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City Council Minutes July 19, 1982 Page Three they could accept the proposed 55,000 square foot shopping facility in the planned unit development. Mr. VanValkenburg further indicated that the downtown people are not locked into their present locations and some moving around of the different store could happen. Councilman Duitsman indicated that the City Council accepted Mr. Zack Johnson's report as a guide and not necessarily the economic data. Councilman Duitsman further indicated that he felt the City Council must work to make Elk River a viable community and therefore, must have something to encourage people to come to Elk River. Councilman Duitsman indicated that he felt the shopping facil- ity should be of the 75,000 square foot size, and further indicated that he felt the questions of streets, storm sewer and water could have been addressed at a special meeting of the City Council. Mr. Clarence Barnier indicated that he felt the City Council must consider both proposed developments on both sides of Highway #169. Mr. Gary Santwire indicated that according to the HRA Redevelopment Plan, the proposed 115,000 square feet of shopping facilities is not even close to the 44,000 square feet suggested in the study. Mr. Santwire questioned who would be using the 55,000 sq. ft. and why a mall could not be built within the 55,000 sq. feet. Councilman Schuldt indicated that at a previous City Council meeting workshop, the City Council discussed the various aspects of city government, specifically, the role of the zoning and Planning Commission. Councilman Schuldt indicated that the Commission wants more involvement in the deliberations of the City's future and that the City Council commended their desire and agreed that the Commission should be involved. Councilman Schuldt indicated that the Barthel Planned Unit Development proposal was presented to the Planning Commission and accepted.with certain conditions, and further indicated that the latest proposal accepted with the conditions by the Planning Commission was rejected by the City Council and in its place was substituted a project of a different size. Councilman Schuldt in- dicated that the Planning Commission has requested that the new proposal be pre- sented to them for their recommendation and now the City Council is considering bypassing the Planning Commission's recommendation. Councilman Schuldt indicated that he felt the City Council would be denying the Planning Commission its right- ful role, the same role that the City Council agreed upon less than a week pre- vious. Mr. Rob VanValkenburg indicated that it was the downtown people's understanding that the proposal for the 75,000 square foot shopping facility for the Barthel Planned Unit Development would be resubmitted to the Planning Commission and to know that the City Council is considering it prior to the Planning Commission's recommendation is of great concern to the downtown people. Estelle Gunkel, a representative of the Planning Commission, indicated that the Planning Commission has reviewed the preliminary plat and conditional use for the Barthel Planned Unit Development and had made a recommendation to the City Coun~ cil. Ms. Gunkel further indicated that the Planning Commission could not approve the conditional use because all the findings necessary for a conditional use were