Program_Project Updates - JulyPROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES
TMDL
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I/I
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PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS
Bassett Creek Regional Trail Planning
The Three Rivers Park District has requested an audience with the City Council to
present its Master Plan of the Bassett Creek Regional Trail. The Master Plan is
expected to receive preliminary approval by the Three Rivers Park Board in late July.
Following preliminary approval, there will be a 30-day public review period in which
governmental agencies and the general public is able to submit formal comments.
The City will have until the end of August to make formal comments to the Master Plan.
Ultimately, Three Rivers seeks a resolution of support of the Master Plan from the City
Council. Approval of the Master Plan enables the Three Rivers Park District to seek
state and federal funding for trail engineering and construction.
Three.Nine.Four Development Proposal Update
Planning and Housing and Redevelopment Authority staff have been in contact with
Global One Commercial regarding the negotiation of a development agreement for the
site. The developer is still proposing to construct two multi-family buildings in the
northwest quadrant of the I-394/Highway 100 intersection.
Global One Commercial is arranging a re-appraisal of the MnDOT property located to
the east of the former Golden Hills Shopping Center. This process is expected to take
several months. Depending on progress made with MnDOT, staff anticipates bringing
the matter before the Housing and Redevelopment Authority in the fall. Staff will
request a meeting with MnDOT when state business resumes operation.
Northeast Corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Laurel Avenue
A developer met with the City Council to discuss the possibility of constructing several
single family homes on the vacant portion of the property located at 345 Pennsylvania
Avenue. The property is currently owned by Speak the Word Church, and the office
building on the site is used as a warehouse facility.
The City Council stated that allowing single family homes on the site would contradict
land use planning and zoning efforts, which designate the property as “mixed use.” The
developer is currently working on a plan that will accommodate multifamily housing and
satisfy existing zoning requirements. The developer plans to submit formal development
plans in the fall.
DeCola Ponds
City staff has met with Barr Engineering and staff from the Cities of New Hope and
Crystal several times in the last month to discuss the preliminary findings of the DeCola
Ponds study. The preliminary findings included a number of project combinations that
include rerouting portions of the watershed away from DeCola Ponds and the
intersection of Medicine Lake Road and Winnetka Avenue and providing a significant
amount of additional flood storage. Each of these alternatives have high costs and
varying degrees of success in addressing the flooding issues. A recent meeting was
held with the City Managers of all three Cities to discuss these findings and how to
proceed. Additional meetings to discuss the alternatives and next steps, including
determination of the cost effectiveness of the potential alternatives, are currently being
scheduled. A second meeting with the affected property owners around DeCola Ponds
will be held in the near future to discuss the progress of the study.