5. EDSR 06-14-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

BACKGROUND ~~ • • STUDY AREA The 171st Avenue FAST project area comprises 93o acres of land, of which approximately z~5 acres are wetlands of floodplains. The wetlands are essentially two large bands running east to west through the project area. There are nearly goo acres of public right-of-way for streets and the rail line, and i6o acres are currently developed lands that are not anticipated to change. These developed lands include the built portions of the Northstar Business Park (g acres), Elk River Station housing development (39 acres), the service~commercial areas west of Highway io (zz acres), the single family residential surrounding Kleiver's Marsh (4o acres) in the northeast corner of the study area, and the residential neighborhoods along the river (37 acres). The remaining land, approximately 455 acres, will be the focus of potential land use alterations for the Figure z.z: Study Area Map FAST project. Of these 455 acres, roughly izo acres are northeast and z58 acres are southwest of the rail line on the east 76 acres are west of Highway io. The Gateway area is a 75 acre area of city owned land situated south of ~7ist Avenue. This land, acquired from Cargill via agreement, mandates no residential use on the property until zozo. The portion of land immediately east of the Gateway property, west of the railroad tracks is owned by Cargill. The agreement shows a roadway connection through the Cargill owned land to 65th which can occur anytime at the City's expense. The Minnesota Department of Transportation also owns land in the FAST area. MN DOT is currently using the zo acres of land just north of 175th Avenue for aggregate extraction. The Northstar commuter rail station in Elk River opened in November of zoo9, with commuter service to downtown Minneapolis. The commuter station will have an 80o car surface parking lot, drop- offand twin rail platforms for commuters. The station sits in the heart of the study area along the northern side of the rail line and along Twin Lakes Parkway the major roadway spine through the project area. Twin Lakes Parkway isenvisioned as asub- regional collector for southeast Elk River. The four-lane road with median is newly constructed from the commuter station north, and is envisioned to continue to the southeast through the Gateway & Cargill property in the future serving the businesses and residents of east Elk River. Major utility lines also run through the project area. A natural gas line with a ioo' ~ 171St. CN2r1lJE Focused Area Study 5 ;~