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CR 09-009 Hennepin County Transit Oriented Development Program - Blake RdO ITY OF February 17, 2009 HOPKINS Council Report 2009 -009 HENNEPIN COUNTY TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM — Blake Rd Proposed Action Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Approve Resolution 2009 -008 supporting an application to Hennepin County's Transit Oriented Development Program for the Blake Rd Corridor. Overview Hennepin County's Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Program funds projects that promote a mixture of housing, retail, and workplaces within walking distance of transit to maximize access and use of that transit. TOD funds are intended to supplement existing available resources and increase use of transit in Hennepin County. Blake Rd is a county corridor, and the section of the road from Excelsior Blvd to Highway 7 poses many challenges for access to neighborhoods, retail, workplaces, and transit stops. The LRT station planned along the trail and the Blake Rd Corridor will only exacerbate access issues along the corridor for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. In 2008 the City of Hopkins received $234,000 in TOD funds to construct sidewalks where they were most needed in the Corridor. This work will begin in the spring of 2009. Staff is proposing an application for a second phase of improvements in the Corridor's streetscape. This year's application proposes the addition of street lighting and the design and construction of a raised, landscaped median in the portions of the shared turn lane on Blake Road north of Excelsior Blvd up to the Southwest LRT transitway. Primary Issues to Consider • What will the application consist of? • How much is the anticipated funding request? Supporting Information • Resolution 2009 -008 • DRAFT 2009 Hennepin County TOD application • DRAFT documents from the Blake Road Corridor Small Area Plan It Tara Beard Community Development Coordinator Financial Impact: $_13,500 Budgeted: Y/N _Y_ Source: _PIR fund (501) Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): Notes: Analysis of Issues Council Report 2009 -009 Page 2 What will the application consist of? Multiple efforts in the Blake Road Corridor have revealed a strong need for pedestrian and bicycle improvements to the streetscape to more intuitively and safely support movement between transit, jobs, and housing. The Blake Road Corridor Small Area Plan, with an anticipated completion date of March 2009, has recommended three phases of streetscape improvements to the Corridor. A first phase would repair and construct sidewalks where needed to provide continuous paved access for pedestrians. This phase has been partially funded and construction in the most needed areas will begin this spring. A second phase includes the placement of pedestrian scale lighting on the Corridor. Public participation in the Small Area Plan process has revealed a universal desire for improved lighting on the Corridor, and from a safety perspective it is a high priority. A concurrent pedestrian study has also been underway, and focuses on a part of the Corridor that is just south of the Small Area Plan's study area. There is significant pedestrian traffic between West Village Apartments on the east side of the Corridor at Excelsior Blvd and the Hopkins Commerce Center on the west side. Few pedestrians use the crosswalk at Excelsior Blvd and instead jaywalk just to the north. This is a safety hazard and has lead to accidents in the past. Staff is proposing some changes to the curb cuts that provide access to both West Village Apartments and Hopkins Commerce Center. These changes would allow a greater portion of the shared turn lane to be converted to a median, and a raised, landscaped median would prevent future jaywalking, directing pedestrian traffic to designated locations. It would also help calm traffic and create an identity and sense of place that is much needed in the Corridor. The DRAFT application attached includes a schematic drawing of the proposed changes, but final design would not occur until funding is in place. Staff is planning conversations with adjacent property and business - owners as well as Hennepin County Public Works staff to build consensus toward a final design. How much is the anticipated funding request? The County's TOD Program is making available $2 million in Capital Bond funds to support TOD projects in 2009. The City is requesting $300,000 in TOD funds for 2009 Hennepin County is, for the first time, requiring an administration fee of 4.5% of the amount awarded, which would require a $13,500 payment at the time of the contract's execution (approximately December 2009). Alternatives The Council has the following alternatives: • Approve resolution 2009 -008 as is • Approve resolution 2009 -008 with changes to the terms of the application • Deny resolution 2009 -008 and opt not to apply for 2009 TOD funding Hennepin County Date Received 2009 Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Program