02/02/2017 EDAC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Chapter 5 — Economic Development Plan Introduction The City of Lino Lakes is in an enviable economic development position in the metro area. The community has a number of assets that set it apart from other metro area cities and gives it an advantage in growing the local economy. The city is one of the few cities to have interchange access on two interstate highways and can therefore offer superior transportation convenience and a wide range of commercial and industrial sites. At the same time, the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve sits at the heart of the city and gives it superior environmental features that contribute to the high quality of life. The city has taken a number of steps in recent years to build upon these assets, expand the local economy and upgrade the quality of design in its development. These economic development efforts have begun to generate results and the city experienced rapid employment growth in the 1990s and 2000s. Residents have benefitted from a more diverse set of options for goods, services and employment within the city limits. The Metropolitan Council has recently recognized this break from past trends by raising its future employment projections for the city dramatically. The projected 2030 employment projection that was made in 2005 anticipated that Lino Lakes' employment would be 3,550 employees. The Department of Employment and Economic Development's (DEED) employment reporting indicates that Lino Lakes had already exceeded the 2030 employment projections by the end of 2007. Based on this information and recognizing the potential for future economic growth, the Metropolitan Council has issued a new 2030 employment projection for Lino Lakes that anticipates 8,000 total jobs by 2030. This chapter will: • Provide a historic and regional context to the city's growth • Document some of these recent efforts that have led to the recent growth • Provide goals and strategies to guide future economic development efforts • Describe some of the implementation steps and tools to assist in achieving those goals Goals and Policies Goal 1: Expand and diversify the city's tax base by encouraging mixed -use and nodal development to lessen the tax burden on residential properties. Rationale: The City of Lino Lakes needs to promote mixed -use and nodal development that integrates commercial developments with surrounding areas and neighborhoods and enhances better connectivity among all parts of the city. Policies: 1) Encourage developers to take advantage of opportunities provided by mixed -use and nodal development design standards especially within designated redevelopment areas. 2) Establish guidelines for the appropriate inclusion of green spaces, paths, sidewalks and other people -oriented amenities within commercial areas and throughout the city. 3) Ensure commercial development is dispersed appropriately throughout the community and in designated business development areas. 4) Develop walkable neighborhoods with commercial nodes and amenities for residents. 5-1