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26 Development Opportunities on City-Owned Land | Lake Elmo, Minnesota <br />Throughout its deliberations, the panel <br />noted a few key policy questions <br />that the City may wish to address in <br />advance of significant development <br />decisions at the study site. These <br />items, centered primarily around the <br />City’s vision and direction, will assist <br />in the eventual decision-making <br />that will be needed and better equip <br />City staff to respond capably when <br />developers are ready to make a move <br />on those parcels. <br />Outstanding Policy <br />Questions <br />Articulate the City’s financial <br />positions. The City is strongly <br />encouraged to identify and quantify <br />its willingness to take on debt and <br />subsidy to finance improvements <br />associated with any development at <br />the site. <br />Create guidelines. Providing the <br />development community with <br />certainty on development guidance <br />will not only be helpful in the process, <br />it can also be attractive, particularly in <br />situations where former perceptions <br />of an anti-development bias in the city <br />may linger. This proactive approach, <br />versus one that asks to be shown <br />ideas or options, can help speed <br />development at the site and reduce <br />the risks associated with delays or <br />process uncertainties. <br />Build capacity. Staffing and capacity <br />building will be required to manage <br />processes like those associated with <br />development across the study site. <br />The City is encouraged to address <br />those needs now to ensure that staff <br />are ready and resources are in place <br />when needed. <br />Identify preferred timing. There <br />needs to be a clear sense of the <br />City’s preferred timing around the <br />disposition of this site. Whether <br />it wishes to unload the site in this <br />budget cycle or patiently wait years <br />for the right project, the stage needs <br />to be set with appropriate timing <br />for buildout across the parcels that <br />is also tied to the capital plan and <br />budget. <br />Identify sustainability goals. <br />“Sustainability” was mentioned several <br />times with varying applications and <br />meanings. Identifying specifically <br />what “sustainability” means for Lake <br />Elmo can help with decision-making <br />around building and infrastructure <br />upgrades. Identifying how the City <br />wants to advance these sustainability <br />goals will also be important, as will <br />making clear whether the related <br />measures will be mandated or <br />incentivized in development. <br />Anticipate future public service <br />needs. The study site represents <br />a significant opportunity for <br />development, including the <br />Phase 1 <br />FuturePhases <br />Future Sanitary Connection <br />The potential phasing of development across the site leads with the <br />southernmost parcel, leveraging the existing sanitary connection and then <br />moving north, extending the sewer line as new road infrastructure is addressed. <br />UL <br />I <br /> PA <br />N <br />E <br />L