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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComprehensive Plan June 2001Heights TABLE OF CONTENTS Page COMMUNITY BACKGROUND .......................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 3 Housing Physical and Environmental Features ....................................................................... 3 Schools ....................................................................................................................... 3 Local Transportation ................................................................................................. 4 Municipal Utilities .................................................................................................... 4 Population, Households and Employment Projections ............................................. 5 Population ..................................................................................................... 5 Households .................................................................................................... 6 Employment .................................................................................................. 7 Planning Framework .................................................................................................. 8 Community Image Goals .............................................................................. 8 Land Use Goals ............................................................................................. 8 Housing Goals ............................................................................................... 9 Surface Water Management Goals ............................................................... 9 Historic Preservation Goal ............................................................................ 9 Energy Conservation Goals .......................................................................... 9 Transportation Goals ..................................................................................... 9 Aviation and Airports Goal ............................................................................ 10 Water Supply and Wastewater Goals ........................................................... 10 Park and Open Space Goals .......................................................................... 10 Economic De'velopment Goals ..................................................................... 10 Intergovernmental Cooperation Goal ........................................................... 10 LAND USE PLAN ................................................................................................... 11 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 11 Existing Land Use ..................................................................................................... 11 Community Image .................................................................................................... 13 Future Land Use ........................................................................................................ 14 Land Use Goals, PoliCies, and Implementation Strategies ....................................... 16 19 Future Land Use Designations ................................................................................. Low Density Residential ............................................................................... 19 Medium and High Density Residential ......................................................... 19 Commercial/Retail Developmem .................................................................. 20 20 Industrial Development ................................................................................. Mixed-Use Development .............................................................................. 20 Transit Oriented Mixed-Use District. ................................................ 22 Community Center Mixed-Use District ............................................ 22 Transitional Mixed-Use District ....................................................... 22 Design Alternatives ........................................................................... 23 Town Square ......................................................................... 25 Urban Green .......................................................................... 25 -i- T~LE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page HOUSING PLAN Introduction ............................................................................................................... 28 Life Cycle Housing Study ......................................................................................... 28 Housing Supply ............................................................................................. 28 Population Forecasts ..................................................................................... 30 Housing Needs .............................................................................................. 31 Housing Analysis and Inventory Summary .............................................................. 34 Median Income ............................................................................................. 34 Income Levels ............................................................................................... 35 Poverty ........................................................................................................... 36 Labor Force ................................................................................................... 37 Population and Household Composition ...................................................... 38 Housing Value .............................................................................................. 39 Age of Housing ............................................................................................. 41 Residential Building Permits ......................................................................... 42 Life Cycle Housing ....................................................................................... 43 Housing Quality Inventory ........................................................................... 43 Rental Inspection Process ............................................................................. 47 Housing Goals, Policies, and Implementation Strategies ......................................... 48 SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................................... 53 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 53 Climate .......................................................................................................... 53 Topography ................................................................................................... 53 Geology ......................................................................................................... 53 Land Use ........................................................................................................ 54 Six Cities Watershed Management Organizatmn Plan ............................................. 54 Rice Creek Watershed District Plan ......................................................................... 54 Columbia Heights Water Resource Management Plan ............................................. 55 Watersheds .................................................................................................... 55 Surface Water Resources ............................................................................... 55 Storm Water Storage and Conveyance Facilities .......................................... 57 Water Quantity Analysis ............................................................................... 57 Water Quantity Results and Problem Areas ................................................. 63 Recommended Water Quantity Improvements ............................................. 70 Water Quality Analysis ................................................................................. 73 Water Quality Results and Problem Areas ................................................... 74 Surface Water Management Goals, Policies, and Implementation Strategies .......... 76 HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN .................................................................. 84 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 84 Historic Preservation Goals, Policies and Implementation Strategies ...................... 85 ENERGY CONSERVATION PLAN .................................................................... 86 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 86 Energy Conservation Goal, Policies and Implementation Strategies ....................... 86 10. TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page TRANSPORTATION PLAN ................................................................................. 88 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 88 Existing Transportation Systems .............................................................................. 89 Highways and Streets .................................................................................... 89 89 Transit ........................................................................................................... Bicycle and Pedestrian System ..................................................................... 91 Future Transportation System ................................................................................... 93 Highway and Streets ..................................................................................... 93 Ftmcfional Class ................................................................................ 93 Roadway and Intersection Improvements ......................................... 95 Jurisdictional Transfers ..................................................................... 96 97 Transit ........................................................................................................... Bicycle and Pedestrian System ...................................................................... 100 Transportation Goals, Policies and Implementation Strategies ................................. 100 Funding Sources ......................................................................................................... 103 AVIATION AND AIRPORTS PLAN ................................................................... 105 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 105 Aviation and Airports Goal, Policies and Implementation Strategies ...................... 105 WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER PLAN ............................................... 106 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 106 Water Supply System ................................................................................................ 106 Water Supply ................................................................................................ 106 Water Distribution .................................................................................. 106 Private Wells .................................................................................................. 107 Wastewater (Sanitary Sewer) System ....................................................................... 107 Sewer Main ................................................................................................... 107 Lift Stations ................................................................................................... 108 Private Wastewater Treatment Systems ........................................................ 1 t 0 Water Supply and Wastewater Goals, Policies, and Implementation Strategies ...... 110 112 Funding Sources ........................................................................................................ PARK AND OPEN SPACE PLAN ....................................................................... 113 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 113 Historical Context ...................................................................................................... 113 Community Characteristics and Demogx'aphics ........................................................ t t 4 Inventory and Regional Significance ........................................................................ 114 Classification and Standards ..................................................................................... 117 117 Mini-Parks ..................................................................................................... Neighborhood Parks ...................................................................................... 117 Community Parks .......................................................................................... 117 Regional Parks .............................................................................................. 117 Historic Parks ................................................................................................ 118 - In - 13, TABLE OF CONTENTS (COntinued) Page Special Use .................................................................................................... 118 School Parks .................................................................................................. 1 t 8 Other: Churches and Colleges ...................................................................... 118 National Facility Standards ........................................................................................ 118 Needs Assessment Examination ............................................................................... 119 Recreation Demand Trends .............................................................................. 120 Conclusions and Major Findings .............................................................................. 122 122 Demographics ............................................................................................... 122 Land Developments ...................................................................................... Recreation and Facility Trends ..................................................................... 122 Trails and Pathways ...................................................................................... 122 Athletic Fields ............................................................................................... 123 Tennis Courts ................................................................................................ 123 Picnic Facilities ............................................................................................. 123 Wading Pools ............................................................................................... 123 Other Outdoor Facilities ............................................................................... 123 Indoor Facilities ............................................................................................ 123 Trail System ................................................................................................... 123 Park and Open Space Goals, Policies, and Inaplementation Strategies .................... 124 128 Funding Sources ........................................................................................................ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN ............................................................... 130 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 130 Strategic Pl~ng Process ......................................................................................... 130 ....... 131 Economic Development Authority ..................................................................... Business Base ............................................................................................................ 131 Funding Sources and Programs ................................................................................ 132 Tax Increment Financing .............................................................................. 132 Business Revolving Loan Fund .................................................................... 132 First Time Homebuyers Program .................................................................. 132 Anoka County Community Block Program ................................................. 133 Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Loan Program .................................... 133 Transit-Related Development Tax Incentives .............................................. 133 Economic Development Goals, Policies and Implementation Strategies ................. 133 INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION PLAN ........................................ 137 Introduction ............................................................................................................... t 37 hatergovemmental Cooperation Goal, Policies and Implementation Strategies ....... 137 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ................................................................................ 139 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 139 Office Controls .......................................................................................................... t 39 Zoning Ordinance .......................................................................................... t 39 Subdivision Ordinance .................................................................................. 141 Official Mapping ............................................................................................ 141 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page Housing Action Plan ................................................................................................. 141 Project-Specific Implementation Strategies .............................................................. 143 Capital Improvement Program .................................................................................. 144 Fiscal Tools ................................................................................................................ 145 Property Taxes .............................................................................................. 145 Special Assessments ..................................................................................... 145 User Fees ....................................................................................................... 145 Tax Increment Financing .............................................................................. 145 Action Plan ................................................................................................................ 145 Appendix A (Housing Goals Agreement) Appendix B (Consistency Information; Six Cities Watershed, Rice Creek Watershed) Appendix C (Capital Improvements Program 2000-2004) LIST OF T~LES Table 1-1 Table 1-2 Table 1-3 Table 1-4 Table 2-1 Table 2-2 T£ble 3-1 Table 3-2 Table 3-3 Table 3-4 Table 3-5 Table 3-6 Table 3-7 Table 3-8 T£t~le 3-9 Table 3-10 Table 3-11 Table 3-12 Table 3-13 Table 3-14 Table 3-15 Table 3-16 Table 4-1 Table 4-2 Table 4-3 Table 7-1 Table 7-2 Table 7-3 Table 9-1 Table 10-1 Table 10-2 Page Population, Household and Emplo3anent Projections ............................... 5 Population by Race and Hispanic Origin, 1980 to 1990 ........................... 6 Households and Families, 1980 to 1990 .................................................... 6 Employment by Sector, 1990 (Columbia Heights and Hilltop) ................. 7 Existing Land Use (In Acres) .................................................................... 11 - Future Land Use (In Acres) ....................................................................... 14 Housing Inventory by Housing Type, 1990 ............................................... 29 Affordable Housing Supply, 1990 ............................................................. 30 - Population by Age Group, 1980-2020 ....................................................... 31 Estimated Housing Needs by Population Group, 2020 ............................. 32 - Estimated Housing Needs by Housir~g Type, 2020 ................................... 33 - 2020 'Housing Ne;ds, as Co~npared tO; 1550 Housing Supply ................... 33 - Median Annual Income, 1990 .................................................................... 34 - Household Annual Income Level Percentages, 1990 ................................ 35 - Percent Below Poverty Level, I990 ........................................................... 36 Labor Force Conditions, 1990 ................................................................... 37 - Median Owner-Occupied Housing Values, 1990 ...................................... 39 - Owner-Occupied Housing Values,1990 .................................................... 40 - Age of Owner-Occupied Housing, 1990 ................................................... 41 - Residential Building Permits, 1990-1994 .................................................. 42 Windshield Survey ResUlts by Section, 1996 ............................................ 44 - Age and Type of Dwelling Units, 1990 ..................................................... 46 - Wetlands Inventory Summary .................................................................... 58 - Hydrological Analysis Summary .............................................................. 61 Comments of Hydrological/Hydraulic Data .............................................. 62 Demographic Assumptions by TAZ .......................................................... 88 - Transit Service Frequency ......................................................................... 91 Intersection Operations .............................................................................. 96 Population and Wastewater Flow Data, 2000-2020 .................................. 108 Existing Park Facilities Inventory- ............................................................... 116 - National Standards in Relation to Existing Facilities ................................. 119 LIST OF ~GU~S Figure 1-1 Figure 2-1 Figure 2-2 Figure 2-3 Figure 2-4 Figure 2-5 Figure 2-6 Figure 3-1 Figure 3-2 Figure 4-1 Figure 4-2 Figure 4-3 Figure 7-1 Figure 7-2 Figure 7-3 Figure 7-4 Figure %5 Figure 9-1 Figure 10-1 Page Location of Columbia Heights ................................................................ 2 Existing Land Use ................................................................................... 12 Future Land Use ...................................................................................... 15 Existing Commercial Areas .................................................................... 21 Livable Community Redevelopment Area .............................................. 24 Town Square Redevelopment Concept ................................................... 26 Urban Green 'Redevelopment Concept ................................................... 27 Housing Rental/Ownership Percentages, 1990 ....................................... 29 Housing Survey Districts ........................................................................ 45 - Major and Minor Subwatersheds ............................................................ 56 - Wetland Nventory Map .......................................................................... 59 - Storm Water Storage and Conveyance Facilities .................................... 60 90 -Traffic Volumes ...................................................................................... Existing Transit Routes ........................................................................... 92 - Functional Classification ........................................................................ 94 - Proposed Transit Hub ............................................................................. 98 - Proposed Transit Routes with Transit Hub ............................................. 99 Sanitary Sewer System ........................................................................... 109 Existing Park Locations .......................................................................... 115 - vii - COMMUNITY' BACKGROUND ~NTRODUCTJON The City of Columbia Heights is located directly north of Minneapolis in southern Anoka County (Figure 1-1). The area was first homesteaded in 1863 by John and Margaret SullNan. By the 1870s the area had a brick factory and stone quarry, although it remained primarily an agr/cultural area. When railroad tracks were laid from the Iron Range in Northern Minnesota and steel roller mills were built in the area in the early 1890s~ developers speculated that Columbia Heights would become the "Pittsburgh o f the West.' The steel industry was short- lived, with the mill burning down in 1898. Although other industries came to the area~ Columbia Heights was to develop primarily as a streetcar commuter commurfity. Significant growth and development in the area can be attributed to Thomas Lowry~ who platted 95 acres of land for residential development in 1893. Throughout this early period, Lowry promoted the communky as a streetcar subm'b of Minneapolis to be served by his Central Avenue Electric Car Line and Electric Street Railroad. By 1895~ Lowry was soliciting retailers to the area to create a commercial area. Columbia Heights formally separated from Fridley Township and incorporated as a Village on March 4. 