INTRODUCTION To facilitate detailed examination of development prospects for all areas of the community, Delano has been divided into 14 planning districts. The location of these planning districts is illustrated on the Extraterritorial Land Use Map within Planning Districts, located on the following page. The planning district boundaries were established mainly using the location of similar land uses and by physical barriers such as highways and water bodies, which naturally separate each from other portions of the City. This section of the Development Framework outlines the land use and development objectives for each individual planning district. 109
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PLANNING DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST Planning District 1 is located just north and west of Delano in Franklin Township. This district is bordered by Highway 12 to the north and east and 72 nd Street and the Burlington Northern railroad to the south. The vast majority of this district is guided for industrial use; however, it also contains a small amount of public/semi-public and commercial/industrial land. The recommendations for Planning District 1 are listed below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 1 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Work toward annexation of land. Designate area for industrial land use. 2. Work through annexation issues to create a new Delano Industrial Park. 3. Plan for the staged extension of utilities (water and sanitary sewer). 4. Control access points to Highway 12. Industrial park design shall require direct lot access from local streets. 5. Create a buffer yard along Highway 12 to shield the outdoor activities inherent in industrial parks from the view of passing motorists. 6. Pursue the cooperation of private sector developers to promote the development of new industries in Delano. 7. Review and update Delano industrial zoning districts to define the range of uses and site, and to identify building design standards preferred by the City. 8. Industrial park storm water management shall not result in flooding or other drainage problems for adjoining properties. 115
PLANNING DISTRICT 2 WEST CENTRAL Planning District 2 is located directly west of the City. While a portion of this district lies within the City, most of the district is still located in Franklin Township. The district is bordered by the Burlington Northern railroad to the north, County Road 30 to the south and Highway 12 to the east. The primary land use for this district is low density residential. The district also includes land guided for low/medium density residential, mixed use, and small amounts of public/semi-public and high density. The recommendations for Planning District 2 are outlined below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 2 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Enforce the City s Floodplain and Wetland Ordinances to preserve and protect wetlands, floodplains, and drainageways from encroaching development. Secure drainage easements over privately owned wetlands that serve as part of the community s storm water drainage system. 2. Promote property maintenance and yard clean up through City-wide clean up programs and code enforcement. 3. Interconnect new residential neighborhoods and existing neighborhoods with local streets, trails, and shared parks. 4. Expand and enhance park and trail facilities throughout the district. Create neighborhood parks that will serve the new growth areas. 5. Provide safe trail connections from Planning District 2 to commercial destinations along Highway 12 and within the Central Business District. 6. Storm water improvements within the new subdivisions shall be designed to protect adjoining properties and aid in correcting existing drainage problems. 7. Franklin Avenue and 72 nd Avenue shall extend to the west and serve as minor collector streets. 8. Davidson Avenue shall be preserved as a north-south major collector street. 9. District 2 shall be developed with a variety of low to medium density housing styles. 10. County Road 30 shall be designed and preserved as a major collector street. 117
PLANNING DISTRICT 3 - SOUTHWEST Planning District 3 is located south and west of Delano. Like Planning District 2, a portion of Planning District 3 lies within the City but most of it is in Franklin Township. This district contains several different residential uses and a small amount of commercial land. The higher density residential uses are concentrated along both County Roads 30 and 16. The balance of the district is guided for low-density residential development with the exception of the land in the southeast and southwest quadrants of the County Road 30 and County Road 16 intersection, which are guided for commercial use. The recommendations for Planning District 3 are as follows. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 3 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Enforce the City s Floodplain, Wetland, and Shoreland Ordinances to preserve and protect wetlands, floodplains, drainageways, and the Crow River from encroaching development. Utilize the aforementioned natural amenities to create a greenway corridor along the Crow River. 2. Utilize the greenway corridor for park and trail facilities that take advantage of the river as a community amenity. 3. Promote high density residential development along County Road 16. Balance residential density with the open space protection along the river. 4. Update City zoning regulations for high density residential development pertaining to density ranges, building design, and required site amenities. 5. Integrate medium density residential uses along major traffic routes. 6. Create a neighborhood commercial zoning district that establishes building and site design standards that will insure compatibility with adjoining residential neighborhoods. 7. Establish a neighborhood park to serve new growth. 119
