1997 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - Laserfiche WebLink

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3.6 Employment and Economic Base As shown in Tables 3 and 4, the City of Gem Lake has more job opportunities than, the population could reasonably be expected to support. Overall, the nature of commercial development and employment opportunities is geared to a trade area. much larger than Gem Lake. Auto dealerships. are: the dominant commercial enterprises with "Highway Service" establishments such as service stations and fast food establishments constituting a large share. of remaining commercial activity. There is very little in the way of commercial development at this stage of the community's development geared to serving the resident population. This is, of .course, due to the City's small population. t 3.7 Development of Region -Serving. Facilities Within the last thirty years there has been a very major change in the provision of region -serving facilities which will tend to accelerate and _f shape the development pattern in that portion of the metropolitan area in which Gem Lake is located. These facilities include the following: A. The completion of the Interstate Highway segments including I-694 located approximately one mile south of Gem Lake and I-35E located to the west with only a small segment of Vadnais Heights intervening. B. The extension of metropolitan trunk sewers to and beyond the City of Gem Lake. This provision of major trunk interceptors has enhanced the potential for large scale development in the Gem Lake vicinity. C. A regional shopping center, Maplewood Mall, approximately two miles southeast of Gem Lake serves as the major shopping complex in the area for the foreseeable future. Comprehensive Plan Gem Lake, Minnesota D. Ramsey County has pursued an aggressive open space acquisition and development plan. This plan should affect urban development Patterns as well as recreational.opportunities in the area. E. The City of Vadnais Heights has been developing a Town Center. Page 10