1898. The name of the new community was decided by a contest. The first CiW Charter was adopted in July 1921 and the Councib Manager form of government was established at that time. Columbia Heights grew slowly through the 1930s and 1940s. During the post-World War II growth spurt of the 1950s~ the population more than doubled and additional land was annexed to accommodate the growth. The population of Columbia Heights continued to grow' steadily during the 1960s~ reaching a population of23~999 by 1970. Like many first-ring suburbs~ this growth trend reversed and Columbia Heights experienced population declines in the 1970s and 1980s. The population of Anoka County increased by 57percent between 1970 and 1990; however~ during this same time period, the population of Columbia Heights decreased by 21 percent. This geographic shift in population from the central cities and inner-ring suburbs to outer-ring suburbs has been demonstrated across the country and is expected to be the dominant trend into the near ~.tture. The 1998 estimated population of Columbia Heights was 18~699 and the esnmated number of households was 7,806. Three transk lines and direct access to the regional highway system provide good mobility for both people and goods and establish Columbia Heights as an important link between the City of Minneapolis and greater Anoka County. While the majority of the community is made up of single family housing~ an increasing number of affordable and market rate rental housing units in multiple-family structures are increasing the diversity of housing opportunities. Commercial activity is concentrated along Central and University Avenues. w~th Central Avenue representing the City's most active commercial area. oka Washi~! Carve~~ Scott Dakota~ The current image of Columbia HeightS is strongly influenced by its proximity to Minneapolis. Accessibility, convenient and adequate public services, good schools and diversified housing all contribute positively to the image of Columbia Heights. An aging housing stock, migration of younger families to the outer sUburbs and the need fbr redevelopment of residential, commercial and industrial areas negatively affect the image of Columbia Heights. Through the development and implementation of this Comprehensive P1an, Cal~bia Heights will establish a proactive strategy to maintain and enhanCe the pOSitive elements of the City while working to strengthen other aspects of the community. This requires an aggressive redevelopment strategy, further diversification of housing oPPommities and the continued enCOuragement of public involvement in initiatives to move the City forward. HOUSING The current housing stock within Columbia Heights is daminated by single-family residential str, actures. Of the 7,975 total housing units in 1990, approximately 64 pement (5,133 units) were single-family detached structures. The medimn value for owner-occupied units in 1990 was $73~600 and the median contract rent was $465. Less than three percent of all residential mits were vacant in 1990. Approximately 20;pement of the owner-occupied housing stock ,sas built before 1940 and 65 percent of the stock was built before 1960. In comparison to Columbia Heights, the housing stock in the majority Of the surrounding commurfities is much newer. The age of the cu~ent housing stock raises Some concern w~th regard to maintenance and lifecycle functionality, although reSidential stint--es are in good condition overall. The City will strive to maintain the stren~ of its housing stock by increasing the supply and diversity of residential opportunities, including iifb~cycle housing, move-up housing and safe and affordable rental housing. PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES The City of Columbia Heights is a relatively comPact community of 3.4 square miles (2,181 acres). Due to the level of urban scale development within the City~, environmental features are limited to isolated wetl~ds, sm-face waters and adjoining vegetation. Five significant surface water bodies are present within the City: Sullivan Lake, Hart Lake~ Labelle Pon& Highland Lake and Silver L~e. While each ~fthe five lakes is surrounded by residential development~ all have public access, parkland ~&/or Ci~,o~ed property along a portion of their shoreline. Existing parkland within the City is closely tied to environmental feamres~ and the community maintains a significant system of parks a2ad public spaces to accommodate the needs of its citizens. SCHOOLS Columbia Heights is located within Independent school District 13, which includes Columbia Heights~ Hilltop and the southern portion of FridleY: The district is about six miles square and contains three elementary schools (K-5), a middle school (6-8) and a high school (9-12). These schools include Highland Elementary School (1500 49thAvenue NE), North Park Elementary School (5575 Fillmore Street NE), Valley View Elementary School (800 - 49th Avenue NE), Central Middle School (900 - 49th;Avenue NE), and Columbia Heights High School (1400 - 49th Avenue NE). The administratiOn offices are located in the high school, and approximately 350 persons are employed by the School District. Enrollment has remained relatively constant for the past few' years, with an enrollment of 2,975 students for the 1999-2000 academic year. There is one K-8 private school located within the cO~ity (Immaculate Conception School, 4053 Quincy Street NE)~ NEI College of TechnOlogy (825 - 41st Street NE), a private non- profit technical school, is also located within the cormm~ty. LOCAL T~NSPOP, TAT~ON Two major State Highways (TH 65, Cemral Avenue andTH 47 - University Avenue) run north and south through the community-. During rush hour an_d other peak period travel times both Universit5~ and Central Avenues have considerable congestion. In addition to the 4.74 miles of State highways, the City maintains one mile of County roadway, 10.41 miles of Municipal State Aid (MSA) streets, 68.3 rniles of municipal streets and ~8.56 miles of alleyways throughout the community. The local street pattern brews ~orn the traditional grid pattern in the northeastern portion of the City where a more suburban street pattern of winding streets and cut-de-sacs has been introduced. The ~ique aligment °f ReserVoi~ B°Ulev~d, resulting frorn the underlying streetcar lines, also changes the character of the local ~ransponation system within the southeast and central portions of the City. Columbia Heights maintains easy access to Minneapolis and the surrounding rnetropolitan area with three transit lines providing express and general service to downtown as well as access to 1-694. ~UN]C~PAL UTiLiTiES The City~ of Columbia Heights operates its own muniCip~ water system. All of its treated water is purchased by contract from the City of MinneapOlis; whose present source of supply is the Mississippi River. Water quality meets all requirements of the federal Clean Water Act and is considered very soft. A major water improvement Project in 1970 stabilized water pressure and provided excellent fire flow'. In 1984, neTM water sYstemCOntrols were installed which provided for the continual monitoring of all system facilities and equipment. The City also operates and maintains sanitary' and st°rm sewer collection systems. Storm water is collected throughout the community and eventU~ly d~Scharges to the Mississippi River. Sanitary sewer is collected through the City-maintained sYStem and treated by the Metropolitan system. POPULATION, HOUSEHOLDS AND EN~PLOYMENT PROJECTIONS The Twin Cities Metropolitan Area is expected to add 320,000 households by the yem~ 2020, which represent a 25 percent growth rate over the 25-year period from 1995 to 2020. According to the Metropolitan Council. the population of Columbia Heights is projected to grow slightly over the next 20 years, reaching a population 19.500 with 8,200 households by 2020. Employment is also projected to increase to 6,300 jobs by 2020. The Metropolitan. Council's projections for population, households, and employment through 2020 are located in Table 1-1. TABLE 1-1 POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD AND EMPLOYMENT PROJECT)ONS Population Households Employment 199O (census) 18,910 7,766 4,53_6 ,ource: Metropolitan Council 199~~ (estimate) (projection) 7,806 7,850 5,640 '-- 6,000 2010 2020 (prQection) (prQection) 18,900 19,500 8;000 8,200 6, t00 6,300 Since Columbia Heights is a fully developed communi~', this projected increase in population and households will need to be accommodated through redevelopment efforts and the possible re-subdivision of oversized residential lots~ Further discussion of housing and the accommodation of future population will be discussed in greater detail in the land use and housing sections of this document. POPULATION Recent Census data indicates that older residents are ret~ing to inner ring suburbs in order to gain access to convenient public services, aff0rdable housing and cultural amenities that are only available in an urban environment, tn Columbia Heights, the number of individuals over the age of 65 increased 46 percent between i980 and 1990. If this trend continues or increases, inner-ring communities like Columbia Heights may find greater demand for residential living arrangements appropriate for empty nesters and Older hoUSehOlds with ~%w children. While the populatiOn of Columbia Heights is predominantly white, the community has experienced increases in the number of residents from nOn,white groups over the last ten years. Table 1-2 dernonstrates the racial comPosition and change of COlumbia Heights' residents from 1980 to 1990. 5~ TABLE 1-2 POPULATION BY RACE AND HISPAN~C OR)G~N, i980 TO i990 White African American American Indian Asian 1980 19,588 30 116 212 Percent of Total Population 97.8% 141 .15% .58% 1.I% ........... _ 18,086 227 21o Percent of Total Population 95.6% 1.2% Percent Growth 1980 -1990 -8% 657% 1.1% 81% 270 1.4% 27% Other Races 83 .44% 162 .62% 95% Hispanic Origin .7% 1.4% 93% Source: 1990 U.S. Census 273 HOUSEHOLDS In the last two decades, across the country and within the Twin Cities metropolitan area, household composition has been changing. A comparison of 1980 and 1990 Census data on households in Columbia Heights is shown in Table 1-3. TABLE 1-3 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES, 1980 TO 1990 Families Family Size Households Household size Households. 1 person. 1980 5,433 3.24 7,343 1990 5,215 2.94 7,766 2.71 2.42 I',606 2,131 Households, Married Couples -No Children ~ ' 2,39~5 HousehOlds, Married Couples - With Cfi~l~dren ~ 2,293 Single Mal~ Head, ~,;~;i~-Own Children~- }Ii- 65 ~ Fe_ ~ mile Head, with Own Childr~-- ,.. T' 3~3 ;ource: I990 U.S, Census Change -4% ~9% 6% -11% 33% 2,492 4% 1,577 -31% 148 t28% 892 i 146% While the numbers of families decreased by four percenL the number of households increased by six percent. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this change is due to the increased growth in non-traditional households, single-parent and singledndividual households and empty nesters. This increase in non-tradition households is apparent in Columbia Heights. From I980 to 1990, the number of one-person households, married couple households with no children, and single parent households have increased, while the number of married couple households with children have decreased. The number of families and the size of families also decreased in this ten-year period. 6 These trends raise two issues for Columbia Heights that need to be addressed by the City. First, the aging population will increase the demand for housing that is conveniently located, well served by public services, has minimum maintenance requirements and is affordable. Secondly, the City must strive to attract and maintain traditional families by providing move-up housing opportunities and by strengthening the image and availability of single-family detached housing tNroughout the community. EMPLOYMENT The 1990 Census indicates that the majority of jobs in COlumbia Heights are within the retail trade and services industries (Table 1,4), The Metr°pOli~an Council!s employment projections, which project a 12 percent increase in employment in Celmbia Heights by 2020, are based on the assumptions of a slower overall growth rate and a greater diversification of the metropolitma area job market. These factors will Iead to a greater Concentration of employment opportunities in low-paying industries and outlying areas. Other key assumptions in employment trends that could affect Columbia Heights include the following: Fewer new workers will enter the labor force each year, causing labor shortages in some occupations. The work force will become more diverse, with fewer 'white males and more women and minorities. Employment will grow fastest in low-paying service and retail trade industries. Growth occupations will include the high-paying Professional/technical and the low-paying service categories. Household incomes will continue to increase; ;however, the income differential between higher and low'er-income families will also increase; TABLE 14 E~PLOY~ENT BY sEcTOR, 1990 (COLU~BIA HEIGHTS AND HILLTOP) Sector Manufacturing Construction Transportati°n & Utilities ~qaolesale Trade Retail Trade JObs 63 -'~91 32 1 ~ 9~ 1;592 72i7 Percent 12% 7% 1% 4% 3O% Finance, insurance & Real EState 4% Services ~ li500 29% Government 13% Total Source: Metropolitan Council 685 ~5;241 100% 7 PLANNING FRAMEWORK The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning agency for the seven-county metropolitan region. In order to coordinate development within the region through the year 2040, the Council has developed the Regional Blueprint. This Blueprint includes goals, policies and action steps that are to be used as a framework for communities in the development of individual comprehensive plans. All comm~ities 'within the region, including the City of Columbia Heights, are required to develop comprehensive plans that conform to the regional goals found in the Regional Blueprint. The Comprehensive Plan fbr Col~bia Heights sets a baseline for development redevelopment, and se~es as a guide doCument for decision-makers fbr the next 20 years. Plan includes Goals, POlicies and ImplementatiOn S~ategies for eaCh plan element. and The The Goal statements are designed to focus on the major issues that have been raised during the work wkh the Planning Advisory Co~ittee ~d PUblic participation components of the planning process. Goal statements are broadly worded, highlighting the primary value or establishing the vision, Polio' statements help to define the goals in ~!real world" terms and are typically stated as official positions on particular issues. Implementation Strategies will co--only direct a specific course of action that responds to and works to support the official poSition stated bY Policy The Strategies define activities that the City may initiate or continue t© achieve the Goal statements. The follow4ng goals outline the vision for COlumbia Heights through 2020 and will be elaborated upon with corresponding policies and imPlementatiOn strategies within each element of this plan. COMMUNITY IMAGE GOALS 1. Establish and maintain a strong sense of corranUnity. Strengthen the image of the commmqity as a desirable place to live and work. LAND USE GOALS 1. Preserve and enhance the eXisting viable cormmercial areas within the community. 2. Provide opportunities and mechanisms for sUCcessful redevelopment of targeted areas within the community. 3. Advocate high quality development and redeVetoprnent within the community. 8 HOUSING GOALS Provide a var/et), of life-cycle housing opportunities within the commurfity. Advocate housing efforts that attract and retain residents, especially young families. Promote and preserve the single-fkrnily housing stock as the community's strongest asset. Strengthen areas of commercial and civic activity by introducing complementary housing development. Support high quality housing development and redevelopment projects. SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT GOALS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Control flooding and minimize public capital expenditures. Achieve water quality standards consistent with the intended use and classification. Protect and enhance water recreational fhcilities, fish and wildlife habitat. Promote ground water recharge and prevent contamination of. aquifers. Maintain the amount of wetland acreage an&try to increase the wetland values. Prevent soil erosion. Recognize the regulatory authority of other local, state, and federal entities. Equitably finance water resources. HISTORIC PRESERVATION GOAL l. Preserve and maintain the community's unique ~storical and cultural elements. ENERGY CONSERVATION GOALS 1. Guarantee access to direct sunlight for solar energY systems. 2. Promote energy conservation throughout the C°~unity. TRANSPORTATION GOALS Increase pedestrian and bicycle safety in residential neighborhoods. 2. Manage and maintain the investment in the e×~sting roadway system. 9 Embrace transit as a means to improve the livability and diversity of Columbia Heights. Provide for safe and efficient alternative modes of transportation. AVIATION AND AIRPORTS GOAL -1. Ensure local land uses do not conflict with the operation of aviation facilities. WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER GOALS 1. Maintain a high quality and reliable water supPlY and distribution system. 2. Maintain a high quality and reliable sanitary sewer system. PARK 1. AND OPEN SPACE GOALS Promote parks and trails as essential elements of a broader strategy to provide fiscal strength; encourage private economic groWth~ improve corrgnunity image and enhance the quality of life in Columbia Heights. Encourage the development and maintenance of a Unified park system and cooperative recreational programs. Provide for a safe, flexible and attractiVe park and open space system based on community characteristics, changing demograPhics and overall needs. Fund park and recreation facilities in an effective and equitable manner. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS Enhance the economic viability of the co~~, Promote reinvestment in propertieS by the corrgnerCial and industrial sectors. Provide a wide variety of emploYment opporO&,-~itieS within the community. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION GOAL 1. SuppOrt intergovernmental efforts that benefit the commtmity. 10 INTRODUCTION The Land Use Plan is a general guide to physical development and redevelopment within the City of Columbia Heights. Since Columbia Hexghts is a fully developed urban community with a limited amount of vacant land. growth and development will consist primarily of redevelopment and reuse of existing parcels. Redevelopment will provide significant opportunities to the residents of Columbia Heights to improve and strengthen the community by increasing the tax base, enhancing the community's image and creating a coherent physical pattern. There are many areas within the City that demonstrate strong redevelopment potential. Deciding how developed areas within the commmnity should evolve and prioritizing, potential areas of redevelopment are the primary objectives of the land use plan. The future land use in Columbia Heights should be guided in a manner that addresses issues of declining young populations, increasing elderly populations, ongoing maintenance and upgrades to infrastructure, providing adequate and diverse housing opportunities, and encouraging economic growth and redevelopment initiatives. EX~STING LAND USE The existing pattern of land use is illustrated in Figure 2~t and demonstrates a typical first-ring mature urban community'. Areas of single-f~nily housing are the dominant land use in the community and create many identifiable residential neighborhoods. Pockets of medium-density and high-density residential development are also present throughout the community and add diversity to the City's residential pattern, Commercial development is located primarily along the Central Avenue and University Avenue corridors, and industrial devel,opment is concentrated in the southwest corner of the City. Table 2-1 provides a breakdown of land uses within the City and provides acreage for each category for 1970. 1980. 1990 and 1999. TABLE 2-'! EXISTING LAND USE {iN ACRES} RESIDENTIAL Single:Family Multifamily COMMERC [AL INDUSTRIAL PUBLIC & RECREATION Public and semipublic 1970 1,528 141 77 325 1980 - t,451 326 1990 1.526 1999 1.422 1,017 104 165 168 127 109 91 322 197 188 80 117 Recreati0~/Parks i i lr58 - 134 "HIGHWAys ........ 1 31 -- 31 LAKES a STREAMS I 57 .17 57 '" 57 -~'ACANT/NONURBANIZ El5 } 1 I2 35 5OTA[ ..... 2.248 Source: Metropolit~ Council: S~ Consulting Group, inc. 'As a result of limitations ro the GIS database, highways include all City Right-of-Way ~*Disparitms in total acres result ~om improvements in technology ~GIS) and me~uring accuracy 518' 57 9 2,181'* CO~UN~TY ]~AG~ A positive community image is derived from a number of elements including the physical features of the community, available services and overall economic stability. Efforts to enhance the image of Columbia Heights need to build on the positive aspects of tl~e community - good schools, strong residential neighborhoods and equal accessibility to public services ~ while mirdmizing and improving upon the negative aspects - perceived levels of crime, an aging housing stock and declining population. With the appropriate land use designations, redevelopment strategies, and public relations efforts, the physical environment as well as the image of the community can be improved. The following cormmunity image goals reflect public comments received during meetings held in preparation of t~he Comprehensive Plan. Each goal includes numbered policies and bulleted implementation strategies that correspond to each of the policies. Goal: Establish and maintain a strong sense o_f community. 1. Increase public awareness of the strengths and unique qualities of Columbia Heights. The City will establish a public relations campaign to promote the high quality public schools~ available residential opportunities, transit connections, community pride and other strengths of the community. 2. Encourage public involvement in alt aspects of community life. The City will actively pursue the input of local residents in proposed development and redevelopment projects. 3. Enhance the physical and social fabric of the community. The City will identify significant emrances into the community and develop appropriate entry signage for these areas. The City will identify appropriate areas tt%¥oughout the community for the display of public art. The City wilI support and participate in activities that enhance community pride and spirit. The City will support the development of a m~xed-use downtown/civic core, including the Community Center and core downtown, that provides a focal point for the community. Goal: Stren~hen the image of the community as a desirable place to live and work. 1. Undertake eftbrts to attract and retain young families and couples. The City will publicize the affordabitity of single family residences within the community. 13 Improve the image of commercial areas as friendly and safe environments for residents and visitors. The City will support redevelopment and enhancement conunercial areas, create a unified image, and provide neighborhoods. efforts that strengthen pedestrian linkages to Enhance the physical appearance of the co--unity. The City will support streetscaping effo~s t~oughout the cormmmnity, especially along primary corridors. The City will work cooperatively ,Mth the City of Hilltop to address issues of physical appearance for shared elements O£the two comm~ties. FUTURE LAND USE The plan fbr future land use will guide development and redevelopment in the community through 2020, while retaining those aspects that m~e Columbia Heights a diverse and livable community. By designating specific land uses tkroUghout the community, the plan will enhances the image of the community Md provides a Comprehensive redevelopment strategy. The plan provides for an appropriate mix of residential, ;commercial, industrial and recreational uses within the community; minimizes land use c0nfliC~s; provides for the juxtaposition of complementary' uses; and designates specific areas for mdevet°pment. Figure 2-2 illustrates the future land use designations for the City of Columbia Heights through 2020. Table 2-2 provides a breakdown of furore land uses within the City based on these land use designations. TABLE 2-2 FUTURE LAND USE (iN ACRES) RESIDENTIAL Low Densit':/ 1,023 Medium Density ~ High Density' - _ COMmeRcIAL ""~ 102 ML~D-USE DEVELOPMENT 79 LND " 90 PUBLIC & RECREATION i-~T- Public and semiPu%tic ~ Recreation)~'~Tg's 119 HIGHWAYS ...... 51 ~'-~' LAKE~'-~ STREAMS 57 --" VACANT/NONURBANLZED ~ ~" TOTAL -- ~, '- 2~18 [ *Source: City of Columbia Heights GIS Database 14 Cib of COLUMBUS HEIGHTS COMMUnITy DEVELOPM~N ~ FIGURE 2-2, FUTURE LAND U S E M A P LEGEND Future Land Use: ^~ % of To~l: ~ H~h E~dtv~d~ti~ ~_~0 3.81% ~ [mii~ior~ ' ~A91 ~ ~m~ ~k026 ~ T~im~ Dcs*~t 10.675 046% I23.4~g 5.31% i~-City TOTALS: 2323.443 0 Rcde'~x:lo~c-at ~ LAND USE GOALS, POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES The following land use goals reflect public comments received during meetings held in preparation of the Comprehensive Plan. Each goat includes numbered policies and bulleted implementation strategies that correspond to each of the policies. Goal: Preser,,e and enhance the existing viable commercial areas within the community. i. Encourage the continuation and enhancement of existing commercial development within the community. The City will facilitate the enhancement and partial redevelopment of the University Avenue and Central Avenue corridors in a manner that is compatible with and supportive of transit and transit-related land use patterns. The City wilt support efforts to revitalize 40th Avenue between University, and Central to ensure its lasting success as pm~ of a mixed-use downtown/civic core. The City will support efforts to sustain and enhance the commercial district at 37th Avenue and Stinson Boulevard. The City' will support efforts to strengthen the economic viability of the downtown core (40th and Central Avenue). The CiD' will explore the feasibility of creating additional commercial retail areas based on land use specialization, including "big box" and pedestrian oriented development types. Promote non-motorized linkages between neighborhoods and commercial areas, as well as within commercial areas. The City will develop a detailed pedestr/ax~ and bicycle circulation plan that provides connections between commercial areas, neighborhoods and community' parks throughout the community. The City will study the possibility' of creating a bicycle route along the Central Avenue corridor, the University Avenue corridor, and the 40th Avenue corridor. The City will enhance pedestrian walkways along the Central Avenue corridor, the University Avenue corridor, and the 40t& Avenue corridor to increase safety and improve pedestrian circulation and access. The City will develop a uniform, pedestrian-oriented signage plan for the Community Center area. The City witl identify funding sources fbr the development of non-motorized linkages in the City's capital improvement program (CIP). 