Sponsor: Community & Economic Development
Title
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Amendment to Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plan Master Plan
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Recommendation
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Approve the amended Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plan Master Plan
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Background and Rationale
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The Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) by Ramsey County and the city of Arden Hills that formed the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) Joint Development Authority (JDA) provides that the city prepare the TCAAP Master Plan for the redevelopment of the TCAAP, now known as Rice Creek Commons. The Arden Hills city council approved the current TCAAP Master Plan and an accompanying amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Plan Amendment on December 12, 2016. The county board approved the TCAAP Master Plan on December 20, 2016. The TCAAP Master Plan consists of the Regulating Plan and TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC) that will guide redevelopment of the site. Approval of the Master Plan by the city and county is a requirement of the JPA for the JDA to be fully authorized to implement the Master Plan and effect a timely and orderly redevelopment of the site in accordance with the JPA.
The proposed amendment is a minor amendment as outlined in the JPA. A minor amendment is a change within a Development Site deemed desirable by the JDA to implement the Development that does not involve an amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Plan. The proposed minor amendment updates Attachment 3 - Development Flow Chart, correcting this attachment to be consistent with language in Section 3.3 of the TRC which outlines the JDA Review Process. This proposed minor amendment was approved by the Arden Hills City Council on April 8, 2024.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Redevelopment of Rice Creek Commons site is an important project toward achieving the county’s prosperity goal because of its contribution toward tax base development, job creation, affordable housing and environmental remediation of brownfields. The Rice Creek Commons redevelopment is guided by a network of documents and official legal controls through the county’s years-long partnership with the city of Arden Hills, including a set of documents referred to as the “Master Plan.” The term master plan is commonly found in the real estate industry to indicate a comprehensive or overarching plan, development, project, or agreement. Ramsey County continues to take steps to acknowledge its role in systemic racism, it recognizes the power of language. The term “master” has been identified as a word to remove in certain contexts due to its connection with the history of masters and slavery in the United States. The county’s project team will engage with the city of Arden Hills to address the removal of this term within these shared documents and ensuring the legal controls necessary for this development to remain clear and concise.
Community Participation Level and Impact
On November 1, 2023, the Joint Development Authority hosted a community open house in Arden Hills as an opportunity for community members to learn more about the proposed changes to the development plan, including proposal for increased residential that led to one of these amendments. The city of Arden Hills also hosted several meetings to solicit community input on these amendments, including city council meetings, city council work sessions, and planning commission meetings.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this request.
Last Previous Action
On March 12, 2024, the Ramsey County Board approved two amendments to the TCAAP Master Plan (Resolution B2024-045).
On August 1, 2023, the Ramsey County Board approved one amendment to the TCAAP Master Plan (Resolution B2023-125).
On December 20, 2016, the Ramsey County Board approved the amended TCAAP Master Plan (Resolution B2016-0337).
On January 19, 2016, the Ramsey County Board approved the TCAAP Master Plan (Resolution B2016-026).
On November 27, 2012, the Ramsey County Board approved a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Arden Hills (Resolution B2012-342).
Attachments
1. City of Arden Hills Ordinance No. 2024-002