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Planning Commission <br />March 22, 2022 <br />Commissioner Booth asked if the number of overall parking spaces would be <br />maintained after construction. <br />Page 4 <br />Mr. Carlton indicated the number of overall parking spaces would be maintained <br />after the construction. <br />Commissioner Mauren asked about the area by the front doors and access to the <br />front doors. <br />Mr. Carlton stated he did not see anything impeding the current entrance and the <br />parking lot would be striped after completion to make parking spots clear. <br />Chair Larson -Vito opened the public hearing. <br />Deb Lidahl — owner of Kemper Drug, downtown Elk River, stated she was thrilled <br />to see businesses come to downtown Elk River, but she was concerned with the <br />traffic flow at Highway 10 and Lowell should this project be approved. She stated <br />she sees existing traffic challenges and confusion at this intersection, causing jams, <br />and wonders if the new project would exacerbate what is already taking place. She <br />hoped that was something the commission would discuss when reviewing the <br />request. She also asked what do we want for our downtown? She stated her <br />downtown business group has talked about the value of them being a destination <br />business and finding the value of visitors staying here to take advantage of existing <br />businesses. She stated she felt like this type of business would make people come in <br />and immediately leave. She felt there is already parking concerns and perception of <br />lack of parking and would this create the perception of congestion. Lastly, she felt <br />like this type of coffee shop deters from her vision of having a sit-down coffee shop <br />and deters anyone else from coming into downtown, which would also benefit the <br />surrounding businesses in downtown. <br />There being no one else to speak, Chair Larson -Vito closed the public hearing. <br />Chair Larson -Vito stated she also had similar concerns with traffic flow and as a <br />commission they have limitations with choosing what type of business comes in, if <br />it's allowed by city ordinance and asked if we were bound by that. <br />Mr. Carlton stated yes if it is allowed by city code. but in this instance, they are <br />requesting some deviations due to the zone change to a PUD. <br />Chair Larson -Vito asked if staff had received any comments from MnDOT. <br />Mr. Carlton stated the initial comments from MnDOT related to stormwater as it <br />connects to a system that is maintained by MnDOT, but he has received no <br />comments related to traffic. <br />Commissioner Mauren asked if staff had received any comments from the owner of <br />the building. <br />p0WIAEI 11 <br />NATURE <br />