06-04-2007 DTMIN
MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER
REDEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK TASK FORCE
HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2007
Members Present: Louise Kuester, HRA Commissioner; Larry Toth, HRA Commissioner (arrived at
6:45pm and left at 8:00pm); Jean Lieser, HRA Commissioner; Lance Lindberg,
Heritage Preservation Commissioner; Dan Tveite, EDA Commissioner; Dana
Anderson, Planning Commissioner (arrived at 6:30pm); Mike Niziolek, Parks &
Recreation Representative; Dave Rymanowski, Business Representative (First
National Bank); Mark Urista, Business Representative (Coldwell Banker Vision);
Molly Nadeau-Peterson, Resident Representative; John Anderson, Resident
Representative
Members Absent: Keith Holme, Business Representative (Kemper Drug) and Stewart Wilson, HRA
Chair
Staff Present: Community Development Director Scott Clark, Director of Economic
Development Catherine Mehelich, Assistant Director of Economic Development
Heidi Steinmetz and Planner Chris Leeseberg
Others Present: Stacie Kvilvang of Ehlers & Associates, Inc. and Michael Schroeder of LHB
Architects & Engineers
1. Approve June 4, 2007 Agenda
The June 4, 2007 agenda was approved.
2. Approve May 7, 2007 Minutes
The May 7, 2007 minutes were approved.
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3. Recap of Last Meeting & Purpose of May 7 Meeting
Chair Mark Urista thanked Task Force members for the time and effort they have put into the
redevelopment plan thus far. He reiterated the importance of their participation and that members
voice their opinions during each meeting so that the entire Task Force is informed about concerns
that may arise. He informed the group that meeting packets will now be sent one week in advance.
Stacie Kvilvang of Ehlers & Associates stated that since the Task Force is now discussing land use
concepts in an illustrative format, that it is especially important to revisit the Task Force ground rules
(be open and honest, non-attribution, don’t get personal, contribute – don’t dominate, throw the flag
and understand to be understood), which were presented at the first meeting last November.
Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz reminded the group that member
Larry Toth had asked the Task Force to consider a new name because the current name (Downtown
Redevelopment Plan) does not properly depict the location and size of the study area. Using new
name ideas submitted by Task Force members, marketing principles and a geographical description
of the area, she unveiled the new name: Mississippi Connections Redevelopment Framework: A Long- Range
Vision for the 400-acre Core of Elk River. Minimal discussion occurred with a consensus that any new
name will run the risk of being ambiguous and that people who truly care about the City’s
redevelopment efforts will read beyond the project name.
4. Visioning Session 2 of 2: Refining Land Use Concept
At the last meeting, the Task Force broke into two small groups to better articulate their land use
concept ideas. Michael Schroeder of LHB Architects & Engineers and Planner Chris Leeseberg
sketched each group’s ideas onto base aerial maps. Mr. Schroeder’s group focused north of Highway
10 and Mr. Leeseberg’s group focused south of Highway 10. Tonight, Mr. Schroeder and Mr.
Leeseberg presented enhanced drawings based off of the sketches.
Member John Anderson commented that he disagrees with eliminating either the Jackson Avenue or
Main Street intersection from Highway 10.
Much discussion ensued regarding Highway 10 and how it affects the area. Mr. Schroeder
encouraged the group to discuss their land use concept using a 20-year vision rather than envisioning
how the concept may work today. Community Development Director Scott Clark mentioned that a
goal and strategy may be added to the redevelopment framework document stating that the City
Council continue to pursue funding to complete a Highway 10 study. Member John Anderson
agreed.
Task Force members asked questions about how redevelopment would affect nearby property values,
how to handle transitions between areas of different land use densities and the visual reality of the
different building elevations.
Ms. Kvilvang inquired if the Task Force had any further preliminary questions/comments regarding
the enhanced drawings. Hearing none, Ms. Kvilvang facilitated a discussion regarding the seven
different areas shown on a combined land use concept (see below image) that represented both small
group’s initial concepts. The group discussed each area in depth. Consensus items are listed below.
East Jackson Avenue Corridor
o Jackson becomes a tree-lined parkway design as primary corridor
o Single family homes fronting east Jackson may be removed to accommodate
live/work structures
o Alley to serve as main access to buildings along Jackson/minimal setbacks along
Jackson to obtain “urban feel”
West Jackson Avenue Corridor Including the Current Industrial Area
o High density residential abutting Lion’s Park
o “Anchor” commercial/institutional land use needed on southwest corner of Jackson
& School Street
o Create roadway connection between Jackson & Lion’s Park Drive
Highway 10 Frontage from Jackson Avenue to Gates
o High scale commercial/office building at intersection of Main Street & Railroad
Drive to maximize view of river
East Main Street Connecting to Highway 169
o Alley to serve as main access to buildings along Main/minimal setbacks along Main
to obtain “urban feel”
o Redevelop as commercial (office/service) rather than single-family residential
o Continue tree-lined parkway along Main Street to hwy 169
Redevelopment Framework Task Force Minutes Page 3
June 4, 2007
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Quinn Avenue Area
o A separate redevelopment study of this area should be completed
Core Downtown
o Conduct traffic studies on a project-by-project basis to determine roadway
improvements for certain land uses
o Proper scale, like row homes, to buffer single-family homes and new developments
o First floor commercial to be based on market demand
o No “leapfrog” redevelopment (only allow contiguous projects)
o Utilize design standards to promote historic “look” for new buildings
o Remove outside storage to incorporate a public access to river (at Municipal Utilities
building)
o Main Street between Morton & Lowell should be considered a good transition area
between new developments & single-family homes
o Area between The Bluffs & First National/Dare’s should be “kept in play” for
redevelopment opportunity
5. Final Comments
Ms. Kvilvang asked each Task Force member to talk about his/her concerns or comments regarding
the land use concept discussed this evening. The comments are listed below:
Dave Ryamowski − No comment.
Lance Lindberg − No comment.
Dana Anderson − No comment.
John Anderson − It is good to keep reminding ourselves to look out twenty years/concerned about
traffic flow within study area.
Dan Tveite − Thanked staff and stated that the Task Force planning process has been good.
Mike Niziolek − Agreed with Dan Tveite.
Louise Kuester − Concerned that the Task Force has not discussed how to balance the area’s historic
context with the economic feasibility of redevelopment.
Jean Lieser − Liked Mike Niziolek’s idea about incorporating a park area for canoes/ reminded the
Task Force that when it comes to preservation, property owners have the right to redevelop their
property
Mark Urista − Agreed with John Anderson about continuing to vision for twenty years from now
Molly Nadeau − Concerned about traffic flow on Main Street & Hwy 10/liked Mike Niziolek’s ideas
about converting the area by the dam into a park and adding an area for canoes.
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The next meeting will be held on June 25, 2007 (one week early due to the 4 of July holiday) and that
the following meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 16, 2007.
Submitted by,
Heidi Steinmetz
Assistant Director of Economic Development
Redevelopment Framework Task Force Minutes Page 4
June 4, 2007
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