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Parks & Recreation <br />Bluff Block <br />October 13, 2004 <br />Page 2 <br />a. Whether the land is reasonably located and suited fox its intended use. <br />b. Whether the land has frontage on public ox private roads as determined by <br />the Ciry. <br />c. The size, shape, tonoTeraohv, geology, hydrology, tree cover, access and <br />location. <br />d. Consistency with the goals and objectives of the master park and recreation <br />plan. <br />While the City has, fox many years, contemplated the concept of a river walk along the <br />Mississippi River in downtown, after further analysis of the topography and the vegetation <br />located within Outlot A, staff questions the appropriateness of attempting to construct a <br />river walk along this section of Main Street. Given the goals of the Wild & Scenic <br />Ordinance and the requirement of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System <br />Permit the City now holds, attempting to construct a river walk within the bluff would create <br />serious environmental issues, especially due to the amount of tree removal and grading that <br />would be required in order to provide pedestrian access to this site. Staff believes that <br />connecting pedestrians along the commercial street frontage on the south side of Main via <br />the existing sidewalk and allowing river access at the River's Edge Green Space would be <br />more environmentally sensitive. The City can require, however, per Section 30-418 (4), an <br />easement fot public purposes adjacent to the water area. <br />Recommendation <br />Staff recommends that the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend cash dedication <br />for the preliminary plat of Bluff Block. <br />S:\PLANNiNG\Case Files\2004\P 0420 Bluff Block\PtlcR staff memo 10-13.doc <br />