Laserfiche WebLink
<br />2) HealthQuest Land Use <br /> <br />Community Development Director Trudgeon stated the existing Healthquest site, located on the <br />northwest corner of Bunker Lake Boulevard and Sunfish Lake Boulevard, is currently zoned E-1 <br />Employment. General Contractors of Minnesota has requested consideration of the possibility to <br />rezone the parcel to B-1 General Business. The current zoning, E-1 Employment, permits <br />industrial uses such as offices, warehousing, storage, and manufacturing. B-1 General Business <br />zoning permits such uses as single and multi-tenant retail, restaurants, clinics, and convenience <br />stores. A formal zoning amendment request and subsequent land use change would be required, <br />and would accompany a site plan once a specific business or businesses are secured. Mr. <br />Trudgeon explained the area contains a mix of land uses and zoning designations. The property <br />immediately adjacent on the north and west of the Healthquest site are E-l Employment. Both <br />GMI and LifeFitness are industrial users. The southwest and southeast corners of Sunfish Lake <br />and Bunker Lake Boulevards are industrial users as well. On the east side of Sunfish Lake <br />Boulevard, there are both B-1 General Business and R-3 High Density Residential uses. With <br />the exception of this corner, the area is dominated by industrial users and E-l zoning. <br />Furthermore, access is limited on this site to two county roads. Currently, the Healthquest site <br />has a single access onto Sunfish Lake Boulevard. Any additional accesses would be discouraged <br />and are subject to the County Highway Department's discretion. Mr. Trudgeon advised despite <br />the prominence of industrial uses and zoning in the area, this particular intersection experiences a <br />high level of traffic. The lot could be suitable for a retaillbusiness use. General Contractors of <br />Minnesota would like to market this parcel for a retail use, particularly a pharmacy/drug store. <br />Before submitting an application for site plan, General Contractors of Minnesota would like <br />general discussion regarding the Council's desire to have the property rezoned to commercial. <br />This discussion will be presented to the Planning Commission on Thursday, November 2. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig commented commercial would likely be a good use for this property. He <br />indicated there was discussion at the last EDA meeting regarding the possibility of stockpiling <br />some good properties for redevelopment, depending upon how Town Center's ripple effect starts <br />to occur. The question is whether it is the time to start this type of process, and whether <br />commercial use would be the ultimate use for this property in the long term. Councilmember <br />Elvig stated this type of comprehensive planning process could become enormously valuable <br />five years from now. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Trudgeon indicated General Contractors of Minnesota has <br />several options on the property; one option was a multi-tenant building. They would like to <br />proceed with the single user drug store use. <br /> <br />Councilmember Cook commented the site could proceed with the use the owner has suggested <br />and could be redeveloped in another 15 years, or the adjacent properties could redevelop in the <br />future as well. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig inquired about plans for a trail or underpass at this intersection. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Trudgeon replied the intersection will be signalized in the . <br />future. This will include improvements that make the intersection more pedestrian friendly. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / October 30, 2006 <br />Page 5 of9 <br />