Opus Area Placemaking + Urban Design
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OPUS AREA PLACEMAKING + URBAN DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE CONCEPTCONCEPT 11 CONCEPTCONCEPT 22 CONCEPTCONCEPT 33 Articulate neighborhood Connect across Support social, and trail network neighborhood interpretive, restorative entrances, directions and boundaries, between and recreational activity place-based information ped, bike and vehicular in central spaces and with a clear hierarchy of networks and to public defined trail nodes. wayfinding signage. transportation stations. Overall District Regional Defined Activity Brand Connections Nodes Reference Chapters: Reference Chapter: Reference Chapters: 2. Trail Loops 2. Trail Loops 2. Trail Loops 3. Wayfinding + 5. On-Street Bikeways 3. Wayfinding + Furnishing Furnishing Internal Trails 4. Placemaking + Loops Reference Chapters: Programming Reference Chapters: 2. Trail Loops 2. Trail Loops 4. Placemaking + Programming 3. Wayfinding + Programming Overview Furnishing Reference Chapters: 6. Planting Palettes 2. Trail Loops Developers may use this guide 4. Placemaking + Wayfinding + Site to shape new development Programming Furnishing that provides privately-owned, 6. Planting Palettes Reference Chapters: publicly available amenities that 3. Wayfinding + enhance the trail system and Central Plaza Furnishing support new trail connections. Reference Chapters: 4. Placemaking + Existing business owners may 3. Wayfinding + Programming use this guide to consider Furnishing branding opportunities to 4. Placemaking + Planting Zones promote their goods and Programming Reference Chapters: services as well as improve 5. On-Street Bikeways 6. Planting Palettes connections to the trail system. City staff may use this guide to Development designate funding for capital Standards improvements and public space This implementation guide may Reference Chapters: amenities in addition to using be used by different audiences, 3. Wayfinding + the guide as a tool to work such as developers, existing Furnishing with developers to leverage businesses, and city staff, to 4. Placemaking + privately-managed public achieve a cohesive branding, Programming amenities. wayfinding, and placemaking 5. On-Street Bikeways vision for the district. 2 Opus Area Placemaking + Urban Design TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Overall Concepts.................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: Trail Loops.............................................................................................................. 24 Chapter 3: Wayfinding + Furniture........................................................................................... 38 Chapter 4: Placemaking + Programming................................................................................. 46 Chapter 5: On-Street Bikeways................................................................................................ 48 Chapter 6: Planting Palettes..................................................................................................... 54 Appendix A: Existing Conditions Report................................................................................... 65 Background.......................................................................................................................... 66 Identity + Use........................................................................................................................ 76 Mobility.................................................................................................................................. 84 Natural Environment.............................................................................................................. 102 Appendix B: Previous Plans..................................................................................................... 110 List of Maps Map 1: Branded Trail Loops..................................................................................................... 6 Map 2: Wayfinding Signage by Type....................................................................................... 8 Map 3: Opus District Planting Zones........................................................................................ 11 Map 4: Regional Connections.................................................................................................. 12 Map 5: Proposed On-Street Facilities...................................................................................... 14 Map 6: District Trail System Improvements.............................................................................. 16 Map 7: Activity Nodes............................................................................................................... 17 Map 8: Opus Trail Overview..................................................................................................... 26 Map 9: Opus Trail Loop Placemaking + Wayfinding................................................................ 27 Map 10: Opus Trail Loop Planting Zones................................................................................. 27 Map 11: Green Trail Overview.................................................................................................. 28 Map 12: Green Trail Loop Placemaking + Wayfinding............................................................. 29 Map 13: Green Trail Loop Planting Zones............................................................................... 29 Map 14: Bren Trail Overview.................................................................................................... 30 Map 15: Bren Trail Loop Placemaking + Wayfinding............................................................... 31 Map 16: Bren Trail Loop Planting Zones.................................................................................. 31 Map 17: Blue Trail Overview..................................................................................................... 32 Map 18: Blue Trail Loop Placemaking + Wayfinding................................................................ 33 Map 19: Blue Trail Loop Planting Zones.................................................................................. 33 Map 20: Yellow Trail Overview.................................................................................................. 34 Map 21: Yellow Trail Loop Placemaking + Wayfinding............................................................. 35 Map 22: Yellow Trail Loop Planting Zones............................................................................... 35 Map 23: Red Trail Overview..................................................................................................... 36 Map 24: Red Trail Loop Placemaking + Wayfinding................................................................ 37 Map 25: Red Trail Loop Planting Zones................................................................................... 37 Map 26: On-Street Bike Facilities by Type.............................................................................. 48 Map 27: RecommendedTransit Routes and Bus Stop Locations............................................. 52 Implementation Guide 3 MINNETONKA Southwest LRT Station Southwest LRT Alignment Southwest LRT C r o s s t o w n H S h w a d y y O a k R d EDEN PRAIRIE B r e n R d E R e d C i r E Smetana Rd HOPKINS Y e l l Green C o ir B D w r r e C n i r R E d rD kaOneG W Blue Cir E Smetana Dr CHAPTER ONE OVERALL CONCEPTS Introduction Project Goals The Opus area is currently Key elements that guide the characterized by a circuitous transformation of this area road network, 6 miles of off- into a cohesive ‘opus’ of road trails, mid-century design complementary built forms and elements, and natural open development projects include: spaces. This plan guides the transformation of the Opus • Establishing a mixed use area into a cohesive mixed- community. use community positioned for • Integrating light rail future needs while reflecting the investment into the broader history of the area. Aspects of community. the work include: • Enhancing the existing trail network to help create a • Working with developers sense of place. and businesses to create • Enhancing the district’s publicly-accessible natural features & functions. EDINA privately-owned spaces. • Developing a scope and • Successfully connecting the program elements for a light rail station to the rest of signature new community the surrounding community. level park/plaza space. • Creating a set of public • Complementing the area’s realm design guidelines for existing businesses. the aesthetics within the public right of way. It is important that these elements interact to create The study also recommends a a unique sense of place that series of placemaking efforts reflects the desires of the within Opus that reflect the community while engaging area’s agriculture and business all stakeholders, including park history and serve as a historically underrepresented catalyst for building community populations. and creating an environment supportive of development opportunities. Specifically, the placemaking effort: • Examines the potential to establish permaculture- based edible landscaping along the trail network and throughout the area to connect parks and open space to planned and future developments. DRAFT Implementation Guide 5 Branding Strategy Map 1: Branded Trail Loops The site elements designed and selected within this document build upon the Smetana Rd existing character, helping to create a sense of place within