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Council adopts ordinance reducing Rice Creek Boulevard trail width and adjusting lighting spacing
Summary
The council adopted Ordinance 2026-013 to amend TCAAP redevelopment standards: multi-use trail minimum width along Rice Creek Boulevard will drop from 12 to 10 feet and streetlight spacing standards will be adjusted to meet MnDOT guidance, with potential Rice Creek Watershed District treatment exceptions and projected cost savings.
Community Development Director Jacob Reilly presented ordinance amendments to Chapter 13 Section 1380 of the TCAAP Redevelopment Code that would allow shared-use path widths along Rice Creek Boulevard to be reduced from 12 feet to 10 feet and permit greater intervals between streetlights consistent with MnDOT lighting guidance. Reilly said the change aligns the corridor standards with Ramsey County design norms and the Minnesota DOT Bikeway Facility Design Guide and could qualify the trail for a Rice Creek Watershed District exception for 10-foot-wide trails, reducing required stormwater treatment volume and project costs.
Reilly said the Planning Commission reviewed the amendments and recommended approval 7-0; councilmembers discussed whether to refer to this roadway as 'Spine Road' or 'Rice Creek Boulevard' in code language, and Ramsey County Deputy Director John Mazzitello cautioned that other TRC references still use 'Spine Road.' Mayor David Grant said he appreciated the cost savings but wanted stronger lighting standards. Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2026-013 and to authorize its summary publication under Minnesota Statutes Section 412.191 (motion carried 5-0).
