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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br />~~ILLS <br /> <br />January 27,2003 <br /> <br />Representative Betty McCollum <br />United States Congress <br />1029 Longworth HOB <br />Washington, DC 20515 <br /> <br />RE: The United States Postal Service's Consideration of the TCAAP Property for a <br />Potential 82-Acre Distribution Facility <br /> <br />Dear Representative McCollum: <br /> <br />The City of Arden Hills recently received a copy of the letter that the U.S. Postal Service <br />sent to the GSA, indicating their potential interest in acquiring an 82-acre site within the <br />rCAAP property. The intended use for this site has been described as a consolidated <br />distribution facility. <br /> <br />Last Friday, January 17, our City Council met with staff, our development team and our <br />planning consultant and reviewed the impact that a Post Office distribution facility would <br />have on the TCAAP proj ect. We reviewed photographs of other Post Office distribution <br />facilities around the Twin Cities area. They are, without exception, large utilitarian <br />warehouses, surrounded by hundreds of semi trailers. This use would be, for all intents <br />and purposes a huge !lUck terminal and could have a detrimental impact on fulfilling the <br />Vento Reuse Plan. Because it has already been agreed that the site should also become <br />the home for an 80-acre combined maintenance facility for Ramsey County and the <br />National Guard, it will difficult to incorporate a quality mix of housing and commercial <br />development in proximity to such heavy industrial use. As a result, it might make the <br />redevelopment of this property uneconomical. <br /> <br />These factors, combined with the fact that the initial location indicated by the Post office <br />is among the least polluted, highest visibility sites within the entire project area, cause us <br />to seriously question the viability of this facility within TCAAP. <br /> <br />lfwe thought that there was a way to successfully accommodate this use and preserve the <br />backbone of the Vento Re-Use Plan, we would gladly explore the option. Weare <br />requesting a meeting with the Post Service to discuss their plans and interest. <br /> <br />We are beginning a new year, with a new city council, and a renewed commitment to <br />work collaboratively and cooperatively with the National Guard, Ramsey County and all <br />other key players in the TCAAP Reuse Process. To lock in final decisions now regarding <br />the shapes of use areas, access points, definitive roadway corridors and similar features is <br /> <br />City of Arden Hills . 1245 Weslllighway 96 . Arden lIi1ls, MN . 55112-5794 <br />Phone 651.634.5120 . Fax 651.634.5137 . www.ci.arden-hiIL'i.mn.ns <br />