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Morrish stated that understanding what data needs to be gathered, how to gather it, and how to combine it to make a livable community is important. Morrish reviewed a work plan on possible topics and directed the audience on the comments the Design Center needs to have to go on with their work. Schiferl asked if I-35W is a way of defining a commonality for the involved communities or is it the central feature? Morrish responded the answer is both. Morrish said the Design Center wanted to define other issues that tie the communities together. Mayor Benke stated, in meeting with area mayors and school board representatives, it is apparent that I-35W is very important to the area. For instance, a study is being done that looks at I-35W from Texas to Duluth as a trade corridor. Both I-35W and I-694 are trade corridors. It is fair to assume the area communities need to develop this Corridor to keep healthy. A major expansion of I-35W or I-694 is unlikely. Therefore, we must deal with transportation issues with that fact in mind. Growth management is another topic that we should deal with regionally. As we update our comp plan, New Brighton will have many issues relating to the larger area. In doing our last two comp plans, the model we followed was that disparate uses would be buffered from each other. We may have to change that thinking to regional thinking. We recently changed the zoning for the proposed development at Rice Creek Plaza to allow business and commercial uses within a residential unit. In some cases, mixed uses may be appropriate. These changes in thinking are occurring across the metropolitan area. In redoing our comp plan, we must think regionally. Benke said finding an alternative to building new freeways is very important. O’Brien asked about Roseville’s participation in the Corridor. Morrish responded Roseville is providing their expertise in technology and taking the leadership role in the GIS component. The Roseville community development department was probably the first to recognize some pressures that would be placed on the Corridor based on economic development issues. Morrish said that thinking regionally would make it possible to relocate small businesses in the center of residential areas and organize zoning areas in adjoining cities to work together to avoid spot zoning. Baker asked if the Coalition is considering different densities in the same zoning category. Benke answered the main concern of the Coalition is to balance potential growth with the capacity of our infrastructure. For example, if a 50-story office building were built at Highway 96 and I-35W, the I-35W ramps providing access to that building would be under such pressure that building would probably be a failure. We need to balance the desired uses with freeway capacity and the rest of the infrastructure. The purpose of the Coalition is to help us think creatively. Morrish said the major arterials in the area can be good residential areas, but may be better sites for medium and higher density housing than it is for small business. The small businesses could be consolidated in one area to provide for better transit. Cooperating on attracting certain development may be beneficial for the Coalition cities. The question is how much can we do together. Benke said he would like to cite an example. Benke said Beach’s Service Station on Long Lake Road just south of Irondale is an excellent service station. We want to reduce dependence on the automobile as a community goal. Beach’s is a nonconforming use because of past zoning and business practices which constrains Beach’s from upgrading its facility. It may make sense to relax the constraints on nonconforming uses to allow them to upgrade their facilities. Beach’s could possibly expand to offer a car wash and convenience store. Residents of that neighborhood could walk over to Beach’s to buy a quart of milk instead of driving to buy the milk. Baker asked, if the current law requires that if the City rezoned the area around Beach’s to residential making it necessary for Beach’s to move, would Beach’s have to move within the City to fund such a relocation. I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1998\02-17-98.WPD 3