METRO Blue Line Extension (Bottineau LRT) Robbinsdale

METRO Blue Line Extension (Bottineau LRT)
Robbinsdale Bottineau LRT Station Area Planning Community Meeting
Meeting Summary
General Meeting Overview
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Date/time: October 21, 2015 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Location: Robbinsdale Middle School
3730 Toledo Ave. N, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
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Attendance: 55 attendees signed in at the registration table
Meeting Objectives: The objective of this meeting was to educate residents on the METRO Blue Line
Extension Project and the station area planning process at 42nd Avenue, as well as to gather feedback on the
final 42nd Avenue station area design concepts.
Meeting Purpose:
• Provide information on Blue Line Extension project environmental analysis
• Provide information on the refined Robbinsdale (42nd Avenue) station area plan design concept
• Seek input on the final design concept
Meeting Promotion
Flyer Distribution: The City of Robbinsdale and Hennepin County distributed flyers in the 42nd Avenue
station area to local businesses, places of worship, government buildings and apartment complexes. A list of
distribution locations can be found in Appendix A. The Bottineau Light Rail Transit Project Office (BPO) also
distributed a different flyer to promote the meeting. Their primary focus was to promote the meeting to
business owners and residents directly on the alignment who could be affected by potential noise from
future LRT construction and operation.
Media Releases and Post Meeting Media Coverage: Hennepin County sent a press release announcing the
meeting to a number of media outlets, many resulting in publication. A list of media outlets that received a
meeting notice as well as links to promotional publications can be found in Appendix B.
Email Distribution: Hennepin County sent out an email invite to those signed up for GovDelivery. Email
invitations were also sent to Robbinsdale elected officials, City of Robbinsdale and Hennepin County Boards
and Commissions, Bottineau Station Area Planning Community Working Group members, Bottineau LRT
Health Equity Engagement Cohort members and the Bottineau LRT Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
These groups were asked to post the meeting notice on their websites and distribute the meeting notices to
their contacts.
Website Postings: Hennepin County, the City of Robbinsdale and the Metropolitan Council posted
information about the meeting on their websites.
Social Media: Hennepin County and the City of Robbinsdale posted the meeting notification on their
Facebook and Twitter Pages.
Meeting Format
The Robbinsdale station area planning public meeting began at 6:00 PM with registration, refreshments and
an informal open house. Display boards illustrating the 42nd Avenue station area design concepts were
posted for public viewing, and county staff members and consultants were available to answer initial
questions. The BPO also had boards of the LRT alignment and other project information available, as well as
staff available for questions and comments.
At 7:00 PM, meeting attendees were seated to view a more formal presentation of the refined design
concept. They were greeted with opening remarks from Robbinsdale Mayor Regan Murphy and Hennepin
County Commissioner Mike Opat. Both thanked participants for taking time to be actively engaged in the
station area planning process for Robbinsdale and for their interest in the future of the Bottineau Light Rail
Transit project. Darlene Walser of Hennepin County Community Works gave a brief introduction and
introduced Barry Long of Urban Design Associates, the urban design firm creating the concepts. Mr. Long
went over the feedback received from previous community engagement efforts and explained how that
feedback was used to update and refine the original design concepts.
The presentation was followed by small group discussions about the refined design concept. A large map of
the updated 42nd Avenue station area concept was placed on each table. Each group facilitator led the
group in a discussion based on the following questions and group members were encouraged to note their
responses on the design concept drawing:
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What do like about the station area design concepts (green dots)?
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What don’t you like (red dots)?
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What did we miss that you would like to see added (blue dots)?
One person from each group presented their small group’s ideas to the entire group.
Visual results from the small group exercises are provided in Appendix E.
Small Group Mapping Exercise Results
Table 1
What do you like?
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Liner building is a good idea, concerned for uses and activity
City Hall is a good buffer between business and residential
Like the promenade
Hubbard is really well lit. Keep the great lighting.
Keep small town feel on W Broadway.
More modern feel, larger scale on Hwy 81
Keep small town feel on Hubbard & on W Broadway. Like green space feel of plan.
Safe pedestrian crossing. Small town feel. Love trees & traffic flow out of the ramp on 36th Ave
What don’t you like?
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How will cars and pedestrians get in and out of the ramp? Where and how will that work?
