05-24-1982 PC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning Commission Minutes May 24, 1982 Page Eight have been done, a large retail grocery store (24,000 square feet) has been built that was not included in the study. Mr. Mills further indicated there has been other dO\vutO\VTI growth. He does not see how anyone can commit 154,000 square feet within two or three minutes of the dOwntO\Vll area. Zack Johnson indicated to Mr. Mills that the Planning Commission and the City Coun- cil have done a lot of research on how big 100,000 square feet it. They have visi- ted some shopping centers in the area that is approximately that size. Chairman Tracy indicated that tonight the Planning Commission is trying to arrive at a correct answer for the City of Elk River-- compatibility is the hang up. A member of the audience indicated her concern with the possible high rates of rent at the shopping center for the smaller stores. The small businesses could not handle the higher rents. Commissioner Pearce indicated that he agrees \-lith Mr. Scho\\Talter that the shopping center could be compatible with the do\vutown. What concerned him the most was the timing -- the space being made available. Commissioner Pearce also indicated that he felt this could possibly abliterate the downtown. The only way he could recom- mend approval to the City Council was to put a time restriction on. Commissioner Pearce further indicated that this shopping center was too big. Commissioner Gunkel indicated she;li~edthe,layout and fUJ7ther,;indicated thatL:,in the PUD, everything has been met with the exception of the final plan for sewer and water. Commissioner Gunkel also indicated that the access on Highway 169 has not been met and the sidewalk has also not been met. Commissioner Gunkel indicated she is critical of the size. She further indicated she did some research and got some opinions re- garding the center. She indicated that everyone she spoke with was not opposed to a shopping center or competition within reason. One problem she indicated was financing. Commissioner Gunkel discussed the Monticello Mall. The size of the Mall was 40,000 square feet, it took a year and a half to build, and 5 - 6 years to fill. She indi- cated that this }Iall was buil t in the "good years". After eight years, it is com- pletely filled. Commissioner Gunkel also indicated that 95,000 square feet of new retail space, not including Mr. Sant\vire's, \Vas too much. r:lr. David Schowalter stated that in relation to timing and size!) in terms of being compatible, phasing could be done in a controlled fashion. Chairman Tracy indicated he had talked to 15 consumers. If we built a shopping center so large that it could possibly eliminate the do\vuto\\TIl area, should the size be reg- ulated? 14 of these consumers indicated no. They felt that it was time for the do\mto\\TIl to reconsider the v/ay they exist. All retail should not disappear from the do\vntown. The proposed shopping center, not in its present size, is a way for the HRA plan to be compatible with the shopping center. Commissioner Gunkel indicated that the main contention is the size of the shopping center. Commissioner Gunkel asked Barthel if it would be possible to scale this back dO\ffi to 60,000 square feet, the amount originally proposed, to be reasonably expanded. Commissioner Gunkel further indicated that the size of the shopping center