by Laura Adelmann
Thisweek Newspapers

Dakota County will provide funding and assistance to certain cities to jointly plan and promote high density development along planned transit routes.

The cities of Apple Valley, Eagan, Hastings and Lakeville will contract with the Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority (the County Board of Commissioners) to jointly determine development plans and land use issues along transit corridors.

County Transit Manager Dan Krom said the action will allow the municipalities to ensure they meet Metropolitan Council requirements regarding development.

He said the Met Council, an appointed body with final authority over all local government's comprehensive land use plans, has "made it clear they want communities along transit ways to address land use and development around transit corridors."

Working together, Krom said city and county staff will work on transit plans that also allow the Regional Rail Authority to coordinate transit way planning on a broader basis.

"It is a requirement the Met Council has that every community does a comprehensive plan and every ten years, they are updated," Krom said. "I guess from my perspective as a planner, the development and strategies between neighborhoods should be consistent and feed off each other."

Development recommended along transit routes should connect housing to employment and transit facilities and include a mix of medium- to high-density housing within one-quarter of a mile of a transit station, Krom said. Two transit corridors are planned that will involve the four cities: Bus Rapid Transit along Cedar Avenue, which will impact Apple Valley, Eagan and Lakeville; and the Red Rock Corridor planned in Hastings.

Red Rock is expected to be a 30-mile commuter rail line that is planned to run from Hastings, through St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis. It is planned to run roughly parallel to Highway 61 and I-94.

Cedar Avenue is the long-discussed corridor to run a dedicated bus line on Cedar from Lakeville near County Road 70, through Apple Valley to Eagan. The line is expected to meet with the Hiawatha Light Rail system at the Mall of America.

Under the agreements between the cities and the Authority, Apple Valley is slated to receive $15,000; Eagan would receive $7.500 and Lakeville is slated to receive $12,000.

Funds are distributed based on the number of Park and Ride facilities at each transit station planned in each community.

The money, left over from a 2006 grant, will go to help fund expenses, including consultant fees.

All comprehensive plans for communities where transit is existing or planned must have certain information, including the type of transit operating, or expected to be operating, along the route.

The plans must also show transit facilities, including expansion plans for Park and Ride lots, stations, transit centers and infrastructure to support transit, such as garages.

A series of visioning sessions involving various stakeholder have been held to discuss planning issues. The next one, from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Rosemount Community Center, will focus on transit infrastructure and transportation.

Laura Adelmann is at dceditor@frontiernet.net.