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paperwork. <br /> <br />Jennifer's point at an earlier council meeting about whether this exclusive <br />agreement should continue is something the council should talk about now. <br />Also, another point that Jennifer made, do we really want a project in our <br />parking lot? We haven't weighed in on that. That discussion should held <br />before we go any further on this project. <br /> <br />Just a couple years back there was a project proposed at the old school <br />district site with retail and apartments. It was similar to the current project we <br />are discussing but with a much smaller footprint than this one. The HRA and <br />the council, at the urging of downtown businesses, did not proceed with that <br />project. How is this one different than that one? <br /> <br />Debbi Ryberg from the Chamber sent me a letter a few months back in <br />reference to the current project. She said approve it or deny it but don't let it <br />drag on. By taking a long time to decide the council will cast a cloud of <br />uncertainty over all downtown businesses. <br /> <br />To me this project is Wrong Place, Wrong time. If I had another site near <br />downtown that was more appropriate to consider for that project, would it be <br />given consideration or is it downtown or nothing? <br />I am not at liberty to disclose the alternate site publicly but would be glad to <br />speak to Modern Construction about it. <br /> <br />The council should start making some preliminary calls on this project. To <br />spend developer and city money on this only to result in denial down the road <br />doesn't seem practical to me. Of course it is the developer's right to make <br />formal application for this project and let it be fully vetted by city staff and <br />the public before a final decision is made by the council. <br /> <br />I am hearing the downtown business people, loud and clear. They do not <br />want any project that will take away their parking lot and permanently alter <br />the character of downtown Elk River. New economic development downtown <br />is important but it should not come at the expense of the current businesses <br />who have poured sweat and savings into making a living. <br /> <br />