, the presentation boards community members together with or three volunteers to act as coleaders for need to be finished. So, in the art room, community work sessions, hand-drawn the visit. It is their duty to organize a de- amidst the last remnants of a hastily con- graphics, presentations in school sign team, drawing from a pool of hun- Z, sumed dinner and a maelstrom of Prisma- gyms,and general camaraderie. dreds of professionals.The coleaders meet LandscapeArchatecture I 60 I JUNE 2003 practice . C RECOMMEniDED DOwnITOwti _ - • -- ---� • uses C -GOF-FEE 3HOP/GA.r.Lcsty/ 1 - - - - i 0 - PiRForl.r .-CE STAGE '`i •i ,- Ainnesocn ! - LISRARy Design 1 - - __-_—. ! lr f Te Dm • POST OFF-IC C E - -- -- • MCDICAC/DWrA I.- OFFICES ' � i 112Q02 QHARMAcy , - -.-- - - - — --- -- -- ------I� ! ,Apr • CAre/ResTAURA...+r - 11 ; n f Books-MR E M1 � -- T----- -t I -' -- A.4-10,1E. SORE ..'---- -- --- ---_';: -- -'_-- _,, • HOTEL -.- _. - "_ _-_ rY • (JOUTiove RETAI(••_ -- - .y,�__ _ ,if i • PVB/BAR, iv:I f' „_ _ :. "" Q` � _ - - • SEAvry sALo1v/HAIR.AvAits -- ---- -- r jl• 1'";, >•:.. >,.,-..: -- -i't ._-- -- - _ s.• „' ,''^Tae,.'',a+'r::.+r,_'?:1 x=,.+at,r:' ICE CREAM --- ; _--"_:-__-_-__--' '. .._ ......- 1 De-o STORE_ } lY r - I� �� -- :Y--- --- 4:— -_- - =ate �_-- - -------- - ii —? •`.7, r < _ir �r- N w/, � r- "a a-e _ e_ lr► • -- -- - •.s ss - Tri - "• — ,,,-„32 2 12 12, 9 ------. ri..ss s:s- - w5ko,o i•�.iS``Itinir'`':,- rR 0 ,_ ___ 0. ' __ i.u. y” I .i>'— a•♦pari ra:- r • L. , ' -_ ,,- „-,,..4.,....,„,:d,, ,,:,.„ __ _` _- 'op • - �_4 is �r.�;•:1„:41-11,?..,,, - _- ,, - _vim ^----r l'y periodically with a city steering committee MDT graphics are drawn and rendered during the charrette weekend,on base- to check on the progress of the visit plan- maps prepared in advance. In Big Lake; above,the design team proposed a con- ning and offer recommendations for events, piete downtown redevelopment flanking a reconstructed U.S. Highway 10.The speakers, and general logistics. They are, team also made suggestions for specific downtown uses, based on community however, merely training wheels. They desires expressed during lunchtime meetings and the"dot-mocracy"exercise. give a little help to the city where needed, but community volunteers are ultimately hometown and discover their hidden ca- by the American Institute of Architects. responsible for the visit preparations.These pacities.They begin to refine their vision— The RUDAT team members are usually a volunteers must secure meeting rooms,set even before the MDT sets foot in town. panel of recognized experts who spend five up homestays for the team members,orga- It has been called"hotdish design,"and days in town.RUDATs are typically much nize a community tour, invite informa- the nickname fits.The careful blending of more formal than MDTs, according to tional speakers, and ensure there will be ideas and people that MDT facilitates is an W. Arthur Mehrhoff, the author of Corn- food for the hungry designers—not that unintentional homage to the Minnesota munity Design and director of the Heritage they will take much time to eat it. tradition of throwing a mix of ingredients Preservation Program at Saint Cloud State Herein lies the key to the MDT process. together in a casserole,putting everyone's University in Minnesota. "Community In the midst of organizing,scheduling,and concoctions together on one long table, members have been surprised we don't , delegating, the community gets fired up. then sitting down together in school gyms, wear bowties,"he notes.An MDT veteran, • People learn how to work together,how to church halls,and community centers.This Mehrhoff describes the MDT process as g work with elected and appointed officials, sets it apart from the older and equally ef- using "lots of applied anthropology... < and how to collaborate with local institu- fective but different Regional/Urban De- not that we call it that."The team mem- tions and nonprofits. They revisit their sign Assistance Teams(RUDATs)organized bers' temporary residence at community i Landscape Architecture I 62 1 JUNE 2003 /')0 A4441,...i6446,'7'...'. / i , 0 ractice _N 3'i1` "- - yi;l�lk easy ays-e«,... .. ......,.. • . r -)4-1 —1111011W :e2. _ , Ii. �v.'