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Mounds View Planning Commission July 5, 2000 <br />Regular Meeting Page 8 <br /> <br /> <br />Commissioner Thomas stated she would like to clarify they are not discussing a problem of law, <br />as this is not a private property for sale. There is no problem of law when this is City property <br />they would be trading. It is their job as the Planning Commission to determine if this is the <br />proper use for City property and whether or not they would like to trade that land to be <br />developed into retail property. She explained that, at this point, being City property, there is NO <br />law requiring them to allow any development whatsoever, so they should be very careful quoting <br />Constitutional references in deciding whether or not they want to develop this land. <br />Commissioner Thomas also commented that this is the opportunity to hear the community voice <br />on whether or not they want to see a building put up across the street from the City Hall. There <br />is no U.S. Constitution violation for someone to come and say they do not want to see a building <br />here that could go out of business. <br /> <br />Commissioner Johnson stated they also had many community meetings on what types of uses <br />should be sought in Mounds View and a lot of it was restaurants and another drug store. That is <br />why they are seeing this development going forward. <br /> <br />Commissioner Thomas responded she is not against the possibility of this land being developed, <br />however, it is their responsibility to decide what is there and no one should be saying at this <br />point that they have to allow a Walgreens because that is not the case. The City can decide <br />whether or not to trade the land for that development. <br /> <br />Commissioner Johnson stated Commissioner Thomas is correct, but if they did not allow <br />Walgreens here he would guarantee Walgreens would not go away, they would be back in <br />another spot of this highway. <br /> <br />Commissioner Thomas said that is their responsibility as a corporation, but the Planning <br />Commission should decide if it should be there. <br /> <br />Commissioner Kaden stated they do not have to trade the City lot for them to develop this <br />Walgreens. Mr. Videen, however, wants to sell his property and those 3 ½ acres of upland <br />behind the residents' houses can be developed subject to the wetlands. He stated he personally <br />would think that woods behind the houses and open wetlands with a Walgreens on this site <br />would be more palatable than a development stuck in their backyards. <br /> <br />Acting Chairperson Stevenson clarified Mr. Longstead's concerns as being saturation and the <br />possibility of an empty building a few years from now. He said he appreciates that concern, <br />which would be a concern of anyone, including the Commission. Acting Chairperson Stevenson <br />stated that, at this time, he feels good about the situation and does not feel they will have an <br />empty building in the near future. <br /> <br />Doris Hamline, 3034 Ardmore, asked if this had been brought to Springsted, the consultant <br />group hired to help with redevelopment and safety issues along Highway 10. Community <br />Development Director Jopke said they are aware of it. <br /> <br />Ms. Hamline said it seems they have concurrent discussions going on. She pointed out that the <br />community public meeting is July 11th where it will be discussed what the community would like