16 Goal: Provide opportunities and mechanisms for SUccessfM redevelopment o_f targeted areas within the community. Enhance the image and viability of the Central Avenue corridor, while protecting and enhancing adjacent residential uses. The City will develop a district plan to facilitate the redevelopment of the Central Avenue corridor, especially the dovmtov~m area located at the 40th Avenue/Central Avenue commercial node. The City will support redevelopment and streetscaping efforts that strengthen the Central Avenue commercial corridor by creating a unified image, pedestrian linkages, and improved physical appearance. The City will promote efforts to create a fiSendlier and safer downtown environment for both residents and visitors. The City wilt encourage the development of high-density residential near commercial nodes along the corridor in order to increase pedestrian and commercial activity. Improve the quality of the southwest industrial area. The City will proactively promote redevelopment efforts in this industrial area to enhance tax capacity. The City will promote the creation of higher wage jobs in this area. The City will identify a redevelopment strategy for this area as part of its economic development plan and program. The City will identify funding sources for redevelopment in this area, such as tax increment financing (TIF), Deparrmem of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) Redevelopment Grants, and Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Demonstration Account funds. The City will enhance the infrastructure in this area in order to encourage development and redevelopment. The City will identify potential brownfield sites within this area for mitigation and redevelopment. The City will encourage the elimination of land use conflicts on the edge of the industrial area. The City, through its economic development efforts, wilt attempt to attract new and innovative industrial uses to this area. 17 3. Create a unified downtown/civic core that provides a focal point for the City. The City will prepare a district plan for the Community Center complex that incorporates Huset Park, local government facilities, cormmunity facilities, and links the area with commercial and residentia} opportunities along the 40th Avenue and Central Avenue corridors. The City will provide opporttmities fbr new commercial and retail establishments that support the community's focal point, such as cafe and/or outdoor restaurant development. The City will identify funding sources for the City's portion of the Community Center development in the City's capital improvements program (CIP). 4. Revitalize the 40th Avenue corridor between Central Avenue and University Avenue. The City wit1 develop a district plan tc facilitate the redevelopment of the 40th Avenue corridor. The Citv will support the creation of a mixed-use development district with opportunities for small-scale retail, services and a diversity of housing types along this corridor. Enhance the image and viability of the University Avenue corridor, while providing opportunities for transit-related uses. The City will develop a district plan to facilitate the redevelopment of the University Avenue corridor. The City will formalize landscape screemng along the corridor to provide emhanced visual appearance and noise mitigation. The City will support efforts to construct a light rail transit route along the University Avenue corridor and identi~' opportunities for high density residential development near transit stations. 6. Remove regulatory banSers to redevelopmem within the community. The City will identify problematic and/or inconsistent sections within the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. The City will update the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations to create flexibility, encourage redevelopment, and bring zoning designation into compliance with the land use designations in the comprehensive plan. 18 Goal: Advocate high quality development and redevelopment within the community. 1. Utilize effective perfbrmance standards for ~l redevelopment and expansion projects. The City wSll mmend the zoning ordinance to include performance standards that: require screening of parking lots and loading facilities with plantings and/or earthen berms; require a minimum area of landscape islands within parking lots; establish maximum impervious surface requirements; require design review for structural renovations; establish architectural design standards for new construction and renovation; and promote uniformity and creativity in sign desi gn. FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATIONS The majority of the City will remain as low density residential land uses, with areas of medium and high density' residential intermixed where these uses currently exist or where higher densities are proposed in conjunction with transit oriented development. University and Central Avenues will remain the retail/commercial focus of the community and industrial development will continue to be located primarily in the southwest comer of the cornmunity. Redevelopment strategies include promoting in-fill development on scattered vacant tots. creating mixed-use development districts, strengthening the economic viability of the southwest industrial area and creating a new Community Center. It is hoped that these strategies will strengthen and promote the sense of community. LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL Low-density residential development, including single-family detached and single-family attached (twin-homes), will remain the primao~ land use in Columbia Heights. The City will remain dedicated to single-family residential development and provide targeted redevelopment opportunities for private residents. Redevelopment of scattered vacant parcels into low density residential development will continue where appropriate, and homeowners will have increased opportunities to enhance and upgrade their properties through financial assistance and guidance from the City. These actions will strengthen existing neighborhoods and create new neighborhood coalitions throughout the communit% MEDIUM AND HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL Opportunities to provide medium-density- and high-density residential development projects exist in many areas of the community. The best locations for these types of development are those areas that can benefit from the additional pedestrian traffic generated by higher density residential uses. The City has identified areas along the Central Avenue corridor, the University. Avenue corridor, and the 40th Avenue corridor as prime locations for future medium-density and high-density residential development and redevelopment. These areas provide the best opportunities ibr higher density living because they are near transit linkages and will have a beneficial effect on new commercial/retail uses to be developed as part of the City's overall redevelopment strategy. t9 COMMERCIAL/RETAiL DEVELOPMENT The commercial/retail core of Columbia Heights wilt remain at the intersection of Central and 40th Avenues. This area is the historic downtown of the City, remains a viable commercial node today and will continue to be the focus of Columbia Heights into the foreseeable future. Metro Transit is constructing a transit hub near the intersection of Central and 41 st Avenues, which wSll enhance the viability of tttis area. Other issues that wili need to be addressed to ensure the long-term stability- of this area include the infusion of new capital and commitment to commercial/retail development and redevelopment of the area. Specific strategies to enhance the commercial/retail core and provide a coherent redevelopment strategy for the downtown area will need to include the creation of a coalition of business leaders and local decision- makers. The City will need to actively engage the business community to identify merchant needs, aid in the recruitmem of new businesses that will enhance the health and vitality of the area and to develop a detailed strategy to address those needs. The improvement of both the physical conditions of the downtown (i.e., streetscaping and improving signing and visibility) and the economic vitality (i.e., marketing) will be required. Through the implementation of these initiatives and targeted financial aid, the commercial/retail core of the City can be enhanced, remain economically viable and continue to represent the center of the Columbia Heights Business District. Figure 2-3 shows the location of other existing commercial areas along University and Central Avenues that will remain primarily commercial/retail. iNDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT Industrial land use will continue to be concentrated in the southwest comer of the City, which currently has a mix of light and heaD' industrial development. Steel and scrap metal processing represent the primary anchor, while recent redevelopment and growth in new technologies has allowed the diversification of this area. New mchnologies representing light industrial development have also created some incongrttities and potential conflicts in the area. As a result, future redevelopment and growth initiatives in the area will need to fbcus on creating a coherent pattern of industrial development that minimizes the juxtaposition of light and heavy industrial development while maximizing the divers~t5 of the entire area. This will be achieved by developing a detailed and comprehensive strategy for the area and prioritizing the industrial needs and growth of the community. This comprehensive strategy will need to focus on the fbltowing issues: optimization of current industrial uses; enhancement of City infrastructure; mitigation and redevelopment o f potential brownfield sims; elirnination of land use conflicts on the edge of the industhal area; and attraction of new and innovative industrial uses. MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT Several new mixed-use development districts will be created in order to facilitate redevelopment and enhancement efforts in targeted areas of the community. These mixed-use development districts include several areas oriented to transit, one area dedicated to the creation of an expanded Community Center and one transitional area between the Community Center 2O December 1999 N 2 0 2 4 Miles E x i S ting C om m erc i ai Are a s columbia Heights Comprehensive Plan FIGURE 2-3 and the dov, mtown commercial core (the 40th Avenue/Central Avenue commercial node). These mixed-use development districts will provide increased pedestrian copmections and opportunities for alternative transportation modes, while also improving the physical appearance of the City. Transit Oriented Mixed-Use District Transit-oriented development will occur in areas along existing transit routes. Three locations are currently proposed along the University Avenue corridor and two areas are proposed along the Central Avenue corridor. Each mixed-use area will focus on the commuting needs of Columbia Heights residents. As a result, a higher percentage of service-oriented commercial/retail development will be necessary- with high-density residential development providing the balance of the development. Mixed~use pedestrian-oriented development near transit nodes will provide new opportunities for high-density residential and neighborhood commercial development. Redevelopment of these areas will also provide the opportunity for pedestrian linkages to other parts of the community and improvement of the overall non- motorized circulation system within the community that will help to improve the image of Columbia Heights. Community Center Mixed-Use District The area surrounding the Commun/ry Center facility is located near. the existing City' Hall and other City offices. The current land uses in the area are residential, institutional and commercial/retail. The redevelopment strategy is to unify the area through the creation of pedestrian-scaled mixed-use development. The area will focus commercial/retail services at the neighborhood level that could potentially include barbershops, hardware stores, small eateries and other service-oriented activities. The intent of' this redevelopment area is to provide a setting for medium-density to high, density residential development, a service-oriented corrnmerciaI/retail theme and a centralized neighborhood location. Successful redevelopment of this area wilt provide an opportuniU- to strengthen the communit7 focus by creating a centralized public space, a gathering place adjacent to Huset Park. and a proposed Community Center that will be a focal point for the community. Transit~ona~ Mixed-Use District A transitional district along 40th Avenue will connect the existing dowmtown central business district (Central and 40th Avenue) with the proposed Community Center. Development of this area will focus on strengthening the residential character of 40th Avenue and allow for opportunities of neighborhood retail/commercial activity. Cormmercial/retail development will consist of a mix of neighborhood sere'ice-oriented development and varying densities of residential development will be the focus of this area. These uses will enihance the pedestrian scale and connection between the two redevelopment areas. Streetscaping and amenities will be used to provide a pedestrian focus and strengthen the linkages between City services at the Commmnitv Center and the core retail district of the City at the 40th Avenue/Central Avenue commercial node. 22 Design Alternatives Conceptual design schemes of the mixed-use areas were developed by the Minnesota Design Team during a visit to Columbia Heights April 30 -1May 3, 1998. These original effbrts provided a general range of alternatives as to how specific target areas within the conmmnity could be redeveloped. These concept ideas were Amber refined during the City's Livable Commumty Demonstration Grant process. The Livable Community Grant process involved the public, business leaders, City staff and consultants in an effort to strengthen and provide design alternatives for the target area between Mill Street and Central Avenue along 40th Avenue, and a core downtown area between 39th and 41 st Avenues along Central Avenue, extending west to Quincy Avenue (Figure 2-4). This process identified the following objectives: Create a comrnunity center that serves as the City's focal point, and connects civic facilities to the traditional downtown commercial center. Encourage development that is compatible with the traditional downtown character in building scale, siting and materials. Improve the vitality and appearance of key dowTltown streets, within the public right-of- way; especially Central Avenue, 40th Avenue and 41 st Avenue. Plan for the phasing in of mixed-use and smalbsite devetopmem that responds to the current development market and community needs. Provide enhanced medium and high-densi¢' housing opportunities, which in mm will support downtown businesses. Improve pedestrian and bicvcle links between neighborhoods, parks, transit stops and dovmtown businesses. Promote a vision for downtown that is cost-effective and realistic. Build public/private partnerships that support positive revitalization efforts. Cooperate with existing businesses and property owners to mitigate the impacts of relocations and construction. Provide for improved visibility, accessibility and security in both new and existing parking facilities in pedestrian areas. Enhance the quality of downtown streets and parks through improved maintenance practices and Iow-maintenance design strategies. 23 0~>~ From the list of objectives and public workshop input, three design alternatives were developed. These alternatives included a Civic Center, Urban Green and Town Square. Through another public open house process the three alternatives were furt&er refined into two final alternatives that will be presented to the public and City Cotmcil. The final two alternatives represent a combination of the strongest elements of the initial alternatives as determined by the Task Force, City Staff and the consultants. The final concepts, called Town Square and Urban Green, both address the objectives established for the project, and each represents a V~ation in emphasis for the image of the downtowT~/civic core of Columbia Heights. Town Square The Town Square alternative provides a central p~k se~ing and forms a traditional civic campus near the core downtown (FigUre 2-5). The key design elements of the Town Square include: Civic and institutional facilities connected via P~ks and landscaped streets Civic core linked to primary commercial core Lower intensity land use along 40th Avenue Special housing opportunities with civic / co~ercial proximity- Urban Green The Urban Green provides a design concept of a commupJty greenway and provides connections from this green space along landscaped condors to 40th and Central Avenue. The Urban Green concept also sets civic facilities ,with addki°nal green space on the Central Avenue corridor (Figure 2-6). The key design elements of the Urban Green concept include: Urban Green com~ects parks to commercial center Civic presence at Central Avenue Gateway Civic facilities linked to cormmercial businesses on Central Avenue Minimal impact on Huset Par}: faci!kies Medium intensity development on 40*& Avenue 25 © ~NTRODUCTION Ensuring adequate housing opportunities are available for future residents of Columbia Heights requires a complete inventory of existing housing stockand an understanding of future housing demand. With these two elements understood, the COmmunity can develop goals, policies and implementation strategies to guide future housing decisions. This Plan, which includes a compilation of the infbrmation contained in Ho~'~Sing Analysis and Inventor), Summary (1996) and Life Cycle [i-ousi~g Study for the tTear 20]0 (1998), provides the basic information necessary to understand housing issues within Col~bia Heights and establishes a framework for guiding future housing decisions within the coWn'nuniw. The City's Housing Action Plan, prepared in accordance with the Livable Communities Act, was accepted by the Metropolitan Council in 1996. LiFE CYCLE HOUSING STUDY The purpose of the LOre Cycle Housing Study fbr the Year 20]0 was to determine what changes the City of Columbia Heights would need in order t° have a housing supply that would meet the needs of the population in the year 2010 and beyond. This study provides a snapshot of the community based on the 1990 census and projects hoUSing needs through the year 2010. With this information, the community, wilt be in a good position to plan for future housing and redevelopment needs. This study also ~ticipates any shO~ages an&'or oversupplies of various housing types, which will provide the City with a va!Uabte tOOl for developing housing policies. Where appropriate, forecasts made in the study have been extended to 2020 in order to conform with the current planning horizon and be consistent With the Metropolitan Council's population and household projections for 2010 and 2020. HOUSING SUPPLY The housing supply in Columbia Heights is similar to the average for the Twin Cities metropolitan area in terms of the percentage of o~er~Occupied and renter-occupied housing. In Columbia Heights, just over 70 percent of the h°Using units are owner-occupied, while the figure for the metropolitan area is 68 percent owner-oCcUpied. Rental housing makes up about 30 percent of the housing in Columbia Heights, as compared to 32 percent in the metropolitan area (Figure 3-1). 28 FIGURE 34 HOUSING RENTAL/OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGES, 1990 Metro Area · lCo~umbia Heights 7O% 6O% 5O% 40% 30% 20% 10% O% Owner-occupied Renter-occupied Source: 1990 Census As a community becomes fully developed, it is imp°rt~ that its housing supply be adaptable to the changing housing needs of a variety of age and income groups. Between 1980 and 1990, several hundred apartment units and numerous single-family units were constructed in Columbia Heights, bringing the total number of hoUSing units up to 7,914. Table 3-1 highlights the variety of housing types within Columbia Heights including single family detached, single family attached and multi-family units. TABLE 3-1 HOUSING INVENTORY BY HOUSING TYPE, t990 Unit Type Total Units Single,Family Detached 5,133 Attached 501 Multi-Family 2,280 2 units 546 3 or 4 units 192 5 to 19 units 872 5;634 Percent of 'Vacant Total units Units 65 65 6 6 29 7 3 11 20 to 50 Units I 173 2 >50 Units [ 497 6 i Total L__ 7'914 ' 1O0 --'" Source: Lite Cycle H°u~ih-'~ Study; Housing Owner Occupied Units 5,1{}7 4,653 454 Renter Occupied Units 456 415 41 77 358 1,845 11 121 4t4 10 14 t68 34 65 773 6 4 163 16 154 327 5,465 !48 2,301 ;RF ConsUlting Group, Inc. 29 The Livable Communities Act categories are used to determine the availability of affordable and life cycle housing in Columbia Heights. According to the Metropolitan Council, 96 percent of the community's single-family housing is affordable to households at 80 percent of the areas median income and 58 percent of the rental housing ~s affbrdable to households at 50 percent of the median income. Blending this information with basic housing type data in Table 3-1 provides a more detailed look at the housing available in Columbia Heights (Table 3-2). TABLE 3-:2 AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY, 1990 H~'~in-~"~ype TOtal HoUSing Units Vacant Units 148 Total Owner-Occupied Units 5,465 Total Affordable Owner-Occupied Units 5_24'~ (96% of the Owner-Occupied Units) Total Rental Units 2,301 Total Affordable Rental Units 1.335 Total Attached Housing Units Total Detached Housing Units Sources: t990 Census: Metropolitan Council 2~84~ (36% of All Units) -5,0~¢--' (64% of Ali Units) it is noteworthy that almost every owner-occupied housing unit (96 percent) in Columbia Heights meets the Metropolitan Council's definition of affordability under the Livable Communities Act. These are housing units were valued at S115.000 or less in 1995, affordable to households with incomes of $40,000 or less, or 80 percent of the area median income. At the same time, while rental housing is less than 30 percent of the Columbia Heights housing supply, 58 percent of the rental units were considered affordable to lower-income households, with incomes of $25,000 per year or less. Columbia Heights also has an above-average supply of single-family housing units, as compared to neighboring communities. POPULATION FORECASTS Between 1980 and 1990, the population of Columbia Heights decreased by 1,119 residents, from a population of 20,029 to a population of 18,910 -a six percent decrease. The number of households increased by 423 households, from 7,M3 households to 7,766 households -- a six percent increase during the same time period. Between 1990 and 1998, the Metropolitan Council estimates that the population declined slightly, from 18,910 to 18,699, while the 3O number of households increased slightly, from 7,766 to 7,806. The Metropolitan Council forecasts an increase in population to 18,900 by the year 2000, remaining at 18,900 through 2010, and increasing again to 19,500 by 2020. TOtal households are forecasted to increase to 7,850 by the year 2000, to 8,000 by 2010, and to 8,200 by 2020, Table 3-3 shows the age groups of the Columbia Heights" population, how they changed from 1980 to 1990, and how' they are projected to change through 2020. While the younger population groups are projected to decrease in number, the older population groups (35+) are expected to increase slightly, going from 51.1 percent of the population in 1990 to 53.7 percent in 2020. Move-up homebuyers, ages 35 to 54, are expected to hit a peak of 29.7 percent in the year 2000 and remain high through 2020 at 26.9 percenL At the same time, the empty nesters, ages 55 to 64, are projected to continue a steady rise; from 11.5 percent in 1990 to 14.5percent by 2020. The older population group, ages 65 and Over, peaked in 1990 at 15.4 percent, and is expected to decrease to 12.3 percent by 2020. TABLE 3-3 POPULATION BY AGE GROUP, 1980,2020 Age Group 0-5 1980 1,322 (626%) 6-17 3,864 (19.3%) I8-24 2,861 (143%) 1990 2000 2,629 (13i9%) 3,297 (17;4%) 1,761 (913%) 2010 '~ ~0 1,o79 (7..~ Vo) 2O20 "9 1,:~ 6 (7.2%) 3,270 (17.3%) 3,342 (17.1%) 1,701 (9~0%) 1,933 (9.9%) 25-34 3,003 (15 0%) 3 360 (178%) ~ 0,405 (1:7%) · ? 34~(1v 4%) 2,362 12 1% 35-54 4,834 (24.1%) 4}574 (24!2%) ]zz7 z' ........ {5/ Tota ] 20 02 I Sources: 198b~ o~ ~ and 5~28 F6b e~ ~ ~s SRF Consulting Group, Inc. HOUSING NEEDS Between 1990 and 2020, the number of households in Columbia Heights will increase from 7,766 to 8,200, an increase of 434 households. Allowing for a standard vacancy rate of five percent, the total n~ber of housing units needed by 2020 to accommodate the increased number of households is 8,630. This represents an increase of 716 units from the 1990 total of 7,914 units. Information about the age groups of a population c~ be used to project the types of housing that will be needed in the community, in general, hOUsing needs can be roughly equated to age categories as follows: 31 Age Group 18-24 Housing Needs New Households Affordable Rental Housing 25-34 First Time Homebuyers Starter Single-Family Homes, Attached or 35-54 55-64 Detached, or Remain in Rental Housing. Move-Up Single-Family Homes Remain in Single-Family Homes or Attached Ownership or Rental Housing Remain in Single-Family Homes, AttaChed Ownership or Rental Housing Move-Up Homebuyers Empty Nesters Move to 65+ Older Residents Move to The 2020 housing needs in Columbia Heights can best be fbrecasted by looking at the housing types generally preferred by people of various age groUPs. For this forecast, only the population groups 18 years of age and over will be used. It Mil be assumed that residents ages 0 to 17 will be living in households headed by adults. Table 3-4 shows that approximate number of housing units needed for each adult age group, as well as the housing types most often lived in by these age groups. ~TABLE 3.4 ESTINIATED HOUSING NEEDS BY POPULATI©N GROUP, 2020 Population Group New HousehOlds (18-24) 2020 AdUlt Move,UP Buyers (35~54) Population 1 ;933 First-Time HOmebUYers (25-34) 2362 5;243 Empty-Nesters (55-64) Older People (65+) 2~824 2,400 Total Units Source: Nancy Reeve5'a~"X~ Units Needed 2¢766 li531 SRF Cons~ Unit Types ble Rental-TAttached ~arter Homes, Rental, Attached M0~:0p Homes Rental, Attached, Single*Family Homes Rent,il Attached, Single-Family Homes Based on the current owner/renter percentages in Copxnbia Heights for each age group, as well as the types of housing most commonly associated with various age groups, the projected housing needs in Col~bia Heights for 2020 are sh°wm in Table 3-5. 