Geographic Focus Areas

  • In-depth analysis of certain areas is required to determine:
    • Future land uses
    • Potential for additional development or redevelopment
    • Natural resource preservation areas and land use buffers
    • Need for master design planning
    • Need for design guidelines

Opus

  • The appropriate type and intensity of future residential and business development in relation to:
    • Existing development
    • Future SW LRT line planned for sometime after 2010
  • Future development effects on:
    • The transportation system (specifically the internal roadway system, TH 169 and Shady Oak Road)
    • The city’s sanitary sewer system and flows to the Blue Lake Treatment Center
    • City firefighting needs and requirements

I-394 Corridor and Ridgedale

  • Planning for potential change at Ridgedale and the surrounding area (south of I-394):
    • Large-scale redevelopment/expansion of Ridgedale Mall, or planning for minor expansion and improvements?
    • Additional higher density residential housing?
    • Land uses and improvements to enhance area vitality and connectivity, natural resources, city services and aesthetics?
    • Impacts of changes on roadway system, city services and established residential neighborhoods to the south?
  • Planning for the Northridge/Southridge neighborhood area
    • What are the appropriate future land uses?
    • If redevelopment is appropriate, how should it occur to achieve cohesiveness and connectivity to the Ridgedale area?
    • What are the impacts upon the adjacent land uses, roadway system and other city services?
  • Planning for potential redevelopment of other I-394 corridor areas:
    • Are other land uses and transportation changes needed along the I-394 corridor?
  • Planning for connectivity along the I-394 Corridor:
    • Maintaining and enhancing connections and identity between the north I-394 neighborhoods and the remainder of the city
    • Providing and enhancing trail and walkable corridors to and along the neighborhoods, employment centers and activity nodes.

Minnehaha Creek Corridor

  • This includes Minnetonka Mills and the TH 169 Gateway Area.
  • Planning is underway on a shared vision for the Upper Minnehaha Creek Corridor. Please see the nearby display on the shared vision.

Shady Oak Road

Minnetonka Boulevard & Cty. Rd. 101

  • Should the city initiate additional redevelopment strategies within this planning area?
  • What additional steps are needed to improve pedestrian safety and connections to neighborhoods?
    • Trails and sidewalks?
    • Crosswalk areas?
    • Internal and external sidewalk connections?
  • Are design guidelines needed for businesses to encourage cohesive design and identity?
    • Parking lot design and landscaping
    • Storefronts
    • Building materials
    • Site landscaping, lighting and signage

Hwy. 7 from I-494 to Cty. 101

  • Land Use and Development
    • Should the city actively pursue potential redevelopment of:
      • Southeast quadrant of Hwy. 7/Cty. Rd. 101
      • Southwest quadrant of Hwy. 7/Cty. Rd. 101
    • Should additional business development be encouraged along the north and south sides of Hwy. 7, east of Cty. Rd. 101?
  • Access and transportation
    • Are additional access improvements needed around the Williston Road area?
  • Neighborhood Protection
    • How should existing neighborhoods be buffered from highway and non-residential land uses?
  • Existing Business Development
    • Are guidelines needed to lend a more cohesive appearance to the businesses along Highway 7?

Glen Lake

  • Should additional businesses and multi-family/senior housing be encourged in this planning area?
  • What additional steps are needed to improve pedestrian safety and connections to neighborhoods?
    • Trails and sidewalks?
    • Crosswalk areas?
    • Internal/external sidewalk connections?