PLANNING DISTRICT 4 BUFFALO STREET Planning District 4 is located just west of the Delano. It is bordered by 72 nd Street to the north, Highway 12 to the east, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad to the south and west. This district includes residential, public/semi-public, and commercial land. The commercial uses are located along Highway 12 while the residential uses are located in the western two-thirds of the district. The district also includes one highdensity residential use. The recommendations for Planning District 4 are listed below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 4 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Cooperate with property owners to annex scattered Township parcels within the district and land west of the district. 2. Design future residential expansion in the west part of the district to reduce the visual and land use impacts of the existing commercial and industrial land uses located north of the district (in District 1). 3. Promote low density infill development and redevelopment within the district. 4. Encourage the maintenance and upkeep of residential properties through incentive programs and code enforcement. 5. Plan for the future extension of Buffalo Street north to 72 nd Street as a local urban street. 6. Investigate with Franklin Township the potential improvement of 72 nd Street between Highway 12 and the City s western boundary as an urban street. 7. Work with MnDOT and property owners to address drainage issues along Highway 12. 8. Establish a neighborhood park to serve new growth. 121
PLANNING DISTRICT 5 CRAMER PARK / DELANO CITY PARK While a portion of Planning District 5 is located within the City, most of it lies within Franklin Township. The portion within the City includes Central Park. The balance of the district is guided for public/semi-public and commercial/industrial uses and lies within the 100 year floodplain of the Crow River. The recommendations for Planning District 5 are outlined below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 5 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Maintain and improve both Cramer Park and Delano City Park as recreational focal points for the community. 2. Investigate possible river oriented recreational opportunities. 123
PLANNING DISTRICT 6 HIGHWAY 12 WEST Planning District 6 runs along either side of Highway 12 between 72 nd Street and County Road 30. The district contains commercial uses and will face major changes as a result of the improvements to Highway 12. The recommendations for Planning District 6 are as follows. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 7 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Work with MnDOT to implement the in-place redevelopment of Highway 12. Through the Highway 12 improvements, create an attractive entrance to Delano. 2. Create a greenway corridor along the Crow River, taking advantage of right-ofway acquisition for Highway 12. 3. Utilize the Highway 12 upgrade as an impetus for land assembly and redevelopment of marginal commercial sites along Highway 12. 4. Promote economic development and redevelopment through cooperative private and public sector efforts. 5. Phase out non-conforming land uses. 6. Promote site clean up through enforcement of local City codes with special emphasis placed on signs, yard maintenance, and outdoor storage. 7. Enforce the City s Floodplain and Wetland Ordinances and investigate a flood control plan to preserve and protect wetlands, floodplains, and drainageways from encroaching development. 8. Develop pedestrian trails along both sides of Highway 12. 9. Terminate the Franklin Avenue intersection with Highway 12. With MnDOT s cooperation, re-route Franklin Avenue as an access street to serve the commercial sites along the west side of Highway 12. 10. Construct a storm water lift station east of Highway 12 and south of the rail road as a flood protection measure. 125
