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During the discussion, Flaherty also said the city struggles with bringing in new commercial <br />properties and businesses. He said residents want to maintain that small-town feel, and the city- <br />tries to satisfy both ends, which is a very daunting task. <br />"For us to try to bring in a big box, there's not a lot of opportunity in the city of Mounds View <br />because I think the surrounding communities pretty much have those covered," Flaherty said, <br />mentioning Northtown Mall in Blaine and Rosedale Mall in Roseville. <br />Kendra Lindahl, a planner with the consulting firm Landform and a former city planner for <br />several north metro cities, said there are opportunities for quality mixed use areas with smaller <br />lots. <br />Flaherty said one of his impressions was that the homes on large lots is a plus to moving to <br />Mounds View. <br />Lindahl said for the Generation X population and baby boomers, larger lots are probably still <br />more attractive, but younger homebuyers would probably prefer smaller lots. <br />Regarding County Road 10, she said it is a blessing and a curse; it's a great gateway into the <br />community, but there's confusion with Highway 10 and County Road 10. Lindahl said there's <br />great opportunity for commercial on that corridor to be a destination, but it still feels a lot like an <br />abandoned highway. <br />There's an enormous amount of right-of-way, and she said she's worked with cities that have <br />successfully planted medians and narrowed the right-of-way. Lindahl added that she knows it <br />can be a challenge to work with the county and its transportation perspective. <br />Flaherty said a priority for the city is the beautification of Highway 10, but the city continues to <br />hear from the county what it cannot do. <br />Later in the conversation, Mueller and Gunn said they've talked to residents who want special <br />services, such as an ice cream shop, a bakery and a clinic, and some who would like to see <br />Silver View Plaza redone because they think it's an eyesore. <br />"They don't want a big box store," Gunn said. "They don't want a Target or a Walmart.... They <br />want to be able to walk to some place." <br />Page 27 <br />