Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County

WHEREAS, the TCAAP Reutilization Committee was formed by Congressman Bruce Vento on August 30, 1994 to recommend the conceptual long range uses for the TCAAP site; and

WHEREAS, the TCAAP Reutilization Committee consists of representatives of business, economic readjustment, homeless providers, labor, environment, local citizenry, the Mounds View School District 621, Minnesota National Guard, City of Arden Hills, City of New Brighton, City of Mounds View, City of Shoreview, Ramsey County, State of Minnesota, and the federal government of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the TCAAP Reutilization Committee has received testimony from numerous groups and individuals representing a wide array of interests and view points; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the TCAAP Reutilization Committee was guided by the principles of Responsibility for the metropolitan community as a whole, Cooperation in Building a consensus in a collective environment of shared findings and information, Collaboration with diverse interests to achieve a pragmatic view of the site's complexity and its long range development, and Innovation to produce creative ideas and methods which are responsive to the changing needs of the metropolitan area;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the TCAAP Reutilization Committee makes the following recommendations for the conceptual long range uses for the TCAAP site to Congressman Bruce Vento, Senator Paul Wellstone, Senator Rod Grams and the other members of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation:

1. Open Space: Provide a balance of active and passive public open spaces that respect and take advantage of natural site topography and features and protects significant natural resources. To that end, provide at least 1,100 contiguous acres of land for a regional park reserve which meets the Met Council guidelines for that type of use and which should be managed within the Regional Recreation Open Space System. The land includes the area east of Hamline Avenue (extended) incorporating Sunfish Lake lying north of the existing service road that parallels Highway 96. The southern extension of the kame should be incorporated into this area and preserved as a natural amenity. Existing uses of the open space by the National Guard and other Reserve units for training are viewed as compatible.

In addition to the regional park reserve, the Rice Creek Corridor should be preserved with sufficient adjacent land area to protect significant natural resources, provide for wildlife movement and serve as a segment in the Rice Creek Regional Trail Corridor, including land trails. The Rice Creek Trail Corridor should incorporate the entire oak forest area lying south of the Minnesota Department of Transportation maintenance facility and should be integrally linked with the regional park reserve. Encourage Alliant Tech and the Department of Defense to make the necessary facility changes to allow the use of the Rice Creek corridor as a recreational canoe route as soon as possible.

The wetlands comprising Marsden Lake are both beautiful and crucial to maintaining water quality and wildlife. The Marsden Lake area should be incorporated into the open space proposed for the site and protected.

The prairie pothole formation on the northern portion of the property is a valuable testament to the geologic heritage of the region. As such, the area should be protected as part of the planned open space, to be preserved for the enjoyment of all.

The central portion of the TCAAP site provides an opportunity to protect some unique features, including the kames and the Desmodium illinoense (Illinois Tick-treefoil). This area includes the gravel pit, which has been carved into a portion of one of the glacial kames. This primarily upland area should be included in the planned open space, in conjunction with Marsden Lake to the east and a corridor leading to Rice Creek to the west as part of a larger contiguous open space area.

2. Recreation: Provide an area for the development of recreational spaces and facilities that are unique and acceptable to the broader community and anticipates the future demographic needs of the broader community. To that end, provide at least 70 contiguous acres for a joint recreation facility that can be used and supported by the broader community. The most likely location for the joint community athletic complex is within the northern portion of the property, surrounded to the southeast, south and west by open space, and to the north by Institutional land, and to the northeast by housing. Should it become clear in the interim that this land is unavailable, the fields may be located elsewhere. Provide at least 25 contiguous acres of land for a community park for the City of Arden Hills. Until such time that the property becomes excessed, allow the general public access to the facility for outdoor recreational activities in appropriate areas. Encourage the development of an historic/nature interpretive center on the site.

Buffer zones are needed between the residential areas and critical areas of the park preserve. These buffer zones, of approximately 180 acres, could be used for either passive natural areas or active recreation.

