01-23-2012 DT MINDowntown Task Force
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Dw~d!t Minutes
January 23, 2012
Downtown Taskforce Meeting, January 23, 2012
After discussion, Stewart Wilson and Dana Anderson nominated as co-chairman's.
The draft minutes of the November minutes approved as written.
proceeded to do the small group task of coming_up with a problem statement. "Why axe we
doing as nl_~n??"
Fred, Mike, Jean, Mally, and Keith
Immense change with Hwy 10
A plan is good...it allows us to see what we axe getting fox people to invest.
Dana, Nick, Jerry, and Pat
Discussed why and what the task force did in 2006
Now we know a Hwy 10 layout
How to draw people & business into Downtown
Showcase the brand/city -strong natural element is the river
Cbad, Lance, Stewart, and Jim Hudson
The city has worked many years on many plans but why have they not been
implemented.
It is appropriate?
Does Downtown need revitalization?
Each group posted their ideas on the board and discussion followed:
Question: What is downtown?
Historically downtown is where people gathered as a community. Close to the river. The
context series do this now.
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It defines "us", our culture
Should it (the plan) be looked at as the "Greater Downtown" area?
Plan is good fox the future, it shows what might/could be to future stakeholders.
Proceeded again in the small eroups to fine tune a problem statement.
Break
Looked at the three revised statements.
What makes it workable?
Accepted by majority
Broke into steps
In needs to function-guidance
Three small group Problem Statements:
• We are doing this plan to reestablish the small neighborhood spirit characterized by
small business and single family residences.
• A workable plan to draw current/future citizens to Elk River's greater downtown
area and to guide current and future property/business development.
• To provide business/property owners and investors in our community a workable
plan which will improve and protect our culture being anchored to rivexfront
experience and will accommodate change to highway 10 and encourage reinvestment
both in buildings and businesses to draw people.
After discussion, the fmal combined Problem Statement:
We are doing this plan to pro~ride guidance and vision of the future of greater downtown
Elk River due to immense anticipated changes brought on by Highway 10 and market forces.
Items for additional discussion...collectively decide where this topic falls
The taskfoxce members were asked to generate a list of topics that they felt warranted
further discussion of information. As a way to prioritize those topics, members were given
three dots and were asked to place them next to the three items they felt critical to the
completion of the plan.
The breakdown:
(6) Preserve older housing stock. Are we doing that?
(6) Kevitali~ing the core downtown area (details to be determined).
(5) The `izver trial': Is this a part of the plan?
(S) Presewe historic buildings (implementation priorities to include identification, programs, resources
available to property owners).
(3) Careful review of the alignment of streets north of 10.
(3) Strategic infrastructure needed by the dty- Kivers Edge Commons Park
(2) Clarity on Hwy 10 for access from the Hwy and access on city streets to downtown.
(2) Bluff Block along Main S~-the cumnt new building and history and the established business and history.
(1) Jackson Ave changing land use to `medium density"on the East side.
(1) Future transit or train station locations.
(1) Study area houndary, does it need to be condensed.
(1) Planning horition. Currently 20years. Should it be longer, shorter?
(1) Historic Preservation.
(1) Miared uses, a general evaluation of appropriate land uses.
(1) Better understand issues with e~zsting newprojects, so that appropriate changes to ourplan can be made
to reduce that risk.
Items not receiving a vote:
Schedule (Is the length suggested by the draft schedule appropriate?)
Process. How do we incorporate community input?
The building demolition on Maiu St. next to the EA Meats and the EA Meats area.
The f ture study area
Study ama boundary, does it need to be expanded?
Jackson Avenue alignment, and its intersection with Highway 10.
Commercial uses along and south of Main, should there be a d~ned edge of downtown?
Proa^imity of residential to the rerouted railroad.
General discussion occurred
Keep current single family housing intact
Where does downtown end? Do we prevent growth to save one house?
It was questioned what houses would be removed with the current plan, not many?
Why did the city do a Highway plan? Do convey what most likely will happen in the future
to then plan around.
The top three critical areas were discussed
7. 1-Pouring Stack: Minimize the impact and preserve housing stock as a priority
2. Kevitalitiation: What extend do we preserve? Do we prevent growth to save one house?
Can we xe~ritalize downtown without Highway 10 changes? Fill empth spaces
What is the "critical mass" to support downtown?
Proposed Highway 10 design provides better connectivity of the north and south side of the
highway and tracks.
3. BiverTrail.• A river trail should be shown on the plan as a broad concept/ search area and
let the city administration pursue conversations with the affected property owners/
Bailey Point (possible future park) plays a large role in this decision
Issues: trespassing, waltjing through yards to get to the trail, Safety issues with trail heads,
parking on streets,
The next steps were discussed and what the next meeting will involve the remainder of the
items.
Minutes xepared by Jeremy Barnhart.
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(Stewart Wil on, Ch
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Tina Allard, City Clerk