HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-03 Met Council Ltr Re Stagecoach Trail Land Use Comp Plan Amendment METROPOLITAN
COUNCIL
February 3, 2025
Scott Richards, City Planner
City of Oak Park Heights
6431 Evergreen Court
Eden Prairie, MN 55346
RE: City of Oak Park Heights — Stagecoach Trail Land Use Comprehensive Plan Amendment—
Administrative Review
Metropolitan Council Review File No. 22079-3
Metropolitan Council District 11
Dear Scott Richards:
The Metropolitan Council received the City's Stagecoach Trail Land Use comprehensive plan
amendment on January 17, 2025. The amendment reguides 0.35 acres from Industrial to Transitional
Residential/Business. The parcel is located southwest of the intersection of State Highway 95 and State
Highway 36. The purpose of the amendment is to reconcile the parcel's land use with its current zoning to
position the site for future redevelopment.
Council staff finds the amendment meets the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Administrative Review
Guidelines adopted by the Council on November 30, 2022. The proposed amendment does not affect
official forecasts or the City's ability to accommodate its share of the region's affordable housing need.
Therefore, the Council will waive further review and action; and the City may place this amendment into
effect.
However, staff offers the following advisory comments for your consideration:
Parks (Colin Kelly, 651-602-1361)
A planned segment of the Middle St. Croix River Regional Trail is adjacent to the property. The
planned trail will be owned and operated by Washington County, the regional park implementing
agency for Oak Park Heights and all of Washington County. If the existing trail on the south side
of 60th Street North and west side of Stagecoach Trail North is extended south on the same side
of Stagecoach Trail, or if the future trail is located entirely within road right-of-way, there will be no
direct interaction with the subject parcel.
As such, the proposed land use change is unlikely to have an adverse impact on the Middle St.
Croix River Regional Trail nor will it have an impact on the Regional Parks and Trails system
more broadly; however, Metropolitan Council Parks and Trails staff encourage the City of Oak
Park Heights and any future developers of this site to coordinate with Washington County to
ensure there are no impacts to the future trail corridor.
Metropolitan Council(Regional Office&Environmental Services)
390 Robert Street North,Saint Paul,MN 55101-1805
P 651.602.1000 I F 651.602.1550 I TTY 651.291.0904
metrocouncil.org
An Equal Opportunity Employer
The amendment, explanatory materials, and the information submission form will be appended to the
City's Plan in the Council's files. If you have any questions regarding the review please contact
MacKenzie Young-Walters, Principal Reviewer, at 651-602-1373 or via email at mackenzie.younq-
waltersmetc.state.mn.us. As always, you can also contact your Sector Representative, Emma Dvorak,
at 651-602-1399 or via email at Emma.Dvorak(c�metc.state.mn.us.
Sincerely,
Angela R. Torres, AICP, Senior Manager
Local Planning Assistance
CC: Tod Sherman, Development Reviews Coordinator, MnDOT Metro
Gail Cederberg, Metropolitan Council District 11
Emma Dvorak, Sector Representative
MacKenzie Young-Walters, Principal Reviewer
Reviews Coordinator
N:1CommDevILPAICommunitieslOak Park Heights1LetterslOak Park Heights 2024 Stagecoach Trail Land Use CPA Admin Review 22079-3.docx
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