Application Hennepin County reserves the right to accept or reject all funding requests and rescin request for — Program Guidelines carefully prior to completing the application. f, que s to Patricia zgeral at 612-543-0864, patricia.l.fitzgerald@co.hennepin.mn.us. Project Title: Blake Road Streetscape Improvements Brief Project Description (25 words or less) Construc portion of the turn lane on Blake Road between Exce pedestrian street lighting in the project area. Hennepin County TOD Funds Reques $ $ 0 Hennepin County TOD Program Fee A 5% of Source of fi used.): City Program Fee (F due at [13 fund (if Blake Road d median in the un -us St NE and installation Award): $ $13,500 signing. TOD Award Funds may not be Road 20) right of way between Excelsior Blvd City (or parcel, ii rows as Hennepin County District Number: ownership, PID, address, lot size, and current property taxes. Insert and current property taxes ty taxes after development Square footage I Current year's Is evelopment site within a. municipally designated Redevelopment Plan/ Project Area or Housing D ict? ®Yes ❑No Name of Redevelopment Plan /Project Area or Housing District: Redevelopment Project No. 1 Attach Redevelopment Plan or Housing District maps and adopting resolutions. Redevelopment Plan /Housing District must be in place at the time of final county approval. 2. Median Construction $ 4gft 3. Pedestrian Lighting - purchase and installation $300,000 Without TOD funds to continue the Dur' many publicjffefin s for the BlaVRoad Corridor Small Area Plan, pedestrian lighting Source Use " " " " "` Y Amount Pendin Funds* ennepin County TOD Sidewalk engineering Committed Grant $234,000 2008 and construction in priority areas of the corridor of Hopkins City of Hopkins in prioerity areas of the corridor Pedestrian Study Corridor Planning Corridor Planning Committed Committed Committed Committed City 632 rig Hennepin County TOD Median design and pe " g nt $ 00 2009 construction, pedestrian lighting purchase and installation as 4. Do you have site control? evidence of site control. e The site is public right -o ay o general County support of the F Hennepin County Public Works are met. If yes, provide p se agreement or ?eededd to obtain rol. h%e nty. Award of funds would indicate he pates working closely with sign p ss to ensure all County standards 5. What is t d use and zoni Describe any zoning changes or approvals required for the ect, and t ssociated time) for se approvals. 6. rket and f "es be onducted for the project? ® Yes [] No Name dy, au op' Land Use and Market Study, 2003, Hoisington Koegler Blake Rd Streetscape, 2003, Hoisington Koegler Group Inc., Blake Rd Pedestrian 2009, Peter Bruce, Blake Rd Corridor Small Area Plan, 2009, Hay Dobbs (this study 't be complete at the time this application is due but will be provided as soon If no st been completed, describe or attach other market and feasibility that sup2Wyc ur project. 7. Attach a ject schedule indicating the month and year major tasks or activities will be complet Include all important milestones. TRANSIT 8. Identify transit lines or regional trails that serve your project, including bus 1,320 feet and light rail stations within'/ mile 2,640 feet). Transit Line / Transit Distance to Destinations Corridor Transit Stop along 7 walkable route ( Example) Route 16 840 feet Downtown Minneapolis to tc Route 17 on Blake Rd Northeast Minneapolis to Route 615 1 block from Minnetonka, Ho St Low Blake Rd (Target - Knollwood stop) Route 668 1 block from Blake Rd (Target Knollwood stop and Tyler -Lake Route 664 Stops along Excelsior Blvd including Blake 9. Describe how this project will increa transit rides generated per week by Downtown MY11AWPolis to Downtown 0 6vide an estimate of the number of explain how this estimate was There i rently a d to improve pe tria nd bicycle access to existing transit stops both nd near the rridor. To then a project scope is Knollwood Mall and other co trated comme al uses that provi s and services to those who live along the Blake dor, those a corridor oot, bicycle, bus, or vehicle to access the will not b et without significant improvements to Blake Rd's streetscape The City of kins has envisioned redevelopment at the Hopkins Commerce Center since the adoptio the 2004 East End Study. This site is adacent to the future LRT Station and existi ansit, and it's redevelopment, with higher densities and mixed uses, is imperative to h rall growth of the area in support of the future LRT. Improvements to the public right of in the area will serve as an important catalyst for future redevelopment. 