07-18-95 - Laserfiche WebLink

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? How the tracks that run between MacGillis and Gibbs and Bell Pole affects the reuse of the property. ? Does rail service have market potential? ? How can the City speed up the planned the extension of County Road E2 across the railroad tracks? ? The Tom Thumb area to the north of MacGillis and Gibbs is identified as a redevelopment site in the Old Highway 8 Corridor Plan . It seems clear there should be a connection on how both sites are used. ? The extension of County Road E2 may change the desired uses between the overpass of the railroad tracks to County Road E and to the Dairy Queen area. ? The issue of how to deal with existing businesses as the area is redeveloped. For example, the minimum industrial lot sizes. ? Should we encourage heavy industrial, light industrial, or high-tech uses on those sites? The Planning Commission ideas on any of these questions or others will be most helpful. Comprehensive Plan Baker asked what the calls for in the area. Locke responded the plan talks in general Old Highway 8 Corridor Plan about industrial use, but most of the plan directs the reader to the for the Old Highway 8 sites. Mattila said the zoning along the railroad tracks is light industrial and the sites along Old Highway 8 are commercial. South of the Tri-City Legion is industrial. Baker asked if the railroad track that serves MacGillis and Gibbs is also an active track in general. What are the chances of vacating that track? Locke responded staff will research the uses of the track. Baker commented the track limited the uses for the MacGillis and Gibbs site. Locke said the site was about 25 acres. Most of the site is long and narrow, even at the narrowest spot it is about 200 feet or more deep. Should the site be divided into two large parcels or is it more realistic to have a series of smaller parcels? New Brighton may have the opportunity to free up part of the site in the next year or two, even while the cleanup activity is going on. Baker asked who owns the site now. Locke responded MacGillis and Gibbs. The Federal government has placed an environmental lien on the property for more than $1 million, and all of the cleanup costs will ultimately be placed as a lien against that property, that could be millions of dollars. MacGillis and Gibbs will probably go out of business. New Brighton would like to redevelop the site soon. Williams said an EDC member wondered if the track should be viewed as a plus. Baker remarked most uses that would need trackage would be relatively large buildings. Locke said he would agree with Baker, but from the tax base perspective may not be what the City envisions for the site. Williams said it was his personal view that, if the trackage were abandoned for one reason or another, the City should try to preserve that rail corridor throughout the length of the City as a recreational corridor. Locke stated apparently traffic has increased on the track because it is being used as a turnaround. The increase has been a concern for the Fire Department because it has increased the time some east/west streets are blocked. I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1995\07-18-95.WPD 3