.. /i- �-'' �,. _. Gam+a[ ' 41\ ft aw_de,40 ,v- 11/2440E Ge-55A1 :'} ,, = i rit ��yl� —M,'$ V 4es — .. rv.« w�t —ca4Frs/yrs/ wy ,..*o-• (y members' homes ("use of informants" in In Avon, Minnesota,a design team member sketched a trailhead applied-anthropology-speak)is an effective concept for the then-proposed Lake Wobegon Trail, above,which the tool for learning about the community,and community later built, below,according to MDT recommendations. one the RUDATs do not employ.He believes that to effectively design for a community, morning was filled with presentations by gathered for supper and discussion.In this it is important to know the place"in a very community members and statewide ex- key component of the MDT process—the deep way."Depth has to happen in just two perts.Lunch saw the team split up to meet "dot-mocracy"—the team takes an impor- days,but living with community members, and eat with smaller community groups: tant look at the desires and perceptions of designing in the local school,and eating in- high school students,seniors,and business the greater population.Based on its current digenous hotdishes helps. leaders.The afternoon was occupied by a understanding of the community,the MDT bus tour, complete with the obligatory poses several key questions to the gathered n the first day at Big Lake, the stop at the local ice cream shop. throng, to which responses are written team members listened; on the At the conclusion of the first day of the anonymously. The responses are shuffled IIIsecond, they designed. Friday visit, the Big Lake community as a whole among small groups,recorded,and plastered ', 't. 't a .8�j' - -- 3' "•,".: ,,,,,*,,,,,,,,,,f,,,,, -- _ � "or" , y �• �y�` x - ._� 1 'i`t,_f '..N.�1�v,-T�'.,.,� �w� A rY 1r.:4a N— ,,i'.".`v--;-t'-.'•,--`0.7::' ' s 'c..tL. Fc:41;41, - H d G ; ^�% "��P'��y.�w1 yy ^Y°'![.,"". =ii;�?f - � �r .�d'�t '°p�wbn�.i ,.“"-',10,1,, M,,.4`/N �'^ f '---%-,,z—......-.14,41:0. t.•''"3';M_es_1��• _ vl vS+k M'M''Q',, ��, 'R, �,.'t2t= .. '4,^iy,.'�,. 3�+,a,�' `�.4"r=try,-'3C,•,;.,,",,,.,' � `h4e,'"�, ' ,' Y, .)•,;',..,,;1-.;‘A-4,--,r�u .�• n2}� •�', ,. - - , `•1 � ��7::srwiz,�;rrt::k,.:.4«b.,:.,,r4,••4,,r s '''''' ,,.. .,. ,. - ..'d 1 71 '''''''-'4,-..---:----- - - -- .«�- --..._-.��•.�r - II x ilei r. win . . 60 .. ... .. 2 , III - ,„ y Z 2 a LandscapeArchztecture 164 I JUNE 2003 practice • ion,"according to one recent coleader,and goal of this document was to revisit-10 also to the camaraderie that flows within years later—the vision of the community the team as a result. that was first articulated during the MDT • to the walls on large sheets,where the at- Visits can,however,lead to future proj- visit and to refocus the disparate improve- tendees vote—with colored dots—for the ects for landscape architects.While inter- ment activities back to common goals.As responses that resonate with them the most. acting with the design professionals, the a result,the city is working to secure fund- This approach is not novel, but for many community begins to recognize the value ing for a downtown riverwalk and to es- residents, this simple gesture of privacy is of landscape architecture and other design tablish downtown design guidelines. empowering.For the team,the graphic rep- disciplines. The MDT teaches small cities Most recently,Schroeder was in Taylors resentation of community desires leads di- and towns the ideas of conceptual design, Falls to facilitate a design workshop with rectly to the next day's design work. community identity,streetscape,adaptive the Minnesota Departments of Transporta- Armed with as much information as can reuse,master planning,and other"words of tion and Natural Resources. The purpose be gained in one day,the Big Lake team re- art"of the profession.This instills in those was to discuss parking at the state park and convened Saturday morning,and the work cities the desire to look to design profes- the difficult circulation patterns at the city's began. Boxes filled with markers,pencils, sionals in the future, long after the MDT main entrance. Schroeder describes that and sundry low-tech supplies jostled for has packed up and left. In the best cases, meeting as a group of people talking over a space with 30-by-40-inch title blocks and the