5.1. PCSR 08-24-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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a Develop "Third Places" Future development should provide opportunities for enhanced placemaking,public art,community Iden- Developers could also be required to choose a minimum tity,and development of"third places"Third places are number of amenities from a list including features such informal areas where residents and visitors can meet and as lighted bollards,movable tables and chairs,fountains or other water features,benches,seat walls or raised land- gather outside of home(first place)or work(second place). These amenities offer an opportunity for social interaction scape planters,or public art. and can anchor civic life in Elk River.Third places such In the Downtown,the City could offer a fee-in-lieu of as small plazas and parklets can serve as focal points for providing the outdoor gathering space on site to go future pedestrian activity,functioning as an amenity to towards the expansion and enhancement of Rivers Edge business patrons as well as residents and visitors.Third Commons Park and improvements to the public realm. places should be integrated into all new commercial devel- opment whether it be Downtown or along Highways 169 or 10. � To support the creation of third places,the City should consider establishing a requirement for new commer- cial development of a certain size to provide a minimum square footage of public gathering space as well as stan- dards for how the space should be activated.For example, y the City could require developments with multiple commercial buildings or buildings with more than 100,000 square feet include an outdoor gathering space equal to 5% of the building area. In addition,the City should consider reducing the number of required parking spaces for commercial developments Example:Benches providing space to sit,rest,or socialize in Rivers by increasing the requirement for floor area ratio(FAR)per Edge Commons Park parking space.This would help to incentivize the develop- ment of third spaces on site and reduce excessive parking lots in the development. 54 Economic Development Plan•Elk River Comprehensive Plan DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY