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EDC Minutes <br />May 3, 2017 <br />Page 2 of 3 <br /> <br />Council approved a proposal from WSB and Associates to complete the study. The EDC is being <br />asked to review components of that study. At this meeting they will review typical employment <br />and economic activity from allowed commercial and employment uses. <br /> <br />WSB Senior Planner Eric Zwebel discussed the study and what the Economic Development <br />Commission’s involvement would be. He described the various commercial and industrial <br />districts in the City, the uses allowed and the purpose statements of the districts. He noted that the <br />current zoning districts do not always separate uses to match the purpose statements. Education is <br />a conditional use in B-1, B-2, B-3 and B-4 Districts. Educational uses are not allowed in the <br />Neighborhood Business District or the Industrial districts. <br /> <br />WSB Senior Planner Zwebel discussed the Economic Activity from Commercial and Industrial <br />Uses table that was provided. Education services are in the third category, which has less <br />economic impact than other commercial and industrial uses in terms of salary per 1,000 square <br />feet of building space. <br /> <br />Commissioner Liz Johnson asked if there was an example of a study done specifically for a <br />college town looking at the economic impact that students and the parents of students had on the <br />community. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding the amount of money students would spend in the city and economic <br />impact different types of students would create. Also discussed was the urgency of the University <br />of Northwestern and Bethel University’s need for additional classroom space. <br /> <br />Discussion occurred in regards to TCAAP and the mix of businesses that will be there. <br /> <br />B. Business Retention and Expansion Program <br /> <br />Senior Planner Bachler stated the item was on the agenda for the Commissioners to update each <br />other on the program. <br /> <br />Chair Erickson asked if anyone had made contact with the businesses assigned to them. <br /> <br />Commissioner Rob Williams said he was waiting for responses from two businesses. <br /> <br />Commissioner Johnson said one businesses wants to wait until June and she wasn’t able to reach <br />the other business. <br /> <br />6. UPDATES <br /> <br />A. Commission Members <br /> <br />None <br /> <br />B. Council Liaison <br /> <br />Council Liaison McClung provided an update on the TCAAP redevelopment timeline. There are <br />approximately thirty acres of the property that have not received final environmental sign-off yet