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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION November 2, 2015 <br />APPROVED <br />45 suggested it would be helpful if the council could view a like development to get an idea <br />46 of the plans. <br />47 <br />48 Mr. Grochala said that staff could also have discussions with White Bear Lake about the <br />49 feasibility study that was done for the area and look at uses and changes in the area. <br />50 There is some due diligence required of the property owners as far as moving ahead and <br />51 they have received specific directions on how to move forward on a Comp Plan <br />52 amendment. He believes the Commers do understand the process that would be required <br />53 to move forward and they are seeking the council view of the proposal. <br />54 <br />55 Mr. Grochala mentioned that there is another development of a similar type proposed by <br />56 North Oaks Development that the council will be seeing in the next month or so. <br />57 <br />58 2. American Legion Parking — Representatives of the American Legion on Lake <br />59 Drive were present to discuss parking issues. They have a long standing need to add to <br />60 their existing parking and it's coming down to a safety issue with cars sometimes needing <br />61 to park on Lake Drive. They are interested in the possibility of utilizing the city owned <br />62 land adjacent to the Legion facility. Extra parking is needed mostly for special events and <br />63 event nights and they would be responsible for monitoring that use and cleaning up. <br />64 <br />65 The mayor confirmed that the city owns three acres next to the American Legion and it is <br />66 designated to be developed as commercial. If a temporary use is what is needed, that can <br />67 be discussed but if there are long term needs maybe the American Legion should think <br />68 about buying a piece of the city land. American Legion representatives suggested that <br />69 the cost may be prohibitive right now but suggest an option for them to purchase and in <br />70 the meantime allow them to use it for parking. <br />71 <br />72 The mayor asked staff to respond on the possibility of allowing use of the land for <br />73 parking short term. Community Development Director Grochala suggested that a lease <br />74 agreement would be called for. That does raise the question of the need for <br />75 improvements to the property to meet city requirements (curb, gutter and blacktop). <br />76 Under a lease agreement responsibility for those improvements could fall to the city. <br />77 <br />78 The idea of including the planned veterans' memorial at the site was mentioned. Mayor <br />79 Reinert remarked that locating the memorial near city hall is the architect's <br />80 recommendation. <br />81 <br />82 There was discussion about the Fire Station parking next door to the Legion. The Legion <br />83 has been managing by using that parking when able and trying to be respectful that it is <br />84 parking for the fire station first. They hope that arrangement won't change after the <br />85 station is managed by the city's public safety division. <br />86 <br />87 There was discussion about the possibility of a lease including associated costs. Mr. <br />88 Grochala suggested there would be land costs, the cost of improvements and taxes spread <br />89 out over a term. Based on the value of the land noted in 2011 when this issue was <br />2 <br />