Do cars need to be on 41 ½? Concerned for speed
Safety concern for traffic backup by ramp and pedestrian crossing on 42nd and railroad tracks. “Pinch points’
Make sure it’s a safe pedestrian crossing at 42nd
Why City Hall on prime real estate?
Concern that 36th will become very busy. Will have more traffic at 42nd at rush hour
Doesn’t like City Hall relocation to use that prime real estate
Shutting crossings off – confusion about what’s being shut off, and what’s not
“Weird” & “Keep small town feel.” (written at proposed development west of McDonald’s)
Concerns of traffic. Backs up at these intersections.
Opportunities we missed
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Bike path on Hwy 81 for bike commuters. Beautify and create better bike/pedestrian access on Hwy 81
Opportunity at W Broadway and 38th for relocation
Green up Hwy 81! Make it more pedestrian/bike friendly!
Bill’s Gun Shop building, opportunity to redevelop
Be sure all TPSS are made pretty. Maybe an artist could paint them?
Concern about 41st and Nobel by Sacred Heart. Sidewalks need to be on both sides.
“Opportunity to create nice front.” (written next to current Robbinsdale Town Center)
“Opportunity” (written at 39th Ave and Bottineau Blvd)
“Beautify corridor, bike/pedestrian paths” (written on Bottineau Blvd)
City Hall? (written at senior housing property at 4223 County Road 81)
Roundabout at 42nd and Hubbard
Sidewalk crossing only on one side? (Arrow points to Noble Avenue crossing of BNSF)
Other comments
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Speed bumps if traffic has to stay. Need meters or short term parking
Safety concerns with freight train so close to the station
No turn on reds on Hwy 81 & 42nd
No turn on reds on Hwy 81 and 40th
Who’s paying for all of this? Tax payers shouldn’t be stuck with all of the cost
Concerns about noise from train bells
Noise concerns along the alignment at 39th ½ and 41st Ave
Existing City Hall location is a good buffer to residential
Maybe no parking at all
Table 2
What do you like?
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Design that fits with Robbinsdale – not trendy but classic long term
This area has to be a priority. It needs to work before everything else will (Arrow drawn to park and ride and
Hubbard Ave)
2nd Priority (development opportunity at SE corner of 41st Ave and Hwy 81)
Everyone loves this (plaza area w of Hwy 81)
Scale is significant – but manageable. (indicates park and ride site)
What don’t you like?
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Change this & all intersections to NO Turn on Red” (intersection of Bottineau Blvd & 40th Ave)
Exodus of services in Robbinsdale (evening doctor – can’t get glasses, pediatrician, North Clinic is closing
primary care, obstetrics is closing, orthodontist – none
Prioritize the things that have left or are leaving
Concern about morning and afternoon rush in and out of ramp
Dangerous crossing (Hwy 81 and 42nd, Hwy 81 and 39th ½)
Opportunities we missed
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Please pave bike trail
Can we have a movie theater? And bike shop
More bike parking - need it right now
Hubbard Transit Center would be a great place for a community center
Bike service kiosk fix it near Wuollet Bakery and at City Hall
Do a coffee shop (at 42nd Ave station)
For some streets – consider one-way traffic
What about this lot? Should be same as BP site (indicates Shell station on 42nd and W Broadway)
Other comments
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How will this vision – especially at Hubbard – be impacted by oil trains?
Plow the sidewalks well on 42nd Ave- this whole area – have to go out on the street, I’ve fallen on 42nd Ave
Don’t want to wait six years for this crossing to be improved (Arrow drawn to point at intersection of
Bottineau Blvd and 42nd Ave)
People with disabilities live here (near Spanjers Park)
Retain four lanes (at 42nd Ave and LRT crossing, 42nd and Regent Ave N)
Table 3
What do you like?
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Liner is critical to hide park and ride
Like civic space behind Hubbard Market
Park and ride can be used for every day businesses
Little extension of 41 ½ - it is pedestrian unfriendly now
Like housing/mixed use on Robbins Center, but concerns about crossing Hwy 81 to get to downtown
Sawhorse site important because it’s a gateway into town
As much development west of Hwy 81 as possible
New Civic space— is it in the budget?
Don’t change the green space to the west of 42nd Ave and Railroad Ave
What d0n’t you like?
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Do we need a municipal ramp if LRT is there?
