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Downtown Redevelopment Plan Task Force Minutes Page 4 <br />March 5, 2007 <br />------------------------------------------ <br /> <br />Ms. Kvilvang asked what would happen to The Bank of Elk River’s parking lot located on the north <br />side of Hwy 10 if the highway was elevated or lowered. Mr. Maurer said that he believes most of the <br />parking lot currently is built in MnDOT’s Right of Way so MnDOT would probably remove the <br />parking lot. <br /> <br />Member Wilson inquired whether closing the Jackson Avenue/Hwy 10 intersection would make <br />sense. Mr. Maurer explained that one of the reasons Main Street was chosen as an example is <br />because of the super-elevated railroad tracks at that intersection. Mr. Leeseberg added that the Fire <br />Department may have concerns with closing the Jackson intersection because of the nearby fire <br />station. <br /> <br />Mr. Maurer mentioned that another option would be to eliminate both Main Street and Jackson <br />Avenue intersections and create a new one altogether. <br /> <br />Member Lindberg stated that he prefers a Hwy 10 improvement option that would cause the least <br />amount of buildings to be removed. <br /> <br />Member Tveite reminded the group that the Main Street intersection is confined by the Parrish <br />Avenue bridge, the railroad tracks and Hwy 10 and that it is a tough intersection no matter what <br />MnDOT decides to do with it in the future. <br /> <br />Member Rymanowski mentioned the cost/benefit to eliminating one intersection versus elevating or <br />lowering the highway however eliminating one intersection would cause a major land acquisition <br />impact. Mr. Maurer concurred. <br /> <br />Member Lieser asked if the Main Street/Hwy 10 intersection was closed, would Proctor remain <br />open. Mr. Maurer stated that Jackson, Proctor, Upland and Joplin would remain open but MnDOT <br />may eliminate the Waco intersection. <br /> <br />Small Groups <br />The Task Force broke into three small groups and discussed the following three policy questions: <br />1) Is it important that downtown be “seen” and/or accessed from Hwy 10? <br />o Which option for Hwy 10 is least detrimental to downtown? <br /> Elevated <br /> Lowered <br /> At grade <br /> <br />The Task Force consensus was that leaving Hwy 10 at grade would be the least detrimental to <br />downtown due to the importance of maintaining a sense of place and image that one is entering the <br />downtown. The Task Force also agreed that it is important for downtown to be accessed from Hwy <br />10, although recognized that the downtown does not draw or depend on customer traffic from Hwy <br />10. <br />2) Is the land area north of Hwy 10 an extension of the core downtown and should the Plan <br />recognize this? <br /> <br />The Task Force consensus was that the north of Hwy 10 downtown is not an extension of the core <br />downtown but that the land uses on the north side should compliment the core downtown. <br /> <br />3) Should the Plan reflect the downtown area extending further west along Main Street? <br /> <br />The Task Force consensus was that the natural progression of downtown redevelopment will most <br /> <br />