Village by the Bay. Permits have been issued for all 99 units in the Village by the Bay residential development. The 2nd “Great House” which includes 20 residential units is currently under construction.
CSAH 15 and Downtown Streetscape. Construction activities on CSAH 15 and CSAH 110 began in April 2004 and were completed in Fall 2005 following final wear course and striping activities. The downtown streetscape project was completed in conjunction with the CSAH 15 project in 2004/2005. The project included sidewalks made of concrete and brick pavers, significant landscaping, ornamental streetlights, benches and decorative fencing. City crews will be maintaining the medians and boulevards, excluding grass cutting. Property owners abutting grassy boulevards are responsible for keeping them mowed. Businesses will be charged when grass is left for City crews to mow.
Downtown Parking Deck – Transit District. Construction of the Mound Transit Center began on March 13, 2007. The project is part of the waterfront development and will include a three level parking facility for 176 cars, a bus terminal/layover area, a pad for a possible farmers market, a garden pond, and surface parking. The parking facility will provide parking for employees and customers of area businesses, bikers and walkers using the regional trail, customers attending the farmer’s market events and transit riders.
The cast in place post tensioned concrete structure will have a brick and metal fencing façade. A feature of the project is a clock tower serving as a beacon identifying parking and the waterfront area. There will be an open stair elevator tower with a transit waiting lobby. Special storm water management techniques have been integrated in the design including pervious pavers and a rain garden.
Graham Penn-Co. is the General Contractor for the $4,652,100 facility. Walker Parking Consultants is the prime consultant. Financial partners in this project include Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County.
The project is scheduled for completion Sept. 28, 2007. Questions may be directed to Ray Hanson at the City of Mound at 952-472-0614.
Dakota Rail Regional Trail Masterplan. In 2006, the Three Rivers Park District approved the Dakota Rail Regional Trail Masterplan which provides for reuse of the former Dakota railroad corridor as an “interim” recreational trail from Wayzata to St. Bonifacius within Hennepin County. More information on the masterplan can be obtained by visiting the Three Rivers website at www.threeriversparkdistrict.org.
MCES Sanitary Sewer. The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) began reconstruction and relocation of their sanitary sewer line and lift station in 2006. This project will allow the redevelopment of the site where the existing lift station is located near Auditor’s Road and Old Shoreline Drive. Final completion is expected in 2007.
Harrison Bay Watermain Crossing Project. The concern with inadequate volume and pressure at City fire hydrants in the Three Points area will soon be one less worry for the residents in this area of the City of Mound. This is due to a recently constructed City Project to connect the City’s watermain system in the Three Points area, to the existing dead-end watermain line across the bay in Arbor Lane. In addition to improved fire flows, a secondary source of water will now be available for both the Three Points and the Arbor Lane residents.
The contract was awarded to EBI Drilling, Inc., of Duluth, MN and included installation of a 10-inch watermain line under Harrison Bay from the Arbor Lane cul-de-sac to an existing line near the intersection of Lakeside Lane and Beachside Road. This new 1,300-foot watermain was installed by “direction drilling.” This process involves excavating a pit for the contractor to drill a pilot hole, a minimum of 10 feet below lake bottom, from one side to the other. Next, the polyethylene pipe, was fused together and stored atop the ice on Harrison Bay and eventually was pulled through the pilot hole and connected to the existing watermain in Three Points. The final pipe connection will be made this summer, when a new watermain will be installed in Arbor Lane as part of the City’s 2007 Street Reconstruction project. The contractor started the work the week of February 26th and completed the project the week of March 5th.
2007 Street Improvement Project. Final plans are currently being prepared for the 2007 street Improvement Project which will be undertaken in the residential neighborhoods of three areas including Shirley Hills, Avon Drive and East Tonkawood. Construction is expected to begin in mid-May.
2007 Storm Drainage Improvements. Four areas with recurring drainage problems have been identified for improvements including Walnut Road/Rambler Lane, Ridgewood Road/Highland Boulevard, Waterbury Road/Gladstone Lane and the Port Harrison townhome area. Topographic survey work has been completed in three of the subject areas and concept plans/cost estimates are being prepared.
2007 Retaining Wall Construction Project. The first part of this project is contained in the 2007 Street Project. Following award of the project, a separate project will be prepared based upon available funds.
2008 Comprehensive Plan Update – Looking Ahead to the Year 2030. What do we want Mound to look like in the year 2030? What goals and policies will help guide us toward this vision? The City’s Comprehensive Plan is the primary tool for establishing the community’s vision for the future, as well as the City’s long-term goals, policies and implementation strategies.
City of Mound staff and officials are in the process of reviewing and updating the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which was last updated in 2000. Mound’s Comprehensive Plan serves as the community’s official policy plan for guiding future community changes and initiatives that will be demanded by anticipated population growth, physical redevelopment and economic development needs.
