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<br />The City of Elk River recently unveiled a draft Redevelopment Plan for downtown Elk <br />River and requested input about "specific aspects" of the Plan, Unfortunately the Plan's <br />underlying assumptions are in my opinion so fatally flawed that the Plan details don't <br />merit response. r d rather address a few of the underlying assumptions. <br /> <br />1. The Plan assumes that downtown Elk River has "historical character" worthy of <br />preservation. Didn't that horse leave the barn some time ago'? <br />2. The Plan, assumes that the Mississippi River is a "significant recreational <br />amenity". Isn't the River barely navigable and isn't the idea that it is a wonderful <br />recreational amenity way overblown? <br />3. The Plan assumes that a "nature trail" along the Mississippi and Elk Rivers is a <br />good thing. Wouldn't it simply be a significant security threat to the <br />neighborhoods it abuts and a huge problem for the Elk River police? Witness the <br />Lions Park band shell. <br />4. The Plan assumes that high density mixed use buildings actually make sense in an <br />area constrained by a river, a major highway and railroad tracks. Haven't we' <br />created enough parking and traffic problems in downtmvTI Elk River already? <br />5. The Plan assumes that those of us who travel east on Main Street wouldn't mind it <br />being rerouted north on Jackson and then east on 4d1 Street and that the over 2,000 <br />families who are members of St. Andrew's Church wouldn't mind Main Street <br />being rerouted through Church property. Aren't the flaws in these assumptions <br />self evident'? <br /> <br />I could go on, but hopefully this is enough for the City Conneil to have the good sense to <br />once and for all lay this Plan and its fatally flawed underlying assumptions to rest. <br /> <br />Don Schumacher <br />