Minutes

New Brighton Economic Development Commission

Regular Meeting - June 9, 1998

7:30 a.m.

Roll Call

Present:	Rakesh Argawala, Mayor Bob Benke, Carol Frey, Ann Hoffman, Ken Johnson, Maxine Pierson

Absent:	Eugene Delaune II, John Kaufhold, Dean Tollefson

Also Present:	Jill Bishop, Economic Development Specialist

Kevin Locke, Director of Community Development

John Ordway, Stony Lake Properties

Len Pratt, Pratt Homes

Gary Vogel, Boarman, Kroos, Pfister, Vogel & Associates

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the May 12, 1998, Economic Development Commission meeting were approved as written. Ken Johnson, Chair, suggested that detailed descriptions of the changes on Old Highway 8 should be added to the minutes for clarification.

BCP III Neighborhood Retail Center

The project architect, Gary Vogel, described the process and the various stages of the site plan development. Although each plan was different, they all had three elements in common: 1) A street (spine) running north/south through the project. 2) The housing component to the north. 3) An east-west movement toward the middle of the project area. The development team indicated they thought that Development Site Plan J best considered both the needs of the tenants and the elements cited in the City's Corridor Vision.

The Commission discussed, in general, the idea of a convenience/gas station and its location. The consensus was that, if the pumps were hidden to the west of the building, no car wash were allowed, the building was made to look more like a local grocery, and great care was given to building design and landscaping, it may work on the 5th Ave and E-2 intersection. The EDC has expressed an interest in a small community bank in its own location and not included in the C-store for the project. It was concluded that retail uses did not have to occupy the whole site. Approximately 15-20,000 square feet of retail uses may be an appropriate fit for the site and the neighborhood. The retail components were conceived of as a "convenience" retail square or "C-square" rather than simply a convenience store. The importance of maintaining a strong 5th Ave building frontage was reconfirmed.

Other concept issues discussed included the layout of the buildings for access and convenience. The idea of two 3,000 square foot restaurants or a 6,000 restaurant was discussed. The open-air market pads and also the location of a day care on the site received a positive response. A flexible design for future uses and development of the site was also recognized as an important feature. Driveway alignment and project road placement coordination with surrounding projects was suggested.

Other Business

Jones Lake Concept Plan

Three proposed alternatives for the Jones Lake area were handed out and will be discussed next month.

New EDC Member Process

The City Council will be review applications to the Economic Development Commission at the Council meeting tonight.

Due to time constraints, the rest of the June agenda was continued at the July Meeting.

Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m.