3.1 HRSR 12-03-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Housing&Redevelopment Authority Page 3 November 5,2012, Commissioner Toth Comments: • Having a river,highway and railroad all converging in the downtown creates challenges • Highway 10 changes will actually make it easier to get downtown • Buildings in the downtown are not on the historic register,but are historic to Elk River • Steps in the plan help maintain integrity of downtown • Downtown needs to be a destination;plan is progressive,yet preserves historic feel Commissioner Lieser Comments: • Plan was looked at with residents in mind • Intent of plan is to bring people to the downtown • Plan does not imply a"hands off"regarding the buildings that need to be removed • Plan includes preserving the bluff block and the brick block Mr.Barnhart stated the goal is a"to do list",and that every group,board and commission will use this plan. He noted that the plan establishes a basis and is subject to change and is not set in stone. Commissioner Motin stated that the plan does not address access to the downtown, the Highway 10 plan does. He does not feel there is enough mass and is too restrictive;the plan does not allow the type of development that has occurred in the downtown. Commissioner Kuester stated that the plan provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors, such as creating a fishing pier. She stated she would like to see a boulevard on Jackson Avenue. She stated that some residential areas to the west will naturally evolve with the Highway 10 changes. She noted that the highway changes may not come for 20 years. Commissioner Toth stated that if the changes to Highway 10 were not developed by MnDOT,they would have had a completely different Downtown Plan. Mr.Barnhart stated that the planned Highway 10 changes will be a major change,but the city cannot wait for those changes to happen. He stated they must be proactive. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TOTH TO APPROVE THE MISSISSIPPI CONNECTIONS PLAN AS PRESENTED. COMMISSIONER LIESER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-1. Commissioner Motin opposed. 6. 2013-2016 Economic Development Strategic Plan Ms.Deckert proposed to move this item to the December 3rd HRA meeting, due to lack of time. The HRA concurred. 7. Housing Intern Update Ms.Deckert reviewed information in her memo to the HRA regarding progress on working with Minnesota School of Business (MSB) to draft a job description and posting for a housing intern. Ms.Deckert noted that there is no cost for the HRA in working on this project with MSB. She stated that she hopes to have the information ready by the end of November in order to post the position the first part of December.