Laserfiche WebLink
south and west of Gem Lake's corporate boundaries in Vadnais <br />Heights are planned for additional commercial development. As <br />was indicated previously in the "Employment and Economic Base" <br />section of this chapter, the dominant investment in all commercial <br />development within Gem Lake was in auto dealerships catering to <br />a trade area well beyond municipal boundaries. Other commercial <br />investments typically have a "highway service" character such as <br />service stations and fast food establishments. <br />3.8.3 Office and Other Employment Concentrations <br />There is a limited amount of office development in the immediate <br />vicinity of Gem Lake. These are small concentrations in Vadnais <br />Heights and in the downtown areas of White Bear Lake and North <br />St. Paul. The largest concentrations of office space near Gem Lake <br />are in the central business district of St. Paul, the Midway District of <br />St. Paul, and in Roseville near the intersection of Snelling and <br />Highway 36. <br />3.8.4 Industrial Development <br />There are no sizeable concentrations of industrial development <br />within Gem Lake or within a five -mile radius of the City. However, <br />there are some relatively small concentrations in Little Canada, <br />Maplewood, North St. Paul, and Vadnais Heights. More <br />significantly the abutting governmental units of Vadnais Heights and <br />White Bear (Town) have planned extensive amounts of industrial <br />land adjacent to Gem Lake. The Town of White Bear plans industrial <br />development abutting Gem Lake's northern corporate limit; Vadnais <br />Heights plans industrial development beginning a few hundred feet <br />south,of Gem Lake's southern corporate boundary. <br />3.8.5 Public Open Space and Recreation Areas <br />There are no publicly owned public open space or recreational areas <br />within Gem Lake. There is a commercial golf course located in the <br />northeastern portion of the City. Within the area substantial <br />amounts of open space or recreation areas are either existing, <br />planned, or under acquisition or development. Approximately two <br />miles to the west are forest preserve lands owned by the City of St. <br />Paul. Approximately one mile to the southeast of Gem Lake is a <br />large community park within White Bear Lake. Most significantly, <br />very substantial acreages of open space are either planned for or <br />under acquisition by Ramsey County. Mush of this acreage is in the <br />neighboring City of Vadnais Heights. <br />3.9 Comprehensive Plan and Development Characteristics in <br />Contiguous Municipalities <br />Due to the small size of Gem Lake, it is very important that the <br />community monitor and loosely coordinate its development with the <br />contiguous governmental units on its boundaries. White Bear Lake <br />Uomprehensive Plan A-GEMLK9501.00 <br />Gem Lake, Minnesota Page 8 <br />