Like small town feel, not sure if I want more people, not sure about density, but did housing on Regent and
that was fine
Opportunities we missed
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Park behind City Hall – can it be more of a focal point?
Gas station on Hwy 81: can it be redeveloped?
Public safety building: can it be a better TOD use in the future?
Triangle park: keep as a park but make it more of an entryway
Table 4
What do you like?
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Promenade
Keeps existing character
Doesn’t take out existing homes
Parking structure – location and retail wrap
Bike crossing
Low heights of buildings
Retains view
Senior Housing
Timeline slow so gives more time for gradual change
Business growth
LRT
Brewery/tap room
Parking & wrap (indicates park and ride)
Like Promenade
Like existing downtown (character and scale)
What don’t you like?
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Increased prospect of crime (will Metro Transit be able to handle it?)
Maybe too much density/people
Roundabout on W Broadway in Crystal
Opportunities we missed
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What about no parking in downtown?
Opportunity for Civic Center (indicates Lifetime Fitness near W Broadway and 42nd Ave)
Opportunity for Triangle Park redesign
Opportunity for pedestrian/bike crossing (at 39th ½ along alignment)
Table 5
What do you like?
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Development here would be really great (Arrow drawn to point at the area bounded by Bottineau Blvd, BNSF,
38th Ave, & 37th Ave.)
Like emphasis on keeping character of neighborhood – don’t need density everywhere
Triangle Park - needs upgrade
Like plans to provide parking to alleviate potential parking problems
Like high density housing at Robin Center
Excited about microbrew
Like wrap on the garage
Like high density housing @ Sawhorse
What don’t you like?
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Don’t like city hall on such a valuable piece of land
Do not put LRT stop behind the parking ramp
Opportunities we missed
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Coffee shop would be nice downtown
42nd Ave sidewalk needs a buffer – is too narrow
Other Comments
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Close (indicates intersection of alignment and 40th Ave)
Table 6
What do you like?
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“Triangle”
Robin Center
Municipal Ramp
Old Tex-Hubbard Area
Lights: LED
What don’t you like?
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Relocation of City Hall
Loss of businesses on W Broadway
Lake side Site - scale relative to 81 seems difficult; perhaps buffer between site and Hwy 81 would help
Reconsider ramp impact on back neighborhood - reconnect grid, don’t turn back to the residential to the east
How does 500 cars enter/exit work here? Where do cars go to & from – does it gridlock”
Opportunities we missed
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Pedestrian bridge across Hwy 81
Lakeside area
Post office/parking ramp
Extend visual link across Hwy 81
Put mini ramp at Payday America
Timeless design
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Connect redevelopment of Robin Center to senior housing to the south
Pedestrian bridge (over Hwy 81 near alignment)
City Hall (arrows indicate move to Lakeland Ave N and 41st Ave)
Other comments
• Ensure new bldg. scale meshes with adjacencies
• What is planned access to apartments off Lake Rd south of Hwy 100?
Table 7
What do you like?
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Station is in a good location, will bring in more people and more business
Conducive to multimodal will help commercial business
Like modified crossings at 42nd
Like increased parking opportunity
Love the plan
We love bikes!!
Will bring more patrons to business
Good location for station
Will bring customers to brewery (don’t have to drive).
Like opportunities for dense development (Robin Center)
What don’t you like?
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Small businesses may be displaced
Don’t want to lose small town feel
Noise levels
Worried increased density/height will impact small town feel
Opportunities we missed
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Safety (addressing)
Pedestrian bridge
Bike shop: sales and repair
Close 39 ½ Ave Crossing
Make sure to consider east-west connections
Is pedestrian bridge a possibility? (over alignment at 40th Ave)
Make sure to really consider bikes/multimodal connection
Other comments
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Bottineau and 42nd left turn is difficult
Difficult when the plans are conceptual
Concerned about the noise from train crossing, “the ding ding”
Will there be walls surrounding alignment to keep children safe? Child safety (can we educate kids?)
Table 8
What do you like?
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Want to maintain small town feel
Support new development (42nd Ave and alignment)
What don’t you like?
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People don’t obey speed limit.
Bike traffic not safe currently (42nd and Regent Ave N)
Concerned about traffic for new commercial and park and ride (42nd Ave)
Don’t like pawn shop
Opportunities we missed
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Need stable breakfast restaurant (near station)
Other comments
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Where will all of these housing units be built? Is there really that much vacant land to accommodate said
units?
