2004.05.10 CC Minutes - Downtown Redevelopment Open House

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MINUTES FOR THE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT OPEN HOUSE OF MAY 10, 2004 PRESENT: Haas, Puleo, Miron City Administrator Mike Ericson CD Director Bryan Bear ABSENT: Mike Granger and Becky Petryk Over 80 persons came to City Hall to review the downtown planning studies and talk with the City staff and consultants. About 15% of those filled out comment sheets or left detailed notes for the planning team. Nearly all of the major business owners and commercial property owners, as well as many of the residential property owners in the proposed downtown redevelopment area, attended the open house. Many of those attending have been following the planning process for some time and were able to offer very clear, and often very specific, comments on the downtown plan alternatives and the design guidelines examples. Everyone seemed to appreciate the opportunityto "vote" with the dot-mocracy process, to talk to the planning and design team, and just to be heard. There was widespread support expressed for: • retaining small town feeling and historic character; • a city park on Egg Lake across from City Hall; • trails from this park along Egg Lake connecting to other local and regional trails; • more small, local retail and commercial uses, fewer chains, no "big boxes"; • senior housing downtown, close to City Hall and the new development; • specialty market -grocer which wouldn't directly compete with Nadeau's convenience market; • larger grocery stores or other "big box" uses being closer to I-35; • planning for the Feed Mill to stay, and expand, in their current location; • keeping new commercial development north of CR 8, supporting the existing downtown uses; • planning for new multi -family housing, not retail or commercial, south of new CR 8; • need for retaining access from Hwy 61 at 145'h or 146'h, with 145'h preferred; • need for a new traffic light at 147' and Hwy 61. There were concerns expressed about: • the new County Road 8 route — concerns that the new "T" intersection will produce traffic problems or not be much of an improvement over the existing route; • reduction of access to downtown commercial properties along both CR 8 and Hwy 61; • removal of the 145h and Hwy 61 traffic light or intersection; • too much new development which could detract from the character of downtown, produce more traffic problems, and negatively impact existing downtown businesses and residents. Kendra Lindahl City Planner