12-13-01 Planning Comm. Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION DECEMBER 13, 2001 by Grootwassink and Hotzler has a more suburban arrangement. The Planner indicated that in his plan he tried to reflect an urban appearance. Grootwassink indicated his desire to keep the sight line from Rice Street open to maintain visibility to the Market Place Shopping Center. Roycraft questioned that the little shops proposed adjacent to the Snyders store would be visible from Rice Street. Knudsen pointed out that coming from the north the retail building would be visible and look nice, but he expressed concern with the appearance of the building when coming from the south. Grootwassink indicated that he could dress up the back of the building. Keis expressed concern that the building as proposed looks like a typical strip mall Keis suggested that the look be changed with different storefronts of varying heights. Grootwassink indicated that this could be done. Carson felt the back of the building should be given some character as well Carson asked if signage on the back of the building would be acceptable. The City Planner indicated that a CUP would be issues for the sign package. Grootwassink indicated that most tenants would like signage in the back. He also pointed out that the adjacent bank will block off the visibility of the back of the small retail shops. Knudsen felt that the layout of Snyders was not an issue. The issue is the layout of the building makes it a strip center. Grootwassink questioned the need for Middle Sueet and suggested that it could be eliminated. Keis indicated that he was not prepared to comment on that issue. Carson questioned whether more retail businesses would locate in Little Canada. Grootwassink pointed out that Rice Street is a busy street and there is nothing on it. Keis pointed out Chat the lay-out of the Market Place Shopping Center has always been a problem, and he was not sure what could be done about it short of demolishing the building and starting over. Grootwassink felt that the shopping center was doing fine, but indicated that there is merchants in the center that are struggling. The center has been 100% leased for the past 6 years. Prior to that there was a high vacancy rate in the center. Keis stated that he likes the retail that is proposed and the brick building. However, he was uncomfortable with how the building is positioned on