Minnesota TH 36

St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual

chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

2.1 Western Project Limits to VQRC members generally emphasized the unat- Osgood Avenue tractiveness of the corridor’s retail/commercial strip development, vast parking areas, and frontage roads. 2.1.1 Context – Existing TH 36 Environment The area is perceived as being unfriendly for pedestri- ans and bicyclists. The St. Croix River Crossing project TH 36 is a four-lane divided highway that serves about is seen as an opportunity to enhance the appearance of 30,000 vehicles per day and is projected to serve ap- this section of highway. proximately 55,000 vehicles per day in the year 2030. TH 36 is lined by retail/commercial activity that can Behind the retail/commercial development lining be generally described as low-rise, low-density strip TH 36 are residential areas of Stillwater and Oak Park development comprised of small businesses on out lots Heights. These residential areas are made up mostly fronting the highway and large “big box” developments of single-family homes on medium sized lots. Streets set farther back from the road. Visually, this develop- are lined with trees, and yards are well vegetated with ment appears as a collection of disassociated buildings, shade trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants (Figure 2.2). signs, and parking areas. The open views across mul- The name Oak Park Heights implies that land now oc- tiple lanes of pavement along TH 36 does little to help cupied by houses and streets was once occupied by oak the visual character of the highway corridor (Figure savanna, a landscape of large oak trees and understory 2.1). prairie grasses.

figure 2.1 figure 2.2 View of Existing TH 36 (Looking West) Oak Park Heights Residential Neighborhood

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-1 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

Access to residential neighborhoods from TH 36 is provided at the intersection of local streets with the highway. The Oakgreen/Greeley Avenue intersection is near the westerly project limits. The Osgood Avenue intersection occurs about three quarters of a mile further east. Both intersections will be reconstructed as part of the project.

It is important to note that although the retail/commercial strip development may define the visual character of the TH 36 corridor, trees are also visually prominent elements in the adjacent landscape. Trees are visible from TH 36 in the neighborhoods behind the retail/commercial development. Dense stands of trees occur on a few undeveloped parcels along the figure 2.3 highway, and trees have been planted throughout the View of Existing TH 36 retail/commercial areas fronting the highway in parking lots and around buildings. TH 36 and its frontage roads disrupt the continuum of tree foliage in the 2.1.3 Recommendations corridor viewshed (Figure 2.3). This contributes to the perception of the highway as a disruptive and unat- To improve the visual quality for the proposed recon- tractive element, disassociated from its larger context structed TH 36, plant the median areas and roadsides or setting. with vegetation to reduce the visual harshness and openness of the highway. Vegetation shall consist of 2.1.2 Evaluation Criteria and Guidance hedges of native shrubs in combination with native grasses. Intermittent groves or clumps of small, slow The VQRC helped develop the following evaluation growing trees (less than 4-inch trunk diameter) should criteria and goals for TH 36: be planted at strategic locations in the median and roadsides to add variety and create some continuity • Reduce the openness of the corridor. with tree canopies seen in the adjacent landscape (Fig- ures 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6). • When proceeding eastbound, increasingly define the entrance to the riverway environment. To be visually effective, hedges should consist of linear mass plantings of single shrub species over sufficient • Improve pedestrian safety and function. distances. Hedges of one species should be alternated with hedges of another species and with native grasses • Create Oak Park Heights and Stillwater to create a rhythmic pattern or flow of mass, color, and entry statements. texture along highway median and roadsides. Suggest- ed salt tolerant native shrubs, grasses, and small trees • Manage traffic speed are listed in Table 2.1. Figure 2.7 shows the locations of (TH 36 is currently posted at 50 mph). the visualizations on TH 36.

2-2 Minnesota Department of Transportation Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

Greeley Avenue

Shrub “hedge” & native grasses in median & along roadsides (throughout corridor)

Trees along north side of Frontage Road Avenue Osgood

Minnesota TH 36

Pull trail away from road & provide Groves of small trees in median planted buffer strip & along roadsides (both sides Oakgreen Ave.) (at selected locations)

Preserve existing trees & shrubs figure 2.4 to extent possible TH 36 Concept Plan – Hedges and Groves of Small Trees

100 0 200 400 H

Osgood Avenue Osgood

O N scale in feet Oakgreen Avenue

figure 2.5 figure 2.6 TH 36 Section – Shrub Hedges in Median and Roadsides TH 36 Section – Groves of Small Trees and Understory Grasses