camaraderie and the prospect of ongo- drawing board. "The lessons they learned • basemaps.Windows were used for tracing. ing work go hand in hand. about public engagement from MDT have Some team members made quick runs been institutionalized,"he says of the out into the community to check sites. This happily ad hoc group of landscape now-typical design collaborations that And through it all,despite the seem- take place in Taylors Falls. In fact, ing chaos, a final presentation was architects, architects, planners, there are more people coming out for in the works. The team, under the meetings now than there were for the watchful eyes of the coleaders, was engineers, and other community design MDT visit,as a result of a process that working toward a specific set of boardsis public,open,and voluntary. and addressing a specific set of issues. professionals has been assisting Taylors Falls is not the only MDT Smaller focus groups illustrated cur- success story.Little Falls,on the Mis- rent development patterns, tackled Minnesota communities for 20 years by sissippi River 100 miles upstream • trail networks,made difficult recom- mendations about the Highway 10 facilitating two-day, on-site charrettes. MDT in 1991 and has since rebuilt a bypass,and created a vision for a rede- key park in the center of the commu- veloped downtown—all by hand,all with- hough he has been a landscape ar- nity,restored a pair of lumber-baron man- out phone calls and construction crises. chitect for 25 years, Michael sions as a conference center,contracted with "It's fun helping the town, but it's a Schroeder talks like a college stu- a landscape architect to complete a set of whole lot of fun being around smart peo- dent when asked about his experience as specific buildable strategies for downtown ple" is a common sentiment about fellow an MDT member at Taylors Falls in 1990. beautification,and received National His- designers expressed by James R. Dean, a Schroeder experienced profound social and toric District designation for its commer- photographer and architect who is a veter- creative rewards during the weekend,and cial core. Paynesville(MDT class of 1990) an of 12 visits. Philanthropy is a center- the community has been bringing him built a senior center with the help of over piece of the MDT's mission(team members back over the years as a professional re- 4,000 volunteer hours,while its ambitious are asked not to introduce themselves by source. Taylors Falls took the MDT draw- group of young people, the RiverGuard, their firm name or distribute business cards ings and ran with them, literally. Those was cleaning up the river and beginning during the visit), but the excitement and laminated butcher-paper masterpieces have work on a trail system.Avon(class of 1996) purity of the visit itself keep bringing the been trotted out to community gatherings, built a downtown trailhead to serve the participants back. Landscape architects, meetings with state departments,work- Lake Wobegon Trail. South Saint Paul like other designers,sometimes wax wist- shops with outside consultants,and local (class of 1987)has opened its Mississippi ful about those aggressive school days, festivals.In 1994 the community worked River waterfront to public use and con- crammed in a studio with like-minded co- collaboratively with the Department of tracted with a local landscape architecture conspirators,free from the distractions of Transportation to complete a pedestrian firm to design its downtown streetscape, marketing and budgets.The MDT lets de- walkway under the Saint Croix River which will be built this summer. signers get out of the office for two days of bridge,which had previously separated the The idea is also catching on in other old-school design studio.This is a simul- community from the adjacent Interstate states.Scott Loveridge was an MDT Steering taneously refreshing and exhausting expe- State Park.Soon after,a beautification proj- Committee member before relocating to rience. It is also a continual attraction for ect installed new sidewalks, streetlights, West Virginia.There,in 1997,he created a • landscape architects, who are present on and planters downtown.In 2000,the city program, with university assistance, that every