32 TABLE 3-5 ESTIMATED HOUSING NEEDS BY HOUSING ~PE, 2020 Housing Type Owner-Occupied: Detached Single*Farni!y H°me,d~ ~0 ~i 15,000 Detached Singi~2~iiy'~ome-over $115,000 Renter OccUpied: Affordable Rental Housing- up to $500/mOnth Other Rental HOusing, over $500/month Other Attach~ ~;~sing-T~6~se~ condOmi~'~tc~ Total Housing units Source: Nancy Reeves and Ass-----"--~ciates Number of Units (Estimated) 2,355 2,602 1,431 1,226 586 8,200 Based on this information and the existing housing sIock~ the housing needs fbr 2020 can be determined, as shown in Table 3-6. TABLE 3-6 2020 HOUSING NEEDS, AS COMPARED TO '~990 HOUSING SUPPLY Housing Type Owner-Occupied: Total Units Needed by 2020 Available in 1990 Detached SF Home up 2.355 4~928 to $115.000 Detached SF Home 2.602 205 over $1 I5,000 Rental-Occupied: 1.43 l 1~335 966 480 AfIbrdable Rental up to $500/month Other Rental over $500/month Other Attached Housing 1,226 586 Recommended Changes 25 substandard units. Maintain at least 2.355 existing units as affordable units. No new affordable single-family unit. s are needed. -:0pgrade; modernize about 2,397 of the existing affordable units. 'Add 96 rent assistance certificates for existing rental units for families and older people. Add 356 additional market rate rental units, including 96 units to replace the 96 market rate units taken for rent assistance certificates. t 106 ownership townhouses or condos, primarily for older people. 7;914 ~ =Tihcrease of 286 units needed .....Total____~Units __ 8,200 , ;ource: Nancy Reeves and Associates; SRF Consulting GroUp; inc. 33 HOUSING ANALYSIS AND ~NVENTORY SUMMARY The purpose of the Housing Analysis and Inventor3, Summary was to compare and evaluate housing conditions in Columbia Heights with other communities in the metropolitan area. The study included nine comparison cities to illustrate the housing conditions and needs of Columbia Heights in relationship to similar communkies in the metropolitan area. The comparison cities included Anoka, Blaine, Brook!Yn Center, Coon Rapids, Crystal, Fridley, RSchtield, Robbinsdale and Spring Lake Park. Since Columbia Heights is a firstring commun/ty, four of the comparison cities were chosen due to their central geographic position - Brooklyn Center, Crystal, Pdchfietd and RobbinSdaie: The remaining five cities are well- established second and third-ring subUrbs in Anoka COunty - Anoka, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Fridley and Spring Lake Park. Compar/sons of these ten cities illustrate the different growth pattern of the outer ring suburbs to the inner core cities and first-ring communities, like Columbia Heights. Comparisons to the TWin Cities MetropOlitan Area as a whole were also made where appropriate. MEDIAN INCOME Income comparisons I%r the ten communities hetP illustrate the affordable housing needs of Columbia Heights in relationship to the other com~mun~ties and the metropolitan area. The 1990 median income levels were compared in te~Sofboth median family income and median household income, as show~ in Table 3-7. Columbia. Heights was found to be the lowest of all ten comparison cities in both categories. In addition, the income levels of Columbia Heights were also substantially lower than the metropolitan area as a whole. TABLE 3-7 MEDIAN ANNUAL INCOI~E, i990 ciw Anoka Blaine Broo.Myn Center Columbia Heights Coon Rapids Crystal Fridley Pdchfield Robbinsdale Spring Lake park Twin cities Metr°~i~a~ Source: 1990 Census Median Family IncOme ($) 38;241 41,860 38~818 36i688 41,8off 39,977 40,53~ ~7~ 43. 6i 43,781 Median HOusehold Income ($) 31,289 40,404 34,168 30,469 42,069 37,093 36,855 32,405 33,107 40,613 36,678 34 INCOME LEVELS The percentage of households in various income categOries was also taken into consideratiom For 1990, the US Census Bureau divided annual income into five categories: less than $17,500;$17,500 to $29,999; $30,000 to $42,499, $42,500 to $59,999, and over $60,000. Lower income is defined as an annual household income less than $17,500. Low income is defined as an annual household income o£$I7,500 to $29,999. Wealthy households are those households with annual incomes of $60,000 and above. The comparison of the ten communities and the metropolitan area is found in Tabte 3-8. TABLE 3.8 HOUSEHOLD ANNUAL INCOME LEVEL PERCENTAGES, 1990 L°wer I City InCome me Anoka ~25.~1 55:~ Bi:aine i618 i: Brooklyn Center Columbia Heights Coon RapidS Crystal Fridley Richfield Robbinsdale 20.2 26;6 1 t .6 14.9 17.0 20.6 23.1 Spring Lake Park 17.3 Twin Cities Metropolitan Am~_j 20.1 Source: 1990 Cen§us 21~0 218 <$30,000 47.7 28.6 41,2 48,9 28.2 12.5 17.7 13.8 10.5 20.9 35.9 16.0 38.1 21.9 4518 12.0 44.9 13.0 32.7 16,9 39.2 21.1 Since Columbia Heights had the lowest median household income of the ten cities, it is not surprising that it also had the highest percentage of households with annual incomes less than $30,000 with 48.9%. These statistics indicate that nearly half of the households in Columbia Heights were deemed low income and a quarter were considered lower income. The metropolitan area as a whole had 39.2% of its' households deemed low income, almost ten percent less than Columbia Heights' figure. Columbia Heights exhibited a small proportion of households that are comparatively wealthy. Using the upper division of $60,000 and above to designate wealthy households, Columbia Heights had a much smaller percentage of wealthy households than the metropolitan area as a whole and the ten comparison cities. In the metropolitan area, one in five households were considered wealthy; however, in Columbia Heights, only one in ten households was deemed wealthy. Not only did Columbia Heights rank low in median income levels, the communitT also had a low' percentage of wealthy residents. 35 POVERTY The 1990 Census defined poverty by family size compared to the fa_mily's income. These definitions are as follows: for a family of four a yearly income of $12,674 or tess; for a family of three a yearly income of $9,885 or less; for a family of two a yearly income of $8,076 or less; and for a single person a yearly income of $6,300 or IeSs~ Poverty statistics were also compared for six categories: total persons, persons under 18, persons over 65, persons with income less than 200 percent of poverty level, total families living below the poverty level and single parent families living below the poverty' level (Table 3-9) This in£o__rrnation provides an overview of any special needs a community may have in terms of cNldren, senior citizens, single parent households and overall conditions of poverty. The Category of "persons with incomes at less than 200 percent of poverty level" represents those residents living on an income twice the poverty level or less. This level of income is classified as low income and illustrates the percentage of residents, although not considered to be living in poverty, that have a low income and may be living in substandard housing. TABLE 3-9 PERCENT BELOW POVERTY LEVEL, 1990 City People <18 >65 <200% Families Anoka 8,5 3.6 23.3 6.4 Blaine 5.2 15.4 4.1 Brooklyn Center 7.1 3.0 18.7 5.8 Colnmbia Heights 8.5 21,6 6.4 Coon Rapids 3.8 12:8 3.2 Crystal 4.8 Fridley 6.1 Richfield 5.5 Robbinsdale 5:0 Spring Lake Park 4.8 Twin Cities MetropOlitan 8.1 Area Source: 1990 Census 1.2 0!8 2.2 2.6 0i4 1.5 2.2 ~"' ~ ~ 3.0 057 Single Parent 4.7 2.5 4.8 4.7 2~0 13.5 3.8 2.8 17.1 4.9 3.9 16.6 3.9 2.7 16.7 3.3 2.5 14.2 4.1 3.8 19.3 5.8 4.1 Columbia Heights exhibited a high level of poverty within the metropolitan area and in comparison to the other communities. The poverty' rate in the community rose sharply in the t 980s. The percentage of residents below the poverty level in 1980 was 5.3 percent, compared to the metropolitan area,Wide figure of 6.7 percent, he increase of poverty in Columbia Heights during the I980s was 51 percent, comp~ed to the metropolitan area increase of 40 percent. As a result, the pove~ rate in Colmbia Heights surpassed the metropolitasq area- wide rate of residents living in poverty conditions 'aY 1990. 36 In reviewing the percentage for all categories, a consistently high rate of poverty was found in Columbia Heights. Columbia Heights was tied with Anoka for the highest percentage of residents in poverty in three categories (all persons, persons under 18, mad families), was second highest in two others (persons with incomes at less than 200 percent of the poverty level and single parent families), and a close third in another (persons over 65). LABOR FORCE In order to illustrate the labor force conditions within the ten cities, the percentage of the population in the labor force and the tmemployment rate were also compared (Table 3-10). Since these factors reflect the percentage of residents earp2ng an income and seeking to earn an income, they are important economic factors in a community. Labor force is defined as the sum of those residents who are working and those who are able mad actively looking for work. The unemployment rate is the percentage of the labor force that is unable to find fMl-time work. TABLE 3-10 LABOR FORCE CONDITIONS, 1990 c ty Blaine BrOoklyn Center Columbia Heights CoOn Rapids Crystal Fridley Richfield Robbinsdale Spring Lake Park Twin Cities MetrOpolitan Are__ a _ SourCe: 1990 Census Percent in the Labor Force 70.1 83.7 71.1 69.7 81.5 74,3 7Z5 71.4 82.2 74.5 Unemployment Rate 5.6 4.5 5.4 6,O 4.1 4.8 4.9 3.6 4.6 4.7 4.6 Within the ten comparison cities, the percentage of labor force participation ranged from a high of 83.7percent in Blaine to a low of 65.9 percent in Robbinsdale. The metropolitan participation rate was 74 percent. Columbia Heights had a low number of residents participating in the labor force, with 69.7 percent. This small percentage, which was the second lowest of the comparison cities, indicates that a relatively high percentage of the residents over 16 years of age were either not looking for work or were unable to work. The unemploymem rates ranged from a low of 3.6 percent in Richfield to a high of 6.0 percem in Columbia Heights. The metropolitan area-wide unemployment rate was 4.6 percent. Not only did Columbia Heights have a lower percentage of participation in the labor force; it also had a high amount of people looking for work. As a f'Mly developed suburb, Columbia Heights has little potential for greatly improving the number of jobs within the community without significant redevelopment efforts. 37 POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION The I990 population of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Areas was 2.288.721 - a 15 percent increase over the 1980 population. Anoka County also experienced rapid growth in the 1980s~ with an increase of 24 percent to 243,641. Anoka Coumy has been one of the fastest growing counties in the region over the past 25 years and is expected to have strong population growth in the near future. Contrary to metropolitan-wide and Cotmty trends, the population of Columbia Heights fell 6 percent in the 1980s, from 20,029 to 18.910. Although the population of the community' has dropped over the past 25 years, the fbrecast for the year 2020 predicts a slight increase in population to 19,500. The long-term fiature forecast is that the population will stabilize near this figure and remain there indefinitely. Due to the recent trend towards smaller family sizes~ the rate of increase in the number of households in the metropolitan area was even greater than the growth in population. D~ing the 1980s, the number of households grew by 21 percent, which caused the average household size to fall from 2.69 to 2.56. The number of households also increased in Columbia Heights in the 1980s, despite the fact that the population fell. The total number of households in Columbia Heights increased by 5.8 percent during the decade, which caused the person per household average to drop from 2.71 to 2.42. The Census Bureau also compiles statistics on the composition of households. These statistics show' that the households numbers in the metropolitan area and Anoka County grew in all categories during the 1980s (families with children, famihes without children, singles, and non- families). The families with children category is in.creasing at the slowest rate within the metropolitan area. compared to the other non-traditional household types~ This reflects the current trends of securing financial and social stability before getting married, as well as a high divorce rate that has left a large number of single people seeking alternative households. These trends promote a temporary living arrangement that consists of one to three persons, further reducing the size of the average household. The growth, of households in Columbia Heights, although not as strong, is comparable ro the metropolitan area and Anoka County, with one key exception. In Columbia Heights. the number of households consisting of families with children is rapidly declining. This household type generally has a stable income, can afford a larger home, and typically desires a larger home to accommodate the size the fb~ily. There is a strong correlation between the loss of this population and the lack of housing alternatives for this household type. The population is divided into seven age groups by t&e Census Bureau: 5 and younger, 6-17, 18-24. 25-34. 35~54~ 55-64. and 65 and older. During the 1980s. Columbia Heights experienced different age migration than either the metropolitan area or Anoka County. Between 1980 and 1990~ the community' saw' large losses in the 6-17 and 18-24 age groups (32 percent and 38 percent, respectively). These groups are indicative of a family unit amd again illustrate a migration of families with children out of the community. The only large increase during this time period was in the 65 and older age group, with 46 percent. 38 HOUSING VALUE The value of housing in the ten cities, which is an indicator of housing and economic conditions within each co--unity~, was also compared (Table 3-11). The 1990 median value of owner- occupied housing traits in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area was $89,211, compared to a median value of $88,880 in Anoka County and median value of $73,600 in Columbia Heights. None of the ten comparison cities had a median value greater than either Anoka County' or the metropolitan area. In most cases, a community's median value is low. if there is an abidance of mid- to low' priced homes, Rile Fridley, Coon Rapids and Anoka had a bAgh percentage of homes valued above $150,000 (twice as many than the other seven cities), the values were not high enough to raise the median value above the metroPolitan area or county-wide median values. TABLE 3-'I'1 MEDIAN OWNER,OCCUPIED HOUSING VALUES; '1990 city Anoka Blaine Median HoUsing Values (S) Columbia Heights 80,000 80i600 Brooklyn Center 79~400 73,600 Coon Rapids TWin Cities Metropolitan ~ea SourCe: '"i990 census 82.500 Crystal 78,000 Fridley 86,000 Richfield 84,800 Robbinsdale 76,500 SpringL~ePark 82.100 89,211 The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable housing , as housing that costs no more than 30percent of the household s income. Using the metropolitan area median household inCOme level of $36~678, an affordable house in the Twin Cities area is one that does not exceed $110,000 in valUe Considering that the median value of an owner-occupied home in the metropolitan area Was $8%211 in 1990, it is apparent that there are a substantial number of lower valued hOmes in the region. The median value of homes within the ten comparison cities was far below the benc~ark of $110,000, ranging from a high of $86,000 in Fridley to a Iow of $73,600 in Columbia Heights - more than $35,000 below the benchmark. 39 The Census Bureau uses five categories of value for owner-occupied housing units (less than $50,000, $50-99,999, $100-149,999, $150-199,999 ~d $200,000 and over). Table 3-12 outlines this information for the ten comparison ckies~ showing the percentage of higher valued and lower valued homes in each cornmunky. These statistics have been cornpared to highlight Iow' valued homes and high valued homes within a comrnunity. The diversity of the housing stock can also be evaluated using this information. -TABLE 3.12 OWNER-OCCUPiED HOUSING VALUES, city Anoka Blaine Brooklyn Center Coon Rapids 1.6 Crystal 1.9 Fridley 1.5 O:8 Richfield Robbinsdale Diversity (%) 99;999 (%) !49i999(%) (%) Assessment 81:3 1~,t 1.5 84:0 1.2 93.1 4,4 75.4 18~5 89.3 77 75.7 18;3 87:4 1116 3.5 +0.6 1.4 -0.1 0.6 -0.6 1.7 -2.7 4.5 +2.9 1.1 -0.8 4.5 +3.0 0.8 0 2.3 86:3 1.7 S pring L ~e P ark 1.7 86:9 1.5 - 0.2 SourCe: 1990 ~ )ciates With an affordable benchmark of $110,000 and the median values between $70,000 and $90.000. the greatest concentration of homes is found in the $50,000 to $99,999 category and ranges from a Iow of 75.4 percent in Coon Rapids to a high of 93.1 percent in Brooklyn Center (Columbia Heights 84.8 percent). The next most common category is the $100;000 to $149,999 range, which includes the benchmark. If these two categories are combined to fbrm a median block of $50,000 to $I49~999~ every connm~ity had at least 93.6 percent of its homes in this bracket. This leaves little room for diversity, yet some cities showed a much more attractive level of diversity than others. The diversity of the housing stock within each commtmity can also be evaluated by comparing the percentage of owner-occupied homes valued at less than $50,000 with the percentage of homes valued at $150.000 and over. Homes valued hess than $50,000 (the category below the median blocks for all communities) are usually veu~ srnall and often considered dilapidated. Columbia Heights had the highest percent of homes in this category with 4.4 percent (the only city above 3.0 percent), while Richfield had the lowest percentage with 0.8 percent. When the homes valued above the median block are compared (homes valued at $150,000 and higherL only three cities had more than 1.7 percent of their units included. Anoka (3.5 percent), Coon Rapids (4.5 percent} and Fridley (4.5 percent) ail had more than twice the percentage of homes in this category as compared to the other seven cities. Brooklyn Center had the lowest percentage with 0.6 percent while Columbia Heights had i .7 percent. 40 The diversity of housing values can be evaluated, bad or good, by subtracting the percentage of homes below the median block from the percentage of homes above the median block. This will give each communiw a plus or minus diversky assessment value, with numbers above zero being considered good diversity and numbers below zero considered bad diversity. A sum of zero indicates an equal percent of homes above the median block level and an equal percentage below, and diversity is nekher good nor bad. This dNersity assessment number is included as the last colmmn of Table 3-12. The best dNersity of expensive homes to low valued homes was located in Fridley and Coon Rapids, with 2.9 percent and 3 percent more high valued homes than low-valued homes, The worst assessment was found in Columbia Heights, with an inverse relation including 2.7 percent more low' valued homes than expensive homes. AGE OF HOUSING Housing units greater than 30 years of age has become a benchmark factor in determining the housing conditions of a community. This is a result of the necessary repairs and the deteriorated conditions frequently exhibited by this housing. Table 3-13 illustrates the age of housing in each of the ten communities by year built categories. The age of housing from 1990 Census data shows a clear break in the inner corridor cities from the peripheral suburbs. The housing units greater than 30 years old in the five corridor cities comprised greater than 65 percent of the housing stock. In the northern suburbs no city had a figure higher than 45 percent. Due to the choice of established suburbs~ the break betvceen groups was not as great when the homes built before 1970 were compared. This will be s~gnificant in the census of 2000. since it is this group that will comprise the older than 30 years category. TABLE AGE OF OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING, 1990 C iD~ < ~ 2z:5 Blaine 0.9 1.9 '~--¢-~"'--' 7 27.7 Brooklyn Center 3,5 6) 54;9-7~9~8 9.1 ColUmbi~ He~; 1727 11:2 '~'2~ .... ~220~: 5.5 CoOn Rapids 0.7 t.8 .... ~ ~:" 22.7 17.8 CwStal 5.7 728:18.2 6.2 Fridtey 1~9'-- '-6~6 - ~7 20.6 ~chfietd ..... 5~8 28:5 '-"---524 Z0 RobNnsdale 24~8 ....29;2 25j'~-~ ~~ 7:5 3~8 _~Pring Lake P~k 1t '- 5.~ 5-- 74~6 18~7 ;ource: 1990 Census 70~79 (%) 1826 80,89 (%) 14.1 Total Units 3~597 39. t 11,563 5.8 7,806 8.8 5,465 39.2 13~940 3.4 7,170 7.0 7,364 3.8 5.7 14.5 10,406 4,386 1,783 Of the homes built before 1940, only three cities hada percentage of its homes exceeding 15 percent. These cities were RobbinSdale (24.8 Percent), Columbia Heights (17.7 percent) and Anoka (15.3 percent). The other seven cities had Iess th~ 6 percent of their homes in this designation. This establishes these cities as having a Significant portion of old homes compared to the rest of the comparison cities. 41 The inner cities had strong building periods in the years t940-1969. This is evident in the percent of homes in these cities that are more than 30 years old. The northern suburbs reveal a later construction period, one that started in the 1950s and continues strong today. This later peripheral construction wave can be illustrated by looking at the amount of homes built since 1970. No inner core city had a percentage of homes from this area comprise more than 15 percent of its' housing stock. The suburbs, however, had at least 25 percent of their homes built in this time frame. In comparing the ten cities, the percent of housing traits older than 30 years ranged from a high of 88.8 percent in ~chfield to a low of 12.8 percent in Blaine. The percent of housing units built since 1970 ranged bom a high of 5T0 percent in COon Rapids to a low of 5.8 percent in Richfield. In Columbia Heights, 65.6percent of the housing stock was constructed prior to 1960, 85.7 percent was constructed before 1970, and 8~8 percent had been constructed since 1980. RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS The number of residential building permits issued by the comparison cities during the 1990s can give an indication of the future renovation of the interior cities and growih of the suburbs (Table %14), Since the building permit information, does not differentiate between renovation and new construction, trends within these cities need to be understood before the information can be analyzed properly. Building perm/ts issued between 1990 and 1994 show that Coon Rapids and Blaine continue to grow strong and have issued a large amount of permits. The other three suburbs had a much lower rate of construction in the 1980s and have issued far fewer permits in the 1990s. Fridley and Spring Lake Park are interior suburbs compared to Anoka. Blaine and Coon Rapids, and the trend is towards renovation rather than new construction on undeveloped properties. The construction rates in these communities will be very similar to the inner cities in the future. The Mount of permits issued in the inner cities show a fairly even amount of construction with a slightly higher number in Robbinsdale. In the suburbs, the amount of building activity in Anoka is greater than Fridley and Spring Lake Park, but far less than Blaine and Coon Rapids. TABLE 3-14 RESIDENTIAL BUILD! NG PERI, ITS, 1990-1994 city Anoka Blaine 1,189 er 38 Columbia Heights 43 %415 Coon Rapids Fridley Richfield Robbinsdale Spring Lake Park Source: individual Repons Number of Permits 368 41 112 59 85 149 42 LIFE CYCLE HOUSING Life cycle housing issues address the need for different types of housing to accommodate all people in a community. Varying age groups tend to live in different housing units; therefore~ the housing needs of a community can be estimated by tracking the changing age patterns of the community. People in the 18-24 age group tend m live in apartments~ while first-time home buyers are usually in the 25-34 age group. As families get larger and a stable income is secured~ a larger move-up home is p~chased to accommodate the size of the family. This usually occurs _ when the head of the household is in the 35-54 age group. People in the 55-64 age group are considered emptymesters~ since the children are moving out and leaving the parents with a house too large for themselves. This creates a demand in this age group for well-kept smaller finished homes. When people reach the 65 and older age group, they tend to move into apartments, town homes and condomirfi~_uns to flee tthemselves of maintenance and yard keeping responsibilities. The most traditional housing type is the single-family detached home. It is still the most common of all housing types, but recent trends have increased the demand for non4raditional housing units. These trends are reflective of the increase in the divorce rate, the increase in the number of senior citizens, the preference to wait before getting married, and families having fewer or no cbAldren. These trends have increased the number of people seeking temporary living arrangements. For this reason, it has become a necessity for a community to offbr its residents a good diversity in the housing stock. This diversity in housing stock has to be present in the owner-occupied units as well as the rental units in a community. This is due to several different reasons. First, the equity involved in owning a housing structure promotes buying. The increased demand lbr non-traditional units has greatly increased the equity in these units; therefore, more people opt to buy rather than rent. Secondly, younger people still prefbr to rent, as do people with jobs that require relocation. Finally, the high divorce rate has increased the amount of people looking to rent. In comparing the ten cities, the highest rate of non4raditional housing stock was found in Anoka with 47.8 percent of the housing units being other than single family detached units. The lowest rate was found in Crystal, which only had 23~6 percent of its housing units classified as non-traditional. The highest proportion of rental units was also found in Anoka with 45.8 percent, while the lowest proportion was ~bund in Crystal and Blaine with 12.1 percent. In Columbia Heights. 35.9 percent of the housing units were other than single family detached and _,~.~ percent of the housing units were rental. Anoka and Fridley were the only communities that had a stronger diversity of housing types and rental properties when compared to Columbia Heights. HOUSING QUALITY INVENTORY In 1996, a windshield survey of Columbia Heights' housing stock 'was undertaken in preparation of the Housing Analysis and Inventory Summary. Only exteriors were rated and emphasis was placed on homesteaded properties. Since all rental housing is subject to the City's licensing and inspections process, it was excluded from the survey. A total of 5,779 dwellings were rated in the windshield survey, with 1.241 dwellings (21.5 percent) receiving a "good" rating, 3,913 dwellings (67.7 percent) receiving a "fair" rating, and 625 dwellings ~10.8 percent) receiving a "poor" rating. 