What effect will Light Rail have on the value of property?
With all the new businesses – will parking ramp be big enough to handle vehicles? Is parking ramp the only
place to park?
How will new/additional traffic flow?
How will safety be affected?
Appendix A: Flyer Distribution List
Location
Address
# of Flyers
City of Robbinsdale
4100 Lakeside Ave. North
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Robbinsdale Public Safety Building
4101 Hubbard Ave N
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Robbinsdale Transit Center
4145 Hubbard Ave N
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Downtown Kiosk (North side)
Downtown Robbinsdale
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Citizens Independent Bank
3700 West Broadway Ave
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Good Samaritan Nursing Home
3815 West Broadway Ave
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West Broadway Apartments
3837, 33, 29, 21 West
Broadway
1
Robbinwood Apartments
3848, 50, 52, 54 West
Broadway
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Bark and Bathe Dog Salon
3883 W Broadway Ave
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Robbinsdale Food Market
4001 West Broadway Ave
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City Haircuts and Barber Shop
4005 West Broadway Ave
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Sacred Heart Catholic Church and School
4087 West Broadway Ave
5
Walgreens
4100 West Broadway Ave
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Strait Stuff Custom Screen Printing
4127 West Broadway Ave
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Wuollet Bakery
4139 West Broadway
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Ace Hardware
4140 West Broadway
2
Paeonia Floral
4150 West Broadway Ave
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Hackenmuellers Meats
4159 West Broadway Ave
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Loads of Laundry
4180 West Broadway Ave
#200
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Shell Station
4200 West Broadway Ave N
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Ostherhus Printing
4500 West Broadway
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Westphal American Legion
3600 France Ave. N
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Broadway Court Apartments
4600 41st Ave. N
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Robbins Way Senior Housing
5500 42nd Ave N
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Rockford Road Library
6401 42nd Ave. North
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Appendix B: List of Notified Media Outlets and Resulting Publications
Media Outlets Receiving Meeting Notifications
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SunPost
Channel 12
La Prensa
One Nation News
Africa Paper
MN Spokesman-Recorder
Asian American Press
Hmong Times
Insight News
Links to Meeting Notice Publications and Post Meeting Publications
Channel 12 TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTUOnvwgXpo
City of Robbinsdale
http://www.robbinsdalemn.com/home/showdocument?id=1474
http://www.robbinsdalemn.com/about/about-light-rail-station-area
https://m.facebook.com/CityOfRobbinsdale Posted October 22
Finance and Commerce: Transit Talk
http://finance-commerce.com/transit/ Posted October 21
Hennepin County
http://www.hennepin.us/bottineau
https://www.facebook.com/hennepin/ Posted October 19
Metropolitan Council
http://www.metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Current-Projects/METRO-Blue-LineExtension/Publications-And-Resources/Events/2015/Blue-Line-Extension-Open-Houses,-October-2015.aspx
MinnPost
https://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2015/10/public-meetings-planned-extension-blue-line-lightrail-brooklyn-park
Sun Post
http://post.mnsun.com/2015/10/12/open-houses-on-light-rail-environment-impact-oct-19-29/
Appendix C: Meeting Agenda
MEETING AGENDA
Robbinsdale
BOTTINEAU LRT STATION AREA PLANNING
MEETING
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Tonight’s Agenda
• 6:00 p.m. – Open House
• 7:00 p.m. – Welcome
• 7:05 p.m. – Presentation of Design Concepts
• 7:30 p. m. – Small group exercise
• What do you like about the station area design concepts?
• What don’t you like?
• What did we miss that you would like to see added?
• 8:00 p.m. – Small group report back
• 8:20 p.m. – Wrap up and Next steps
www.hennepin.us/bottineau
Appendix D: Comment Cards
Comment 1
Can the LRT. We don’t want it. We don’t need it. We don’t want to pay for it. I like Robbinsdale without LRT.
Comment 2
How do bikes and strollers cross 81? We like development on 41st ½. We need pediatricians, orthodontists
and vision doctors.
Comment 3
Wonderful
Appendix E: Workshop Mapping Exercise Results
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table 4
Table 5
Table 6
Table 7
Table 8