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<br />Councilmember Musgrove commented that one side of Ferrett Street would be industrial while the <br />other would be retail. She stated that she would prefer that entire area to be retail. She asked if <br />that would limit the potential for industrial development. <br /> <br />Senior Planner McGuire Brigl commented that originally the entire area was guided for retail but <br />there was not that much demand for retail. She stated that there is more demand for industrial and <br />this industrial park has nice architectural standards. She stated that the area was guided for <br />industrial in the last Comprehensive Plan. <br /> <br />Deputy City Administrator Gladhill commented that the split between retail and industrial at <br />Ferrett was a result of two years of planning and discussion with the community and related <br />property owners. <br /> <br />Economic Development Manager Sullivan commented that the EDA also reviewed the vision for <br />this area. He stated that within Bunker Lake Industrial Park there are two large tracts of land that <br />remain and will most likely bring in larger buildings. He stated that the City lacks space for smaller <br />users and the land west of Ferrett Street would accommodate industrial users of that size. He stated <br />that the EDA was very supportive of bringing those sized users to Ramsey with land that is <br />available for sewer and water connection. He provided a review of the discussion the EDA had at <br />its last meeting related to this topic. He noted that industrial users bring employees to the <br />community that would frequent businesses during the daytime hours, which in turn attracts more <br />retail and restaurant users. The EDA discussed the policies as it relates to economic development <br />plans and tools and the related consensus was included within the staff report. <br /> <br />Councilmember Specht commented that if the market states there is higher demand for industrial, <br />he would support that vision as it would benefit the tax base of the City and bring in additional <br />shoppers for businesses. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woestehoff asked the size of the existing industrial park buildings. <br /> <br />Economic Development Manager Sullivan commented that the three buildings are about 60,000 <br />square feet each while the Delta ModTech building is about 229,000 square feet. He stated that <br />there is another potential project for the northern 43 acres that would be about 100,000 square feet. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woestehoff stated that he also supports the industrial use for the properties as that <br />smaller size does seem to be missing. He noted that within the existing industrial park there are <br />some destination type uses that also help to attract retail. <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma commented that additional industrial buildings would also bring higher paying jobs <br />to the community. He noted that those employees would support local businesses on their lunch <br />breaks. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove commented that she appreciates the discussion thus far and would <br />support the division between industrial and retail. She asked if there is a potential to combine lots <br />to create larger sizes and asked if that would defeat the purpose of creating lots for smaller <br />industrial uses. <br />City Council / May 25, 2021 <br />Page 7 of 11 <br /> <br />