PLANNING DISTRICT 7 CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD) Planning District 7 is the Central Business District for the. It includes a mix of residential, public/semi-public, commercial and industrial uses. The recommendations for Planning District 7 are outlined below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 7 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Provide new and enhanced CBD directional signs located along Highway 12. This will provide CBD recognition to the highway motorists. 2. Extend the CBD streetscape improvements (i.e., lighting, sidewalks) west along Bridge Avenue to Highway 12. This will provide an identifiable entrance to the Delano CBD with a continuous design theme. 3. Promote private rehabilitation of buildings in a manner that follows the existing historical architecture theme. Promote exterior building modifications for those buildings that have false facades. 4. Encourage private business expansion, redevelopment, and new business development in the CBD that complement the existing commercial base. To assist in the development and expansion of commercial uses in the CBD, the City has established the CBD study area as a community economic development district to allow the City to participate in redevelopment efforts with public financial assistance and tax increment financing. 5. Promote public acquisition of non-conforming riverside buildings and the creation of a riverside park. This effort is intended to remove non-conforming substandard buildings and to integrate the river as an aesthetic amenity that will complement and enhance the CBD commercial core image. The City should explore DNR floodplain grants to determine their availability in assisting in the financing of the acquisition and demolition of floodway buildings. 6. Consider desired streetscape improvements including pavement, curbing, sidewalks, landscaping, and street lighting. City capital improvements programming and planning offer a means to replace failing infrastructure and enhance the appearance of the CBD commercial core. 7. Promote shared parking within the CBD through the use of public and private lots and on-street parking. 8. Promote the accumulative attraction of the CBD businesses and business interchange among the businesses by: 127
a. Establishing common store hours that accommodate the commuter population of Delano. b. Encouraging joint advertising of downtown businesses. c. Establishing of a CBD business directory. d. Continue the City and Chamber of Commerce programs of active community promotion of special events such as Fourth of July celebration and City-wide garage sale. 9. Promote medium and high density residential redevelopment on sites at the periphery of the commercial core to increase local customer base and customer convenience in the CBD area. 10. Continue to allow second story apartments above the commercial buildings as an alternative tenant option and revenue source for the property owner. 11. Promote development of commercial uses that complement existing businesses but do not directly compete with regional retailers. This may require a change in focus from general retail to other businesses including but not limited to specialty retail, restaurants, entertainment, hotel, professional offices, service oriented businesses. 12. Continue to maintain the CBD as the community service focal point of the City. The CBD includes numerous public buildings and services which help provide some identity and attraction to the area. a. Continue to maintain existing City government services in the CBD area including City Hall, Fire Hall, senior citizen center, library, and community center. b. Work with the Delano School District to promote the use and operation of the community education services offered at the Delano Community Education Center. c. Investigate options to keep the Delano post office in the CBD. 13. Pursue the long range redevelopment of the remaining industrial uses in the CBD. 128
14. Investigate the extension of Bridge Avenue to 9 th Street as an alternative route to access the CBD to offset the closing of 3 rd Street at Highway 12. 15. Provide trail connections to the CBD. 129
PLANNING DISTRICT 8 RAILROAD AVENUE Planning District 8 includes all of the industrial land north of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad between Fourth Street and Parkway in central Delano along with low and medium density residential land. The recommendations for Planning District 8 are listed below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 8 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Work with the railroad to upgrade Railroad Avenue to City street standards. Provide for the Railroad Avenue extension to 9 th Street to provide an alternative access to this industrial area. 2. Enforce regulations to promote site clean up in District 8. 3. Promote site redevelopment within District 8 as a means of addressing problem sites. 4. Consider alternative land use options for the northern two-thirds of the Reider site. 131
PLANNING DISTRICT 9 ST. PETER Planning District 9 is located south of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and north and east of Highway 12. This district includes a mix of uses including public/semipublic, institutional, low density residential, and low/medium density. The recommendations for Planning District 9 are as follows. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 9 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Promote private reinvestment and housing maintenance within the district through zoning flexibility, housing programs, and code enforcement. 2. Consider medium density residential land uses as a redevelopment option for marginal homes within this district. 3. Investigate the extension of St. Peter and Rockford Avenue as a east-west street connection to 9 th Street to provide alternative access points to Highway 12. 4. Examine redevelopment to medium density housing along Rockford Avenue between River and 3 rd Street. 5. Investigate the acquisition and removal of homes in flood hazard areas. 6. Evaluate the property in the southeast corner of St. Peter and 5 th Street for possible medium density development. 133
