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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 17, 1989 PAGE 9 Bob Dreher., Section 32 landowner., asked what alternatives would the City offer them for sewer and water improvements for this land. They felt, without these services, they cannot sell. their land for commercial development because they are unable to find buyers willing to forgo the missing services. At this time, the remaining Section 32 propertyowners have a signed petition requesting annexation to the City of Oakdale. Kit Richardson of Griffith Real Estate commented that while nearby freeways make Section 32 a good commercial site, the land is not necessarily easy to sell. He has been working with a company that is considering a 125,000 SF corporate headquarters and Lake Elmo is their first choice. He is also working with a developer who may build that facility for them and will be coming to the City asking what will the: City do for us. Richardson added, that the developer commented "Why should we look at land in Lake Elmo when we can go to Oakdale and build tomorrow?". David Johnson, ConnCo Shoes, explained they have been involved in discussion and meetings for seven years with the City and are still sitting in exactly the same place today after all this effort. Johnson added, that nobody is trying to change their address for the sake of changing their address, but are recognizing the economic potential of this property and are saying we need some help to be competitive. Councilman Williams asked the propertyowners "what are you going to throw into the bargain?" He was not willing right now to put in sewer without some contribution from the landowners. He would like to establish some middleground and identify what help is needed. He has not seen any proposed developments brought to the City for their consideration. Richardson responded that the problem is landowners are not developers. He asked the Council if they can politically reverse the so-called mandate of the last election. "Can you catch up and become competitive?" Williams answered he has always favored dense development in Section 32 within the MUSA Line. Hunt added Lake Elmo does not want to be another Oakdale, but felt we offered something better than Oakdale in terms of terrain there, the access and population in the area and it is not a hodgepodge community like Oakdale is becomming. Bob Dreher and David Johnson suggested the City ask themselves if they want to go through all the work and put the City at risk for 400-500 acres out of the thousands of acres they represent. If they do not have the support of the community, then why are they putting themselves at any risk for such a disproportionate amount of the community. If the City wants to have good, quality development, they have to go out and create this atmosphere. They see a real problem with this happening, partly based on the philosophy portrayed from the last election.