Item 5 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• PROPOSED URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS 41111) URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS These Urban Design Standards specify the placement,orientation,and massing of new buildings in the Ramsey Town Center Smart Growth Twin Cities Opportunity Site. Located on the City of Ramsey, Minnesota, the study area is bounded by Ramsey Boulevard,Industry Avenue,Armstrong Boulevard,and Highway 10. The concept plan shows a vision for the site as a pedestrian-scale town center in a city which has none,linked to a major planned transportation investment,the Northstar Commuter Rail station. Rather than let the area succumb to the sprawling commercial development which is progressing west along Highway 10,the plan envisions a walkable Town Center with smaller-scale retail uses,a mixture of housing,enhanced civic uses,and recreation spaces as well as larger retail establishments,including a grocery store. The Town Center includes a network of neighborhood-scale streets to allow easy auto and pedestrian access to the rail station as well as civic, recreational and commercial uses. The various buildings line the streets to create a walkable,pedestrian-friendly environ- ment,with their primary entryways and windows activating the streets. The plan preserves the site's wetlands,and links them to a unified open space system, providing recreational and wildlife benefits, as well as advantages in stormwater management. The Regulating Map(a separate document)shows areas of generalized land use categories. In commercial areas,mixing of uses is allowed along with the dominant use. The map also shows critical"build-to"lines,where buildings must be built close to the street at a minimum height that varies by type of use. This is to ensure that the buildings will shape an adequate and memorable public space. These urban design standards specify those features deemed essential to a coherent neighbor- hood,while maintaining programmatic flexibility and supporting design creativity. • • 2 •CALTHORPE ASSOCIATES