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City of Centerville <br />Council Meeting Minutes <br />March 11, 2020 <br /> <br />area are being hit pretty hard because of the street and water projects. He stated that with an <br />apartment building being proposed they may feel that their property values will decrease. As far <br />as the TIF, that is a lot of money we are giving this corporation. He stated that he thinks Council <br />would be better off if the façades of the existing buildings were updated. He stated that the City <br />should be helping out our local community verses some company from St. Cloud. Mayor Paar <br />stated we have already discussed this and put into play. <br /> <br />Mr. Clayton Nicks, 7029 Centerville Road, stated that he is confused that he has not heard a single <br />business plan on how Council is going to bring businesses to the downtown area. He stated 53 <br />apartments does not bring in a business neither does not having proper access. Every business he <br />knows is it is location, location, location. He felt that Centerville Road was not a location and that <br />freeway access was location. He questioned why this property was slated for apartments and why <br />the developer chose the site. He felt that businesses would not come to an apartment building in <br />the middle of nowhere. The other part he stated he had issues with, this is a small town, and it has <br />that feel. He heard someone mention that Stillwater had a small town feel also. It has the area for <br />that. Centerville does not. If you put up apartment complexes and try to bring in Dunkin Donuts, <br />we don’t have a small town. He stated that he is from Ely, MN and his town was lost because of <br />corporations. He also stated that the community needs small town local businesses. He stated <br />that Council is considering an apartment complex with one (1) retail space anticipating other <br />businesses will come due to the population increase. He stated that the City cannot fill retail spaces <br />currently and what is the City’s plan. <br /> <br />Mayor Paar stated that the City is attempting to market itself with the EDA and other avenues. It <br />has been primarily for a data center and small businesses. He stated purchases of property other <br />than City owned is between a developer and the property owner. He stated that Council <br />understands the requirements/necessities of parking for businesses and all development. He also <br />stated that real estate agents/brokers are affirming that rooftops will drive commercial business <br />location. Mayor Paar stated that the amount of traffic on Centerville Road is astronomical and that <br />will just continue to grow with the growth of communities that surround Centerville. Mr. Nicks <br />stated that the traffic study was completed when I35E was shut down and once they opened that <br />roadway the traffic lessened through Centerville. Mayor Paar stated that the Centerville road <br />project was a county project and the City had very little to do with it. Administrator Statz stated <br />this is the latest traffic counts in Anoka County two way traffic 12,339. He stated most retail <br />businesses will not consider an area of less than 15,000 vehicles. Administrator Statz stated that <br />Mr. Nicks is correct in that it will be difficult to secure retail businesses along Centerville Road. <br /> <br />Mr. Nicks spoke of Ms. DuFault’s concern for a vote. He stated that not once did the Mayor <br />mention what Centerville wanted but it was what he wanted. Mr. Nicks stated that the problem he <br />believes is that the Mayor does not want to do what Centerville residents want him to do. He stated <br />that the Mayor has a personal issue and will not step up and deal with the issue while he is on <br />Council. Mayor Paar stated that he desired not to vote on the issue as his residency was in question <br />and he did not deem it to be fair to the residents of Centerville. Mr. Nicks felt that if the Mayor <br />cared about Centerville and Council cared about Centerville and its residents a vote should be <br />taken this evening. Mayor Paar stated that in order to generate business interest additional <br />residents were needed. He stated that the properties in the downtown area were rezoned to allow <br />for zero lot line for future sales of property to businesses if desired. He also stated that Council is <br />Page 9 of 18 <br /> <br /> <br />