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Above the Falls
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Policy Review and Implementation Study (ATF‐PRIS)
Summary of Phase I Findings and Draft Recommendations
Great River Forum, September 27, 2011
Support ATF Land Use Findings
Industrial districts. Portions of North Washington, Upper River and
Shoreham industrial employment districts in the study area should remain
industrial. Consider adding employment district designation to
Graco/Scherer area.
Grain Belt area. Guidance for area should be as a mixed use activity
center with housing, commercial, office, and other uses.
Lowry Marshall commercial node. Should remain a commercial node. Key location
suggests potential as a river-oriented business/amenity district.
West Broadway corridor. Guidance should continue to be for non-retail commercial.
Possible additional focus on recruiting office headquarters, building on Coloplast
development.
East side parks. Main character of area should be park. Consider modification to encourage
compatible river-oriented uses within park (residential, commercial, etc).
Modify ATF Land Use Findings
North of Xcel industrial. Modify policy guidance from residential to industrial. Isolation
from residential neighborhoods and recent investments by industrial/office support this.
Lowry to 26th riverfront industrial. Modify policy from mixed use to industrial. Isolation
from residential neighborhoods and suitability for long term industrial support this.
Further Analysis Underway
Riverview Homes subarea. Conflicts exist between existing uses. Need guidance on policy
framework and approach given land use realities.
Northwest quadrant/terminal area. Higher intensity development would yield greater
benefits, but a feasible implementation path has not been defined. Near term process (2-3
months) will quantify the costs and steps involved in pursuing an alternate development
future, for Council consideration.
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2. Posted By http://MillCityTimes.com
Related Findings/Topics
Upper Harbor Terminal. Maintain ownership until path for redevelopment of surrounding
area is clarified, or risk missing major opportunity.
Industrial policy. Consider development/branding of industrial areas with green/sustainable
focus. Strengthen job linkage programs for area. Create and maintain citywide developable
site pipeline.
Infrastructure and site conditions. Need coordinated approach to context setting, including
site preparation and public realm investments.
Implementation. Develop strategies and phasing plans by type of area, ranging from
preservation to transformation.
Rezoning. Nuanced approach needed in order to support ongoing business investments over
appropriate time frames.
Organizational structure. Scale and timeline of required investments implies the need for
one or more properly staffed and authorized lead organizations.
MPRB Consultation. Continued coordination needed between the City and MPRB as plans
for the upper riverfront move forward.
Next Steps
Public process. Present research findings and recommendations to public for review and
comment. Bring to City Council, recommending direction to staff to proceed with next phase.
Plan modification process. Proceed with 9-12 month plan modification process, including
public input, creation of document, and formal review and adoption.
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