6.6. SR 01-16-2001Item #
6.6.
City of
River
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
.I
Scott Harlicker, Senior Planner.~'"
January 16, 2001
Commuter Rail Station Land Use Resolution
Attached is a draft resolution for the Council's consideration regarding future land
uses in and around the proposed commuter rail station. The resolution is
intended show that the City is committed to evaluating it's current land use
policies and principles as they relate to transit supportive development when
commuter rail service is implemented.
Each of the cities that will have a commuter rail station is being asked to adopt
similar resolutions. These resolutions will be forwarded to the FTA in support of
the NCDA federal funding application. The current land use evaluation that the
Planning Commission is undertaking of the area around the proposed station is
the type of study that ties in with this resolution. This resolution does not obligate
the City to adopt any specific land use or zoning amendments. It states that the
City will examine and evaluate it's land use policies and principles as they relate
to the commuter rail and transit supportive land uses and policies.
Recommendation
At the Planning Commission meeting held on December 27, 2000 the
Commission recommended approval of the attached resolution.
S:\PLANNING\SCOTT\NCDALURS.DOC
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone (763) 441-7420 · Fax (763) 441-7425
Draft Resolution on TOD
Whereas, the City of Elk River has been supportive of the
Northstar project to plan for and implement a commuter rail transit
system and other transit and transportation improvement programs
along Trunk Highways 10 and 47 and the Burlington
Northern/Santa Fe rail line corridor, and
Whereas, the project will enhance travel alternatives for the
citizens of Elk River and the entire region from St. Cloud to
Minneapolis, and
Whereas, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT),
the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) and the
City of Elk River have collaborated on the development and
general layout of a commuter rail station at the intersection of 171 st
Avenue/Twin Lakes Road and the railroad tracks in the City of Elk
River, and
Whereas, the City Council has approved the location and
conceptual design of the station as presented in the Advanced
Corridor Plan presented by NCDA and MnDOT, and
Whereas, the area north and east of the railroad tracks near the
station is largely undeveloped, and
Whereas, it became apparent during site selection and preliminary
design of the station that the surrounding area will present unique
opportunities for development oriented toward transit ridership,
said opportunities will be captured only if sound principles and
policies related to transit usage are incorporated into the City's
Comprehensive Plan,
Now therefore be it resolved, that the purpose of this resolution is
to serve notice that the City has begun and is committed to an
examination and evaluation of its land use policies and principles
as they relate to transit oriented development. Furthermore,
important to this process is the study of the preferred pattern of
mixed use near the station, pedestrian orientation in the
neighborhood, the level of intensity in development adjacent to the
station, the need for green space, the most efficient use of natural
amenities, and finally the manner in which the distinct
neighborhoods in the remainder of the city relate to and are
connected to the station area, and
Finally, be it resolved, that it is the City's intention to evaluate its
Comprehensive Plan and official controls prior to the
implementation of the commuter rail service in order to support
Transit Oriented Development.