05-24-1982 PC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning Commission Minutes May 24, 1982 Page Si4 Mr. Hutchinson indicated that in a study done in 1979 in Otsego, a study done by Zack Johnson, that 201,500 square feet could be supported. In his study projected for 1985, he cut this done to 190,500 total. In the meantime, another store has been built, so this part of amount has been "soaked up"; therefore, there is a total of 115,500 of existing space. The added space Barthel is creating is 59,000 square feet of new space; therefore, there is at least 15,000 square feet that is unsatisfied. The City Administrator indicated that the demand is not there. - If you look at the only relevant numbers on the chart, 1982 data created, and follow the analysis dis- cussed earlier, the total number of square feet available for the whole City versus what Barthel is proposing for the center; if these numbers are what Barthel is using for their market demand, the market demand is not there. Mr. Hutchinson indicated that the way he reads the figures is what he came up with. Mr. Hutchinson felt that was a very conservative study. Mr. Neil Larson asked Barthel if, before proceeding with the PUD, that a substantial amount of space would be rented. Ms. Manske indicated that there would be 75% rented. Ms. Manske further indicated that there has been actual demand of anchor tennants. Nick Olson, of the East Side Concerned Citizens, indicated that there were three items that they are dealing with: 1) What they like, 2 what they are concerned with, and 3) what they don'.t like. They liked the buffer zones, the plantings. They like the berm concept and road situation. They liked the general arrangement. Mr. Olson' also indicated that the East Side Concerned Citizens generally suppported a shopping center. Mr. Olson then indicated the East Side Concerned Citizens concerns. They were concerned about the increase in size which would increase traffic. They also were concerned about there being no access on to Highway 169. They were con- cerned about the sidewalk. They were also concerned about the dO\vntO\Vll impact -- they would like both the downto\Vll and shopping center to exist. Mr. Olson further indicated the East Side Concerned Citizens dislikes: the size of the side\valk and they were uncomfortable with the City handling the utilities. They were also uncomfortable with increased traffic, noise pollution, environmental impact on the City and they were also concerned with what the school projection for 1982 is. General discussion followed regarding elevations, noise, sanitary sewer, etc. Dis- cussion also followed regarding the amount of overbuilding that might occur. Mr. David Schowalter discussed various shopping centers in the area and how they cope with the different centers. Zack Johnson indicated that the downtown should start redeveloping, while the new development is going on. If 35% is redeveloped downtown, 55% outside, then there sould be harmonious growth and competition should increase business for both the center and the do\vntown.