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Economic Development Authority Minutes e <br /> October 11,2004 <br /> 8. Consider Recommendation to City Council on Land Use Amendment and Zone Change— <br /> Elk River Business Park <br /> Ms.Mehelich reviewed the request by the owners of Elk River Business Park,Fischer Sand <br /> &Aggregate/Associated Investors of Elk River for a Land Use Amendment,Rezoning and <br /> Preliminary Plat. Approval of the requests would allow the applicants a Tractor Supply and <br /> Maxsun Furniture store to be constructed. Ms. Mehelich reviewed staffs findings for their <br /> recommendation of denial of the requests. <br /> Rick Martens, Brookstone, discussed his reasons why he felt the request should be <br /> approved,including: the quality of the buildings/users; the higher value of this,site;the <br /> Business Park District does allow some showroom/retail space;economic conditions have <br /> created a weak market for potential light industrial users;and, a number of quality jobs <br /> would be created. <br /> Troy Tufto,representing Jimmy Yang of Maxsun Furniture,provided information <br /> regarding Mr.Yang's business experience, and the type of store and number of employees <br /> they are proposing for the Elk River site. <br /> Gary Santwire, EDA Marketing Committee member, stated that this property is <br /> included in the Development Agreement for Elk River Crossing and an amendment to the <br /> Development would be required to remove it. He noted the request does not comply with <br /> Comprehensive Plan adopted only 45 days ago. Mr: Santwire noted that if Rich Deziel's <br /> property located next to the courthouse were rezoned to Highway Business,it also would be <br /> developed immediately. He felt it would be logical for this property to be rezoned (if the <br /> • entire park is rezoned), since it is located next to a commercial area. <br /> Commissioner Dwyer stated that when this TIF District was set up,a condition of approval <br /> was that the industrial park be developed. He felt that since the industrial park was built as <br /> part of the TIF, the zoning should remain Business Park. <br /> Commissioner Tveite concurred with Commissioner Dwyer. He noted that it has been the <br /> goal of the City to create a mix of uses in their tax base. <br /> Commissioner Kuester stated that she was not satisfied with the land use of this site during <br /> the Comprehensive Plan review and felt there were mixed opinions whether it should be <br /> commercial or industrial. She recalled that there was support for commercial use of the site. <br /> Commissioner Motin concurred with Commissioners Dwyer and Tveite. He felt that the <br /> jobs proposed for the Maxsun Furniture store were acceptable,but that this use would <br /> generate more traffic than a business park use. He felt that the Maxsun business would be a <br /> better use for the commercial site than Tractor Supply would be, and encouraged Maxsun to <br /> build on the Elk River Crossing site,instead of the business park site. <br /> Commissioner Klinzing stated that she felt this was a borderline issue that could be argued <br /> either way. She did not feel the issue was discussed much during the Comprehensive Plan <br /> review because of the Development Agreement already in place for the property. <br /> Commissioner Dwyer stated that he recalled Rusty Fifield, Coordinator for review of the <br /> • Comprehensive Plan,recommended commercial use for this property,because of its <br /> location. Commissioner Dwyer felt that the property falls in a gray area. <br />