Title
Adopting the Ford Site Zoning and Public Realm Master Plan as a master plan for use with the Ford zoning districts for the Ford site redevelopment area.
Body
WHEREAS, in late 2006, Ford Motor Company announced plans to close its Twin Cities Assembly Plant with the intention of eventually selling the site for a new use; and
WHEREAS, in January 2007, the Planning Commission initiated a Ford site redevelopment planning process to consider future reuse of the Ford site property and created the Ford Site Planning Task Force to help review planning ideas and provide a forum for community engagement; and
WHEREAS, over the past decade, the City has engaged in extensive research, studies and public engagement to review the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of development options for the former plant site, including fourteen (14) professional studies conducted on behalf of the City, as well a few for Ford Motor Company, to examine redevelopment considerations such as industrial reuse, geotechnical analysis of the tunnel system, open space priorities, sustainable design, stormwater management, traffic impacts, market potential, and financial feasibility; and
WHEREAS, these studies were essential to understanding opportunities for and limitations on the redevelopment of the site - economically, environmentally, socially, and within the context of the community, as well as identifying infrastructure efficiencies, cost-effectiveness, opportunities for environment design and conservation, and how to balance development with the creation of vibrant public spaces; and
WHEREAS, during the decade of planning work, the City undertook an extensive public engagement process, hosting 39 Ford Site Planning Task Force meetings, dozens of large public meetings, over 80 presentations to business, civic and non-profit groups, 18 neighborhood focus group meetings in spring 2017, and sent meeting notice and project updates to over 3,500 subscribers on the Ford e...
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