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 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.
There are two proposed amendments to the TRC that the county is asked to approve through this board action.
The first proposed amendment is a major amendment as outlined in the JPA. A major amendment requires that the city of Arden Hills amend its Comprehensive Plan. The proposed major amendment is to add and amend language for residential land uses and increase residential density up to 1,960 units within the regulating plan for TCAAP. This proposed major amendment was approved by the Arden Hills City Council on January 8, 2024. Because this change requires the city of Arden Hills to amend its Comprehensive Plan, the Metropolitan Council must also review and approve this change. The city of Arden Hills submitted its request for approval in early February and expects to obtain approval by the end of March.
The second proposed amendment is a minor amendment 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 allows ground-mounted solar energy systems within neighborhood residential districts. This amendment has been proposed in order to be consistent with the same change that was recently made to the Arden Hills Code. This proposed minor amendment was approved by the Arden Hills City Council on February 12, 2024.
Upon approval by the county board and the Metropolitan Council, the TCAAP Master Plan will be updated to reflect these two changes.
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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 on the county from this action.
Last Previous Action
On August 1, 2023, the Ramsey County Board approved a minor amendment to the TCAAP Master Plan to allow for broader land uses in the Campus Commercial zoning district (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. 2024-001
2. City of Arden Hills Ordinance No. 2023-013