7A, Draft Guiding Plan for B2 District

Home Browse Search

Appendix B Comments from the Community Visioning Meeting 20 May 2008 Strengths · University students use the district · Existing businesses already in plac.e and known, centralized (3) · Variety / Mix of businesses, good shopping (1 0) .. Serves some consumer needs, serves local needs (2) II Nice business district · Lower density of businesses .. Small family businesses, local, neighborhood retail, useful, small. town feel, no big box stores, unique (22) · Variety of office space and employment opportunities (2) · Historically this was the main business area for Arden Hills · Arden Plaza, hardware store, pharmacy, post office (7) · Convenient banking (2) · Source of good tax income for Arden Hills II Accessibility via arterial streets and from neighborhoods (3) .. Retail shops within walking distance of neighborhoods .. Easy access to neighborhoods, centrally located (4) · Ease of access for pedestrians, bikers, and autos, manageable traffic (4) .. Some pedestrian sidewalks .. Decent parking .. Possible light-rail future opportunities .. Central to other commercial development, large chains on Lexington (2) · Good access from Snelling Avenue and ]-694 and Lexington Avenue (9) .. Traffic flows well except at rush hour, good amount of traffic (2) .. County Road E can support development, four lanes, turn lanes (3) .. The area is well defined, has a beginning and end · Large area and can accommodate a variety of uses · Small town layout, residential feel, quite side streets (3) .. Area has a pattern of development that can be built upon · Most existing development does not directly conflict with obvious future plans · Strong community feel and quaintness, friendly, meet neighbors (3) · Relatively calm visually · Buildings are setback from street, not right on the street · Stability .. Railroad tracks create natural division of land uses .. Has redevelopment opportunities and open areas Guiding Plan for the B2 District B-1