10. Describe how the site and buildings are designed to interface with and encourage transit usage and active living. Describe how the primary building fagade (including building entrances, ground floor windows, lighting, awnings, etc.) is pedestrian- oriented and includes active uses at street level. Attach a site plan, building plans, building elevations, tXna signage, lighting, or security plans showing sidewalk, visual connec designed to provide a safe, convenient connection to a transit stop. The site is the public right of way and thus building related question However, the addition of pedestrian street lighting and a landscape oriented improvements and will improve safety and flow for the acti LAND USE, DENSITY, AND DESIGN 14. Describe the existing buildings and uses on site, prior to this project. The Blake Road right -of -way is 72 feet wide and moves approximatelX18,Oa Traffic lanes are wider than necessary, especially the middle shared t intermittent in location and condition, and pedestrian lighting is poor. are 16. Describe how the project exhibits a compact, use of s Reference the site plan as needed. Provide the density (FAR, defined a do uilding ea to site area) of the proposed development, and state how this compares a ity the previous uses onsite, if applicable. If the development includes a residential co ent, provide the number of dwelling units per acre. This project suggests using unutilized parts of a shared turn I o provi ndscaped medians, which improve safet both pedestrian and vehicul w ere is no proposed widening of the right -of -way vments (bike lanes, lighti d medians) will occur within the existing right-of shout the Blake Road's is capacity. 17. If the project is a municipal infras follow transit - oriented design guid additional pages including design g Future development will be held to d Corridor July 2009). and will be be encouraged or required to be enforced? Attach idards and g5delines set forth in the East End Study Area Plan (ready in March 2009) and the Southwest R rer e, redevelopment sites within the study area ve been re- guided as mixed -use in our ed in our zoning code in 2009. Our mixed -use pment near LRT transit stations. j ratio (per dwelli nTunit if residential or per square foot if commercial) of the how does this compare with the number of parking spaces required by by similar uses in the area? Describe the type and location of vehicle tuclonder, underground), and describe how parking placement is 19. How ma ermanent new jobs will be created and /or retained by this development? What type and whaItc y range(s)? (New jobs are defined as new to Hennepin County. Retained jobs are efined do existinq in Hennepin County prior to vour proiect.) 20. Describe the public benefit of your TOD request Our request is truly public as it benefits all who utilize the corridor - residents, visitors, drivers, bikers, and walkers. It is a statement to redevelopment oppc stakeholders that local government is doing its part to revitalize the area an walkable, transit - friendly neighborhood. These efforts will set the stage f is connected and addresses a multi -modal corridor location. These i er bicycle and pedestrian movement in the corridor safer, calmer, and a intu 21. List the number and types of residential, commercial, retail, office, governr arts /cultural, entertainment or other uses existing or planned in the project units and targeted affordable popull ations gJPW lumber of Indicate square footage NCM f XPa Planned of new construction or le Uses or rehabilitated Units Spaces Type of Use It commercial or tenants and /or o orosoective. LO] city ■ .1 as much specificity ssible regarding �I of commitment t project (for example: rea 0 u sing District Map an or trict Adopting Resolution porting the TOD application and authorizing submittal of the application, �quent implementing agreements and contracts. cost estimates for specific uses of TOD funds requested. F if additional space needed), or project pro forma. rket information, if applicable. ther evidence of site control. rces ana het study map indicating the project location, local and regional context, adjacent uses with ms to major employment concentrations, landmarks, corridors, trails, transit routes and S. ❑ Sit n(s), building plan(s), or elevations showing location of existing and planned ngs, streets or other improvements, pedestrian and bike facilities, open space /public aces. (See questions 10 & 12.) OD design guidelines, if applicable (See question 17.) Optional: up to three additional project images — site photos, elevations, or renderings. Deadline: February 26, 2009,4:00 pm " - •l �'. Fr by A - ✓ N ff$ ✓ M'r \ - e, n wny 0 if ALL e 4 � � LL A F. `. e i N 1g CD r � SIGN l £ g x \, s ���,,. i f 5,1 L a x m i I ' r N1 �k ,6t - ROok / ' i CITY OF HOPKINS HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. 2009 -008 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT GRANT APPLICATION TO HENNEPIN COUNTY HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BE IT RESOLVED, that the city of Hopkins, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes § 3838.77, subd. 3., supports the Transit Oriented Development grant application submitted to the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority on February 26, 2009, by the City of Hopkins for the Blake Rd Corridor. Adopted this 17th day of February 2009. Im Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor Attest: Terry Obermaier, City Clerk..