PLANNING DISTRICT 10 HIGHWAY 12 EAST Planning District 10 is located in the southern portion of Delano. This district includes the commercial uses along Highway 12 from County Line Road to County Road 17 and the industrial uses along 7 th Street South between Highway 12 and County Road 17. The recommendations for Planning District 10 are listed below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 10 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Limit access to Highway 12. 2. Improve the County Road 17/Highway 12 intersection. 3. Develop pedestrian trails along both sides of Highway 12. 4. Promote renovation and/or redevelopment of the Delano East Shopping Center. 5. Encourage the relocation of industrial uses along Highway 12 to the new Delano Industrial Park. Redevelop these sites with compatible commercial uses. 6. Improve Lincoln Drive from County Road 17 to Kelsey Street. 7. Improve 9 th Street between Johnson Drive and Northwood Drive. 8. Realign 7 th Street with 9 th Street to improve access to the industrial park. 9. Encourage the redevelopment of underutilized sites in conformance with the performance standards of the appropriate zoning district. 10. Establish performance standards to address compatibility issues between Maplewood Estates and industrial uses. 11. Promote high quality commercial redevelopment along the Highway 12 corridor. 135
PLANNING DISTRICT 11 90 TH STREET SE Planning District 11 is located south of Delano. While it includes the Woods Creek neighborhood, most of the district lies within Franklin Township. The District extends south from Woods Creek to 100th Street between County Line Road and the Crow River. The recommendations for Planning District 11 are outlined below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 11 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Promote the expansion of low density residential development. 2. Integrate residential development with existing environmental features in an effort to protect wetland areas and preserve significant tree cover. 3. Develop a street network that can support future annexation and residential development. 4. Establish neighborhood parks to serve new growth. 137
PLANNING DISTRICT 12 COUNTY ROAD 17 NORTH Planning District 12 is located in the northeastern corner of Delano. It is bordered by County Line Road to the east, County Road 30 to the south, and County Road 17 to the north and west. All of the land in this district is guided for low-density residential use, with the exception of a small amount of public/semi-public which contains the City s waste water treatment facility. The recommendations for Planning District 12 are as follows. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 12 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Promote low density residential land uses. 2. Integrate residential development with existing environmental features in an effort to protect wetland areas and preserve significant tree cover. 3. Insure that all future development preserves and protects natural features. 4. Control access from County Roads 17 and 30. 139
PLANNING DISTRICT 13 DELANO SCHOOL CAMPUS Planning District 13 is located south of County Road 30 between County Line Road and the Central Business District. This district includes residential uses, the Delano Public Schools campus, and a small amount of commercial, public/semi-public, and industrial uses. The recommendations for Planning District 13 are listed below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 13 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Maintain and improve the Delano school campus and play fields. 2. Redevelop the Delano Clinic site. 3. Protect existing wetlands and natural drainage ways, which assist in community storm water drainage through establishment of drainage easements and enforcement of floodplain and wetland protection regulations. 4. Promote low density residential land uses as infill development of existing undeveloped properties. 5. Improve Parkway Avenue by adding a railroad crossing and connection to 9 th Street. 6. Plan for the future extension of Bridge Avenue as an east-west local street between 4 th Street and Parkway Avenue to open existing vacant land for future development. 141
PLANNING DISTRICT 14 DELANO CROSSINGS RESIDENTIAL Planning District 14 is located south of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, north of St. Peter Avenue, and west of County Line Road. The land in this district is primarily guided for medium and high-density residential use, but also contains a small amount of public/semi-public land. The recommendations for Planning District 14 are outlined below. SUMMARY OF PLANNING DISTRICT 14 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Encourage the development of multiple family housing. 2. Insure that all residential development is served by adequate public facilities. 3. Create pedestrian trails that link the residential and commercial uses in this district with the City s park and recreation system. 4. Establish zoning performance standards that will define the type of multiple family uses that may be acceptable to the City. 143