3. Housing: Encourage the provision of a balanced housing supply in relationship to affordability, life-cycle housing, density, market conditions and resource availability. To that end, provide the potential for at least 400 acres for the development of residential housing. Housing on the facility should be constructed in locations which do not impinge on the natural resources to be protected. Housing may be built on the site and shall be located as shown on the attached map [see a copy of this report in the TCAAP Reuse Committee notebook at the Arden Hills Library], and shall be generally described as follows: Situated on the northern portion the property, abutting County Road I, east of the proposed institutional land, and abutting joint community athletic fields. Housing also may be located on a portion of land between commercial/industrial/office space development and the buffer zone designated as "active/passive recreation". It may extend all the way down to Highway 96 in the south. The principles embodied within the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act should be supported. The 14 houses currently occupying the northwest portion of the site should be viewed as a resource which could be reused. The current location falls within areas which are not suitable for housing. We recommend that the housing be made available to any organization which can, through the McKinney Act and other federal processes, make appropriate use of the buildings elsewhere on or off the property.

Future population and other circumstances may dictate a need for more educational space. If the need develops for greater educational space, school development should be designed in such a manner as to minimize the amount of land needed, to use the features of the land in such a way as to encourage that it does not infringe upon nor use open space.

4. Economic Development: Commercial, office and industrial development opportunities exist on the property which will benefit the surrounding communities and the larger metropolitan area. It is important to create an environment which encourages a broad range of development opportunities and jobs. Create a development climate which encourages the formation of a wide range of development opportunities and job types. To that end, provide at least 200 acres for the redevelopment of Office, Commercial, and/or Industrial uses adjacent to Interstate 35W, US Highway 10, and State Highway 96.

5. Integration: Encourage the integration of the transportation, governmental, educational, and recreational services with the adjacent communities where possible. Encourage multiple and shared uses, buildings, and facilities to minimize the infrastructure costs and impervious areas on the site. Encourage the construction of a joint public works facility along the Highway 10 or 96 corridor. Allow the City of Arden Hills to obtain and use the land south of the service road on the south side of Sunfish lake to construct a City Hall/Government Center.

Development in the area should be done in a manner which ensures protection of the Desmodium illinoense.

6. Infrastructure: Design and construct an infrastructure system that minimizes the negative effects on the environment and that protects the East-West Corridor and the migration of animals between Rice Creek and the park reserve, yet provides for the development requirements of the site. Stormwater retention ponds which may be needed should be kept within the developed areas of the site, outside of designated open space. Developers should retain responsibility for locating these ponds within their own development areas. Reuse existing on-site infrastructure to the extent that is practical and cost-effective.

Transportation for the site should be designed and built in a manner that is sensitive to the environment. It should include an internal system of roads that is transit friendly. The transportation plan should link TCAAP to the rest of Arden Hills and adjacent communities as well as to the regional transportation system; encourage alternate travel modes such as biking and walking by creating pedestrian-friendly environments and link activity centers with trails and other non-vehicular routes; include public transit; and promote desirable development patterns.

7. Railroad Right-of-Way: The railroad right-of-way extending from TCAAP to Long Lake Regional Park should be preserved as future regional trail connections. Trails within TCAAP should connect this trail segment with the Rice Creek Regional Trail and the proposed regional park reserve.

8. Fiscal: We encourage an overall development of the TCAAP site in a manner which ensures fiscal responsibility by all governmental bodies. Specific attention should be paid to the impact on the City of Arden Hills and the surrounding communities. Development should be managed to ensure, to the extent possible, that cost-generating uses are balanced with revenue producing uses to minimize fiscal impacts. We also encourage the Department of Defense to provide at least $50,000 per year in funding for the next five years, beyond the natural resources budget, to enhance the natural resources of the facility.

9. Sustainability: Encourage use and development of the TCAAP site in a manner which fosters sustainability wherein a balanced approach to community structure and function, environmental values, and economic opportunities and constraints is ensured.