43 Homes rated "good" were in good condition with well~kept exteriors, including siding, paint, windows, cement, foundation, roofing, window trim and landscaping. In general, these homes were newer and not showing signs of age or disrepair. Homes rated "fair" were primarily older homes m need of upgrades and repairs, as exterior wear and tear was evident. These needed improvements included: repair or replacement of roof's; repair or replacement of broken or cracked cement-work (foundations, steps, sidewalks); replacement of chipped or cracked siding; painting of siding, door frames, and window frames; replacement of leaking windows; and general property maimenance. The needed improvements would upgrade the property and would keep the home from being a greater concern in the future. Although most of these repairs would be considered minor, many homeowners do not have the financial means to make the necessary repairs. Homes rated "poor" exhibited a definite need for upgrades and maintenance in one or more areas. These homes have deteriorated to the extent that they have become an eyesore mad are negatively affecting the neighborhood. Many of the homes are beyond the need for basic exterior improvements (painting, siding, and roofing) and could potentially be candidates for demolition and replacement. These properties also exhibit problems beyond the structure itself, with many properties having zoning and nuisance violations as welt (accumulations of junk, overgrown landscape, dilapidated accessory buildings, substandard lot areas, inadequate setbacks). The needed improvements are major and would require substantial financial resources to undertake. In addition, these homes are usually far below the average value of other homes in the area and are considerably older. The community was divided into eight sections or neighborhoods to analyze housing stock densities, as show2a in Figure 3-2. Odd numbered sections are located west of Central Avenue and even numbered section are located east of Central Avenue. with 49th Avenue, 45th Avenue, and 41 st Avenue serving as nortl~/south dividing points. The numbering starts left to right, top to bottom with the northwest section of the community identified as Section 1, the northeast section identified as Section 2, and so on. Table 3-15 summmdzes the results of the windshield survey for each of the eight neighborhoods or sections. TABLE 3.15 W~NDSH~ELD SURVEY RESULTS BY SEcTiON (!996) SeCtion Homes Rated Good Rated Fair R~ted poor 1 615 24 (410%) 545 (88.5%) 46 (7.4%) 2 651 453 (69.5%) 196 (30.1%) 2 (0.3%) 3 579 40 (6.9%) 473 (81.7%) 66 (11.4%) 4 582 12 (2.1%) 516 (88~7%) 54 (9.2%) 5 1,135 204 (t8.0%) 720 (63.4%) 211 (18.6%) 6 755 352 (46.6%) 364 (48.2%) 39 (5.2%) 7 664 50 (7.5%) 515 (77.6%) 99 (14.9%) 8 798 106 (I 3.3%) 584 (73.2%) 108 (13.3%) Total 5~779 1~241 (21,5%)3i913 (67~7%) 625 (1(},8%) Source: Housing Analysis and Inventory Summary 44 1 Poor Condition~7,4% 2 Poor Condition-3.0% 3 Poor Condition.l 1.4% 4 Poor Condition-92% 5 Poor Condition~l 6 Poor Condition-5.2% 7 Poor Condition.~4.9% 8 Poor 3, 3% December 1999 N 2 o 2 4 Mites Housing Survey Districts Columbia Heights Comprehensive Plan FIGURE 3-2 In seven of the eight neighborhoods, the percentage of homes receiving a "fair" rating far outweighed the percentage of homes that received a "good" rating. Although the "fair" rating was applied to homes more liberally than the "poor" rating, it is obvious that the housing stock in Columbia Heights is showing its age. The windshield survey data show's that the highest percentage of "poor" housing conditions is located between 37th Avenue and 45th Avenue, which is part of the oldest residential area in Colmmbia Heights. The percentage of "poor" housing in this area is more than double the percentage of "good" housing. The one neighborhood with a high percentage of homes with a "good" rating is located in the northeastern portion of the community (Section 2), particularly around the Mathaire and Irmsbruck neighborhoods. This is not a surprise, since most of the homes in these two subdivisions are newer, having been built in the 1970s and 1980s. The age of housing is one cause for a home to enter into a deteriorated condition. Table 3-16 shows the age of the housing stock in ColUmbia Heights, both owner-occupied and rental units. With 3,587 (65.6 percent) of the owner-occupied h°using units built prior to 1960, the majority of the housing stock is over 30 years of agel TABLE 3.d6 AGE AND OWNERSHIP OF DwELLiNG UNITS, percent Rental occupied Percent Year built oW~ ......... 1939 or earlier 966 17.7 160 7.0 1940-49 614 11.2 164 7.1 1950-59 2,007 36.7 458 19.9 1960-69 1,100 20.1 889 38.6 1970-79 299 5.5 357 15.5 1980-89 479 8.8 273 11.9 Total 5,465 2,301 Source: 1990 Census Since the rnajoritTy' of "fair" and "poor" housing stock is located in the older portions of the community, the relationship between housing age and housing condition is evident. In order to encore:age re-investment in properties rated ~fair", the City could sponsor a community-wide program that would provide low interest loans to residents to upgrade these properties. If one or two neighbors undertook some minor improvements and invested in their property through such a program, it is likely that "fix up fever" will spread throughout the neighborhood. The residents who fix up their homes will see an increase in their property values and wilt have a vested interest in their property, neighborhood and community. Since many of the homes rated ~'poor'= are beyond the point of repair, replacement may' be an option. The City's building inspections department has compiled a list of 110 properties that are in a severely dilapidated and deteriorated state. Nearly 80 percent of the homes on this list are more than 70 years old and all were rated as "poor" during the windshield survey. Many of 46 these homes are also non-conforming structures from a zoning standpoinL because of substandard lot width, substandard lot ~Lrea~ and inadequate yard setbacks. The City has been successful in removing a few of the structures; however~ more proactive work needs to be done to see that these deteriorated homes are removed and new homes built in their place. RENTAL INSPECTION PROCESS The City of Columbia Heights Fire Department administers the Housing Maintenance Code and Rental Licensing Inspection Program. The Housing Maintenance Code applies to all housing within the community, including single family owner occupied and all types of rental housing; however, only rental housing is inspected on a regular basis. Owner-occupied housing is not inspected unless a complaint is received. All rental housing units, including apartments within owmer-occupied homes~ require an inspection by and license from the City-. A license will be issued if the rental unit is found to be in compliance and passes the inspection. If one or more violations are found, the unit will be re- inspected until it passes. Each rental license is effecti ye for one year with renewal required each year; however, a rental license may be suspended or revoked upon a finding of noncompliance with the Housing Maintenance Code. As of April 1996. there were 162 licensed owmer~occupied homes with one rental unit on the property. The Fire Department thinks there are an additional 150-200 unlicensed units in owner-occupied residential properties units throughout the community; however, the only way of obtaining information on these properties is through police contact or through fire/emergency responses. Many of these properties are also non-conforming from a zoning standpoint, as lot area requirements for each unit have increased. There were also 84 licensed single family structures where the entire home is rented, rather than just a portion of the home. The Fire Department thinks there may also be an additional 100-150 unlicensed single-family homes throughout the community. Single family rentals are identified through water bitling, police contact, or through fire ' emergency responses. Two family rentals~ otherwise known as duptexes~ made up 228 of the licensed rental buildings (456 rental units) in 1996. There are an additional 10-20 unlicensed two-family rental dwellings throughout the City which are occupied by a family member which the Fire Department believes should be licensed; however, the language of the code makes it questionable whether or not this provision can be enforced. The multiple family rental category includes all buildings with more than two rental units. In April 1996, there were 136 units licensed in 3+ family rental properties and 150 units licensed in two large apartment buildings. There are also 25 unlicensed structures in the community (Labetle Park. University Heights. and Hidden Heights). These condominium buildings have a total of 367 units, of which approximately 10 percent are rental units. The City has been successful in licensing only three of these units. 47 As a role, the number of code violations increase with the size of the building and the number of rental units~ Problem ~eas for multiple fhmily rental dwellings deal with the overall structure and maintenance of the bUil~ng, both interior and exterior. Life-safety issues are also an on- going issue, including problemS with mice and insects, conversion of rooms into illegal sleeping rooms, combustible storage, blocked exi~ays, missing or disconnected smoke detectors (often caused by the tenant), and missing ~e protection (extinguishers, fire doors, etc). In general, more effort is required to m~ntain compliance in the larger buildings and the property owners are finding this to be a challenge. The Fire Department also started inspecting the extermr condition of owner-occupied properties within the community during the summer of 1995. This is an ongoing project that will eventually cover approximately 35 blocks of the City. These inspections only address the exterior of the principal structure, accessory str~tures on the property, and property maintenance issues. Other inspections of s~ngle family owner-occupied homes are only undertaken on a complaint basis. HOUSING GOALS, POLiCiES AND I~PLEMENTATION STRATEGIES The following housing goals and corresponding policies have been developed for Columbia Heights~ Each goal includes nmnbered policies and bulleted implementation strategies that correspond to each of the policies. These goals, policies and implementation strategies represent a compilation of the housing plans developed in [qousing Anatyxis and lm, en~o~T S~mmary (1996) and Life Cycle Housing Study for the Year 2010 (]998), as well as the public commems received during meetings held in preparation of the Comprehensive Plan. Goal: Prm, idea variety of life cycle housing opportunities within the community. Provide sufficient housing opportunities so that residents who wish to live and work irt Columbia Heights may do so. The City will implement its Housing Action Plan to provide a more flexible and balanced housing supply in accordance with the Liveable Communities Act goals agreement between Columbia Heights and the Metropolitan Council for the per/od 1996 to 2010 (Appendix A). The City will continue to promote a diversity of housing opportunities in both publicly-assisted and private buildings. The City will encourage the development and redevelopment of a variety of housing types within the community. The City will support the development of 'housing options such as tovmhomes and condominiums. The City will support efforts to construct family-oriented multiple-family projects in the community. 48 The City. w411 support the upgrading of exiSting multi-family housing throughout the community. The City v~511 target opportunities for the development of move-up housing types within the community. The City will undertake efforts to maintain and improve the existing single family housing stock in the commUnity. The City wilt foster partnerships with the private sector to help diversify housing in the community. Ensure that the co~W's elderly residents and residents with special needs have safe, sanitary' and affordable hoUsing. The City will support attractive options m Single-family detached housing for senior citizens. The City will promote the development of medium*density, owner-occupied and rental housing for empW nesters and other households seeking smaller more affordable housing options. Units vacated by these households will then provide new housing opportunities for larger households seeking move-up housing types. Protect the integrity of the existing housing slOck. The City will explore the feasibility of implementing a point-of-sale housing code to ensure the structural and meChaniCal integrity of single-family homes. The City will continue to enforce the unifbrm Building Code (UBC) as it applies to single family and multiple-family housing. The City wilt be proactive in the redevelopment of vacant and deteriorating residential structures. The City will identif5~ non-conforming uses within residential districts and take actions to bring them into compliance; Goal: Advocate housing efforts that attract arid retain reSidents, especially young farMlies. 1. Increase the knowledge of residents regarding available housing programs. e The City will publicize available housing programs to increase participation in the programs and disseminate information ab0Ut housing issues and opportunities within the commtmity. ~ The City will continue to provide housing Programs for first-time homebuyers. 49 2. Promote efforts to upgrade the single-family housing stock. The City will continue to distribute the housing rehabilitation plan book (Cape Cods and Ramblers: A Remodeling Handbook for Post WW II Houses), which provides guidance and design concepts for private individuals interested in rehabilitating single family residences. Goal: Promote and preserve the single-famity housing stock as the community's strongest asseL Enhance and maintain the quality mhd appearance of single-family neighborhoods and the housing stock. The City will acquire and demolish the most seriously deteriorated single,family homes mad work with the private sector to develop appropriate replacement housing. The City will support the creation of' i~11 single family housing on oversized lots in the southeast quadrant of the community. The City will acquire and aSsemble reSidential lots, as opportunities arise, for the purpose of developing infill housing. The City will support the upgrading and m~ntenance of older houses throughout the cormmunity. Reduce the potential adverse impacts of' adjacent cOrmnercial or industrial land uses on single family residential areas. The City will develop regulations to require the installation of landscape buffers between single family residential areas and new or redeveloped comrnercial/industrial areas. The City will establish policies and identit~j potential financial resources for installing landscape bUffbrs between single family residential areas and existing commercial/industrial areas. The City will develop a buffer plan to Create buffer areas between dissimilar uses where possible, especially near Husetp~k and along the Central Avenue and University Avenue corridors. Goal: Strengthen areas of commercial and civic activity by introducing complementary' housing development. 1. Support the inclusiOn of appropriate h°uS~ng alternatives during redevelopment in mixed-use districts. The City will encourage the development of high-density housing adjacent to downtown (Central Avenue/40th Avenue commercial node) to bolster the downtown/Civic core. 50 Goal: 1. The City will study the potential development of medium- to high-density residential uses adjacent to Huset Park and within the Community Center area. The City will encourage the development of high-density housing adjacent to proposed light rail transit stations along University Avenue. The City will encore-age the development an~or continuation multi-family housing near the Metro Transit hub at the intersection of Central Avenue and 4 t st Avenue. Support high quality hoUSing development and redevelopment projects, Require all multiple family housing development and redevelopment to meet the community's high standards. The City shall amend the zoning o eto include design standa_rds fbr high- density residential development that addreSS building massing, partdng location, access, traffic impact, landscaping, exterior architectural design, screening, trash handling, and parking ratios. Provide residential redeVelopment oppo~unities Where needed within established neighborhoods. The City Will maintain an inventory of Vacant and deteriorating housing stock within the com_munity and make this list available to potential developers. Remove regulatow barriers to residential development and redevelopment within the community. The City will identi~ problematic and/Or inconsistent housing-related sections within the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. The City 'will amend the zoning ordin~ce Md subdivision regulations to create flexibility and encourage the deVelopmem ofa variety of housing Wes, such as the introduction of zero tot line developmem PrOvisi°ns for townhome development. The CiD' will amend the zoning ordin~Ce ~d official map to allow mixed-use planned developments that include medi~ ~or high density housing types along the Central Avenue corridor, Within the Cormnunity Center area, along the 40th Avenue corridor, and along the university Avenue corridor. The City will amend the zoning ord~n~ce to allow renovation and upgrading of existing single family homes in Order t° increase home value, create the potential for life-cycle housing opportunities, and enCoUrage families to stay in the comxnunity. 51 4. Financially support the improvement of ihouSing within the community. The City will utilize tools such as revenue bonds, tax increments financing, Community Development Block Grant funds, and other public fi2nding sources as may be available to assist in the developmem and redevelopment of housing. The City will pursue funding through the Livable Communities Demonstration Account to aid in the creation and enhancement of diverse housing opportunities. ,52 SURFACE WA MANAGEMENT PLAN INTRODUCT~ON The purpose of a surface water management plan is to set forth a framework to ensure the conservation of water resources, prevention of flood dam age, protection of surface water bodies and natural watercourses~ and maintenance and operation of storm_ water conveyance and storage systems. The majority of the City of Columbia Heights is located within the Six Cities Water Management Organization; however~ the southeastern portion of the community is wdthM the Rice Creek Watershed District. This plan is consistent with the Columbia Heights FFater Resource Managemem Plan [J992), and responds [o the second generatmn plans of the Six Cities gZatershed Management Organization Plan ~J997, amended 2000) and the Rice Creek kVarershed District Plan (,1997,. atnended 2000), as documented in Appendix B. CLIMATE The Twin Cities area, including Columbia Heights, has a continental-type climate because of its proximity to the geographic center of North America. The area has moderate amounts of precipitatiom wide daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations, warm humid summers~ and cold winters. Precipitation patterns are influenced by moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and occur as ra/m freezing rain, snow and hail. Annual normal precipitation is approximately 26.4 inches, of which approximately re,o-thirds occurs during the summer months of May through September~ The armual snowfall in the Twin Cities area averages approximately 50 inches. On average~ snow depth is six inches for 40~45 days per year, and over 12 inches for 20 day's per year~ Runoff from snowmek can occur any time during the winter. The most severe snowxnelt runoff conditions usually occur in March and early Apfil~ especially when rain falls on top of the snowpack. TOPOGRAPHY Most of Columbia Heights is rolling to hilly terrain with several small lakes and ponds. Elevation of the City ranges from approximately 1,020 feet above mean sea level (1,020 msl) near the Mirmeapolis Water Works property to approximately 850 feet above mean sea level (850 msl) along the City's southern border with Minneapolis. GEOLOGY The surficial geology of Cokrmbia Heights consists of glacial and alluvial (outwash) deposits which cover most (~t~ the community. The City of Columbia Heights is within the Grantsburg Sublobe of the Des Moines Lobe. The Granstburg Sublobe deposited silty till tha~ was reworked by glacial meltwaters which converted mucI~ of the area w~thin the community into a sand plain, sandy lacusthne and valley train deposits, h~ the Columbia Heights~ portion of the Sublobe, a till deposit is present as Hilltop Moraine. These glacial deposits, along with older glacial deposits, range from 100 to 250 feet in thickmess and are underlain by bedrock. These glacial deposits were placed 12,500 to 14~000 years ago during the last period of glaciation in the Twin Cities area. 53 The texture and composition of the surficial materials are factors that affect permeability. Fine- grained, densely packed till. for exmmple, has low permeability and high water retention. In these areas, high clay content increases the absorption properties and lessens the permeability. In contrast, outwashes of relatively course~gralned~ well-sorted materials will have relatively high permeability and low water retention abilky. Changes in texture and composition of materials may be gradual or abrupt. Local variations in surficial materials may not be apparent within the City of Columbia Heights because urbanization and development have substantially altered the surface soils; however, the Anoka Count-~~ Soil Survey provides general guidance in - soil types throughout the CiW. According to the soil survey there are eight main soil classes w/thin the City: Zknmerman Complex; Hayden-~ngsl, ey Complex; Dundas Complex; Lino Complex; Hubbard Complex; Udorthents Wet Substratum; Urban Land; and Aquolls and Histosols (ponded). The bedrock underlying the surficial deposits is composed of sedimentary units that are part of the Twin Cities Structural Basin. Several sandstone and limestone units are aquifers that are separated by shale confining un/ts. LAND USE The City of Columbia Heights is fully developed. The volume and rate of storm water nmoff from a watershed are affected by the tand's ability to absorb precipitation (perviousness), which is directly related to land use. Because the greatest ~off volumes and rates w/ll occur when the commun/ty is fully developed, full development land use conditions were assumed in the analysis of storm water quantity and quality. SIX CITIES WATERSHED ~ANAGEi~ENT ORGANIZATION PLAN The Six Cities Watershed Management Organization Plan (1997) provides a plan for all watersheds within the six cities~ including the CFH South Subwatershed in Columbia Heights. Since this watershed is completely developed With the exception of scattered lots~ no significant changes are anticipated to the existing storm water or drainage systems within Columbia Heights. The apphcable goals, policies, and implementation strategies found in the Six Cities X¥Z,IO plan have been incorporated into this plan. RICE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT PLAN The Rice Creek Watershed District Plan (1997) provides a plan for the Rice Creek Watershed DistricL including that portion of the district iv~ Columbia Heights. No significant changes to the existing storm water or drainage systems are anticipated, since this portion of Columbia Heights is fully developed with the exception of a few scattered residential lots. The applicable goals, policies, and implementation strategies found in the RCWD plan have also been incorporated in this plan. 54 COLU~JBIA HEIGHTS WATER RESOURCE MANAGE~JENT PLAN The Columbia Heights ~'Yater Resources Managemem Plan (1992) is a guide for managing surface and ground water resources within the community. The main purpose of the plan is to enable the City to develop drainage facilities m a cost-effective manner while maintaining or improving the quality of its water resources. The plan also includes an improvement program imended to bring local water management into conformance with the Six Cities Watershed Management Organization Plan and the Rice Creek Watershed District Plan. WATERSHEDS There are six major watersheds located wiLhin the corporate limits of Columbia Heights: Watershed A B C D E-F-G H Drainage System Labelle-Jackson Pond Clover Pond-Sullivan Lake Highland Lake-Secondar? Pond Silver Lake CiD' of Mirmeapolis City of Fridley WMO Six Cities W%IO Six Cities WMO Six Cities WMO Rice Creek Watershed District Six Cities WMO Six Cities x;¥SMO Watershed D is located within the boundaries of the Rice Creek Watershed District, and the other five are located within the boundahes of the Six Cities Watershed Management Organization. Watershed C discharges ultimately into Tertiary' Pond, which is located within the City of Fridley. Tertiary Pond does not have an outlet and current plans are for it to remain landlocked, Watershed E-F-G is within the Six Cities WMO, but discharges into the City of Minneapolis and the Middle Mississippi River ~¢%,~O~ Figure 4-1 illustrates the parameters of the major and minor watersheds within the City of Columbia Heights. The Columbia Heights IYater Resources Management Plan (1992) also included a water quantity and quality analysis, and current and projected water quantity and water quality problems were identified based on these results. The analysis and problems are discussed by each of the six major drainage systems within Columbia Heights. SURFACE WATER RESOURCES There are eight lakes and ponds within Columbia Heights, six of which are classified as protected waters by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Many of the lakes and ponds provide aesthetic and passive recreation for residents as well as storm water management. There are also nine wetland areas within the community that perform critical functions to preserve and improve the overall qualiE¢ of surface water tkroughout Columbia Heights. These functions include controlling nutrient transport, providing areas for stream sedimentation, providing detention areas to reduce stream flow, providing recreational 55 opportunities, and providing aesthetic and wildlife areas. Columbia Heights recognizes the value of these wetland functions and will strive to protect wetland resources within the community. As part of the Columbia Heights gZater Resource Management ?lan, a detailed surface water inventory was conducted in 1992. At that time, the presence of Purple Loosestrife was noted in both Silver Lake and Labelle Pond. Table 4-1 provides an inventory of the lakes, pOnds, and wetlands within Columbia Heights, and includes the MnDNR classification/number, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) classification, the wetland classifiCation, and whether or not there was a Pmple Loosestrife presence in 1992. Figure 4-2 shows the location of these surface water resources within the community. STORM WATER STORAGE AND CONVEYANCE FACILITIES The storm water storage and conveyance patterns in Columbia Heights are show~n in Figure 4-3. This figure show's the areas draining into each storm water storage area and the flow paths between them. Table 4-2 summariZes 1he following hydrological date for each subwatershed: drainage area, curve number, and downstream subwatershed or receiving water. Detention pond information in the table includes the following: normal water level; 5-, 10- and 100-year flood levels; storage volumes; and discharge rates. Comments specific to each subwatershed listed in Table 4-2 are summarized in Table 4-3. WATER QUANTITY ANALYSIS Simulating the storm water system using a hydrologic model is important in determining the adequacy of the existing system and to provide guidance in designing systems to handle stkrface water runoff when the community is completely developed. A hydrologic model simulates the rainfall-runoff process so that runoff rates and votumes from design storms can be estimated for different storm water system configurations and land use conditions. The water quantitT analysis shown in Table IV was generated utilizing the Soil Conservation Service's (SCS) ~TR-20" method and used the following criteria: Drainage basin area Runoff coefficient (curve number-CN) based on Soil type and land use including cover type Antecedent moisture condition (average condition 24-hour rainfall distribution (Type 24-hour precipitation amounts within Columbia Heights - 5-year event: 3.52 inches - 1 O-year event 4.15 inches - 100-year event 5.88 inches Travel time and/or time of concentration Stage-storage-discharge curves for existing .ponds/lakes 57 0 0 L :ELd /~ r-.: o::: o " CITY OF NEW BRIGHTON CITY OF ST.. ANTHONY rO 0 0 0 o Table 4-3 COMMF~FFS ON HYDROLOGIC/HYDRAULIC DATA Comment # Comment 1 Assumed elevation for normal water level from USGS quadrangle maps. 2 3 4 5 7 10 11 12 13 Outlet is RCP culvert. Truncated hydrograph with maximum discharge of 175 cfs at subbasin A3 routed through downstream pipes. Peak discharges, assume no storage within the basin and conveyance of the runoff by the existing storm drainage system and adjacent streets. Flow into the ponds is from storm sewers and overland flow. The 24" BCCMP outflow pipe w~ create water level increases of 1.8', 2.1~, and 2.7' for the 5-, 10-, and 100-year storm events. The peak flow within the storm sewer system wi~ not exceed 175 cfs, which is the approximate capacity of the 60" RCP. 44th Street at Jackson Pond will flood for the 100-year storm event. The peak outflow from Jackson Pond will not exceed 175 cfs, which is the capacity of the 60" RCP storm sewer under 44th Street. The peak flow within the storm s~wer will not exceed 150+ cfs, which is the capacity of the 54" RCP. Pressurized flow will cause local ponding at storm sewer catch basins. Storm sewer pipes witb2n this segment have tess hydraulic capacity than those upstream and downstream. Pressurized flow will cause local ponding at storm sewer catch basir~s. The peak flow within the storm sewer will not exceed 400 cfs, wNch is the approximate capacity of the 78" RCP. Water level increases within Jackson Pond wi~ be 6.9~, 10.0', and 14.1 for the 5-, I0-, and 100-year flood events. Due to undersized storm drains within 44th Street, all storm e9ents analyzed will flood 44th Street. However, the 100-year flood event will produce the largest duration flooding as shown by the water level of 894.9. The 12" RCP outflow pipe will create level increases of 2.1', 2~7', and 4.7' for the 5-, 10-, and I00-year storm events. 