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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/05/2002 EDAC Minutes 1 APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: Thursday, September 5, 2002 MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Juni, T. Vacha, F. Chase, J. Schwartz, K. Hansmann, D.Gorowsky, MEMBERS ABSENT: B. Hicks, J. Jensen, J. Milbauer OTHERS PRESENT: M. Divine, M. Grochala GENERAL/MINUTES (Audio tape defective, most of minutes not recorded.) Minutes of June 6, 2002 were approved. UPDATES Members suggested that P&Z consider a new liaison to EDAC if Mr. Rafferty would not be able to attend in the future. Hodgson Road Reconstruction Mr. Grochala informed members that the city council had a resolution to consider asking the county to move forward with the compromise plan. Mr. Grochala was not optimistic that the city's request would result in the okay to proceed, he believes the county has changed priorities since it first proposed reconstruction, and will likely only reconstruct Hodgson from Lake Drive to Birch Street. Comprehensive Plan Mr. Grochala stated the Metropolitan Council approved the city's Comprehensive Plan with two conditions: 1) the city ghost plat its 10-acre lots, and 2) it revise its land use map to meet greater density and housing goals. The city redefined its density definitions to provide the opportunity to build an average of 3 units/acre through 2010. Land use revisions were made to the Miller Farm, changing 10 acres of commercial land to medium density housing, and to the northwest corner of 49/Cty Rd. J, changing 20 acres to mixed use. 2 Lake Drive Redevelopment Ms. Divine stated that the analysis for determining if both the Tagg property and the homes west of the Target site along Lake Drive could qualify for a TIF Redevelopment District is complete, and the districts will qualify. The city is working with a couple potential developers on the north site. Mr. Chase asked the status and commitments of the Village project. Ms. Divine stated the YMCA project was moving forward but still needed to raise more than $1 million. The city had committed to a cash and land/infrastructure contribution, the Funkhauser Contract for Deed will be due the end of the year. Getting a developer would enable the city to create a TIF District, which will be critical in meeting obligations. C/I Lot Inventory Ms. Divine stated recent new technology will allow her to digitally record all available commercial/industrial properties and buildings. People will eventually be able to look up what is available on the city's web site. She is also completing a small booklet that can be made available listing existing businesses in Lino Lakes. This can be used in new residents' packets, etc. 35E/COUNTY ROAD 14 IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Grochala updated members on the meetings he has been attending jointly with Hugo, and Washington County and Anoka County engineers to reconstruct County Road 14. The proposal is a 4-lane divided highway. The environmental assessment stage is beginning. Staff is promoting double left turn lanes at Otter Lake Road to accommodate future C/I development. The city council support for the project appears to be positive. Mr. Grochala noted Hugo is planning a major landscaping project, and it will be important to identify funding to carry that through into the Lino Lakes portion. Signals will be going in on Otter Lake Drive. The interchange is not a part of the project, but this project will justify higher needs for improving the bridge. Members discussed the importance of that interchange for the development of commercial/industrial along the corridor. Members discussed the importance of bringing the major players, including the cities, landowners and developers together when doing the long range planning. Other discussion included addressing the AdGraphics entrance, and the residential development planned in Hugo that will feed Lino Lakes growth at the commercial interchange. Mr. Grochala said Hugo is very proactive toward development, with the result that major developers have been able to master plan large tracts of land. Lino Lakes cannot do that because of the residential growth limit. In order to slow residential growth, the city has probably created a situation that will result in piecemeal development. The city will have to take on the role and cost of master planning, rather than developers. 3 Mr. Grochala stated that now that Comprehensive Plan was approved, long range planning on the east side was more appropriate, since it is approximately 1,000 acres of land involved. Otter Lake Road access points, the arterial road system and infrastructure could be laid out for the future. Gerald Rehbein, Dick Schreier and John Allen should be brought into the planning discussion. Mr. Vacha moved that the city make this area a priority and request staff to identify a means to fund at a minimum an entry level master plan for the area, and bring the proposal to the City Council. Ms. Hansmann seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. SPIRIT HILLS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT Mr. Grochala updated the committee on the planned development of 27,000 square feet of retail space, including a proposed small bank, daycare and superette/convenience store and pumps. Council tabled the plan because new residents living in Spirit Hills were opposed to the gas station/convenience store, and there were traffic concerns. The developer has performed a traffic study that shows a need for left/right turn lanes. Signalization needs to occur at Birch/Hodgson, and will continue to be an issue until Hodgson gets improved. Birch and Ware Road are at a level A service (excellent), and will continue at that level with improvements. Mr. Grochala noted that the city has wanted commercial development at this intersection, but is now not approving it because of traffic issues that are there because the city wouldn't let the county fix the traffic issues. The developer's frustration is that he proposed much smaller commercial, with townhomes surrounding it, then single family, the classic hierarchy for development. The council didn't want it because of the townhomes, and wanted more commercial. The developer has now returned with a commercial plan, and has run into difficulty getting it approved. Members agreed that the proposed project was an appropriate use for the site. Ms. Hansmann noted that the turning radius for gas trucks was tight and the gas station site plan needed improvement. A motion was made to support the city proceeding with approvals of the proposed project, including a gas station/convenience store. Motion carried with Ms. Hansmann abstaining, and Mr. Vacha and Ms. Schwartz voting no. During discussion, Mr. Vacha and Ms. Schwartz stated they did not feel the committee had enough time to properly review the plan. Other members stated that the objective of the committee was not site plan approval. The question was whether the use was appropriate. Ms. Schwartz said she could vote for the recommendation with that clarification. Ms. Divine stated that the next meeting would be held on October 10. Meeting adjourned. 4