12-19-01 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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M1NUT'L,S CITY COUNCIL UECGMBEi2 19, 2001 Anderson pointed out that it will be obvious that the building on Rice Street will be a Snyders store. Anderson felt that customers going to Snyders will not be adverse to driving around the corner to access the front oP the store, Anderson noted that the developers are saying that this project should be done as they propose now and then the City's concept will follow. Anderson pointed out the City is saying that if the project is done as the developers propose, the City's concept will never happen. Johnson stated that he did not know the City's concept would every happen inspite of the money the City has put into planning. Anderson pointed out that the developer's position seems to be that the only thing that will work is a strip mall. Knowlan stated that they have tried to put together a concept that fits what they need as well as has a decent appearance from the City's standpoint. If there is away to bring Che concept closer to what the City wants without becoming cost prohibitive, they are willing to look at it. Knowlan indicated thaC Chere is a lot of additional cost in splitting up the one building into two separate buildings. Scalze felt that this argument did not work given that the developer's site plan also calls for two smaller separate buildings along Rice Street. Johnson noted that those two buildings are for sale. He indicated that once some additional development occw s in this area, a new vitality will be provided to the shopping center, which in turn makes the two small for-sale buildings viable. Fahey pointed out that those two small building pads are located more on the street and are more in keeping with the City's Redevelopment Guide. Grootwassink stated that he would propose the two buildings be moved further north and east so that two rows of parking abut Rice Street. The City Administrator indicated that the City may face the same issue of parking abutting Rice Street when the Venetian Inn property is redeveloped. He noted that storefront parking is an important component for retail development, and suggested that there may be the need to revisit that issue. The Administration stated that it is the addition of the retail space on the back of the Snyders building that really makes this development concept not work. While the Administrator stated that he did not want to see the project lost because of this, he did not think the City could ignore its Redevelopment Guide either. whey pointed out that when the Redevelopment Guide was developed, consideration was given to the concept of a theater locating in the area in 7