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• Mounds View Planning Commission March 19, 1997 <br /> Agenda Meeting Page 13 <br /> Dana Mandoza, 2633 Clearview Avenue, believes the Developer is trying his best <br /> to make this project feasible but he is against it. He believes that there weren't <br /> enough "cons" brought forward regarding the project. Mr. Mandoza inquired if the <br /> traffic study was derived by actually counting the cars or was it taken from a <br /> MnDOT study that was done years ago. He commented that the City would still <br /> generate additional tax revenue with a smaller development and thinks we need <br /> "both sides of the story". Commissioner Brasaemle explained that one of the <br /> roles of the Planning Commission is to examine both sides of the issue and <br /> admitted that he has not made up his mind one way or the other on this proposal <br /> because he has not yet received enough information. Mr. Mandoza admitted the <br /> he has a problem with the City using only the one traffic study. Commissioner <br /> Obert commented that the people who provide the study are educated and trained <br /> professionals. Mandoza also expressed his concern with the safety of his children <br /> from the additional traffic that will be generated on County Road H2. Mr. Mandoza <br /> believes that a theater such as this is not an appropriate business to be placed in <br /> the middle of the community and suggested that perhaps a four-screen theater may <br /> be more appropriate. He was also concerned with the vacancy rate of the office <br /> buildings in the area and wondered if the proposed office buildings will actually be <br /> • constructed. He was also concerned with teenager activity in the area if a theater <br /> was constructed. Commissioner Brooks inquired if a smaller theater had been <br /> thought about by the applicant. Mr. Anthony explained that the four and six screen <br /> theaters are no longer the norm of what is being constructed and that the public is <br /> demanding multiple selection so that children can see one movie while the parents <br /> go next door to see another, and added that this is what is economically feasible <br /> and what is justified by the demographic studies for this area. He brought up an <br /> article that was published in the Wall Street Journal on how communities across <br /> the country are using movies theaters as an anchor to their development for their <br /> economic stimulus and indicated that he would provide a copy of this article at the <br /> next meeting. Mr. Mandoza wondered how many of the theaters Mr. Anthony has <br /> constructed have been placed in a residential setting versus on the outskirts. Mr. <br /> Anthony explained that most people like amenities to be located near their homes <br /> rather than far away and believes that many of these types of theaters will be built <br /> in the Twin Cities area over the next 3 to 4 years. He added that a 16-screen <br /> theater is not a big theater in comparison to theaters that are being built across the <br /> country today. He explained that they try to construct the theaters off of a major <br /> arterial, near an interstate, and as close to a population base as possible. Mr. <br /> Mandoza again expressed his concern with traffic. Mr. Anthony assured him that <br /> the majority of the traffic will be generated is off-peak. Ms. Heuer again reviewed <br /> the area in which traffic counts were taken and delays, if any, that may occur. Mr. <br /> • Mandoza concluded by requesting that a second opinion on the traffic study be <br /> obtained. <br />