23\02\099\CHPLAN .RPT\KMH Table 4-31continued I Comment # } Comment 14 15 16 17 18 19 2O 21 22 23 24 25 The peat: inflow witch the storm sewer system will not exceed 130 cfs, which is the approximate combined capacity of the existing storm sewer pipes. The peak inflow to the storm sewer system will nor exceed 102 cfs, which is the combined capacity of the existing storm sewer pipes. The peak outflow from the storm sewer system will not exceed 335 cfs, which is the combined capacity of the existing outflow pipes. The capacity of the 42" RCP outlet pipe is 82 cfs. The 5- and 10-year peak discharges will be conveyed hn the pipe, while the 100-year peak discharge will produce pressure flow within the pipe. The existing storm drain from Sullivan Lake to the City of Fridley boundary on University Avenue will convey the 5- and 10-year peak discharges. The system is under capacity for the 100-year peak discharge. The peak inflow to the lake from the storm sewer system will not exceed 47 cfs, which is the approximate of the existing inflow pipes. The peak inflow to the pond from the storm sewer system will not exceed 17 cfs, which is the appro:~Amate capacity of the existing inflow pipes. The substantial storage that exists within this subbasin was considered by increasing the time of concentration from 0.200 hours to 0.300 hours. The storm drain systems between these lakes are large enough to carry the outflows from one lake to the next~ Tertiary Pond will experience high water levels for all storm events analyzed. Water levels will rise 15.8', 18.1', and 23.3' for the 5-, and 100-year storm events. Terti~ Pond is very small in siT. e, does not have an outlet, and has experienced flooding problems in the past. The substantial storage that exists Mthin this subbasin was considered by increasing the time of concentration from 0.485 hours to 0.900 hours to get a 5-year peak discharge equal to the capacity of the 48" RCP. The peak discharges within the storm d~n system will nor exceed 130 cfs. Detention storage will occur at the headwater of the exAsting storm system for a~ storm events analyzed. The storm drain system begins at a low point on 38th Place NortheasL 23\02\099\CHPLAN .RFTXKaMH Table 4-3--continUed Comment # COmment 26 27 28 29 The peak discharges within the stOm~ drain system will not exceed 33 cfs, which is the approximate capacity of the 36" RCP storm sewer pipe. The peak disch~ges wit~ the st0m SeWer system will not exceed 4 cfs, which is the apprO~ate capacity of the 12" RCP storm sewer pipe. ~e peak diSch~ges wit~ the sram Sewer system will not exceed 9 cfs, which isthe apprO~ate capacity of the 18~ RCP storm sewer pipe. Flow wit~ the street to the intersecti°n of 37th Avenue Northeast and ~ street. 23\02\099\CHPLAN .RPT\IGMH WATER QUANTITY RESULTS AND PROBLEM AREAS This section provides a summary of the water quantky and any existing water quantity problems for each of the six watersheds. Water quantity is as peak discharges for storm drain flow. and as peak: discharges and volume of storage required for ponds/lakes. Columbia Heights is a fully developed city with the potential for future land use changes; therefore, the water quantity' analysis performed for present condi6ons is also considered applicable for future conditions. Watershed A - Labe#e-Jackson Pond Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) This watershed, located w4thin the center one4hird of the City along 44th Avenue, is the largest watershed within t~he City with an area of approximately 1.76 square miles. The watershed is drained by an extensive ktorm drain system that exits from the City' at 45th Avenue and Main Street and discharges storm water westerly to the Mississippi River through a 78-~nch pipe. The three main storm sewer drains are as follows: Forty-eighth Avenue/Monroe Street (Valley View Elementary and Middle Schools) west and south to 45th Avenue&'Iain Street; Labelle Pond west along 44th Avenue through Jackson Pond to 45th Avenue/Main Street; and TbSrty-eighth Avenue/University north along University Avenue to 44th Avenue and north and west 45th Avenue/Main Street. Labetle Pond and Jackson Pond serve as detention areas for storm water and reduce peak flows in the storm water system. The following is a discussion of some of the drainage components in this watershed, with an emphasis on those components with potential problems. Labelle Pond, located at 41st Avenue east of Central Avenue, has a tributary drainage basin of 102 acres and a water surface area of approximately 7.4 acres at the normal water level of " 1 923.3 msl. At the design high water level of 926..~ ms, the water surface area would be approximately 9.2 acres. The water quantity analysis was performed assuming that the water level was normal (923.3 msl). The calculated pe~ discharge from the pond for the 5-, 10- and 100-year storm events are 0.6 cfs, 3.8 cfs and 18.0 cfs, respectively. These flow rates can be easily handled by the existing 24-inch discharge pipe. The pond water level would rise 1.8 feet, 2.1 feet and 2.7 feet for the 5~, 10o and 100-year storm events, respectively. The 100-year storm event would create a water level of 926.0 msl, which is 0.3 feet below the design high water level of 926.30 msl. Jackson Pon& located southwest of the Jackson Avenue intersection, has a tributary' drainage basin of 547 acres and a water surface area of approximately 1.6 acres at the normal water level of 880.8 msl. At the berm level of 890~3 msl, the water surface area would be approximately 2.3 acres. The water quantity analysis was performed assuming that the water level is m 880.8 msl at the beginning of the storm, which means that the pond has 6.4 feet of 63 water from a recent storm. The analysis also assumed that the entire 547-acre drainage basin would drain through the pond~ and that discharge from the pond would be equal to the capacity of the 44th Avenue storm drain, which is approximately 176 cfs. Peak discharges from the pond for the 5-year or greater storm event would be approximately 176 cfs. The pond level would rise 6.9 feet, 10,0 feet and 14.1 feet for the 5-~ 10- and 100-year storm events. The respective water level elevations are 887.7, 89038 and 894.9 msl. The computed water level elevations indicated that the 5- and 1 O-year storm events will not create water levels higher than either the Quincy Street or the 44th and 43rd Avenue Iow points. However~ the 100-year storm evem will flood these streets and adjacent areaso The pond~ constructed in the t960s and modified several times since~ is located in the low point of a natural depression. The Columbia Heights Flood Insurance Study establishes 896.2 msl as the 100-year flood level., which would result in the flooding of approximately 30 structures~ FEMA has recently reanalyzed Jackson Pond and reestablished the 100-year flood level as the top of the berm around the pond. The 44& Avenue Storm Drain begins at Labelle Pond, flows north to intersect 44th Avenue at Tyler Place, flows ,,vest along 44th Avenue to Jackson Pond, flows west along 44th Avenue to junction with a storm drain from the south along University Avenue, flow's west along 44th Avenue to Main Street. flows north along Main Street to a storm drain junction at 45th Avenue and Main StreeL and then flows west to the Mississippi River. The segment of the storm drain from Jackson Pond to Main Street will crow' approximately 176 cfs during the 5-, 10- and 100-year storm events. Some flows are decreased as pipe sizes are reduced along the flow path and could result in some flooding at the Main Street intersections of 44th Avenue and 45th Avenue. Flooding probably occurs for all storm events. Watershed B - Clover Pond-Sulfivan Lake Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) This watershed, located along the northern boundary of the City, is the second largest watershed in the City with an area of approximately 0.84 square miles. The watershed is drained by an extensive storm drain system, which discharges at 53rd Avenue and University Avenue north to the Mississippi River. The four main storm sewer drains are as follows: Clover Pond west along the north CiD' limit to Central Avenue and then west to Sullivan Pond: Sullivan Lake at Sullivan 53rd Avenue/University Avenue; Drive/Washington Street west and north tO 49th Avenue/Jackson Street (Valley View Elementary' and Central Middle Schools) north to Sullivan Pond at 51 st Avenue/Jefferson Street; and Irmsbruck Parkway/Johnson Street west along 49th Avenue to Central Avenue and then north along Central Avenue to a junction with the Clover Pond storm sewer. Clover Pond and Sullivan Lake serve as detention areas for storm water and reduce peak flows in the storm sewer system. The following is a discussion of some of the drainage components in this watershed, w/th an emphasis on those components with potential problems. 54 Clover Pond, located in the northeast comer of the City and to the northwest of Highland Lake, has a contributory' drainage basin of 18 acres and a water surface area of approximately 3.2 acres at the normal water level of 988~4 msL The water quantity analysis was performed assuming that the water level is at discharge elevation or 988.4 msl. The peak discharges from the pond for the 5-~ 10~ and 100-year storrn events are 3.7 cfs, 4.7 cfs and 7.1 cfs~ respectively. These flow rates can be easily handled by the existing discharge pipe. The pond level would rise 2.1 feet, 2.7 feet and 4.7 feet for the 5-~ 10- and 100-year storm events, respectively. The 100-year storm event would create a water level of 993.1 msL A review' of as-built plans indicates that houses around this lake have been built above the computed 100-year water level and flooding should not be a problem. The Boundary Storm Drain (Clover Pond to Central Avenue) begins at Clover Pond, flows north to the City boundary- with the City of Fridley, and then flows west along the boundary line to the j unction with several storm drains at Central A,venue. The storm drain is located within a drainage easement along the back line of properties within the City of Columbia Heights. Several low spots exist in the terrain along the storm drain alignment. Storm water has collected in these low spots in the past and this analysis indicates this will continue to be the case. During ail storm events analyzed, these low spots continued to collect water. Excess water during the storm will overflow these low spots and flow west along the storm sewer alignment to Central Avenue. The excess water ,~411 then collect at Central Avenue causing flooding of the street and surrounding area. Several houses built within the City Fridley along the north edge of these low spots have experienced problems. The Central ~4venue to Sullivan Lake Storm Drain begins at the junction of several storm drains: the Boundary storm drain from the east. the Central Avenue storm drain from the north and the Central Avenue storm drain from the south. The outlet pipes at Central Avenue have a combined capacity of approximately 335 cfs, which is tes~ t~nan the calculated 5-~ 10- and 100-year peak runoffs. The calculated peak runoffs are 472 cfs~ 616 cfs and 1.027 cfs, respectively. The excess water should cause flooding at the storm drain junction on Central Avenue. Sullivan Lake. located near the north City limits west of Central Avenue, has a contributory drainage basin of 0.73 square miles and a water surface area of approximately 15.3 acres at normal water level of 880.3 msl. At the design high water level of 884.3 mst, the water surface area would be approximately 21.7 acres. The water quantity analysis was performed assuming that the water level is normal (880.3msl) at the beginning of the storm event. The peak discharges from the lake for the 5-, 10- and 100-year storm events are 29 cfs, 50 cfs and 130 cfs respectively. The lake level would rise 2.6 feel 3.2 feet and 4.6 feet for the 5-~ 10- and 100-year storm events respectively. The 100-year storm event would create a water level of 884.9msl, which is 0~6 feet above the design high water level. Under full flow conditions, the discharge pipe will handle 8.2 cfs, which is larger than the 5- and 10-year peak discharges. The 100-year peak discharge of 130 cfs would place the existing pipe systems under pressure flow. This increased flow' may cause minor flooding at downstream inlets. Furthermore, the 100-year storm event would increase the lake level 0~6 feet above the design high water level and cause the inundation o f more land than anticipated by the original design. 65 The Sullivan Lake to 53rd Avenue/University Avenue Storm Drain begins at Sullivan Lake, flows west along Sullivan Drive to 7th Street and 52nd Avenue, flows west along 52nd Avenue to Universit¢' Avenue~ flows north along 'University Avenue to the north City boundary, and then flows north to the Mississippi River. This storm drain, assuming full flow conditions, will handle approximately 82 cfs. Calculated peak discharges at the 53rd Avenue/University Avenue intersection are 52 cfs, 84 cfs and 201 cf2s tbr the 5-, 10- and 100-year storm events, respectively. The existing storm drain system will handle the 5- and 10-year storm events while the 100-year storm event will cause flooding of the street system. Watershed C - Highland Lake-Secondary Pond Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) This watershed, located in the northeast comer of the City, drains an area of approximately 0.50 square miles to a low spot that does not have an outlet. The watershed is drained by an extensive storm drain system, which discharges into Highland Lake located in Kordiak Park. Highland Lake and Secondary Pond serve as detention areas for storm water and reduce peak flows in the storm sewer system. Tertiary Pond, located within the City of Fridley, functions as a retention pond for this watershed becanse it is a low point in the drainage system and does not have an outlet. The following is a discussion of some of the drainage components in this watershed, with an emphasis on those components with potential problems. Highland Lake, located in Kordiak County Park in the northeast comer of the City, has a contr/butory drainage basin of 0.32 square miles and a surface water area of approximately 15.7 acres at normal water levet of 996.1 msl. The water quantity analysis was performed assuming that the water level is at 996.1 msl. The peak discharges from the lake for the 5-. 10- and 100-year storm events are 14 cfs, 16 cfs and 19 cfs, respectively. These flow rates can be easily handled by the existing systems. Thepond level would rise 1.1 feet, 1.5 feet and 2.7 feet for the 5-, 10- and 100-year storm events, respectively. The 100-year storm event would create a water level of 998.8 msl. A review o~ the as-built ptans indicates that the 100-year water level wilt encroach into the backyards of several houses located along the east side of the lake and fronting onto West Upland ~rest; however, the 100-year water level will not result in flooding of any existing homes along the lake. The elevation of the lowest home around the lake is approximately 1004.4 msl. Secondary Pond is located north of Highland Lake on the boundmw of Columbia Heights and Fridley, and has a contributory drainage basin of 033 square miles and a water surface area of approximately 2,0 acres at normal water level. The water quantity analysis was performed assuming that the water level is at the invert of the discharge pipe, which is 991.8 msl. The peak discharges from the lake for the 5~, 10- and 100-year storm events are 14 cfs, 15 cfs and 19 cfs, respectively. These flow rates can be easily handled by the existing outlet stmcture o The pond level would rise 2. I feet, 2.3 feet and 2.9 feet for the 5-. 10- and 100-year storm evem. respectively. The 100-year storm event would create a water level of 994.7 msl. 66 Tertiary Pond, located northeast of Secondary' Pond and within the City of Fridley, has a contributow basin of 0.50 square miles ands a water surface area of 1.1 acres at normal water level (area was measured from May 1989 aerial maps of the City). This pond, which is located at the low point of the drainage basin and has no outlet, serves as the final retention area for the watershed. The water quantity analysis was per,brined assuming that the water level is 940.0msl. The peak inflow to the lake including overland and storm drain flow' is estimated to be 151 cfs. 206 cfs and 369 cfs fbr the 5~, 10~ and 100-year storm events, respectively. The pond level would rise 15.8 feet, 18.1 feet and 23.3 fbet for the 5, 10- and 100-year storm events, respectively. The 100-year storm event would create a water level of 963.3 msl. The large - contributory drainage area and the small storage volurne w411 produce large fluctuations in water levels for this pond. It is expected that flooding of adjacent to Tertiary Pond could occur for the 1 O-year storm event and probably will occur for the 100-year storm event. The elevation of the lowest home around the pond is approximatel3 957.3 msl. Watershed D- Silver Lake Drainage System (Rice Creek Watershed District) This watershed, located in the southeast comer of Columbia Heights, drains approximately 0.45 square miles of the City to Silver Lake. This watershed also drains a portion of the City of St. Anthony, which is located to the east of Columbia Heights. The watershed is drained by an extensive storm drain system that runs along the City's east boundary with the City of St. Anthony. The four main storm sewers drain as follows: ,~ 45th Avenue/Stinson Boulevard south along Stinson Boulevard m Silver Lake; e 45th Avenue/Tyler Street south and east to Silver Lake; Hart Lake east and north to Silver Lake; and 39th Avenue/Alley located east of Polk Street. northeast and east along 40th Avenue to a junction with the Hart Lake storm sewer near 40th Avenue/gvlcKinley Street. Hart Lake serves as a detention area for storm water in this watershed. The following is a discussion of some of the drainage components in this watershed, with an emphasis on those components with potential problems. There are two major Storm Sewers Draining the Area North of Silver Lake. These two storm sewers enter the lake with a combined capaciD~ of 40 cfs. This is less than the calculated 5-, 10- and 100-year peak runoffs of 108 cfs, 147 cfs and 263 cfs. Some of the excess water may be temporarily stored in low spots not accounted for in the analysis, with the remainder flowing to Silver Lake as overland flow and street flow. Hart Lake, located east of Hayes Street between 37th and 39th Avenues, has a contributor3' drainage basin of 0.04 square miles and a surface water area of 8.2 acres at the normal water level (~rea was measures from May 1989 aerial maps of the City~. The water quantity analysis was performed assuming that the water level is at the invert elevation or 950.0 msl. The peak discharges from the lake for the 5-, 10- and 100-year storm events are 1 cfs. 2 cfs and 3 cfs. 67 The take level would rise 0.4 feet, 0.5 feet and 0.8 feet for the 5-. 10- and 100-year storm events, respectively. The 100-year storm event would create a water level of 950.8 msl. As shown by the calculations, flooding around this lake should not be a problem due to its large size in comparison to the small area of the drainage basin. Thirty-one percent of the contributory drainage basin is occupied by the lake. There are two major Storm Sewers Draining the Area South of Silver Lake. These two storm sewers are combined at the j unction near the intersection of 40th Avenue and McKinley Street and drain to Silver Lake. In addition to Hart Lake, substantial storage areas are present north of 39th and 40th Avenue between Hayes Street and Arthur Street. The water quantity analysis indicates that the peak discharges entering the lake for the 5-, 10- and 100-year storm events are 130 cfs, 175 cfs and 300 cfs. The 5-year peak runoff will be handled by the storm sewer systems, but the 10- and 100-year peak runoff rates will be conveyed to the lake within the existing street system and overland where possible. Some of the excess water will be temporary stored in iow spots not accounted for in the analysis~ Watersheds E-F-G - City of Minneapolis Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) These watersheds, located at the southern boundary of the City, drain an area of approximately 0.53 square miles. The watersheds are drained by an extensive system of storm drains that discharge south into the Minneapolis storm sewer system at eight locations. From west to east, these c~nnections along 37th Avenue are at University Avenue, 5th Street, Madison Place, mid- block between Reservoir Boulevard and Tyler Street, Tyler Street, just west of Pierce Street, Johnson Street and Hayes Street. The following is a discussion of some of the drainage components in these watersheds, with an emphasis on those components v~Sth potential problems. [¥atershed E is further divided into subwatersheds, one for each major discharge point. Subwarershed El has contributory area of 0.08 square miles and drains to two discharge storrn drains on 37th Avenue - one at mid-block between Reservoir Boulevard and Tyler Street, and one on Tyler Street. The combined peak discharges from these two points are 88 cfs, 117 c~s and 204 cfs for the 5-, 10- and 100-year storm events, respectively. The discharge capacity at Tyler Street is approximately 33 cfs; therefore, flooding will occur at 37th Avenue for all storm events analyzed. Subwatershed E2 has a contributory area of 0.04 square miles and drains to the discharge storm drain at 37th Avenue and Pierce Street. The peak d~scharges to this point are 38 cfs, 51 cfs and 92 cfs for the 5~ 10- and 100-year storm events, respectively. The discharge capacity at Pierce Street is approximately 4 cfs; therefore, flooding wilt occur on 37th Avenue for all storm events analyzed. Subwatershed E3 has a contributory area of 0.03 square miles and drains to the discharge storm drain at 37th and Johnson Street. The peak discharges tothis point are 22 cfs, 30 cfs and 54 cfs for the 5-, 10- and 100-years storm events. The discharge capacity at Johnson Street is approximately 8 cfs: therefore, flooding will occur on 37th Avenue for all storm events analyzed. 