A conceptual development plan has been submitted to the city for a residential development to occur on the west side of Flagstaff Avenue and north of Dakota County Road 50.  A map showing the approximate location of the conceptual development plan, outlined in red, is included in the meeting packet.

Included in your packet is the proposed configuration of streets, residential lots, trails, park and stormwater ponding.  Staff and the developer were not able to come to an agreement on sidewalk locations in the development.  The developer was informed that the sidewalk location would be brought to the Commission showing several possible options for the location of sidewalks in the development.  Staff has identified three sidewalk options for the Commission to consider in the development and are illustrated in the attachments included.  Explanations for choosing a specific option are as follows:

Option #1:  Has an internal contiguous sidewalk loop and sidewalk connections to the proposed park, proposed trails around the development and any future trails constructed adjacent to the development. Provides the least amount of street crossings for residents to access a sidewalk.  Provides a pedestrian connection to the park, so property owners don't have to walk in the street to access the park.

Option #2:  Doesn't create any issues during home construction with sidewalks being damaged and having to be repaired.

Option #3:  Provides sidewalk connnections to the trail sidewalk connections to the proposed park, proposed trails around the development and any future trails constructed adjacent to the development. Requires one more street crossing than Option #1 because of the where the sidewalks are located. Provides a pedestrian connection to the park, so property owners don't have to walk in the street to access the park.

Staff is recommending Option #1 for sidewalk locations for the following reasons:

• it is a contiguous connection
• provides connections to future trails and sidewalks
• provides least number of street crossings
• provides a connection to the future park

A combination of parkland dedication and cash in lieu of parkland is being proposed in the development.  The park location complies with the Park and Recreation Commission's recommendation that occurred in 2016 when the park location was discussed with the property owner.  There will be a future opportunity to enlarge the park when abutting parcels are developed.

The developer has also proposed to construct and pay for trails in the development along Flagstaff Avenue and along the north side of the parcel.  The trail shown in the proposed park and along the storm pond will be paid by the city.  The trail locations comply with the city's proposed 2030 park and trail map, which has also been included in the meeting packet.

The Commission may also want to consider requesting the developer to show a trail running parallel on the south side of the development as a future trail to be constructed by others.  This allows a placeholder to be put in place so any future homeowner purchasing one of the lots on the south side of the development will be able to see there is a future trail planned in this location.  This trail would be in a future street right of way.