ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
To Committee(s)
| # | Committee Name | Meeting Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Works & Infrastructure Committee | Oct 12, 2023 |
Action Item(s)
| # | File Type | Subcategory | Item Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Action | Contract/Agreement | Authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the City of Minneapolis acting by and through its Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) for construction, operation. and maintenance of a new parkway on the Upper Harbor site. |
| 2 | Resolution | Designation | Passage of Resolution designating as “Parkway” that part of W River Rd N described in the plat of the Upper Harbor Redevelopment approved by the Minneapolis Planning Commission on October 17, 2022, and transferring jurisdiction of said Parkway to the MPRB. |
| 3 | Action | Easement | Authorizing a temporary public right-of-way easement for a cul-de-sac turnaround at the southern end of the first phase construction of the Permanent Parkway until such time as the Permanent Parkway is completed. |
Previous Actions
2023-00770 - Contract amendment with Eureka Construction, Inc. for the Upper Harbor Terminal Dowling Ave N Construction Project
2023-00767 – Contract amendment with Thomas & Sons Construction, Inc., for the Lower Dowling Ave, 33rd Ave, and W River Road Construction Project
2023-00100 - Upper Harbor Terminal Public Infrastructure (Dowling Ave N, 33rd Ave N, and W. River Rd N) Street Reconstruction: Project approval, assessment, and areaway abandonment
2022-01109 – Upper Harbor Terminal Public Infrastructure (Dowling Ave N, 33rd Ave N, and W River Rd N) Street Reconstruction: Project Designation, Cost Estimate, and Setting Public Hearing
2022-01075 – Contract Amendment with Veit and Company, Inc. for the Upper Harbor Terminal Grading and Demo Project
2022-00654 – Bid for Upper Harbor Terminal Grading and Demo Project
2022-00468 - Bid for Upper Harbor Terminal Rail Removal Project
2022-00278 - Upper Harbor Terminal appropriation
2021-01158 - Land conveyances and development terms with United Properties, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and Xcel Energy for City-owned properties located at Upper Harbor Terminal
2021-01104 - Upper Harbor Terminal Public Infrastructure: Project layout and easements
2021-01069 - Final Upper Harbor Terminal Coordinated Plan
2021-00448 - Upper Harbor Terminal exclusive rights extension and appropriation
2021-00440 - Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR): Upper Harbor Terminal, 3800 1st St N, 2 36th Ave N, 51 36th Ave N, 51 34th Ave N, 3360 1st St N, 3700 Washington Ave N, 3648 Washington Ave N, 3701 Washington Ave N, and 3639 Washington Ave N
2021-00231 - Draft Upper Harbor Terminal Coordinated Plan Update
2020-00632 - Contract with Stantec, Inc. for engineering and design services for Upper Harbor Terminal Project
2019-00550 - Upper Harbor Terminal Community Planning and Engagement Committee Appointments
2019-00111 - Upper Harbor Terminal Concept Plan
2017-00507 - Contract for Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment exclusive rights
2017-00032 - Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment master developer team selection
2016-00037 - Upper Harbor Terminal Phase I Process
Ward / Neighborhood / Address
| # | Ward | Neighborhood | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ward 4 | Camden Industrial | 3800 1st St N, Minneapolis, MN |
| 2. | Ward 4 | McKinley | 3360 1st St N, 51 34th Ave N, 51 36th Ave N, 2 36th Ave N, 3639 Washington Ave N, 3648 Washington Ave N, 3700 Washington Ave N, 3701 Washington Ave N |
Background Analysis
This report requests authorization of three actions in the continued implementation of the City-adopted Upper Harbor Coordinated Plan (Coordinated Plan).
The Upper Harbor is a City of Minneapolis (City) owned site located on the western bank of the Mississippi River in the McKinley and Camden Industrial neighborhoods in north Minneapolis. The site is generally bounded by 40th Ave N on the north, the Mississippi River on the east, 33rd Ave N on the south, and railroad tracks/2nd St N/I- 94/1st St N on the west.
Parkway Memorandum of Understanding
In 2021, Minneapolis City Council passed Resolution 2021R-336, agreeing to convey certain property at the Upper Harbor site to the Park Board to develop as a regional park. On October 17, 2022, the City Planning Commission approved the plat of the Upper Harbor site referred to as Upper Harbor Redevelopment. To provide access and circulation within the site, the plat dedicated right-of-way to the public, labeled “West River Road North”. Through the Coordinated Plan and continued coordination with the MPRB, the City is constructing a portion of the new north-south parkway on the Upper Harbor site as part of Phase 1 Public Infrastructure project.
Based on the function of the roadway, the Coordinated Plan guides West River Rd N to be operated by the MPRB as a parkway. Parkways offer the public an automobile, bicycle and pedestrian link to the natural features and parkland located in the City. Designating West River Rd N as a “Parkway” will be consistent with and further MRPB ordinances, policies, and procedures. Authorizing the attached terms for a Upper Harbor Parkway Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the MPRB will guide the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the parkway.
The key terms of the Upper Harbor West River Rd N Parkway MOU are as follows:
- The Parkway Improvements to be constructed by the City shall include a paved roadway, curbing, sidewalk, roadway lighting, traffic signs, storm-sewer (catch basin and main), watermain, sanitary sewer, landscape irrigation and boulevard.
- The City will be responsible for all costs of constructing the Parkway Improvements, provided that the Board of Commissioners of MPRB, by the MOU, requests that the City Council levy assessments with respect to such construction in accordance with standard City assessment procedures and formulas. The Park Parcel, Parcel 2 as defined in the Coordinated Plan, shall not be assessed for the cost of constructing the Parkway Improvements.
- The City will require the developers of the Upper Harbor development Parcels 3, 4, and 5 to construct a shared drive separate from the Parkway for truck access to Parcels 3, 4, and 5.
- The parties agree that it is their intention that the Parkway will serve as street access to adjacent parcels with minimal curb cuts providing access to development parcels.
- The parties agree that the Parkway will not be a City-managed right-of-way and will not be subject to any City franchise agreements.
- MPRB shall operate the Parkway consistent with the way it operates all other parkways in its system. The MPRB will determine use, operation, policing, alterations, and improvements to and encroachments upon the Parkway.
- The City will, at its expense, be responsible for maintenance and routine repair of the Parkway Improvements.
- MPRB shall be responsible for any capital replacement, installation, management, and maintenance of any and all landscaping and boulevard trees, sidewalks, landscaping irrigation and bike facilities and trails, including sweeping, located on the Parkway.
Temporary Right of Way Easement (West River Road North)
West River Road North is being constructed in two (2) phases. During Phase 1, a cul-de-sac is being constructed at the southern end to provide space for vehicular and pedestrian traffic to turn around and exit the Upper Harbor Redevelopment onto Port of Minneapolis Drive. A portion of the cul-de-sac is located outside of the Right of Way for West River Road North, and in order to allow for construction and use, a temporary right of way easement is required. The easement shall be temporary in duration until such time as construction of West River Road North Phase 2 is completed and opened to public use.