68 Subwatershed E4 has a contributory area of 0.01 square miles and drains to a storm sewer inlet at 37th Avenue and Johnson Street. The peak discharges to this point are 14 cfs 19 cfs and 34 cfs for the 5-, 10- and 100-yea storm events, respectively. It is likely that flooding will occur on 37th Avenue fbr all storm events analyzed~ due to the limited capacities of storm sewer inlets in the area and the capacity of the discharge pipe. I'Vaterxhed F has a contributory area of 0.04 square miles and drains to the discharge storm drain at 37th Avenue and Madison Place. The peak discharges to this point are 61 cfs, 76 cfs and 118 cfs for the 5-, 10~ and 100-year storm events, respectively. The capaCity of the storm drain is 35 cfs. This capacity is less than the peak discharges for all storm events analyzed and flooding within the watershed is anticipated. As-built plans indicate that detention storage w411 occur at the headwater of the storm drain system, which located on 38th Place. This storage was not accomnted for in the runoff analysis. ffTatershed G has a contributory area of 0.33 square miles and drains to the discharge storm drain at 37th Avenue and 5th Street. The peak discharges to this point are 331 cfs, 425 cfs and 690 cfs for the 5-, t 0- and 100-year storm events~ respectively. The capacity of the storm drain is 220 cfs. This capacity is less than the peak discharges for all storm events analyzed and flooding within the ~,'atershed is anticipated. A substantial portion of the runoff flows through Huset Park, which has experienced flooding during peak runoff events. Flooding problems have also been experienced along 39th Avenue at Jackson Street and Van Buren Street. Storm water storage within the park was not included m the analysis; therefore, the actual peak flow's may be tess than those predicted by the model. Watershed H - City of Fridley Drainage System (Six CNes WMO) This watershed, located in the southwest corner of the City, drains an area of approximately 0.12 square miles. The watershed is drained by a storm sewer that exits from the City at 39th Avenue and California Street and discharges storm water westerly to the Mississippi R2ver. The water quantity analysis indicates that the peak discharges for the 5-. 10- and 100-year storm events are 55 cfs, 87 ct~s and 188 cfs. respectively. Assuming a full flow condition, the capacity of the storm drains flowing to the intersection is 34cfs. while the capacity of the discharge pipe is greater than 180 cfs. The existing upstream storm drain system will not handle the flow from any storm event analyzed: however, pressurized flow condkions would increase the capacky of the upstream system. Runoff that camnot be handled by the storm drain system will flow within the streets to the low points within the watershed. The as-built plans show that there are mid- block Iow points between 39th and 39th Avenues on California Street, Main Street and 2nd Street. Due to the undersized pipes, some flooding may occur at these low' points during major storm events. 69 RECOMMENDED WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENTS The Columbia Heights F?ater Resource Management Plan (1992) also included preliminary recommendations on drainage improvements that could be implemented to alleviate some of the water quantity problems. These recommendations are summarized by watershed. Watershed A - Labe#e Pond-Jackson Pond Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) The main storm drain system within this watershed begins at Labelle Pond, drains north and west to Jackson Pon& drains west along 44th Avenue, drains north along Main Street and then drains westerly from 45th Avenue/Main Street intersection to the Mississippi River. The two water quantity problem spots identified along this storm drain are Jackson Pond and along Main Street from 44th to 45th Avenue. Jackson Pond is located in a low spot and historically the area around the pond has experienced flooding. The 100-year flood level established by the Columbia Heights Flood Insurance Study would result in flooding of approximately 30 structures. Both structural and nonstructural methods are available to deal with the flooding problem. A nonstructurat method would require the purchase of flood insurance by those affected by the flooding. A flood insurance study has bee~ completed for the City; therefore, those properties shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FItCM} to be within an established floodplain are eligible for flood insurance. There would be no cost to the City for this insurance. Even though a structural solution may be selected in the future, the purchase of flood insurance by private property owners for the present possibility' of flooding should be encouraged by the City. Two structural methods that would remove the threat of flooding are to provide additional downstream storm drain capacity- and/or to acquire some of the structures subject to flooding and construct-additional detention volurne on properties. The capacity of the existing storm drain system is fairly constant for a considerable distance downstream of Jackson Pond to University Avenue. Improving the capacity of the downstream storm drain would most probably require the construction of an additional storm drain from Jackson Pond to the Mississippi River. This would require the construction of at least one mile of storm drain just to the west and an additional ~/5 mile of storm drain westerly to the Mississippi River outfall. The value of the potentially affected structures would render an unfavorable cosVbenefit ratio; therefore, it is concluded that the increase in capacity should not be pursued. Increasing the detention volume to minimize the flooding around Jackson Pond could be accomplished by aCquiring some of the structures subject to flooding and constructing another pond or expanding JackscJn Pond. The detention basin could be constructed as a dry basin to allow its use as another City park. Three benefits that would occur ,,v~th additional detention storage are: 1) structures subject to flooding would be removed from the floodplain; 2) another C:, ..... v could be created' and 31 downstream flooding at Main Street would be alleviated. It ~s recommended that the feas~bd~ty of th~s solution be further explored to determine the cost~,%enefit rano. 7O As stated previously, the size of the University Avenue To Main Street/45th Avenue storm drain is reduced from a 60-inch east of Universiw Avenue to 54-inch. 42-inch. and 48-inch between University Avenue and the Main Street/45th Avenue intersection. Historically, flooding has occurred in this segment of reduced pipe size. The flooding could be mirfimized or eliminated for small storm events by adding an additional storm drain along this street segment; however, the 5-, t0-, and lO0-year storm events would still cause flooding in this segment of pipe unless the pipe size was increased the entire distance to the Mississippi River. Again, the cost/benefit ratio may not be favorable for adding another pipe and additional detention volume at Jackson Pond may be more cost-effective. Another possible method that could be considered to alleviate flooding along th~s section of storm drain is the construction of an additional detention basis. A possible location for the detention pond could be south of 44th Avenue between 2nd Street NE and 3rd Street NE within Gauvitte Park. Storm water from Jackson Pond and areas south along University' Drive could be discharged to the proposed pond and the pond volume and outlet could be designed to limit outflow to the downstream pipe capacity. It is recommended that the construction of an additional detention basin in this area be further explored to determine its feasibility. Watershed B - Clover Pond-Sullivan Lake Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) The main storm drain system within this watershed begins at Clover Pond, drams north to the north City limit, drains west along the north Cig,, limit to Central Avenue, and then drains west through Sullivan Lake Park into Sullivan Lake. The discharge from Sullivan Lake drains west and north to the 53rd Avenue/University Avenue intersection and then drains north to the Mississippi River. The two water quanti~y problem spotS identified along this storm drain are the Boundary Storm Drain between Clover Pond and Central Avenue and the storm drain junction at Central Avenue located between 51 st and 52nd Avenues. The Boundary Storm Drain (Clover Pond to Central Avenue) is located along the City boundary with the City of Fridley within a drainage easement along the back lot lines of a number of Columbia Heights' residents. Existing depressions along this storm drain collect water and cause flooding of several houses in Fridley along the north side of the storm drain. The existing storm drain does not have enough capacity for the runoff peaks f¥om the 5-, 10-,, and t 00-year storm events. This flooding pro~tem could be solved by either installing a larger storm drain or by flood-proofing the houses with potential flooding problems. Correcting the flooding problem by installing ano~er storm drain would require the installation of a new line all the wa3,' to Sullivan Lake, since the storm runoff calculations indicated that a flooding problem also exists along this line at Central Avenue. This solution would require the construction of approximately one-half mile of new storm drain, which would be very' expensive. Improvements to alleviate the flooding problems in tbAs area have recently been further investigated in cooperation with the City of Fridley. The recommended solution is to perform grading work in the area to eliminate the existing depressions and drain excess storm water to Central Avenue. 71 Regarding the storm drain junction at Central Averme between 51st and 52nd Avenues. the TR-20 analysis indicates that flooding should occur at this storm drain junction fbr the 5~. 10% and 100-year storm events. The model did not consider scattered upstream storage in determining these peak discharges and, therefore, these peak discharges may be higher thar~ actual. Correcting the potential problem would be very expensive because it would require the installation of additional inlets near the junction and 1,377 feet of new storm drain from Central Avenue to Sullivan Lake. Unless a historical record of flooding can be proven, it is recommended that no improvements be installed. Watershed C - Highland Lake-Secondary Pond System (Six Cities WMO) An extensive storm drain system collects and conveys the runoff from 0.32 square miles to HigbAand Lake, which is drained to Secondao' Pond bk a storm drain system. Secondary Pond. which is located on the north City boundary with the Cityof Fridley, is drained by a storm drain to Tertiary' Pond. Tertiary Pond, which does not have an outlet, is located in the City of Fridley. A water quality concern associated with these three bodies of water is the regulation of the water levels to prevent flooding of houses located around the lakes and ponds. During the 100-year peak runoff, untimely operation of the control structures could cause flooding of houses around all of these water features. The water quality analysis, performed with the assumption that the gates were open on the two upstream lakes, indicates that the t00-year runoff would raise water levels by 2.7 feet at Highland Lake. 2.9 feet at Secondary Pond, and 23.3 feet at Tertiary Pond. Based upon these 100-year water levels, flooding of homes would occur around Secondary Pond and Tertiary Pond. DmSng a 100-year storm event, it may be de e to limit overflow 'from Highland Lake to prevent or minimize downstream flooding in Secondary Pond and Tertiary Pond. The normal water level of Highland Lake, which is located in Kordiak County Park. is controlled by the City of Columbia Heights. The normal water level in Secondary Pond is controlled by the City, of Columbia Heights in cooperation with the City, of Fridley. Proper control of these water levels is necessary to prevent or minimize the potential flooding of houses around these lakes. It is recormmended that additional studies be made of these lakes and that an operation manual be written to assure proper operation of the outlet control structures. A critical time in flood control with Highland Lake, Secondary Pond and Tertiary Pond will be right after a t 00-year storm event. Another large storm event right after a 100-year storm event could cause substantial flooding of all three of the lakes; therefore, it became necessary to provide an additional outlet from Highland Lake to drain off the excess water immediately after a large storm event. In 1996. a diversion pipe was consm~cted from Highland Lake to Clover Pond to provide additional water for Clover Pond. This alleviated a potential flooding problem and provided relief for a water quality problem on Clover Pond. The construction of the diversion pipe was coordinated with the 52nd Avenue Floodway Project to avoid the creation of additional flooding problems downstream of Clover Pond. 72 Watershed D - S#ver Lake Drainage System (Rice Creek Watershed District) Drainage from the portion of the watershed area within the City of Columbia Heights is toward Silver Lake by an extensive system of storm drains. The TR-20 analysis indicates that the storm drain that begins at the 45th Avenue/Tyler Street intersection and flows south and east to Silver Lake is undersized for peak runoffs from the 5-, 10-, and 100-year storm events. The other storm drains wilt handle the peak runoffs from the 5-year storm event. Substantial scattered storage that exists in this watershed was not acco~.mted for in the model; therefore, ~_mless there has been some historical record of flooding, it is recommended that the system be maintained as it currently exists. If the low spots that currently exist are re-graded to drain, it may be necessary to increase the capacity of the current drainage system. Watersheds E-F-G - City of Minneapolis Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) These watersheds drain the areas along the southern boundary' of the City south to 37th Avenue and into the City of Minneapolis Drainage System All pipes are undersized for peak runoffs from the 5-, 10-, and 100-year storm events. Floodk~g has been experienced in the past along 37th Avenue at Buchanan Street and Lincoln Street, and it is expected that flooding will occur at other locations along 37th Avenue during the major storm events. Since these storm drains discharge to a system within the City of Minneapolis, it would be very expensive to increase the size of the syst4m. Unless extensive historical ~looding has created }ignificant problems in the area, it is recommended that no changes be made to the system at this time. Some flooding relief could be accomplished for the storm drain system that discharges at the 37th Avenue/5th Street intersection by constructing a detention basin within Huset Park. It is · recommended that a study be undertaken to determine the feasibility of the construction of a detention basin in this area to alleviate historical flooding problems along 39th Avenue. Watershed H - City of Fridley Drainage System (Six Cities WMQ) Flooding may occur at the mid-block Iow points between 38th and 39th Avenues on California Street. Main Street, and 2nd Street during major storm events. The storm drains in this location drain to a 54-inch pipe that discharges to the Mississippi River from the Califbrnia Street/39th Avenue intersection. The 54-inch pipe has the ~vailable capacit3~ to allow the installation of additional inlets or to increase lateral pipe sizes as necessary to alleviate any localized flooding problems. WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS A developed watershed can export large mounts of phosphorous and other nutrients into downstream receiving waters. Scientific literature supports the theory' that wetlands and wet detention basins can improve water quality of storm water by trapping and removing nutrients before they reach dovmstream receiving waters. The wetland and wet detention basins v, dthin~ the City o~* Columbia Heights were evaluated usin¢ design criteria developed under the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Nation(¥ide ~irban Runoff Program (NURP). The 73 PONDNET water quality model developed by William Walker (Walker~ 1989) was used to access the phosphorous removal efficiency of basins within the City. The PONDNET model was developed using data from NURP and incorporated typical hydrological conditions of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Area. The model provides an estimate of the phosphorous removal obtained from the routing of urban storm water runoff through wet detention basins. Wetlands and constructed detention basins can also serve to e~hance the overall quality of storm water runoff by providing areas for settling particulate matter and biological activities which remove nutrients from the water column. WATER QUALITY RESULTS AND PROBLEM AREAS Limited data are available on the quality of the water resources within Colmnbia Heights. Results of the PONDNET modeling indicate that the wetland and water bodies within Columbia Heights receive a substantial mount of nutrients and sediment from their tributary watersheds. Several of the larger ponds and lakes remove substantial mounts of nutrients from their direct tributary watershed; however, the majority of storm water runoff within the City does not receive treatment in the wet detention areas. The process of lake or pond degradation is called eutrophication. It is the process whereby lakes and ponds accumulate nutrients from their watersheds. Over time, a lake or pond naturally becomes more fertile~ and is converted from an "oliotrophic" (nutrient poor) to a ~'eutrophic" (nutrient rich) status. The sediment and internal biologic.al production fill the lake's basin and the take successively becomes a pon& a marsh and, ulti}natelv, a terrestrial site, The rate of this eutrophication process can be greatly accelerated by human activi~. The conversion of land from its natural state to industrial, agricultural and urban land uses can greatly increase the rate and amount of nutrients that will run off a watershed. This process is called cultural eutrophication. Many of Columbia Heights' small lakes and ponds are in danger of eutrophication ar an increased rate because of the urbanization of the City'. While wetlands are recognized as important areas for improving storm water quality, utilizing naturally occurring wetlands and ponds for sedimentation and water qualit¢' basins exclusively can result in degraded wildlife and aesthetic values of these wetlands. Maintenance activities, which are generally required of constructed sedimentation and water quality basins (such as dredging) are more difficult and expensive to perform in natural wetlands. Efforts should be made to incorporate sedimentation basins upstre~n of wetlands in order to facilitate maintenance and protect values of existing wetlands. The majority of the storm water within the City does not receive treatment to NURP criteria. Existing wet detention areas within the City are natural lakes and ponds that are primarily used for storm water control. Given the developed nature of the City, there are limited possibilities to create additional wet detention areas; therefore~ the City should focus on preventing pollutants from entering the storm water by implementing best management practices. A list of these practices can be found in Appendix E of the original document Columbia Heights Water Resource Management Plan (1992) or in the publication Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas ~'! 989) by the Mirmesota Pollution Control Agency. 74 The following is a summary of existing and potential water quality problems for each of the eight lakes or ponds within the community, by watershed and drainage system. Watershed A - Labe#e Pond-Jackson Pond Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) Labetle Pond is used for aesthetic enjoyment, and the City of Columbia Heights has no current plans for upgrading its use. The pond is classified as eutrophic, and algae blooms and odor have been a problem for some years. An augmentation well on the west side of the pond north of 40th Avenue provides an additional water source fbr the pond. Jackson Pond is a constructed storm water detention pond; therefore, it is primarily used for reducing storm water discharge rates. The Ci~ has no other intended uses fbr the pond. Jackson Pond has a low aesthetic or v,4tdlife value. Watershed B - Clover Pond-Sullivan Lake Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) CTover Pond has experienced low water during periods of drought. The current water quality of the pond is eutrophic and improvement of the water quality' for other than aesthetic uses is not planned. An augmentation well on the south end of the pond provides an additional water source for the pond, Sullivan Lake is mildly eutrophic and algae bloom and odors have potential to be a problem. The lake is closely related to the surrounding groundwater and water levels remain stable, even during times of drought. Where practical, efforts should be made to limit the amount of nutrients entering the lake to ensure that algae and odor problems do not worsen. Watershed C - Highland Lake. Secondary Pond Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) Several studies have been performed on Highland Lake to determine measures fbr water quality improvement. Currently, there is an aeration system operating on the lake that is maintained by Anoka County. The lake is shallow and high in nu~ients; therefbre, water quality problems most likely result from substantial inputs of storm water fi'Om its tributary watershed. Secondary Pond is eutrophic, and the value of the pond is primarily flood control and aesthetic enjoyment. Water quality goals should be to prevent nuisance algae blooms and odors; however, no serious water quality problems have been reported. Watershed D - Silver Lake Drainage System (Rice Creek Watershed District) Hart Lake is considered to be of marginal value for water quality treatment. Given its small size, shallow depth and urban watershed, little water quali¢ imbrovements can be expected. Efforts should be focused on maintaining existing water ~uality and preventing future problems. 75 Silver Lake is classifi_e~ as a fisheries lake. Water quality problems in the Columbia Heights portion of Silver Lake s watershed would result pri~aril~ f~om inadequate treatment of storm wa~er runoff pr/or to discharge into the lake. Efforts should be made to provide wet detention areas or other improvements where practical. In 1999 and 2000, the City participated in a joint study through Ramsey County for an evaluation of the Silver Lake Watershed. The City also participated in a project with the Minnesota DNR in 1999 to install an aeration system in Silver Lake~ which the City now maintains and operates. In addition, efforts have been made for wet detention in this tributary area. In 1998 and 1999, a detention pond was installed in Prestemon Park (M at 39th Avenue). A permit was granted by the RC~VD in i998. Water. sheds E-F-G - City of Minneapolis Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) There are no lakes or ponds in the City of MinneaPolis Drainage System watershed. Watershed H- City of y Drainage System (Six Cities WMO) There are no lakes or ponds within the City of Fridley Dra/nage System watershed~ SURFACE WATER I~ANAGEMENT GOALS, ICIES AND IMPLENIENTATION STRATEGIES The following surface water management goals have been developed for Columbia Heights~ Each goal in~iudes numbered policies and b~lleted implementation strategies that correspond to each of the policies. These goals and policies are cOns/stent with the C~'Iumbia Heights ~ater Resource Management Plan (1992), and reSpond to the second generation plans of the Six Cities ~atershed Management organization Pian (~997, amended 2000) and the Rice Creek [¥atershed District Plan (J 997, amended 2000), as documented in App;ndix B Goal: Control flooding at~d m~imize public capital expenditures, 1. Provide for the detention and retention of surface water runoff. The City will utilize natural storm water storage areas and manmade detention areas to control flooding. ~, The City will utilize the storage capacity of the na~al drainage system to control rates of runoff. The City will consider the financial feasibility of constructing improvements to the storm Water system in order to alleviate some of the water quantity problems outlined in this plan. Maintain the storm water storage and conveyance facilities. ~ The City will implement street sweeping a minimum of twice per year - once immediately folio(ring spring snowmelt t~ remove sand and other ~ebr/s, and once in the fall a~ter leaves ha:~e d~opped to reraove accumulated debris. · The City will periodically inspect all intakes for damage and remove debris. 76 The City will periodically inspect all special outlet structures, including sk/mmers~ for proper operation and for accumulation of debris and oils. Debris and oil will be removed to assure proper functioning and to prevent re-suspension. The City will periodically inspect gr~t chambers and catch basins for sediment accumulations and remove sediment if a smnp is more than half full of sediment. · The City will periodically inspect sediment accumulation of storm water storage areas and at pond outlets and remove any excess sediment, including animal activity that may iml~air the outlet or storage capacity of the facility~ · The City will inspect the drainage system after flood events of the 10-year recUn'en~e or great~r, including checki~g water IeVets~ inspecting pond slopes for slope failure, inspecting intakes for damage and debris accumulation~ and performing any necessary maintenance. Provide guidehnes for management of landlocked dra/nage basins. The City will require the flood levels established for landlocked basins to take into consideration the effScts of water level fluctuations on trees, vegetation, and erosion ands property values. Steeply sloped shoreland subject to slope fa/lure mad shoreline damage should not be in c~ntact ~ith floodwaters ft}r extended periods of time. The City will require the capacity of proposed outlets to landlocked basins to not be so small as to CaUse exten~led ~luration of high water levels that would result in damage to upland vegetation. The City will allow only the existing tfibuta:ry area to discharge to a landlocked basin, unless a provision has been made for ~ outlet from the basin. The form of outlet may range from temporary pumps to gravity storm sewers. The outlet must be implemented before increased water levels are likely to affect vegetation, slope stability and property values. The City will require that placing outlets on previously landlocked basins will not create sigrfifican~ impacts on downstream ~ater levels and flow rates, and no wetlands are deWatered as a result of outlet installation. Establish standard hydrological design criteria for all storm water conveyance and storage facilities. The City will require trunks (outflow conveyors) to be designed with capacity for the greater of the 10-Year event ~r the 100~year det6ntion basin outflow. The City will require all other systems to be designed with pr/mary capacity for the 10-year event, and provide secondary caPacity for the 100-year event ~n the fbrm of overflow routes or ~dequate storage Colic. The City will require a hydrographic method to be used in the design of detention basins and other ~acilities (such a~ wetlands) where there is significant storage. 