EDSR INFORMATION #2 06-08-1998 I
Future plans definitely1
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.. .
, „,,, . on Woodbury's run
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• City's planners ment, to reconstruct, starting in
100 acres for 2001,U.S. Highway 61 in the south
eye
end of Washington County and to
a business campus build a new Wakota bridge that
takes I-494 across the Mississippi
JIM BROEDE STAFF WRITER River.
"Those projects," Hurst said,
"will do a lot to improve access to`
Woodbury can boast of being property around I-494 and Bailey
home to Fortis Insurance and Road."
State Farm Insurance and, later Mayor Bill Hargis said another
this year, the new Woodwinds business campus in his city of
• medical complex — cream-of-the- 40,000 residents is in keeping with
crop businesses in campus settings the city's push for a more bal-
and providers of a whole lot of anced tax base.
jobs. "Now the lion's share of the tax
But that's not enough to suit burden falls on residential proper-
some folks in one of Minnesota's ties," he said. "But we have a goal
fastest-growing cities. of offsetting that by attracting
Woodbury city's planners want $220 million in commercial and
to plant the seed for yet another 'industrial development over the
plum by designating about 100 next 10 years."
acres owned by Bailey Nurseries The city has zoned for most of
at Bailey Road and Interstate 494 that development to occur along
' for a future business campus. Interstates 94 and 494.
"It won't happen overnight,"
• city comprehensive planner Deb "What we noticed," Council
- Garross said, "because that cam- Member Mike Pouliott said, "was 1
pus will have to be served by a that so far the commercial and
new Interchange at I-494 and Bai- industrial development has come i
ley Road and by public sewer and in the northern one-third of the
water. To get all that in place city. There has been almost noth-
might take 20 years or more." ing in the southern two-thirds. But
Garross said a business campus a business campus on the Bailey
— nestled east of Century Avenue (nurseries) property could change
and between Carver and La lakes all that."
— would blend with nursery prop- Woodbury officials also have
erty and residential development. pledged to work closely with their
"Land in that general area is neighbors in planning for the busi- {
zoned for residential estates and
nese campus, which would border
- single-family homes," she said. "I on Newport and Maplewood.
I would expect it to stay mostly that Newport administrator Larry
way, except for a transition zone Bodahl said he anticipates coordi-
of higher density housing next to tinted planning for the future be-
- the business campus." cause both communities share the
same planning consultant,Hoising-
• Bailey Nurseries spokesman ton Koegler Group Inc. -I
Gordon Bailey Jr. said he's keep-
ing an open mind. "Our only plan In Maplewood, Woodbury's pro
• for the foreseeable future," he ,posals have yet to be discussed,
added, "is to stay in the nursery community development director
business. But a lot of things can Melinda Coleman said.
- change in 20 years." Woodbury, meanwhile, will
City Council Member Cheryl schedule neighborhood meetings
Hurst contends the business cam- and public hearings before adopt-
pus could come much sooner than ing a new 20-year master plan for
• later because of a plan by the the community in December. For
Minnesota Transportation Depart- more information, call 714-3533.
-SATURDAY,MAY 23,1998 SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS