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DRAFT <br />December 29, 1999 <br /> <br />Mail Merge to Local Officials and Community Development Staff <br /> <br />The Metropolitan Council is working closely with the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) <br />and Anoka County to realize the potential of the proposed Northstar Commuter Rail Line in achieving the <br />Governor's Smart Growth Initiative. Within the metropolitan region, we have an opportunity to connect <br />transportation investments with housing, jobs and transit-oriented land use plans. To be competitive for <br />Federal Transit Administration funding, the commuter rail proposal and station area plans must also <br />demonstrate a benefit to regional growth management, job development, and pei:lestrian-oriented urban <br />design. This is best documented within the Metropolitan area if the proposal includes commitments made <br />by participating local governments in land use and/or redevelopment plans, policies and ordinances. <br /> <br />The purpose of this letter is to suggest how the Metropolitan Council will work with local governments <br />during within the metropolkan portion of the corridor in order to help strengthen the NCDA funding <br />application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). We understand that most local governments <br />participating in the commuter rail plans will have submitted 1998 comprehensive plan updates before the <br />commuter rail "Major Investment Study" is completed, and therefore, may not include planning details <br />relative to the rail corridor. However, documentation of local transit-oriented land use and investment <br />commitment is needed by August submittal date for the funding request to be competitive. <br /> <br />The 2020 Comprehensive Plans from cities along the metropolitan portion of Northstar Commuter Rail <br />corridor that are submitted to the Metropolitan Council are expected to include a brief description of the <br />project status and proposed station locations, but given the short time frame, may not include more detailed <br />station area land use plans that demonstrate the desired benefits ora federal investment by the FTA. <br /> <br />The Metropolitan Council is offering to work with the NCDA and participating cities to undertake station <br />area planning consistent with realizing a competitive regional economy. We are proposing to document <br />this commitment in the review of local comprehensive plans. For those cities in the metropolitan area <br />where a NCDA station is planned, the city will be asked, as part of the comprehensive plan review, to <br />submit a resolution of commitment to developing a full station-area plan for submittal as a plan <br />amendment. In this way, we can work together to document the regional benefits of a federal investment in <br />the proposed commuter rail corridor. <br /> <br />The proposed commuter rail passes through urban and rural areas, therefore, not all stations will be the <br />same. Some may be oriented to parking and transit connections, while others would provide an opportunity <br />for generating additional development through a station area plan for compact and mixed uses with a <br />design character that are pedestrian friendly. Compact land use patterns consisting of transit supportive <br />density are important parameters, along with other development strategies in measuring the potential <br />success of transit system investments. <br /> <br />We look forward to working with you on land use and station area plans. If you have any questions or <br />concerns, please contact Jim Barton at 651 602-1735 or your sector representative Sandra Pinel at 651 602- <br />1513. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Eli Cooper, Director <br />Planning and Growth Management <br /> <br /> <br />