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Agenda Item #7 <br /> <br />Executive Committee: <br /> <br />Betsy Wergin, NCDA Chair <br />Sherburne County <br /> <br />Paul Ostrow. NCDA Vice Chair <br />City of Minneapolis <br /> <br />Paul McCmTon <br />Anoka County <br /> <br />Mark Stenglein <br />Hennepin County Regional <br />Raih'oad Authority <br /> <br />Steve Billings <br />City of Fridley <br /> <br />Lewis Stark <br />Haven Township <br /> <br />February 14, 2000 <br /> <br />Honorable Steve Janski <br />Mayor, City of Rice <br />205 Main St E <br />PO Box 22 <br />Rice, MN 56367-0022 <br /> <br />Dear Mayor Janski: <br /> <br />As you know, the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) has recently <br />completed its Major Investment Study (MIS) culminating in the recommended <br />Transportation Investment Strategy shown on the enclosed resolution. A principle <br />element of the investment strategy is commuter rail. The NCDA is now moving <br />forward to complete environmental review and to start preliminary engineering for <br />the commuter rail project from St. Cloud to downtown Minneapolis. <br /> <br />The commuter rail planning efforts to date have included considerable interaction <br />with the cities, in order to appropriately locate stations in the communities along the <br />corridor. The planned location for the station in the City of Rice is at W. Main <br />Street. A copy of the station layout is enclosed for your information. <br /> <br />The next step in the project includes development of station area plans. These <br />plans, which will encompass the area from one quarter to one half mile around the <br />commuter rail station, will show the type and amount of development or <br />redevelopment that could occur over the next 20 or more years. Ideally, the mix <br />of proposed land uses would be mutually supportive of the investment in commuter <br />rail and community goals for long term land uses and smart growth concepts. <br /> <br />The NCDA, its staff and consultants, would like to continue to work closely with city <br />staff, planning commissions, councils, and residents to further refine the station <br />area plans. NCDA has retained legal counsel to assist with drafting resolutions or <br />other tools that may be desirable for communities to utilize during the planning <br />process. NCDA is also actively seeking land use expertise to assist both NCDA <br />and the cities in the planning efforts. <br /> <br /> Northstar Corridor Development Authority <br />2100 3''° Avenue, Anoka, Minnesota 55303-2265 (612) 323-5700 Fax: (612) 323-5682 <br /> <br /> <br />