Frontage Road Westbound Lanes Eastbound Lanes with 8’-10’ mow/ with mow/snow Frontage Road Sidewalk/Trail Frontage Road Westbound Lanes Eastbound Lanes Frontage Road Sidewalk/Trail Deciduous trees snow storage strips storage strips with 5’-6’mow/ along edges snow storage strips Groves of small trees between & along outside of along roads, grass understory Frontage Road Shrub edges between roads 100 0 100

scale in feet

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-3 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

figure 2.4 VQM TH 36 Concept Plan – Hedges and Groves of Small Trees

figure 2.5 TH 36 Section – Shrub Hedges in Median and Roadsides

figure 2.6 TH 36 Section – Groves of Small Trees and Understory Grasses

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-3 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

table 2.1 TH 36 Median and Roadsides – Small Trees, Shrub Hedges, and Native Grasses Shrubs and small trees should be kept approximately 10 feet away from highway shoulders in accordance with Common Name Botanical Name Mn/DOT requirements for snow storage and mowing. Plants will also need to be located so they do not in- Small Trees terfere with signage and sight lines at intersections and driveways. The groves of small trees will have a stron- Quaking Aspen Populous tremuloides ger visual effect if they are located at high points along the highway (Figure 2.8). At high points, the ditches Black Cherry Prunus serotina on each side of the highway can be modified to reduce Alder Alnus incana their depth. This will raise the elevations of the plants and reduce the potential for wet or saturated soils. Paper Birch Betula papyrifera The intersection of Oakgreen/Greeley Avenues and TH Shrubs 36 will create fairly large open areas encompassed by the connections of the local streets and frontage roads. American Corylus americana Stormwater ponds will occupy portions of the area Hazelnut defined by the frontage roads. The visual quality treat- Chokecherry Prunus virginiana ment for these open areas should reflect the character of the adjacent residential neighborhoods, which are Gray Dogwood Cornus racemosa accessed by Oakgreen and Greeley Avenues. These Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhinia neighborhoods are medium to low density and well Juneberry/ Amelanchier arborea vegetated, and the intersection areas should also be Downy Serviceberry well vegetated. Drawing upon the indigenous oak savanna landscape, open space at the intersection should Arrowwood Viburnum dentatum Viburnum be planted with an informal layout of large growing trees (primarily oaks) and a grass understory (Figure Nannyberry Viburnum lentago Viburnum 2.9). For continuity with the character of neighborhood streets, Oakgreen and Greeley Avenues approach- Northern Diervilla lonicera ing the intersection should be lined with uniformly Bush Honeysuckle spaced shade trees. Stormwater treatment ponds in the intersection areas should be designed to have the Grasses visual character of naturally occurring kettle ponds as described in Chapter 9. Also in Chapter 9, is further Little Bluestem Schizachyrium discussion on the development of community gate- scoparium ways, which would be appropriate on both Oakgreen Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii and Greeley Avenues. Driving east, the Oakgreen/ Greeley intersection will not only serve as an entry Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans point to Stillwater and Oak Park Heights; it will be an Canada Calamagrostis opportunity to mark the first transition leading to the Bluejoint Grass canadensis Lower St. Croix River Valley. The use of large trees in Sedge Carex the intersection area defines this marker (Figure 2.10).

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-5 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

figure 2.7 Location Map of Visualizations

2.2 Osgood Avenue to Beach Road the corridor opens up with additional types of development, set farther back from the road. The develop- 2.2.1 Context – Existing TH 36 Environment ment types that occur along this segment include, institutional, single-family residential, multi-family East of the Osgood Avenue intersection, TH 36 begins residential, a landfill/proposed park site, and industrial. to descend into the St. Croix riverway, retail/commer- Traveling east on TH 36, views extend outward over cial development lining the highway diminishes, and the low lying land along the river and there is a sense

2-6 Minnesota Department of Transportation Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

figure 2.8 TH 36 Visualization Typical Section – Trees

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-7 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

figure 2.8 VQM TH 36 Visualization Typical Section – Trees

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-7 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

Greeley Avenue

Stormwater pond with appearance of “Kettle Pond”

