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Commissioner Nosan stated that the broker stated that Ramsey does not have the population and <br /> it is hard to get to Ramsey in terms of transportation. <br /> Councilmember Kuzma stated that if there is a willing participant that wants to buy some of the <br /> land, he is open to hearing the purchase agreement and if the idea is solid he is willing to sell the <br /> land. He stated that Ramsey has the Mississippi and Rum Rivers, great walking trails and could <br /> promote those elements. <br /> Member Steffen asked if there is a current vision statement and, if so, when it was last written. <br /> He stated that perhaps that is where they should start. <br /> Mayor Strommen stated that it is less about the statement but more about the plan that vision <br /> supported, which included shops, restaurants, and housing choices. <br /> Member Steffen stated that the statements made going around the table seem to support the <br /> original vision statement. <br /> Commissioner Bauer stated that originally the plan was for retail and restaurant elements on the <br /> ground floor of buildings with housing on the upper floors, all within one building. He explained <br /> that developers were not interested in that definition of mixed use. He stated that the shared <br /> parking was also an element of the original vision and that has gone on the back burner after the <br /> first ramp was constructed, as people do not want to pay the entire cost for a ramp and would <br /> rather have surface parking for their use. He stated that The COR will not be a traditional retail <br /> area where people go to get all their shopping done. <br /> Community Development Director Gladhill stated that currently there are different pieces for <br /> visioning within the Comprehensive Plan and The COR marketing documents. He stated that the <br /> goal is to create a cohesive visioning statement that could be used throughout the different <br /> elements. <br /> Commissioner Anderson stated that it is time to listen to the residents once again to determine <br /> what they want to see, whether the City should continue to be the developer or consider selling <br /> the land to a developer at an overall cost. He stated that the citizens should provide input on <br /> what they want and see for The COR. <br /> Councilmember Shryock agreed that the residents should provide input but cautioned that the <br /> residents need to be informed of the elements that the City has learned about retail and <br /> restaurants, otherwise the residents will provide the same input asking for big box retail and <br /> restaurants. She stated that while everyone wants to have retail elements, some of those aspects <br /> will just not happen for Ramsey. <br /> Mayor Strommen asked the main sticking points of the Planning Commission discussion that <br /> occurred at their meeting. <br /> City Council Work Session/January 24, 2017 <br /> Page 4 of 9 <br />