6&7 PCSR 01-25-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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However, prior to adopting the Business Park Zoning Ordinance, the City expanded the Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning designation and underlying land use of light industrial to cover the identified business park and commercial area. The combination of this zoning and land use preserved the integrity of a future business park until the Business Park Zoning Ordinance had been adopted. A CHANGE TO COMMERCIAL Representatives from Menards have been looking for a site in the Elk River area for the past few years . Recently, they have focused in on an area lying west of the Fairgrounds to the County Government Center. Menards would like to build a new store as part of a major shopping center (approximately 350,000 square feet) which would consume both the 20 acre and 25 acre parcel . To accommodate this development request, the Land Use Plan will have to be amended to reflect an underlying land use of HB (Highway Business) . The HB land use designation will allow retail commercial similar to that found along Highway 169 . ANALYSIS Prior to considering this land use plan change for these properties, it is important to recognize and evaluate the • following issues : Inventory of available industrial and commercial property for development. There are approximately 140 acres of commercial property along Highway 169 that either has water and sewer available or is close proximity to the utilities . On the other hand, industrial property is limited to 8 platted industrial lots ( 13 acres) and one unplatted tract of approximately 45 acres . The diminishing availability of industrial property has raised concern and is one of the challenges the Business Park Task Force has taken on to expand that industrial inventory. - Concentrating commercial activity along Highway 169 . By encouraging commercial development along the Highway 169 corridor, a critical mass of commercial activity would draw focus and identity to the corridor. The identity would not be a pedestrian oriented downtown, however, the massing of commercial activity will reinforce the central retail district of the City. Focusing on Highway 169 corridor and the Main Street corridor to the original downtown area will unify and bring together the three types of commercial found in the City, highway commercial along Highway 169, offices along Main Street, and • service oriented businesses within the downtown commercial area.