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Armstrong Boulevard that Icad into the smaller retail section. Following the retail area would be <br />the "City Center", which would include City Hall, restaurants, and a theater. <br /> <br />Councihnember Kurak inquired as to why they would not place some of the smaller retail units <br />along Sunwood Drive in front of the larger anchor buildings. <br /> <br />Mr. Wittrock replied that it comes down to designing a successful retail area. He explained that <br />an owner of a grocery store is going to demand they have high visibility and allow for quick in <br />and out traffic. The smaller retail areas they plan to keep in the more pedestrian friendly <br />locations. <br /> <br />Mr. Feges stated that one of the other factors is that if they cram too many buildings on the site <br />there will not be enough parking for the larger retail areas. Mr. Feges went on to review what is <br />being considered for the "City Center" area, which included City Hall, hotel, restaurants, and a <br />theater. He explained that they are looking at the possibility of increasing the size of the parking <br />structure located within the "City Center" and possibly eliminating all other parking structures. <br /> <br />Councihnember Kurak stated that it was her understanding that the City was responsible for the <br />first parking ramp so how does that impact the City if they double the size of the parking ramp. <br /> <br />Mr. Feges replied that the change was being suggested for design reasons not to shift liability. <br />He said that the City and Ramsey Town Center, LLC will still have the same liability. <br /> <br />Councihnember Strommen inquired if the residential units being added south of "swoosh" park <br />were additional units are were they being relocated from another area. <br /> <br />Mr. ?eges explained that they would be reducing the density somewhat near the transition area <br />and adding some units south of the "swoosh" park. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig expressed concern that they seem to be pushing everything to the west <br />further away fi'om where a future train station might be. The original focus of the project was to <br />sun'ound the train center with retail to offer the convenience. <br /> <br />Mr. Feges replied that it is a Town Center to be intimate and compliment the region. If they <br />continue to compress all of the retail to the center core they will lose some of the things that the <br />community needs. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig suggested that maybe on the outer edge there should be a series of retail <br />shops and than move the larger retail in 200 or 300 feet, which would then push some of the <br />smaller retail areas back into the core. <br /> <br />Mr. Feges replied that they are in the process of trying to get the right balance but there are a <br />couple market realities they have to deal with. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session/March 15, 2004 <br /> Page 2 of 10 <br /> <br /> <br />