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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/04/2000 EDAC MinutesAPPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: Thursday, May 4, 2000 MEMBERS PRESENT: F. Chase, J. Milbauer, D. Gorowsky, R. Jensen, H. Juni, G. Rehbein, MEMBERS ABSENT: J. Schwartz, M. Haselman OTHERS PRESENT: M. Divine, D. Carlson, B. Johnson, B. Wessel GENERAL/MINUTES Mr. Johnson asked that the minutes be corrected to show him absent at the April 13 meeting. Mr. Juni moved to approve minutes of April 13, 2000 with the correction. Mr. Gorowsky seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. MILLERS ON MAIN Mr. Wessel introduced Chad Wagner, the new owner of Millers. He explained that Mr. Wagner had approached the city about adding on to his restaurant. This proposal has short-term issues, including lack of parking space, and longer-term economic development concerns. Mr. Wessel explained that the county purchased Ross’s Corners in the early 90s and tore it down for additional right-of-way. Millers was Lee’s Kitchen at that time and the county had not budgeted to purchase Lee’s for the same purpose. However, the county has indicated it wants additional ROW that would require removing Millers. Staff is meeting with the county to determine its plans and timetable. Mr. Wagner stated he needed to expand to remain competitive and showed members a sketch of a new facility. He believes there is a need for a banquet hall, off sale liquor store, and a band and pool tables would provide more potential. He indicated his expansion would require approximately y 144 cars. He would need the parcel owned by Lyle Carpenter to the north of Millers to do this expansion. Mr. Gorowsky noted that the Village Inn in White Bear Lake was extremely successful because of numerous factors, including year-round Mr. Wessel stated the economic development issue was whether the city would consider participating in the reconstruction of Millers through a Redevelopment Tax Increment Financing District. Ms. Divine said the area would qualify, depending on what sites were included. Ms. Carlson mentioned the possible future rerouting of Main Street proposed by the county and requested Mr. Wagner be shown the county’s access plan. Mr. Johnson stated that the primary commercial focus has shifted to the Town Center and the CBD is a secondary business use. Mr. Wessel stated this discussion could continue after getting an update from the county. TOWN CENTER DESIGN STANDARDS Ms. Divine asked if members had an opportunity to review the standards. Mr. Rehbein stated the Town Center plan and standards hasn’t worked in other places and if the city wanted to do this kind of development it should buy the land. Mr. Chase pointed out that the civic complex, the bank and the clinic do not meet these new standards. Ms. Divine stated that is correct. The standards are designed to provide a traditional mixed-use neighborhood development rather than conventional suburban environment. Mr. Chase said the city needs to be assured there is a market for this type of development. Mr. Rehbein stated that he visited a development in Arizona based on this type of design and the stores were 50% empty. Mr. Jensen stated that a development would be use driven and no developer was going to do something that would be 50% empty. He added that the new Blaine development of a Target, Cub and Home Depot would affect the Town Center. Ms. Divine explained the purpose of the guidelines was to provide a quality “downtown” that would evolve and grow better over time, rather than need redeveloping in 15-20 years. She noted the design standards are very different from conventional zoning ordinances, in that they require “build-to” lines rather than minimum setbacks, allow a mix of uses within one area, allow on-street parking, focus on pedestrian scale, and have certain architectural standards. Mr. Chase said the master plan did not even meet the standards. Ms. Divine stated the master plan is the standards, therefore it does meet the standards. Ms. Carlson stated she believed the plan needed more flexibility so that this council and future councils could adjust if the market required. Mr. Johnson stated that the P&Z viewed these standards as a starting point from which to negotiate. He said P&Z believed the standards should be set high so that even if some relaxing of the standards was required somewhere, the development would still be of high quality. He noted that P&Z’s focus was planning, while EDAC’s was economic development. EDAC members stated that Maple Grove was doing something similar. Ms. Divine noted that this plan does not have the same objective as Maple Grove. EDAC members requested a tour of the Maple Grove development. Ms. Divine said Mr. Wessel was working on arranging it through the architect. It was the consensus that the June 1 EDAC meeting would be entirely devoted to discussing the standards and that EDAC would provide a representative at the June P&Z hearing. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN Ms. Divine requested if it was EDAC’s wish to present the Economic Development Plan and action plan at a council work session, and to bring forth the policy recommendations in the plan for council consideration. Mr. Chase agreed this would be appropriate and set a tentative appearance at the May 17 work session. Further discussion with Mr. Chase over the presentation will be arranged. EDAC OPEN SEATS Ms. Divine explained that the city had received four applications for EDAC to fill Mr. Fritz Johnson’s vacancy. Mr. Rehbein said he planned to resign because he was seldom available for meetings. Mr. Milbauer moved to accept Mr. Rehbein’s resignation. Mr. Gorowsky seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Carlson said she thought it would be the administration staff’s prerogative to readvertise or select from the current applicants. COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Ms. Divine passed out the award criteria and suggested if any members had someone they would like to nominate to respond. Ms. Carlson explained there would be a nominating committee comprised of different boards and EDAC should select a representative. Mr. Milbauer moved to ask Ms. Schwartz if she would serve as the EDAC representative. Mr. Gorowsky seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Milbauer moved to adjourn. Mr. Juni seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned, 8:35 a.m.