5.1. PCSR 08-24-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ilk r 4 r T S Yom' •� � � � � � � �� ' Amy J{ Ji I t 7� Industrial Preserve Areas for Large Lot Industrial Elk River is home to a number of established industrial The City should rezone parcels identified for large lot areas which are concentrated along the City's major corri- industrial that are within the Urban Service Area to the dors including Highway 169 and Highway 10.These existing I-3 General Industrial Zoning District and rezone parcels areas are experiencing low vacancy and demand for addi- outside the Urban Service Area to I-2 Medium Industrial. tional industrial development and employment generating In addition,the City should update the I-2 Medium Indus- uses is high.This demand is especially high for large lot trial District and I-3 General Industrial District standards to industrial sites that would support a range of light to heavy require larger lots for development.Currently the prin- industrial activity.To accommodate this demand,the cipal structure dimensional regulations for all industrial Economic Development Plan highlights large lot industrial zoning categories(including I-1 Light Industrial)have the opportunity sites that should be preserved.These sites are same minimum lot area requirements of 1 acre,minimum located in areas of the City that provide adequate space and lot width requirements of 100 feet,and a maximum lot access for all forms of industrial operation,manufacturing, coverage of 40%.To preserve areas identified for large storage,and production.Large lot industrial uses should be lot industrial,the City should consider requiring a larger separated by lower intensity uses such as commercial or minimum lot area and lot width for the I-2 and I-3 districts business park uses and wherever possible avoid locating to deter smaller industrial development on these sites and directly adjacent residential uses.When adjacency to make other I-1 zoned areas of the City more attractive for residential neighborhoods is unavoidable,the City should this scale of development. continue requiring the types of screening and buffering currently utilized on sites like the Faribault Foods facility Facilitate the Transition of Properties and further discussed in the Continue to Appropriately Identified for Large Lot Industrial Buffer and Screen section. Due to the limited opportunities and high demand for large lot industrial sites in Elk River,it is essential that the Two major opportunity sites for large lot industrial devel- City be involved in the transition of these properties from opment exist in Elk River including, their current use to what is envisioned in the Economic • The northern portion of the Gravel Mining Area,which Development Plan.In addition to proactive rezoning,to has direct access to Highway 169 and is due to transition help facilitate the transition of these properties from from mining operation in the next 10 years. their current use to industrial development in the future, the City should maintain routine communication with • Lots surrounding the former GRE site in the southeast the private land owners of properties identified for large portion of the City with access to the BNSF railroad. lot industrial development.In addition,the City should It is important to note that the Highway 10 Study will establish public-private partnerships with developers ultimately determine the appropriate amount of industrial who are interested in site acquisition for large lot indus- activity that these sites will be able to support and there- trial development.The public-private partnership could fore,the City must have active involvement in the develop- follow a Develop Operate and Transfer(DOT)model where ment of the Study to ensure the final roadway alignments developers undertake the financing and construction of provide adequate access to support large lot industrial supporting infrastructure(i.e.roadways,sidewalks,storm- development needs. water infrastructure)for the right to develop the adjoining property.The City should serve as the go between to facilitate the transfer of these lands and guide developers through the review and approval process. 70 Economic Development Plan•Elk River Comprehensive Plan DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY