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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes • May 19, 1998 Page 7 1 Chair Bergstrom noted that at the last Commission meeting there was concern of obtaining the 2 opinion of the City Attorney and the Planning Commission and the City Council have concern 3 about allowing a non-retail use into a retail area. Bergstrom noted that there are a lot of vacant 4 buildings in the industrial park of St. Anthony. He stated that personally, he would feel more 5 comfortable about considering the Town& Country site if he knew that none of those vacant 6 properties would be viable for Robodyne in terms of space or economics. 7 Mr. Alvitd stated he has looked at 100-150 buildings in the past year and a half. In all of the 8 buildings he has seen the space available is either too expensive or not applicable. He noted one 9 building in the industrial-park which is next to the cemetery. That building is twice as expensive 10 as the Town& Country and is on a purchase basis. The building to the east of his current 11 location has space available but it is too small and not applicable. In regard to the T.K. Grey 12 building to the west, the owner will limit the lease to three years and is then amicable to a 13 purchase but he is asking $1.6 million for the building and the building is not in good condition. 14 Mr. Alvitd stated he has looked at buildings in Minneapolis, St. Paul and other locations. He has 15 received two offers from Wisconsin, one from the City of Hudson and one from the City of 16 Roberts, for the donation of land and an overall cost of 30%to relocate in those cities. He stated 17 he would prefer to stay in the City of St. Anthony for retention of his employees which he has trained extensively. He believes his most important assets are his employees and he does not 0 want to lose them and wants to disrupt their lives in the least amount possible. 20 Mr. Alvitd stated it is his opinion that the Town& Country building is the right height and is 21 built sound. The amount of cement in the flooring is significant and contains 18 inch plastic pipe 22 which houses the electrical wires so they do not have to come down from the ceilings. This is 23 very valuable to his type of business. He noted the building needs a new roof and some tile 24 replaced but could serve his company for many years to come. 25 Chair Bergstrom asked if there was anything the City could do to help Robodyne continue to be 26 located in the industrial park. 27 Mr. Alvitd stated he would be willing to entertain any ideas that the City had. He noted he and 28 the City Manager had met earlier today with a representative of the Department of Trade and 29 Economic Development and the State would also like to see Robodyne remain in Minnesota. 30 Chair Bergstrom noted there are TIF Districts elsewhere in the City and it was his understanding 31 that some of that money may be available for use in other areas. He suggested that it may be in 32 the best interest of the City to utilize a portion of those funds to demolish a building in the 33 industrial park and help Robodyne to locate there. i4 Ms. Moore-Sykes stated she would check with the City Manager to see if this was possible.