8.1 SR 10-18-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City-wide Economic Development Policies Elk River is well positioned to be a regional destination for shopping, dining, and employment. The following policies relate to the overarching goals of the Economic Development Plan to enhance, strengthen, and expand opportunities for commercial and industrial growth in the city and provide guidance that applies to all commercial and industrial development. Proactively Rezone Parcels Elk River is a vibrant and desirable place to have a business which is illustrated by the overall lack of vacant storefronts along Main Street and in the city's commercial corridors. Currently, the only infill development opportunities in downtown are parking lots that support existing down- town businesses. Similarly, few vacant sites are available along Highway 169 or Highway 10. Limited options exist for existing businesses to expand or to accommodate new businesses desiring to locate within the city. The lack of vacancy coupled with limited development opportuni- ties underscores a need to expand the city's commercial districts or intensify use of established areas. To support this, the city should consider proactively rezoning parcels identified for downtown expansion as well as parcels identified for highway commercial uses to the zoning district that would accommodate the type of development envisioned in those areas. For example, the parcels on the south side of Main Street west of Angel Street and on the north side west of Morton Avenue are currently zoned R-1c, these are prime redevelopment opportunity sites that should be rezoned to the Downtown District to allow for more commercial and housing devel- opment, this also would open up land along the Mississippi River for future extension of the waterfront trail. Elk River Comprehensive Plan • Economic Development Plan 53 DIMITI ad10]C1CSMAI�VAVKOIilk1W1