Minnesota TH 36

Groves of small trees in Stormwater pond median & roadsides as “Kettle Pond” Pull trail away from road & provide planted buffer strip Oak savanna landscape (both sides Oakgreen Ave.) (deciduous trees with grass understory) Preserve existing trees & shrubs figure 2.9 to extent possible Concept Plan for the Intersection of TH 36 and Oakgreen/Greeley Avenues

100 0 200 400 H

O N Oakgreen Avenue scale in feet

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-9 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

figure 2.9 VQM Concept Plan for the Intersection of TH 36 and Oakgreen/Greeley Avenues

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-9 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

figure 2.10 Oakgreen/Greeley Visualization

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-11 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

figure 2.10 VQM Oakgreen/Greeley Visualization

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-11 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36 table 2.2 Savanna Concept in Right-of-Way

Common Name Botanical Name

Shade Trees that the geography has dramatically changed as the riverway comes into view. This section of highway in- Burr Oak Quercus macrocarpa cludes a key community feature and cultural resource, Northern Pin Oak Quercus ellipsoidalis the Log Cabin Restaurant, which is also known as Club Tara and Phil’s Hideaway. (See Chapter 8 for additional Small Trees information.)

2.2.2 Evaluation Criteria and Guidance Hawthorn Crataegus crusgalli The VQRC helped develop the following evaluation Shrubs criteria and goals for this segment of TH 36:

American Hazelnut Corylus americana • Reduce the openness of the corridor. Chokecherry Prunus virginiana • When proceeding eastbound, increasingly define Gray Dogwood Cornus racemosa the entrance to the riverway environment. Juneberry/Serviceberry Amelanchier canandensis Nannyberry Viburnum Viburnum lentago 2.2.3 Recommendations

Reinforce the transition of TH 36 into the riverway Grasses and Forbs with landscape treatments along the reconstructed highway. Between Osgood Avenue and Beach Road, Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium plant the roadsides with groups of large-growing Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii deciduous trees with an understory of native grasses and a few shrubs (Figure 2.11). These plants should Prairie Dropseed Sporobulus heterolepis reflect the oak savanna landscape that once character- Haiiry Grama Bouteloua hirsuta ized the uplands and upper river terraces along the St. Porcupine Grass Stipa spartea Croix (Table 2.2). The savanna landscape also will act as a transition between the more open, lightly treed Gray Goldenrod Solidago nemoralis corridor west of Osgood and the wooded landscape Purple Prairie Clover Petalostemon purpureum that occurs along the river. (See Chapter 3 for a discus- Rough Blazingstar Liatris aspera sion of landscape visual quality for the TH 36/TH 95 Rigid Sunflower Helianthus rigidus interchange.) Tall Cinquefoil Potentilla arguta Entering the river valley, the TH 36 right-of-way Sky-Blue Aster Aster oolentangiensis widens considerably east of Osgood to accommodate Silky Aster Aster sericeus the south access/frontage road, an overpass bridge for Beach Road, and the TH 95 interchange. The wide Dotted Blazingstar Liatris punctat right-of-way allows the roadsides to be well planted Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis with clumps and groups of trees to convey the savanna Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-13 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

character. Since the frontage road pulls south away from the highway, the widened strip of land between the two roads will permit trees to be planted along the south side of the highway outside of the clear zone. Trees can also be planted along the south side of the frontage road where right-of-way is available, or where agreement can be reached with abutting property own- ers. A gap or opening in the tree planting should be provided in front of the historic Log Cabin Restaurant to maintain its visual exposure from the highway. The spur trail along the south frontage road in front of the Log Cabin Restaurant should be less meandering to avoid any additional impacts to the historic property and the capped landfill. The north side of the highway should also be planted with clumps of trees outside the clear zone and in the right-of-way limits.

2-14 Minnesota Department of Transportation Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

Osgood Avenue

B e Oak savanna on a roadside slopes c h

(north & south sides of highway) R

Minnesota TH 36

Log Cabin Restaurant

Osgood Avenue (do not screen from TH 36)

Where R.O.W. allows, figure 2.11 pull trail away from road & Concept Plan for TH 36 between provide planted buffer strip Osgood Avenue and Beach Road

100 0 200 400 H

O N scale in feet

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-15 Wisconsin Department of Transportation St. Croix River Crossing Project - Visual Quality Manual chapter 2 Minnesota TH 36

figure 2.11 VQM Concept Plan for TH 36 between Osgood Avenue and Beach Road

Minnesota Department of Transportation 2-15 Wisconsin Department of Transportation