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ITEM 5.2ITEM 5.2 TPC3601 Thurston Avenue N, Suite 100 Anoka, MN 55303 Phone: 763.23'1 .5840 Facsimile: 763.427.0520 TPC(�P Plan ningCo_corn MEMORANDUM TO: Otsego Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Daniel Licht, AICP DATE: 17 April 2015 RE: Otsego — Wildflower Meadows TPC FILE: 101.01 BACKGROUND The City has initiated planning for development of the neighborhood park at Wildflower Meadows with construction planned to occur in 2016 in accordance with the 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Plan. Development of the neighborhood park at Wildflower Meadows will be funded entirely through park dedication monies paid by developers. SRF, the City's Landscape Architecture consultant, has been retained to work with the Parks and Recreation Commission and City staff on the planning and construction for the neighborhood park facility. The Parks and Recreation Commission will have a preliminary discussion about the facilities to be included in this neighborhood park prior to preparation of two preliminary concept plans. The concept plans will be subject to review and approval of the Parks and Recreation Commission in advance of a neighborhood meeting to be scheduled later this summer. Feedback from the neighborhood meetings will be used to finalize the park concept and allow construction pians to be prepared by SRF. The project will be bid in late 2015 or early 2016 in order to solicit contractors before they have committed to projects for 2016. Exhibits: A. Site Location B. Wildflower Meadows Concept Plan ANALYSIS Wildflower Meadows. Wildflower Meadows was originally approved by the City Council in 2006 for Rottlund Homes, Inc. After Rottlund Homes' bankruptcy, Meridian Land Holdings LLC has been the developer of the subdivision with the primary building being Keyland Homes. There are 44 existing single family lots, 41 additional lots single family tots approved for construction and 23 single family lots yet to be final platted (108 total single family lots). There are also 32 townhouse dwellings within the neighborhood. The developer is proceeding to revise the plans for the remaining townhouse buildings to propose detached townhomes. The first application has been submitted for nine detached townhouses west of the park. At full build out, there will be a total of 180 dwellings within Wildflower Meadows plus the additional rural single family homes fronting CSAH 42 and CSAH 37 and homes within the Riverbend Mobile Home park that may be expected to utilize the neighborhood park facility. Park Site. The park site is 6.38 acres in area with frontage to 72nd Street along its south boundary. A high pressure gas line abuts the north side of the park and provides opportunities for trail connections from the north and east. The topography of the site is generally flat and preliminary grading and storm water management was planned as part of the overall Wildflower Meadows construction plan. There will be a trail along the north side of 72nd Street leading to the park from the signalized intersection of TH 101ICSAH 37 east of TH 101 and the existing trail on Quenroe Avenue to the south connecting to CSAH 37. The trail connections will be completed when Riverbend South is developed and City staff believes an application is pending. Neighborhood Parks. The 2012 Comprehensive Plan describes neighborhood parks as the focus of the City's parks and trail system and a gathering place within individual neighborhoods and includes the following criteria for their location and development.- Service evelopment:Service Area: One-half mile radius uninterrupted by physical barriers. • Per Capita Standard. 2.5 to 3.5 developed acres per 1,000 persons • Desirable Area: 5 to 20 acres with 5 to 90 acres of active use_ • Primary Function: Neighborhood parks are to provide informal neighborhood open space with provisions for active recreational uses that responds to neighborhood needs. Primary users will be children and families rather than organized athletic functions. + Locations: Centrally located within a service area or defined neighborhood, the park may be adjacent to elementary or middle school facilities or other park elements. Primary access should occur by walking or bicycle and neighborhood parks should be connected to the community trail system. Secondary access should include street access and vehicle 2 parking facilities. Adjacent land uses should be residential, school grounds, collector streets or community open space. Natural characteristics should include generally flat topography and soils compatible with facility development Vegetation should be representative of the neighborhood with partially wooded sites preferred. Visibility should allow good sight lines into the parcel to encourage use and ensure security. Water features such as ponds, creeks, or wetland should be included only if they are compatible with the facility design and do not create safety issues. Typical Facilities: Informal softbalilbaseball fields and play fields Multiple Use Trails Volleyball, horseshoes, court games Play structures for varying ages. Skating (pleasure and hockey) Sledding Shelter Picnic tables/benches Restrooms Landscaping Trash collection On or off-street parking (20 stall minimum) Within the park classification framework and project budget, there is latitude for the Parks and Recreation Commission to incorporate unique elements or address specific neighborhood characteristics, demographics and preferences. At the same time, the park classification reflects certain expectations in terms of facilities and amenities that people will have for the neighborhood park in their area such climbing/play structures for multiple age groups, swings, a shelter, tables/benches, walking trails . The ability to maintain each neighborhood park as part of an overall system is also an important consideration. SRF and City staff have worked together to refine park designs with each new development project based on the experience in managing day-to-day and long term maintenance of the existing system. CONCLUSION The Parks and Recreation Commission will discuss the park and Wildflower Meadows at their meeting on 21 April 2015. City staff is seeking input as to opportunities the Parks and Recreation Commission envisions for this specific neighborhood park in terms of facilities and amenities that should be incorporated as part of the preliminary concept plan alternatives. C. Ross Demant, Parks and Recreation Director Timothy Wold, SRF Is SAHCL "iYC L 1UNICL PIVATECL }NPCL FTownship Limits 'a reels ¢ / a 2 U � 2 2 N k l �`�'�➢1 DN xVMN'.LN �r - � Q�p�P`O•f J �Tl � s y,v erorno � � _ I 311N wA c [IFEJ r � QUEEN AVE W Y � O m � o - R rv- �i