Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 09/01/2016

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Community Development Director Gladhill stated that the zoning code for The COR is too text heavy and is confusing for builders and developers to navigate. He believed that the text could be simplified and updated, noting that is one goal of staff. Mayor Strommen stated that the zoning and vision need to be separate, although the two aspects tie together. Commissioner Brauer agreed with the comments made by Commissioner Van Scoy. He stated that throughout the past seven or eight years,he believes that the vision has diminished. He stated that the Commission needs to hear from the Council, because they are the elected officials of the City, in regard to what the vision is for the City. He stated that if the vision is clarified, then the other pieces will fall into place. He noted that the vision has fallen away slowly bit by bit as projects are approved. He noted that once the first step away from the vision was taken it was easier to slowly make those decisions that move further away from that vision. Councilmember Kuzma stated that a lot of the Councilmembers were not on the Council when the original vision was created ten plus years ago. He stated that while there is a set plan, those proposals have to come before the City and the market has changed significantly during the past ten years. He stated that the Council has been more flexible to account for the market changes. Vice Chair Bauer stated that he was not in Ramsey when the situation arose with The COR and explained that the Commission considers requests as they come forward. He noted that some of the Commissioners are not aware of the big picture because they were not on the Commission when the original vision arose. He stated that in regard to mixed use there is a concern from developers with building additional retail space when there is vacant retail space. He noted that if the market does not support that, developers are not going to pursue that type of project. He stated that if the plan was to have retail space in The COR and it is filled up with residential, then there is no space to put retail. Councilmember LeTourneau stated that while he would like the vision to remain in place because it was so well planned and designed, he also recognizes that the decisions were made in advance of what was known and therefore some of the original aspects do not quite fit as well within that vision. He asked how the City continues to improve the working relationship between the Council and Planning Commission so that the City can be sensitive to the market but also true to the vision. Councilmember Riley stated that everyone should be pointed in the same direction, ultimately there needs to be policy that the Commission can enforce. He stated that the market is very important and has told the City for more than ten years that parts of the vision are not working and that the market does not agree with the vision. He suggested bringing in developers and builders into the process earlier rather than later as they actually know what people want in the current market and what will sell. He stated that quite a bit of the vision has not worked and perhaps it needs to be determined if those items would ever work in Ramsey. He stated that in regard to mixed use with retail on the first floor and residential above and structured parking,he was unsure that those ideas would ever work in a second tier suburb. Excerpt from July 12, 2016 City Council Work Session Minutes