77 The City will require an SCS Type II 24-hour storm, 10-day snow melt or other accepted critical storm analysis to be considered in determining the critical event for storm water storage areas. The City will require all drainage system analysis and designs to be based on the ultimate full development land use patterns. The City will require detention facilities design to include access for maintenance of the outlet structure and the facility in general. The City will require the provision of emergency outflows or outlets to drainage areas for any landlocked area if the available storm water capacity is inadequate to prevent flooding of residences. The City will require storm water facilities to consider and identify location of overflow(s) that prevent property damage to adjacent properties from extreme water levels. 5. Provide a 100-year level of protection for all properties within the community. The City will require detention areas to be designed for the 100-year event where practical. The City will require the purchase of flood insurance for low-lying properties if the adjacent detention area cannot be designed for the 100-year event. The Cky will manage land use constraints along open channels, storm sewer overflow areas, depressions, wetlands and lakes based on their respective 100-year flood levels, as cc~mputed in preparation of the COlumbia Height Water Resource Management Plan. The City will amend the zoning ordinance to update the floodplain overlay district requirements. Reduce public capital expenditures necessary' to control excessive volmes and rates of runoff. The City will continue its efforts to institute a storm water utility to provide funds necessary for the construction of storm water facilities. Promote the development of regional detention areas, as opposed to individual on-site detention. The City will adopt policies that allows and encourages the development of regional detention ponds. 78 · The City will require new development to incorporate storm water controls to prevent an y increase in peak discharge rates unless increased discharge is provided for in an approved regional ponding suite, and flood storage volumes shall be maintained within the subwatershed. Goal: Achieve water quality standards consistent with the intended use and classification. 1. Identify and protect surface waters classified as protected waters. The City has identified all protected waters within the community and developed a map showing the location of these protected waters, a copy of wl~ich is availai}le in the Cormmunity Development Department. Protect wetlands and surface water from deterioration. The City will adhere to best management practices as outlined in Protecting ~ter Quality in Urban Areas, published by t~e Minnesota Pollution Cont:rol }kgency (MPC.~). The City w/Il amend the zoning ordinance to include a shoreland management overlay district, as required by the Minnesota Department of Natural ReSources (DNR). · The City will require future outlets to DNR protected waters to pass through a sediment pond/trap prior to discharge into the public water. - The City will require the maintenance of a vegetated buffer strip adjacent to the water body wherever possible. 3. Promote public awareness of water quality iss~es. · The City will support the Six Cities Watershed Management Organization's commun}ty education efforts. The City will support the Rice Creek Watershed District's community education efforts. 4. Protect wetIand and surface waters from pollution. ~ The City will develop a response plan to minimize the impact of hazardous spills on protected waters. The City will perform maintenance measures to minimize pollutant loadings to water bodies, eXcept for ponds used for sediment removal. 79 5. Maintain protected waters in accordance with their functional classification. Surface waters will be classified and water quality functions will be maintained according to the provisions set forth in the Columbia Heights Water Resources Management Plan, 1992 and this Surface Water Management Action Plan. Goal: Protect and enhance water recreational facilities, fish and wildlife habitat. t. Protect natural areas and wildlife habitats. e The City will reqtth:e buffer zones of natm'al vegetation to be maintained aro-tmd ponds and wetlands to provide habitat for wildlife ~herever possible. The City' will require natural areas and wetlands to be protected during construction to be clearly marked in the field. 2. Safeguard protected waters and wetlands within the community. · The City w411 support programs for controlling purple loose strife. · The City will support programs for controlling Eurasian water milfoil. 3. Enhance water recreational facilities. The City will support the activities of the Anoka County Regional Park to enhance water recreational facilities within the c ity. Goal: Promote ground water recharge and pre~,ent contamination of aquifers. 1. Protect recharge areas identified by Anoka County, · The City will undertake efforts to protect recharge areas from adverse development and potential contamination. The City will develop a response plan to prevent the spread of hazardous spills to recharge areas. Promote activities that increase infiltration/ground water recharge. · When practical, the City will require ponds to be designed as "wet ponds" with storage volumes below the outlet, The City will encourage the use of grassed waterways to maximize infiltration, including the use of proper grades or tm systems to insure positive drainage. 80 Goal: 1. Goal: 1. Support the protection of aquifers lying beneath the community. , The City will identify any spring areas within the community and protect them from development. The City will use both regulatory and non-regulatory tools to protect the land area within designated well head protection area. Maintain the amount of wetland acreage and tO, to increase the wetland values. Support the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) of 1991. The City has documented the use and function of all wetlands within the community and developed a map showing the location of all wetlands, a copy of which is available in the Community Development Department. The City will continue to serve as 'the local governmental unit (LGU) to administer the provisions of the Act within the community. The City will identify areas within the community that could be used for wetland mitigation, if any. ~ The City will discourage the alteration of wetlands within the community. The City will require wetland mitigation consistent with the WCA if alteration is necessary. Prevent soil erosion, Support the preservation of natural vegetation. The City will encourage the preservation of natural vegetation as property is developed and/or redevelOped, if applicable. Prevent sediment from construction activities from entering the City's water resources. The City will develop and adopt regulations for sediment and erosion control that incorporate the general criteria outlined in the Minnesota Construction Site Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook (Board of Water and Soil Resources) and MPCA's Best Management Practices Handbook. · The City ,,',,ill require the submittal of an erosion control plan for all consm~ction activities that re~luire land disturbance, in accordance with the MPCA's Best Management Practices Handbook. e The City will require topsoil stockpiled for re-USe to be protected from erosion. 81 e The City shall require the developer/contractor to keep streets and properties adjacent to construction areas free from sediment carried by construction traffic at site entrances and access points, and from site runoff and blowing dust. 3. Control the erosion from drainage ways within the community. e The Cky will encourage the use of grassed drainage ways. Goal: Recognize the regulatory authority of other local, state, and federal entities. 1. Implement a local permitting program for water resource management. The City will establish a permitting program for water resource management, excluding the area in the RCm whic~ f~cilitates its own permitting~ 2. Provide for the appropriate levelofregulatory authority. · The City will support the regulatory authority of other governmental agencies with watershed management responsibility, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the United States y Corps of Engineers, the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency~ ~ The City will accept its watershed management responsibility. 3. Promote inter-community water resources planning where appropriate. The C~ty will require all inter-community water resource issue planning to consider alternative solutions. · The City will require all drainage studies or ~asibility studies, whether by a WMO, watershed distr/~t, or municipaiity, leading to projects in a subwatershed with an inter-community drainage issue, tO consider the imCact of the project on the drainage issue and the total inter-community project cost. · Except in emergencies, the City will not support solutions or part/al solutions to inter-community drainage issues to be implemented without prior completion of a feasibility study of options and adoption of a preferred option by the applicalble WMO. 4. Establish cooperative working relations~ps with applicable water managemen~ organizations and adjacent communities. The City will forward to the applicable water management organization or adjacent communities the plans and/or Other information concerning all projects and/or new development that will affect the approved local plan ra~e or degrade the quality of water transcending the boundaries of the adjacent community. 82 Goal: 1. o Equitably finance water resources. Require developers to pay their fair share of water resource management activities. The City will develop a pohcy to require developers to provide land, funding, or a combination of both for the management of local water resources, including the development of regional facilities arid studies~ The City will study the option of charging fees to developers for constructing capital improvements, such as trunk conveyance Systems. · The City will estabhsh a structure of fees clxarged to developers for analyzing the impacts of the proposed development. · For property subject to platting or reptatting, the applicant shall provide necessary easements upon ~he subiect property ~for preservation and maimenance purposes of water resource management facilities as determined by the Director of Publi~ Works. Identify alternative fund/rig sources for water resources. The City will investigate funding alternatives, such bonds~ and user char~s for a sto~ water utilitY. as ad valorem taxes, municipal 83 5.HISTORIC PRESERVA TION PLAN INTRODUCTION The preservation of a community's history., creates a meamngful connection with the past and helps frame the community's current image. The Historic Preservation Plan provides a framework for preserving and protecting the community's history. The success of the Historic Preservation Plan is dependent on the citizens of Columbia Heights and their desire to preserve historically significant resources within the City. The City can support the preserYafion 0~'history within the community by creating a Heritage Preservation Commission; however, the success of this implementation strategy is dependent on the support and involvement of the community. The area around Columbia Heights was first homesteaded in 1863 by John and Margaret Sullivan. By the 1870s, the area had a brick factory and stone quarw; however, the area remained largely agricultural until the last decade of the century. When jam~s J. Hill constructed a rail line through the area, a direct connection was provided to the Iron Range. In response, a steel mill was built in the early 1890s, and Columbia Heights expected to become the "Pittsburgh of the West." Unfortunately; when the mill burned dow~n in 1898, it was not reconstructed. In 1893, Thomas Lowry, platted 95 acres of land for residential development in the area through his Minneapolis Improvement Company. Mr. Lowry also promoted the community as a commuter suburb of Minneapolis, with residents traveling via his Central Avenue Electric Car Line and Electric Street Railroad. tn an effbrt to develop the community and provide services for the new, residents, Mr. Low~, also encouraged retailers to locate in the corrm~unity along the southern portion of Central Avenue. Incorporated in 1898, Columbia Heights is one of the oldest suburbs in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. While Columbia Heights has a fascinating history, the City does not maintain a formal record of historically significant structures or properties in the community. There are no structures or properties within Columbia Heights that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, nor are there any structures or properties eligible for listing. In addition, maintain City the series. Each of these cultural, opportunities to City. the City maintains and historical events. Public Library ant elements within the Poland, First Lutheran music 84 HISTORIC PRESERVATION GOAL, POLICIES AND ll~PLEMENTATION STRATEGIES The following historic preservation goal has been developed for Columbia Heights. The goal includes numbered policies and bulleted implementation strategies that correspond to each of the policies. Goal: Preserve and maintain the community's unique historical and cultural elements. Encourage the fbrmation and success of a Heritage Preservation Commission. The City w411 publicize the potential formation of a Heritage Preservation Commission. The City will support the formation of a Heritage Preservation Committee and encourage resident interest. Support the preparation of an inventory of historically significant structures and places in the community. The City wilt create and maintain an inventory and map of historically and culturally significant structures, sites and resources within the community. The City will provide staff to assist the Heritage Preservation Commission in obtaining financial support for the preservation of historically significant structures and resources. Establi sh standards for protection of historically significant structures and places. The City will provide staff to assist the Heritage Preservation Commission with the development c~f standards and policies to prc~ect and preserve the history of the communit~~. The City will amend the zoning ordinance to require review of construction activities that will alter historically significant structures or disturb historically significant places. 85 ENERGY CONSERVATION PLAN ~NTRODUCT~ON Since 1978, the Metropolitan Land Planning Act has required communities to include an element in their plans to protect access to direct sunlight for solar energy systems. The propose of this provision is to protect solar collectors fi:om shading by adjacent structures and/or landscaping. The City of Columbia Heights recognizes the value of solar access protection and energy conservation in general; however~ the community is fully developed with limited new consm~ction. In addition, while a considerable amount of redevelopment will occur throughout the City in the future~ the application of this provision will be difficult within the context of an established land use pattern and natural topography. For this reason, the City wilt look beyond solar accessibility to address the conservation of energy in general through its comprehensive planning efforts. ENERGY CONSERVATION GOALS, POLICIES AND IN~PLEMENTAT~ON STRATEGIES The following energy conservation and solar access protection goals have been developed for Columbia Heights. Each goal includes numbere~ policies and bulleted implementation strategies that correspond to each of the policies. Goal: Guarantee access' to direct sunlight for solar energy systems. 1. Protect solar collectors from shading by adjacent structures anck'or landscaping. The City' will evaluate the feasibility of amending the zoning ordinance to allow building setbacks in residential areas to be varied in order to protect solar access and allow solar collection apparatuses within the setback areas. The City will evaluate the feasibility of amending the zoning ordinance to allow building heights in residential districts to be varied in order to allow rooftop collectors. The City will evaluate the feasibility of amending the zoning ordinance to require buildings to be aligned to take advantage of direCt sunlight for solar energy systems. Comply with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 462.357 and 462.358. as may be amended. The City will amend the zoning ordinance as needed to comply with the provisions of Mirmesota Statutes regarding the protection of solar access. 86 Goal: 1. Promote energy conservation throughout the community. Encourage individual home-owners to implement energy conservation practices. * The City will promote the use ofsolar energy systems in residential areas. e The City will encourage the planting of deciduous trees in residential areas. Support and promote energy conservation measures and innovative technologies. The City wilt promote water conservation within the community. ,, The City will increase non-motorized li~ageS throughout the community, including pedestrian and bicycle linkages, to minimize private automobile use for short trips. The City will promote transit use and the creation of transit oriented development to discourage private automobile use. 87 7. TRANSPORTATION PLAN iNTRODUCTiON The purpose of the transportation plan element is to identify existing and future transportation needs in the City of Columbia Heights for the horizon year of 20202 and to identify policies and planned aCtions to meet those transportation needs. The chapter addresses highways and streets, right-of-way preservation and access management, transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and travel demand management. Columbia Heights is a fully developed community with a stable population and employment base. The cornmunky's popul ' ' 2020; households are pro. jected to increase employment is expected to increase from 4.536 in The population of the community is aging, married couple households with children is transportation as a service. The demographic assumptions for the (TAZ), are provided in Table by the Metropolitan Council. 18,910 in 1990 to 19,500 in ~in 1990 to 8,200 in 2020; and This growth will be stock. is increasing, and the number of The most significant impact on increased need for transit l'raffic Assignment Zone as the projections prepared The City of Columbia Heights is sen, ed by three trunk highways: 1-694, an interstate highway (p~ncipal arterial) running ~ast-west immediately north of ~e City; TH 65 (Central Avenue), an ;A minor arterial, running north-south with an interchange connection to 1-694; and TH 47 (University Avenue), an;"'A minor arterial, ng north-south along the western City border, with an interchange connection to 1-694. In addition, there are several county' roads and Iocal streets that provide sub-regional connections to and through the City. Transit service in the City is fbcused primarily on University and Central fi*venues with some east-west circulation on 40th, 44th. 49th and 53rd Avenues. TABLE 7-~ DEmOGRAPHiC ASSUMPTIONS BY TAZ Source: 0.543 0,544 88 EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS HIGHWAYS AND STREETS The existing highway and street system in Columbia Heights is shown in Figure 7-i. The roadway system includes three trunk highways (I-694, TH 65 and TH 47); two county roads (CSAH 4 and CSAH 2); 10.4 miles of mtmiciPal state-aid streets, 68.3 miles of municipal streets and 18.6 miles of alleyways. Both TH 65 (Central Avenue) and TH 47 (University Avenue) have been identified as candidate routes for tUrnback from Mn/DOT to Anoka County jurisdiction. With the exception of the northeast portion of the community, most of the street system is in a traditional grid form. All roadways in the community are two-lane except TH 47, TH 65, CSAH 2 (40th Avenue) between University and Central Avenues (TH 47 and TH 65), and 44th Avenue between jackson Street and Tyler: Place. Existing traffic volumes are shown in Figure %1, based on 1997 Mmnicipal state Aid (MSA) traffic volume counts. Traffic forecasts for the colle,ctor and arterial streets in Columbia Heights were developed based on the Metropolitan Council s regional travel forecasting model. Where necessary, additional streets were added to the networ-k in the model. The r~odeled distribution of tr~fic and the forecasted volumes were compared to existing trafSc counts to test the reasonableness of the forecasts. The resulting forecasted traffic volumes for 2020, based on the regional TRANPLAN model, are also shown in Figure %I. Based on a comparison of forecast daily volumes to roadway lane capacity, the following locations were determined to have potential capacity' problems: - TH 65 (Central Avenue) between 44th Avenue aped 1-694 ,, 44th Avenue near the intersection with Central Avenue 40th Avenue (CSAH 2) near the intersection with Central Avenue 44th Avenue near the intersection with University Avenue TRANSIT Transit service in Columbia Heights consists of fixed route, demand-responsive and para-transit service. Metro Transit, the Twin Cities metropolitan area regional transit provider, provides fixed route ser¢ice as showaa in Figure 7~2. Routes 10, 24 and 29 run north-south along TH 47 and TH 65. Route 10 also runs east,west along CSAH 4, 44th Avenue and CSAH 2. Columbia Heights is within the Metropolitan Transit Taxing District and pays the full tax rate for transit service. The City is within the market area that receives full peak and off-peak fixed route transit service. Service frequencies are provided in Table 7-2. 89 '°0 ',~kJ a.~ ~,u8S ~ uJaq~ON uo~l~u!tJn~] '3 'S 'N '8 W 8~o TABLE TRANSIT SERVICE FREQUENCY 18 15 24 I 15 29 ,I .... 30 52H ' -' 60 ~ Source: Metro Transit -- Off-Peak Hour Frequency 6O 60 30 30 The Anoka County Traveler provides dem Columbia Heights area. It was established in 199t accessible dial-a-ride service in Anoka County, In Jm Ride Transit System became a part of the ~oka Anoka County' Traveler transit system provides set including Columbia Heights. Para-transit service various other special-purpose serVice providers. nsive (dial-a-ride) transit service to the ) as a demonstration project to provide t~ 1996, the Columbia Heights Shared runty Traveler service area. Today, the vice t° all Anoka County' communities ; also provided by Metro Mobility and The Northeast Transit Corridor, which extends Northtowm Shopping Columbia Heights. This specified term desire encourage the us( Central Avenue and effort between Metro Transit regional transportation system to i downtown Minneapolis north to the :gion as Vkqfile Light Rail Transit is a long year timeframe of the and service levels that will strongly the shoulders and frontage road on t at the intersection of Team Transit, a cooperative capital improvements to the There are currently no park and ride lots in Columbia Heights; however, a park and ride lot will be developed in C~nju~Ction with the construction of a Metro Transit Hub at 41 st and Central Avenues. BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SYSTEM Existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities are discussed in the Parks and Open Space section of the Comprehensive Plan (Chapter 9i % Z FUTURE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM HIGHWAYS AND STREETS Functional Class The designated function of a roadway is defined by the role it plays in serving the flow of ~ps through ~he overall highway and street network. The Metr~Poiitan Council has established detailed criteria for all of the different functional classifications~ The intent of a fimctional classification system is to create a hierarchy of roads that collects and distributes traffic from neighborhoods to the metropolitan highway system, accounting for topography and other phy}ical constraints of the a~ea. In ad~titior~, l~rger ~p generate}s, such as er~pioyment and co~nercial Centers and river crossings, should bi ~erved by roadways with higher classification, such as arterials. Residential, neighborhood, commercial uses and places of relatively low demand should have roadways of lower classification such as collectors and local streets. ~t is in this manner that the land use plan is integrated into the transportation plan. The proposed functional classification of the roadways in the City of Columbia Heights is shown in Figure 7-3. The only changes from existing functional classifications are: Extension of Collector classification along Reservoir Boulevard to make classification ~_miform from Central Avenue to 44th Avenue/Arthur Drive. ~ Classification of Main Street N.E. from 40th Avenue to 45th Avenue as a *B~ Minor Arterial to make classification consistent with Main Street north and south of this section. * Classification of 44th Avenue between Main St. N.E~ and University as a Collector to make classification consistent with remainder of 44th Avenue. ?rinci~a~ arterials are the highest roadway classification and are considered parr of the metropolitan highway system. They connect the central business districts of Minneapolis and St. Paul with each other and other regional business concentrations in the metropolitan area. They also connect the Twin Cities ~ith important lOCations outside the metropolitan area~ Prir~cipal arterials are generally constructed as limited access freeways in a developed area, but they r~ay also be constructed as multMane divided highways. In Columbia Heights, the nearest principal arterial routes include ][-694 to the north and I~94 m the west across the Mississippi R~ver. The proposed functional classification system does not include changes in principal arterial desi~ation in hhe City. Minor arteri~als emphasize mobility over land access and connect cities with adjacent commmnifies and the metropolitan highway systeTM. Major business concentrations and Other important traffic generators are often located along minor arterials. In the metropolit~ area, minor arterials ar~ divided into two classes: A minor arterials and B minor arterials. 93