4.13 SR 06-17-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PROJECT UNDERSTANDING Downtown Elk River has been at the heart of a growing region for decades. Once a quiet riverside hamlet surrounded by farmland, Elk River has grown into a thriving community of nearly 30,000. While the history of downtown is over a century old, much of the city's population growth has occurred in the last 30 years. This growth has largely focused on an outward trajectory, as the city's service area, street network, and population distribution have spread into surrounding farmland and green fields. As the city continues to invest in its future, it finds itself looking inward to the heart of the city: DOWNTOWN. Downtown serves several important purposes. They provide a focal point for community identity, a place for serving daily needs, and an opportunity to provide a more compact and walkable urban environment. Public spaces downtown often serve as gathering points for community events like the farmer's market or summer concert nights. They serve an important economic development purpose acting as an incubator for small businesses, a vehicle for attracting outside spending and investment, and a place for local commerce to thrive. MUCH OF ELK RIVER'S RECENT GROWTH HAS BEEN OUTWARD. THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN REPRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INWARD - TO HELP SHAPE THE HEART OF ELK RIVER. PROJECT UNDERSTANDING Downtown Elk River is well -positioned for a bright future. It has a strong history, it's located at the crossroads of two major thoroughfares, and it has been recently guided for significant growth and change through the visionary comprehensive plan update. The downtown master plan provides the city with an opportunity to turn that vision into reality by translating ideas and goals into outcomes. Implementing change requires attention to detail, and an understanding of how multiple parts come together, with an understanding towards how the city can: • Guide growth, particularly along Main St and Jackson St, with thoughtful development planning and design guidance. • Reinforce and enhance a connectivity network that makes it easy for people and goods to get around, while addressing connectivity challenges from Hwy 10 and the rail line. • Develop a public realm and open space network that brings people together and provides space for community interactions. • Understand housing needs of the city and where to fill the gaps. • Position Downtown Elk River to benefit from major transportation projects including Hwy 169 Redefine and changes to Highway 10. - • 1 •• ` M•!� �1 Aw, �! M •\i _- i f • -- -- - APPROX. STUDY AREA OBuildings have been incrementally cleared for parking and event space, but may have more beneficial futures ORiver access and public space is centered around River's Edge Commons, establishing more areas could increase downtown's draw 3 Both Hwy 10 and the rail line significantly encumber access, while simultaneously bringing regional visitors —localizing access could benefit the downtown ®The river, Hwy 10, and rail line "constrict" downtown development, and funnel east/west traffic onto Main St NW and Hwy 10 OThe study area along Main St NW acts as a pass - through linkage between Hwy 169 and Hwy 10, but could benefit from an elevated character Reconstruction of the Hwy 169 intersection may © relieve local congestion, with uncertain impacts on local businesses 2D24 DOWNTOWN SMALL AREA PLAN I ELK RIVER, AN ( 2 j Page 92 of 3�2