Sponsor: Community & Economic Development
Title
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Amendment to Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant Master Plan
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Recommendation
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Approve the amended Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant 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 plan and an accompanying amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Plan Amendment on December 12, 2016. The county board approved the plan on December 20, 2016. This plan consists of two documents, the Regulating Plan and TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC), that guide redevelopment of the site. Approval of the plan by both the city and county is a requirement of the JPA for the JDA to be fully authorized to implement the plan and effect a timely and orderly redevelopment of the site in accordance with the JPA.
The proposed amendments are minor amendments 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. These amendments are proposed to enable the final design and construction of Rice Creek Boulevard.
Ramsey County Public Works and Community & Economic Development departments, in partnership with their consultants and the City of Arden Hills, have been advancing the design of Rice Creek Boulevard (formerly known as the Spine Road), the main roadway through Rice Creek Commons. The project team identified lighting and trail design as topics for discussion and direction to ensure alignment with project goals and the overall design intent. The JDA discussed these items and recommended that two TRC amendments be brought to the City of Arden Hills and Ramsey County, respectively, for consideration.
The first proposed amendment is to allow for greater intervals between streetlights along Rice Creek Boulevard, in alignment with Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Roadway Lighting Design Manual standards. The second proposed amendment is to allow for a reduction in the minimum width for shared use paths and trails on Rice Creek Boulevard from 12 feet to 10 feet, to be consistent with Ramsey County and Arden Hills trail design standards as well as the minimum recommended multi-use trail widths from MnDOT’s Bikeway Facility Design Guide and ADA and Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines.
These proposed amendments were recommended by the Arden Hills Planning Commission on June 3, 2026, and approved by the Arden Hills City Council on June 22, 2026.
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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 the development of additional tax base, job creation, affordable housing and environmental remediation of brownfields. By broadening the property tax base, the development of Rice Creek Commons helps alleviate property tax pressures on residential communities in the rest of the county. In this way and also through the future construction of a broad range of housing, including affordable housing, this project contributes to housing security for all Ramsey County residents, and particularly racially and ethnically diverse communities that historically have faced greater housing pressures.
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 has already phased out the use of this term when working on the project. However, there remain legal documents, such as the ones referenced in this RBA, that use the word “master” to refer to past documents and milestones, and these documents are interwoven into other aspects of the project.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The JDA and City of Arden Hills hosted several meetings in spring and summer of 2026 where information on these proposed amendments was provided, and the public was given opportunities to provide feedback.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this request.
Last Previous Action
On May 21, 2024, the Ramsey County Board approved one amendment to the TCAAP Master Plan (Resolution B2024-170).
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. 2026-013