Minutes - Council Work Session - 10/25/2011

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3) Consider Work Plan for Rum River Retail Node Master Planning Effort Senior Planner Gladhill reviewed the staff report and described a public involvement process to gain input in the creation of a master plan for the area surrounding the commercial node at 167` Avenue and St. Francis Boulevard. Mayor Ramsey stated the process proposed by staff is beyond what he had envisioned. He felt that common sense and logic indicates what will survive based on what did not survive on that corner. Councilmember McGlone stated he shares that sentiment and in theory believed that government should not be involved. He stated the Council's job is to guide and that is done in the Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember McGlone stated the City should not put development plans over private property and noted the market has already told us what to do on that corner. Councilmember Wise indicated that some planning is necessary but he would have a huge issue with any work being done until every stakeholder has been contacted, including residential. He agreed the market tells us what will work and he would not support a citizen group saying what will work. Mayor Ramsey stated he clearly remembers the Council telling staff to do something with 167 Avenue but thought that meant getting stakeholders and property owners together in one room and asking what they want to do with their land, possibly trying to facilitate the sale of land, construction of a building, or putting a user on the property. Councilmember Wise stated he wanted the City to be used as a conduit for a commercial business owner that needs more land, or whatever, and provide a staff contact person. He indicated that while he thinks some planning needs to be done, he would not support a huge process that takes a lot of staff time when the market has not shown interest towards this property. Councilmember Strommen stated one of the things she has heard is that the comer is an important commercial node and of value to residents who live in that area so it is better optimized. She felt the value of this process was in contacting stakeholders and having a public process to verify how to move it forward and create economic development. She noted the City has been talking about this property since at least 2003 so she felt it was time the Council figure out how to move forward. She indicated it is important to not focus all the City's development energy in The COR and the City should do what it can to maintain other retail nodes that are important to residents. Councilmember Stromman stated she does not know if this full process is warranted but the Council should hear what the stakeholders have to say and open it to the public to hear what role they feel this area should play. Councilmember Backous stated the area is an eyesore and starting to become an embarrassment. He noted that in January, all agreed it was important to get that commercial node turned around so he does not understand why this area is any different. He felt the City should take considerable effort to push the market; however, agreed with Mayor Ramsey that the City should City Council Work Session / October 25, 2011 Page 5 of 10