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From: Sean Walther To: Jon Sevald Subject: Crossroads Pointe Date: Monday, June 25, 2018 9:04:06 AM Hi Jon. I may try to make it to the open house Wednesday for Crossroads Pointe. In case I do not, I thought I'd share a few thoughts with you based on the site plan information that has been posted. Thank you by the way for sharing it with residents. You have done a good job of getting the word out. I saw it in multiple locations. I am not excited about the gas station use. Although I have favorable experiences with the brand, it seems like a step backwards for the city and that property. The city removed a gas station from this site already. In my opinion when the city buys property for redevelopment, it raises the bar for redevelopment to uses that are strongly desired by the community and fill an unmet need. Also, the expanse of land the gas station is taking up for single -use, auto -oriented commercial purpose is disappointing. It is also a use that we have plenty of along this corridor. Finally, while I can perhaps see the access benefits to locating the station on the west side, it is very counterintuitive to have the commercial sandwiched between the residential apartments that are proposed and low density residential across the street. Regarding the alternative for all apartments, I would favor that plan of the two alternatives. Although, I think it is a shame to not include some commercial mixed-use on the site. I like the buildings framing the major streets. I think the building is getting too massive. I'd like to see the mass broken up into two or three structures. And if not three actual separate buildings, at least some breaks and variation in the fagade and massing and ground level openings to capture aesthetic and site pedestrian circulation benefits. I like the public road connection to the residential area to the south coming off of Edgewood. I think the amount of surface parking shown on the apartment site plan is absurd. I'd like to see the city pushing for more underground or surface parking, in order to offer much more and higher quality outdoor amenity and recreation areas for the use of the new residents, and more and higher quality landscaping for the benefit of the neighbors and public that pass by. You can probably see that I haven't honed my message(s), yet. I am a realist and understand the market in Mounds View is not as strong as other places to achieve mixed use of this site and highly desired uses. However, I think the city can also afford to patient, and can be a strong negotiator as the property owner for development that really satisfies many city goals. Thanks for reading my ramblings. Maybe I'll see you on Wednesday. Thanks. Sean Walther, AICP Planning and Zoning Supervisor I City of St. Louis Park 5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Office: 952.924.2574 www.stlouispark.org Experience LIFE in the Pork.