All cities within the Twin Cities metropolitan area are required by State law to review and update their entire comprehensive plans at least once every ten years, with the next round of updates due to the Metropolitan Council for their review by September 2008. This plan update will look out through the year 2030, whereas, the City’s current Comprehensive Plan looks out to the year 2020.
The key elements of the Comprehensive Plan are land use, transportation (roads, transit, bikeways, sidewalks), housing, parks and recreation facilities, natural environment, and public infrastructure (water, sewer and stormwater systems). Over the past year, Staff has been working with the Planning Commission and the Parks/Open Space/Docks Advisory Commission to evaluate each of these community elements in order to identify any needs for modifying and/or adding goals and policies to the Comprehensive Plan. Community members are advised that a public open house will be held in early summer to share information and hear residents’ input regarding potential updates to the Comprehensive Plan. In addition, a public hearing will be held in conjunction with the formal review and adoption of the final updated plan by the Planning Commission and City Council later in late summer or early fall.
Based on preliminary evaluations and discussions of the various elements of the Comprehensive Plan thus far, major changes to the current Comprehensive Plan are not anticipated. Some of the changes that are likely to be reflected in the updated Comprehensive Plan are:
· Community Vision: Updated vision should identify the community’s most highly valued assets, including its unique physical setting, neighborhoods, schools, walkability, plentiful lake access, vibrant downtown and the community’s commitment to preserving its natural environment, and the importance of preserving and enhancing them whenever possible.
· Land Uses: The City is interested in providing stronger guidance for future redevelopments in the downtown area to ensure a mixed-use environment, including medium and high density housing, retail, office, entertainment and institutional uses, that is pedestrian-oriented and creates a unique sense of place linked to Mound’s beautiful natural environment. In particular, the Pedestrian District and Linear District are guided for this type of redevelopment, which would build upon the downtown redevelopment activities already happening.
· Housing: Mound’s population growth is projected to grow to approximately 11,400 residents in 2030; which would be approximately 600 additional housing units. Housing growth will occur primarily through redevelopment and in the form of medium and high density housing units, including mixed-use redevelopment in the Pedestrian District and the Linear District.
· Parks, Open Space and Recreation: The City of Mound has established a diverse park system that provides a multitude of recreational opportunities for all residents. The strategies being considered for inclusion in the future park, open space and recreation system are intended to enhance the existing system so that the community is in a position to the meet the needs of its residents through the year 2030.
· Natural Environment: As Mound experiences redevelopment, the City would like to consider and incorporate the use of innovative stormwater management techniques and other natural resource and/or environmental practices into development projects, when possible, in order to preserve and enhance Mound’s unique and sensitive natural environment.
· Transportation: As the City’s street system ages and requires reconstruction, the Comprehensive Plan would provide design guidance for street reconstruction to ensure that the system is multi-functional, supporting the City’s land use plan, redevelopment, and multiple modes of transportation, including vehicular, transit, bicycle and pedestrian.
Mound’s updated Comprehensive Plan is intended to serve as a “big picture” policy tool to help guide the City’s priorities, actions and investments over the next 10-20 years. Stay tuned for further information regarding upcoming opportunities for residents, property owners and business owners to learn more about the City’s update of its Comprehensive Plan and provide input for the proposed new plan. Questions regarding the comprehensive plan update may be directed to Community Development Director Sarah Smith at 952.472.0604. Email: www.sarahsmith@cityofmound.com.
Mound Harbor Renaissance (MHR) Downtown Project Update
· Lost Lake Docks Installation. The 37-unit multiple dock was installed over the winter months and will be complete later this spring.
· Villas on Lost Lake Building Permit Issuance. To date, building permits have been issued for 11 units in the Villa project including a 4-unit, 5-unit and 2-unit complex. The project was recently featured in the 2007 Spring Parade of Homes Showcase.
· What’s New. MHR is working with Welsh Commercial Real Estate on tenant procurement for the “east anchor” of Auditor’s Road, Mound’s new mainstreet, and a commercial user to be nestled in with the Villas at Lost Lake (by Super America). Discussions are also underway by the City/HRA and MHR regarding preliminary design and financing of a public parking deck in the Auditor’s Road District which was provided $1.15M in grant funding from the Metropolitan Council in 2005.
Buy-A-Brick. Businesses and private individuals may be memorialized during this decade of Mound’s recreation by purchasing a sculpted brick for installation in the Lost Lake Greenway promenade. Contact Jodi at Mound City Hall for more information. 472-0601.
Mound Development Update. City staff prepares a brief development update throughout the year that is sent out in electronic form. Anyone interested in being added to the email list is requested to contact Community Development Director Sarah Smith at 952-472-0604. Email: Sarahsmith@cityofmound.com. Please feel free to forward this Update to other interested parties.