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Northstar Commercial <br />Parcels directly adjacent the Northstar Station should <br />provide supporting restaurant, retail, and service uses such <br />as coffee or sandwich shops. This neighborhood node type <br />commercial should serve those commuters waiting for the <br />train as well as those working and living in the surrounding <br />neighborhoods. <br />YAC Commercial <br />The Youth Athletic Complex (YAC) commercial area <br />accommodates much desired commercial options in the <br />southeast corner of the city. This area is designated for <br />highway commercial use and should provide dining and <br />retail options that support activity at the YAC and provide <br />visitors to this facility a nearby place to grab food or drinks <br />between tournaments or games. <br />Example: Station area commercial (Oak Lawn, IL) <br />XCR Commercial <br />The XCR commercial area, including the ERX facility, is a <br />major attraction for outdoor motorsports in the region, <br />drawing crowds of upwards of 1,000 visitors to the city <br />for weekly events. Leveraging this established facility and <br />other sports facilities is key to continued economic growth <br />in sports tourism. Commercial uses on the west side of <br />Highway 169 should support the ERX facilities and provide <br />food and beverage options. While commercial uses on the <br />east side of Highway 169 should include the opportunity <br />for the expansion of the ERX off -road racing facility as well <br />as complementary hospitality, hotel, or other accommoda- <br />tions that provide visitors to the ERX facilities with options <br />to stay in the city while they attend events. <br />Conduct a Hotel Needs Study <br />Elk River lacks options for hotel accommodations in the <br />city that would support the events that attract thousands <br />to ERX off Highway 169. To support the ERX facility and <br />capture tourist spending within Elk River, the city should <br />conduct a Hotel Needs Study to determine the viability of <br />hotel development in the city. A Hotel Needs Study should <br />analyze the current hotel and accommodation market, <br />forecast capacity for new hotel rooms based on forecasted <br />tourism growth, determine the projected demand for level <br />of unit supply by quality such as Luxury, Middle Class, or <br />Economy, and identify prime locations to develop visitor <br />accommodations in the city. If the Hotel Needs Study finds <br />the city can support additional accommodations, the study <br />should be utilized as a marketing tool to advertise and <br />invite hoteliers to the city. <br />%2 <br />Economic Development Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan <br />IDICL\arri76*1CSMAI�VAVKOI01WO <br />