06-10-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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4> Indmtiial/Business Park The City’s industrial paric has been considered unique because it offers a consolidated area with full utilities, good access, and reasonable land prices at the edge of the rnetropolitan area. It provides Long Lake with a full cross section of community land use. an economic base and a non-residential tax base. The paric. (with a couple of notable exceptions) senres smaller industrial, construction and commercial uses. Its advantages also highlight its shortoomings. Lower land values attract more extensive land users such as building materials, auto body repair, vehicle storage, contractors, etc. which tend to create unsightly areas. Simple materials management, vehicle and equipment parking patterns and landscaping can make vast improvements, not only prornoting visual erthancements, but also business operations. Smaller businesses also often lack capital to support necessary improvements such as street paving, storm water management, parking area paving and landscaping. Area-wide imprcivements will tend to increase the attractiveneas of the park thereby increasing value and creating turn over and change. A third challenge is the accessibility and market created by TH 12. The state DOT has Installed sheltered turning lanes on TH 12 to improve access and safety. As a result increased pressure will be created for more commercial ventures that are highway oriented. On a lesser scale, the liquor store, pizza and yard equipment sales center is examples. In this mix of development challenges comes the confluence of City objectives • buildirig tax base. Increasing Jobs and economic opportunity, retention and expansion of existing businesses and meeting the broader needs of the community. Balancing these objectives requires a view of the future and some transitional strategies for transitional areas. To focus choices, the planning process looked at three alternatives for the industrial area. They were based on some fundamental objectives: > Improve the economic base of the City. > Create/maintain a sense of a district, functionally, operationally and visually. > Connect the business park to the city center (the City's investment in lighting and walkways along TH 12 is a symbolic beginning). > Foster smaller businesses and community enterprises. > Examine ways and incentives to develop economic clusters (e.g. home renovation center where hardware stores, lawn care, nurseries, roofing, plumbing and heating, etc.) coexist > Create a system of Internal access. > Limit direct private lot access to Wayzata Boulevard/TH 12. lors Uke Comprehensive rUn 4-ZO eoo/zoo*a I609i axn ONoi io xiio ZZ96 9Lt Z96 Z9'‘9X Z00Z,0Z ‘XW 1