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<br />Page 1 of2 <br /> <br />James Lehnhoff <br /> <br /> <br />From: LISA NAAKTGEBOREN [Imnaak@msn.com] <br />Monday, August 13, 2007 9:05 PM <br />James Lehnhoff; sjharpstead@comcasLnet; David_Grant; holdenbj24@aol.com; franh116@aol.com; <br />davemcclung@comcast.net <br />Subject: Opposition to Walgreens Proposal <br /> <br />Sent: <br />To: <br /> <br />Dear Mayor Harpstead, Arden Hills City Council Members, and City Staff: <br /> <br />We are writing to share our strong opposition to the proposed addition of a Walgreens store at Arden Plaza. We have <br />both been customers of the Arden Plaza stores since moving to the city in 1997, regularly frequenting the tanning salon, <br />Great China, ACE Hardware, and Arden Pharmacy & Gifts. <br /> <br />For our family, Arden Pharmacy has become a local favorite not only for their excellent selection of greeting cards and <br />high-quality gifts or the friendly and knowledgeable staff, but most importantly because of the satisfaction that comes <br />with supporting a hometown business instead of a major corporation that has no connection to the cities in which <br />they build stores. <br /> <br />Our personal feelings aside, there are several other things that must be considered before approving the addition of a <br />Walgreens at Arden Plaza, which is impractical and unfeasible at the suggested location. <br /> <br />1. Road design and traffic patterns at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and County Road E, as well as Plaza <br />entrance and exit routes, have not been built to support the increased traffic that a Walgreens would likely bring. <br /> <br />2. There are already problems with backed-up traffic and general traffic flow at the Lexington/County Road E <br />intersection numerous times during the day due to nearby proximity of the railroad track. <br /> <br />3. Cub Foods and Target, both located within a half mile radius of Arden Plaza, already offer large-scale, big-name, <br />discount pharmacies that likely compete with Arden Pharmacy. The Lexington Avenue shopping area of Arden Hills is <br />not large enough to support a fourth store of the same type. However, the area does lack diversity for consumers and <br />the city would be wise to pursue other retailers who would enhance this. A more strategic approach would be to solicit <br />retailers that would complement the existing Plaza stores, such as Aldi Food Market, a bookstore, family restaurant, or <br />another daycare to support the working parents at Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Land 0' Lakes, Deluxe, Bethel, and <br />Northwestern. <br /> <br />4. Walgreens stores already exist at Snelling Avenue and County Road C (approximately three miles south of Arden <br />Hills) and at County Road 10 and Long Lake Road (approximately three miles north of Arden Hills). Residents who are <br />compelled to shop at a Walgreens store can easily go to one of these locations. <br /> <br />5. Reports about anticipated development of the TCAAP acreage on the Highway 96 side of Arden Hills promise that <br />zoning regulations will ensure a residential and commercial blend. If we must entertain a proposal from Walgreens, it <br />would make more sense to invite them to build a store in that area, where there will be new residential growth, rather <br />than to watch them force Arden Pharmacy out of business. <br /> <br />We hope that you will consider the personal and economic impact of potentially losing our own "mom-and-pop" <br />pharmacy and gift store. It is not "progress," nor is it "growth," to add one retailer at the likely expense of another. <br /> <br />Please vote against the Walgreens/Arden Plaza proposal. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Lisa Naaktgeboren <br />1416 Arden View Dr <br />Arden Hills <br />Imnaak@msn.com <br /> <br />Geza Batiz <br />3715 New Brighton Rd <br />Arden Hills <br />g~?;::t,batiz@gmail.com <br /> <br />8/29/2007 <br />