team and serve as leaders on many. worked with Schroeder,then of Hoisington follows the MDT format almost exactly.The They are drawn to the"spirit of the team Koegler Group,Inc.,to complete the Tay- West Virginia Community Design Team brought together in such a haphazard fash- lors Falls Strategic Guide. The primary (WVCDT) has (Continued on Page 102) Landscape Archttecture I 66 I JUNE 2003 he American Society of Landscape Architects is grateful Practice • for the generous support of the sponsors of the National (Continued from Page 66) visited 21 com- Landscape Architecture Week and the Annual Meeting! munities already. WVCDT, like the MDT, enlists a variety of professionals for weekend charrettes,but their teams are more likely to •.--F-= include social scientists, business leaders, and health-care professionals along with ■AW,Inc. landscape architects and other designers. EDAW,Inc. After each visit,WVCDT compiles a report .RI„f,,,I to accompany the boards produced during the weekend.This added textual tool is es- AIA Trust pedally useful in dealing with the unique C r a Art Stone Structural al Design age disparity and health-care availability is- Dura sues with which West Virginia deals.Most Game Time WVCDT communities are just beginning to HNTB Corporation consider implementation of their visions, J.Frank Schmidt&Son,Co.;and Angelica Nurseries but the charrette teams'boards,distributed ` L. M. Scofield Company to the city after the visit,often hang promi- nently for public view and inspiration. Dennis Y. Otsuji,FASLA The MDT also distributes the charrette John J.Reynolds,FASLA,and Bobbie Reynolds;and boards to the communities t c imple- Amy L. Schneckenburger,ASLA,and Mike Reynolds mentation tool and usually returns to a I N`I U Mel Il community six months after a visit to touch Thomas Balsley,FASLA base and answer any implementation ques- Claire R.Bennett,FASLA tions. In general, however, the degree to Stephen L. Carter,ASLA which a community is willing or able to im- ' Cameron R.J.Man,FASLA plement the Mars suggestions is entirely • up to them.Though this is exactly how the Patrick A.Miller,FASLA, and Pamela Miller MDT wants it, some communities in the Paul F.Morris,FASLA,and LaVerna Morris past have failed to effectively navigate the Darwina L.Neal,FASLA often daunting bureaucracy of funding and Thomas P.Papandrew,FASLA,and Willa Papandrew publicn agencies that standsy o f fundi them Janiceey J.Pargand improvements.To rectify this problem, Janice Cervelli Schach,FASLA MDTs have begun to partner with state Nancy C.Somerville a encies and other nonprofits that have the E Rodney L. Swink,FASLA,and Juanita D. Shearer Swink,FASLA staff and resources to continue assisting the 11�'�aIZNall III MDT communities. "The design team Amereq,Inc. should leave behind infrastructure," sug- Matthew C.Anacker,ASLA gests Janette Monear, director of outreach James P.Cramer programs for Tree Trust,a Minnesota non- Donald W.Leslie,FASLA profit devoted to sustaining urban forests. Barry W. Starke,FASLA Tree Trust has recently partnered with Carol A.Whipple,FASLA MDTs to work with communities—after the charrette weekends to help build the ,,�,l • • • immediate successes that are so crucial to 4 !� '' keeping a vision alive. After a 2001 visit, Monear and her organization assisted Hen- [KIM II HI I MEI II Mill dricks in securing a state grant, planting The Toro Company hundreds of trees at community gateways, and continuing to refine trail concepts set JJ. F a i id _ forth during the MDT weekend. Since an .Frank Schmidt&Son L.M. Scofield Company Ea. MDT visit co Rockford in 2000, the Tree Trust has been working with local at-risk MOMME • Landscape Architecture Magazine .�.' youth and a landscape architect to imple- Landscape Structures MIIIIMMINIIIIIIIIIIM A S L A ment a small pocket park. This multi- j SNA,Inorganization approach to implementation SkateWave does a better job of helping MDT commu- Landscape Architecture 1 102 I JUNE 2003 II �: " - - - '41'.''.7.4-..- .7. 41'.,y„ -. UL 325 nities staythe course,while preservingthe - - �. . .0 .,;ti`:; weekend charrette that keeps all the de signers coming back.Organizations such as : - „;fti' = _ ----7,7777,77:7",4 Tree Trust,the Minnesota Project,and the ':, t;4 ;•a - _-: "'''� 0 State Office of Environmental Assistance j - r= help the MDT help the communities long r "_ - AR - after the charrette has left town. - �'�!'