Politics & Government

Experts Suggest Sustainable, Pedestrian-Friendly Ideas for Cedar Development

National experts in land use, architecture, sustainability and urban design on Friday presented recommendations for how Apple Valley could develop around the new transit-focused Cedar corridor.

The team of seven national experts in land use, architecture, sustainability and urban design who presented prior to their departure their recommendations for how Apple Valley could develop around a new transit-focused Cedar corridor.

The American Institute of Architects' Sustainable Design Assessment Team toured Apple Valley, considered other cities that faced similar situations and listened to ideas from residents and the business community to put together their ideas for a "regeneration" of the Apple Valley community.

In the next two months, the team will put together a full report for the city on the recommendations, which include what Apple Valley's public and private sectors could begin doing now to incorporate some of the plans.

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If nothing is done to pursue development with the introduction of bus rapid transit, the presentation said, Apple Valley could remain a "bedroom community," with retail "cannibalized" and the loss of residents of the millennial generation.

One question that arose about implementation, however, was about the cost of incorporating the ideas.

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"Where's the money?" Dakota County Commissioner Will Branning asked.

There will be a lot to look at once the full report comes, City Councilman John Bergman said after the presentation, but the recommendations show some changes within Apple Valley likely will need to be made.

These were some of the main strategies the team suggested for Apple Valley's development; some could happen more immediately, while others could occur 10 or 20 years down the line:

Focus on four major areas

The municipal center hub and current Central Village are two areas to keep in focus. Two others the team recommended focusing on: a Cedar Village East, east of Cedar and south of 150th (and west of the Central Village), and Cedar Village West, also south of 150th but west of Cedar.

Create a walkable environment

Transportation expert Karina Ricks said being able to walk to transit options in a safe, comfortable and nice-looking environment is important. A potential issue she showed is that it would take an average of 43 seconds to cross a 10-lane Cedar at 140th or 147th; she laid out a scenario where a resident living near 139th a few blocks west of Cedar would be a few hundred feet from a new transit station as the crow flies, but to cross Cedar to that northbound station, the person would have to walk 3,000 feet.

She suggested reviewing traffic signal times.

Theresa Olsen, who attended the presentation because she's an architect who has worked on projects before that involved Cedar and the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, said she "completely" agreed with most of the recommendations. She said she can't imagine not putting in a skyway to cross the street at 140th.

Connect cyclists and bus riders to key locations

Ricks said there should be ways to separate bicycles from pedestrians, and create "priority connections" for cyclists to places like the Minnesota Zoo, aquatic center and Central Village. In the short term, the city and businesses could add bike racks in the short term to get ready for people to be able to bike around the city, and to and from transit options.

She also pointed out that buses don't have a connection yet to Central Village, and advised thinking about adapting local routes to connect to those key locations as well.

Maintain and expand the city's branding

Keep the red color and city logo as focuses for the city's branding, team member Colie Hough-Beck said. Think about creating more "wayfinding" signage—like maps, street signs and distance markers—for pedestrians and cyclists, not just motorists, she said.

Add public art

Public art can beautify and also engage residents by being interactive, Hough-Beck said. Building on the existing infrastructure—anything from adding decorative tree grates to bold banners—can create a sense of place and make the city unique, she said. Trying to create "rooms," like plazas for people to enjoy, rather than just linear roads or decorations, will invite people to stay rather than pass through. She also encouraged private partners to get involved. Let cafes spill onto the sidewalks, she said.

Create an inviting streetscape to manage storm water

The sand and gravel mining operations in Apple Valley provide a good potential source of storm water management, said civil engineer and sustainability expert Nathan Polanski.

Reduce demand on storm water ponds by incorporating things like more landscaping in parking lots or on curbs, which reduces impervious surfaces and helps clean and filter storm water in a more natural way, he said. "Floating wetlands" built in water sources can help break down pollutants—handling water treatment locally is preferable to having to outsource it to a different company or community, Polanski said.

Polanski also suggested developing some of the streets in new village areas to be narrower, with street trees incorporated, and where bicycles and cars could share space because traffic moves more slowly.

Develop Cedar Village East

Architect and urban designer Mark Hinshaw showed a plan (attached as photos) for a network of streets, urban housing, green space and new civic buildings as part of developing a central Cedar Avenue East area, south of 150th and between Cedar and Galaxie avenues, down to the Carmike Cinemas and including the 155th Street transit station.

"We just built on the skeleton that's already begun," Hinshaw said.

He said the area, which would include a central plaza, should be "highly accessible" to residents or visitors, with everything within a quarter-mile walking radius.

He also said not every element had to be implemented now—let other generations figure out some solutions, he said.

Create a lifecycle of housing

Apple Valley's population is shifting older—the under-19 population is declining, as is the 34-55 demographic, said team member Ed Starkie. Employment also has lagged in Apple Valley more than in surrounding cities, he said.

The city must change to attract residents and businesses, he said, especially to bring in the Millennial generation of people born in 1990 or later, which has the same population as the Baby Boomer generation.

He suggested planning for a lifecycle of housing, to provide housing options to young families, middle-age families and seniors all within the same areas.

He also suggested some options to promote development, including Community Development Financial Institutions fund, some small business investment and consortium funding.

Rework the city code to promote development

"You have a very confusing code," Hinshaw said indirectly to city officials on Friday.

He recommended a full code audit, because the current code provides for sprawling—rather than centralized—development, low-height buildings and lots of parking.

Create a separate chapter for downtown development and for each district, he said, and create incentives for adding public amenities. Create more complete design standards driven by how those designs will affect how people live, and focus on public spaces, he said.

The code can be "inspirational," Hinshaw said, rather than starkly regulatory.


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