City prepares for economic rebound
Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland
As economy gains steam, areas are set aside for development
by Tad Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers
Despite a difficult economy, the city of Apple Valley is looking forward to several initiatives undertaken in the past year preparing it for the future.
Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland detailed these projects and more during the annual State of the City Address delivered April 14 to members of the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“We’ve worked through some difficult and critical issues in the past few years and the chamber and its members have been valuable partners with the city,” Hamann-Roland said.
While growth has stagnated in south metro communities in the past few years, Apple Valley laid the groundwork to accommodate changes to its residential and commercial landscape as the economy rebounds.
The mayor said the city is working with the University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs to prepare a sustainability plan for a 210-acre mixed business campus south of County Road 42 between Flagstaff Avenue and Pilot Knob Road.
Hamann-Roland said the campus is envisioned as a sustainable place to mix medium to high-density housing with office, manufacturing, research and development, medical, and other associated facilities.
About 40 acres could accommodate medical facilities, such as specialty clinics and outpatient services that may also include educational and training opportunities, she said.
Hamann-Roland said another sign that the tide may be turning was the rezoning approval of approximately 122 acres of property, just to the east of the business campus, from sand and gravel to low and medium density residential and institutional uses.
“This rezoning could result in 400-800 new residential dwellings units in Apple Valley over the next several years,” Hamann-Roland said.
Apple Valley’s single-family building permits have waned in the past two years with 21 and 31 being issued in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Hamann-Roland said Apple Valley began 2010 with the most new residential permits in the metropolitan area with 134.
She also enumerated on the 20 or so businesses that started, moved or expanded their operations in the city in 2009 or plan to make changes this year.
Other projects rolled out in 2009 aim to help the city attract new residents and businesses.
The September opening of the new 1,700-square-foot Apple Valley Transit Station with connecting enclosed skyway across Cedar Avenue will accommodate increased bus commuters to Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The 486-space multi-story parking ramp and 264-space surface parking lot have proved a popular destination.
“Adequate transportation systems and alternative transit methods will be critical to our economic future and we will be better served because we emphasized the importance of a robust business core of our city,” Hamann-Roland said.
Another kind of transportation – bikes – will get a boost in 2010 when the city uses a $25,000 grant to conduct a comprehensive trail and sidewalk study.
“The study is an important first step in obtaining funding for trail and sidewalk construction projects,” Hamann-Roland said.
Bike enthusiasts will have a chance to test out some of the city’s current routes by participating in the first Bike Friendly Apple Valley ride Sunday, June 13, 2010.
One of the places that Apple Valley residents and visitors recognize is intertwined with the city’s success is the Minnesota Zoo.
The zoo received an infusion of $21 million in funding from the Legislature’s bonding bill that will pay for a renovation of the zoo’s main entrance. Other work will create a new penguin exhibit, transform the old whale tank into a bird show theater and expand the educational wing.
“This project will renew the center of the zoo facility, making it more attractive to visitors,” Hamann-Roland said.
Tad Johnson is at editor.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
Recent Comments