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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER PLANNING COMMISSION <br />HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL <br />TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 200 I <br /> <br />Members Present: <br /> <br />Chair Pederson, Commissioners Baker, Franz, Mesich, Ropp and Schuster <br /> <br />Members Absent: <br /> <br />None <br /> <br />Staff Present: <br /> <br />Michele McPherson, Director of Planning; Scott Harlicker, Senior Planner; <br />Chris Leeseberg, Park Planner/Planner; Director of Economic <br />Development Catherine Mehelich; Assistant Director of Economic <br />Development Marc Nevinski; Debbie Huebner, Recording Secretary <br /> <br />1. Call Meeting To Order <br /> <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Planning Commission <br />was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Pederson. <br /> <br />2. <br /> <br />Consider 6/12/01 Planning Commission Agenda <br /> <br />COMMISSIONER BAKER MOVED TO APPROVE THE JUNE 12, 2001 <br />PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA. COMMISSIONER FRANZ <br />SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. <br /> <br />4. <br /> <br />Downtown Prioritization of Projects <br /> <br />Director of Economic Development Cathy Mehelich explained that at the last meeting, list <br />of proposed projects was formulated and that the list was sent to various groups for <br />. .. . <br />pnOntlZatlOn. <br /> <br />Frank Gallati, River's Edge, stated that the majority of those people he has spoken with <br />agree with what the consultants had to say about downtown. He felt that communities are <br />looking to create a pedestrian district when they are creating downtowns. <br /> <br />Councilmember Paul Motin stated that he did not agree with that concept of creating a <br />shopping district in downtown Elk River, since it was becoming more service-oriented. He <br />stated that if the downtown was not located in its current location, all of the retail would be <br />focused on 169. He felt that there are too many obstacles downtown with the river, the <br />railroad tracks, and a major highway running through it to be commercially viable. <br />Councilmember Motin stated that if the City is going to take advantage of the river, there <br />can't be buildings all along it downtown. <br /> <br />Don Heinzman stated that he felt that the City should enhance what we already have. <br /> <br />Ms. Mehelich reviewed some of the ideas presented in the study, regarding retail, office and <br />housing. She stated that property owners are asking what they can do with their property <br />and that the City needs to decide if they want residential or office/retail or a combination of <br />