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forefront that pose a serious challenge to the project. Staff has been asked clarification in two <br />general areas that would lend assistance to the marketing of the Town Center. One question is <br />concerning the possible development of "super big boxes", or grocery stores attached to a large <br />commercial retail center. The other question deals with the transportation policy surrounding <br />A~rnstrong Boulevard and the eventual extension of Bunker Lake Boulevard to Highway #10. <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman explained staff has discussed the matter of the large retail grocery <br />with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Committee agreed that restrictions in the <br />zoning ordinances would be ill-advised, and the restriction may not fit into the Development <br />Guidelines either. The recommendation of the TAC suggested that City Council adopt, by <br />simple motion, direction to staff to discourage a large grocery complex west of Armstrong <br />Boulevard. The recommended motion would be as follows: <br /> <br />Direct City staff to develop language to the extent possible which would discourage <br />grocery uses west of Armstrong Boulevard in TC-2 Zoning District of the Ramsey Town <br />Center consistent with City Ordinances, Development Guidelines and State law. <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman indicated the other issue relates to the transportation policy. Future <br />plans for freeway standards on T.H.#10 call for grade separated interchanges in Ramsey at <br />Ramsey Boulevard and the eventual extension of Bunker Lake Boulevard (CR #116) to provide <br />highway access to the Ramsey Town Center. Since the future grade separated interchange <br />located at Bunker Lake Boulevard/T.H.#10 would have significant impact on the Armstrong <br />Boulevard access to Highway #10, it has been suggested that marketing efforts will be hampered. <br />The Town Center developers desire to assure potential users and tenants that there Will be no <br />changes in traffic pattern for more than ten years. Once the marketplace has been established, the <br />changes of traffic access can be changed with little to no significant impact on the marketplace. <br />Staff has worked with The Tin!denberg Group to. develop a framework of policies that would <br />eventually be used in future amendments and drafts to the City's Comprehensive Plan. The <br />Comprehensive Plan sets out a vision for the future community. It contains goals that define the <br />vision in public policy that is designed to help realize the vision. The proposed policy (Official <br />Transportation Policy Statements) that would be included as part of the transportation element in <br />the Comprehensive Plan has been included in the Council's packet. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec asked if Shingobee has looked at this and also'sent it on to their potential <br />customers. <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman replied they have not sent it on to Coburns or the other companies <br />they will be working with. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen commented the language suggested in the direction sounds vague, <br />and could mean a convenience store as well as big box. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig suggested "large retail" be inse~red between "discourage" and "grocery" in <br />the staff direction. <br /> <br />P78 <br /> <br />City Council/May 25, 2004 <br /> Page 24 of 27 <br /> <br /> <br />