Agenda - Council - 09/08/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I pines ,refrigeration co. I City of Ramsey Page 2 I I I As I see it, the major objections by the neighbors to our use deals mainly with increased traffic and proximity to the school. Granted, 'there will be an increase in traffic into our property, if there wasn't the store would not be successful. The important point to remember is that the traffic generated by the store will be coming from the neighborhood itself. The concept of the convenience store depends upon the neighborhood trade and use. The store will not be drawing or attracting people from other commun- ities, it will be the residents of Ramsey who will use and support this store. I I I I I '1 I I I I I I I The proximity of the elementary school to our site should not cause undo concern as it relates to the safety of the children. Our firm has developed three convenience stores in Anoka County that are in close pr~oximity to schools. One of these properties, located at the intersection of State Hwy 242 and Jefferson Street in Blaine has three schools Withir~:a short walking distance. I am not aware of any accidents involving any school children' in'transit to these properties. Our experience has shown that once the store is opened and operating, the neighborhood opposition disappears and even the vocal opponents become customers. I attribute this to a basic fear of change. There is no doubt in my mind that once the residents of the area' see that the store is a neat and clean operation where they can obtain their dailY grocery needs along with self-serve gas, they will use and support the store-.· If the City of Ramsey was not willing to grow and evolve,' I am sure you would enact ordinances' prohibiting or restricting such growth. But the fact is, Ramsey is one of. the fastest growing communities' in the Metropolitan area with a 279% population increase from 1970 to 1980'. It is this population increase that attracts developments of' community service such as ours-. The final point ! would·like to make is'[he fact that the City has." allowed self-serve gasoline operations in conjuction with. a convenience store~ a meat market, and a hardware store at three' different locations in the City. Since this is an established pattern of servicing the community, ! don't see · why there Should be opposition to allowing the self-serve gas with the convenience store.' ' In conclusion, I feel our past experience in developing 'convenience stores', should allay any fears you might have in'regards to our' performance in meeting 'City requirements while completing the project. We are willing to sit down with anyone anywhere to discuss any objections or problems that might arise from our development Richard Kvanbeck " · - James Refrigeration Company~ .... r ' , , ,~. -:-.~- ~ [ STORE FIXTURE~ AND..REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT