06-10-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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^fowing Smart in Minnesota n>i\ jttii !f w.fs i !>\ K’ ^ 'iff ffw ( I •*> . * *1 f !.•''» * , u,tu tl t‘t Wr'iU'^* >t.t I f < \ I rtf As metropolitan areas respond to the growing pressure of expanding populations, city planners, architects, engineers and others are striving to bring back the character, convenience and intimacy of the 'town center* of yesteryear. Interest in 'new urbanism* or 'town center development* began just a decade ago and exploded in popularity in 2000. The October/November 2001 issue of New Urban News magazine lists more than 300 such developments planned or currently being constructed in the U.S. - a 38 percent increase over the prior year. • S it- I r ^ \ ■: r " New urbanism describes a modern development that provides communities with a central core - a gathering place that offers a wide range of uses, including shopping, recreation, housing and employment, in a limited amount of space. \iiny of Minnesota's leading cities ate following the trend: Clover Field in Chaska, fbrk Conunons in St. Louis l^rk, Burnsville's Heart of (he City and Maple Grove's Arbor Lakes [OPUS. City of Maple Grove, and MFRA received CFCM's 2001 Honor Award for Arbor Lakes). Why people want a town center People are busier today than ever. To conserve precious time and simplify their lives, they want to live closer to where they work and shop as well as to sports and recreational facilities that were once common to downtown areas. Serious traffic problems make town center development an issue of 'livability* for residents. City officials support them because town centers establish an identity or focal point for residents while providing additional hous ing options on limited land. Developers, responding to market demand, are also solidly behind the trend. Other key players driv ing new urbanism to the forefront include community business f ft k v%-f/» ; «r riiw\N.i fi M leaders. Over the last few decades, commercial development shifted to either 'big box" stores (a Wal-Mart or Target) or strip mall expansion. Some local business owners have had success competing with these developments by re-creating that 'small town* magic in their communities as an alternative to the mega store or strip mall. Common obstacles Demand for town centers continues to grow, but they take thoughtful planning and proper execution. Unless planned well in advance, urban developments often require extensive restruc turing of buildings, roadways and other infrastructure. Transportation and access are key design decisions that need to facilitate public access yet skirt primary roads. The Arbor Lakes development in Maple Grove is a recent example: located near several major interstates yet separated from them by a well- connected grid of arterial streets. Town center engineering challenges include: • Slonii water management. Innovative methods are needed to accommodate the large volumes of storm water created by higher density development. • Safety. The pedestrian and vehicle mix in an urban develop ment is an automatic challenge due to the condensed design of a town center area. • Weather. Minnesota's cold winters may decrease use of town centers that feature pedestrian-oriented designs. • Cost. The unique architectural features or landscaping often proposed for town center developments may increase costs beyond those already projected for less space intensive developments. Bob Cunningham, vice president of devel opment for TOLD Development adds that site designs must make intuitive sense to visitors and be financially feasi ble. 'ftrking can be very difficult to design cost- competitively," he explained. 'Not only is condensed parking usually more expensive, but determining the exact number of parking spaces needed can be quite difficult with the variety of site uses at different times of the day or week.* Cunningham also pointed out that building codes or ordinances may also be a i