!�"1I'- ��f �"'^*,� � •-� ,�-� j=' '�� �.�f j f+ �� nn III olt"'•, efore leavingr N_ .3:o-f;='«c" , •... uw> n `;` town, the Big Lake - t- :; .; . '. B team presented its interpretation of • 41 ``"`> «x``'.;,::I.4":41'.,,:,:',:' -= X the community's vision. The ex- " ' * !' nA&!:. ‘:'"i':,;, hausted designers gathered in the multi- _ '1014#0ifigge0'4 .10104't ;" ,, _ _ -_ purpose room along with 150 or so people -"" =f ','? '!0"�,"'CNdrp i --. - 1b'_-- ----`; from the community They then presented ;, 3, .,tea ,* °.' ,„oy n<'k,,a, ,."'',4s'rr`_ F ___ _- the 20 boards ? „ � >=':: that reiterated the lessons ,_ --,.. ,y, < I •a«,sa d'«., k i”, learned from the community and sketched f' - - «•r,''z'' ..';', sq.W : '^T_•"-; ', ,`•r i,^ .i+M«��ti� r' .�1^Y�5¢+�W.i°? r.n�^'SS`.-.•r-" �`a.'., the possible future.The presentation,in its '° ` `f '' ;," <_ those 150 or so " "": "" ''` broadest sense,turned peo .«'S( 'a ! ;"4,^' ,. .. `: .w, i «.r:;::._` In general, the degree -# :,3 ;a°, ice:, ;, : fik , `� - '-',',,T,,,,,,':; ,,;','':„'4'„: ::r to which a communityis ,.. . ..-.,,,,:,..et,.., '"`' + axi *nem,.. „ .; Practice Thares, however, sees an even greater 4111 The impact of the visit. Two mixed-use de- onlyname velopment proposals are in the review process in Big Lake: one within the to remember downtown area, one on the outskirts. I'. The city is not only pushing for higher- quality architecture and site planning in in erosion control■ velo deoth - velopers otesure hatut is kthemix of uses, P Guaranteed■ particularlp for the downtown develop- ment,complements the community's de- sired downtown character.Thares believes that the city educated itself about what to expect from consultants and developers. 41 lik 0 He says Big Lake "should not look like one of a thousand places in the country." Anuommank EripAers- The big idea behind the Minnesota I Design Team is simple: run a weekend I design studio on site in a rural city and ' Bonded Fiber Matrix leave that community with a visual in- s terpretation of their hiding-just-beneath- the-surface vision. And get them to I provide the meals.Sometimes,the visions It's a spray-on blanket. get built.Sometimes landscape architects are hired to refine and help build those Canfor's premium range of environmentally friendly bonded fiber matrix visions.Always,there is education.Many communities that the MDT visits simply '1 4111 and specialty mulch products are made from sterile 100% wood fibers do not know what a landscape architect The EcoFamily is specially formulated to deliver reliable performance is.Many do not know the impact design can have.The MDT leads by example.Fif- and cost effective results which are guaranteed when applied correctly teen to twenty designers volunteer to get I out of the office and design for one fast- Not quite sure) Get all the information www.canforpfd.com. paced weekend. And the results can be quite tasty. LA III II1 CAI'F4 R , Adam Regn Arvidson, ASLA, is a landscape .,_. .. . ,,,,,,.$ l� and a member the architect in Minneapolis is of p 1 Minnesota Design Team Steering Committee. United States International RESOURCES 1-800-426-6002 1-800-363-8873 ■American Institute of Architects Re- gional/Urban Design Assistance Teams, CIRCLE 143 ON READER SERVICE CARD wwwaia.org/rudatl aboutI.asp. ' I Mehrhoff,W.Arthur. Community De- " v 9 1 i i sign:A Team Approach to Dynamic Commu- LLn2 '' . '1..'::11i 1 nity Systems. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Weicicic-,Ufilearthe4 five days a week,' - Publications, 1999. "ha rt,; . grQnnndbreaki.ng.news,of interest :— ' ■Minnesota Design Team,www.minnesota designteam.org. o-lart cap arc Cirtec-ts: Find.•it ortASIA's.LM O�.e '- ._ 7� II Minnesota Office of Environmental As- =@hh'.np- fl.t., #Ter.:_4as�.org/MP-r. zuersllatidiiisci' :_Ein.- sistance:NextStep,wwwnextstep.state.mn.ur. I The Minnesota Project, wwwmnproj It�`�,rtiwy;hazy,F`.- " = - - - ect.org. - - . I Tree Trust,www.treetrust.org. - ■West Virginia Community Design Team, ' wwwwvu.edul%7Eagexten/crd/cdthtm. Landscape Architecture I 104 I JUNE 2003