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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Planning Commission Minutes <br />October 28, 2003 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />provide input. All of the City's boards and commissions have reviewed the draft plan and <br />have recommended that the City Council approve the plan. <br /> <br />At this time, Mr. Fifield reviewed the residential, commercial and industrial components of <br />the plan. He then discussed the various initiatives including greenways, streets, and sewer <br />system planning. <br /> <br />Chair Pederson opened the public hearing. <br /> <br />Dan Davis, 10249 213th Avenue NW, stated his opposition for removing the 10-acre <br />minimum lot size north of County Road 33. He stated that the population of Elk River <br />would triple, placing a burden on the existing infrastructure and causing crowding of both <br />the schools and roadways. He stated Elk River has experienced tremendous growth and that <br />he would like to see the pace slow down. He stated that the city should continue to maintain <br />the larger lot size as a tool to regulate growth. <br /> <br />Cliff Lundberg, 404 Jackson Avenue, proposed several minor changes to the Old Town <br />section of the Comprehensive Plan, in order to reinforce the City's desire to preserve the <br />identity of the core village area. He suggested that the following sentence be deleted on page <br />5.9: "The current Central Business District will contain uses consistent with the City's <br />revitalization objectives." Also, he requested that the word "revitalization" be omitted in the <br />following sentence: "The Old Town designation reflects the need and opportunity for <br />revitalization, renovation and redevelopment." Mr. Lundberg asked that on page 3.6. the <br />sentence under "Build connections", be modified to read, "A key to the revitalization of Old <br />Town is to preserve its identity while creating connections within the area and to other parts <br />of the community." <br /> <br />There being no further public comment, Chair Pederson closed the pubic hearing. <br /> <br />Commissioner Stevens expressed his support for Mr. Lundberg's language changees. <br /> <br />Chair Pederson asked for clarification regarding the property on Twin Lakes Road, which is <br />proposed for High Density Residential, but is located outside of the Urban Service District. <br />Mr. Fifield stated that the property is in close proximity to the highway system and is <br />adjacent to compatible land uses. The property was not included in the Urban Service <br />District at this time because further study of the wastewater treatment system needs to be <br />completed. <br /> <br />Chair Pederson expressed concern that the plan is lacking additional commercially zoned <br />properties. Mr. Fifield explained that the Task Force and staff discussed this issue, but it is <br />unknown at this time whether the sewer system has the capacity to be extended further. He <br />noted that the Elk River Business Park was looked at for possible commercial land use. <br /> <br />Commissioner Offerman expressed his concerns that transportation issues along the major <br />highway corridors have not been addressed. He stated that he could not support any <br />changes until the City knows when and where MnDOT has planned future interchanges <br />along Highway 169. Mr. Fifield stated that he agreed with Commissioner Offerman's <br />concerns but felt that the proposed transportation plan addresses the land use issues. He <br />stated that he did not feel adoption of the Comprehensive Plan should be delayed and that <br />provisions will be made for transportation corridors and connections as development <br />happens. <br />