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DRAFT Regular City Council Meeting
<br />Monday, April 2,8, 2008
<br />Page 14
<br />Attachment B
<br />Councilmember Roe questioned if the referenced studies, discussed how wide the
<br />perceived impact on property values, was, realized, or if it was, just in the immedi-
<br />ate vicinity of a pawnshop.
<br />Kelly Knight, 2,071 Midlothian Road
<br />Ms,. Knight spoke in opposition to the application for a pawnshop, noting that she
<br />and her husband had firsthand experience on how opportunistic crime rises, during
<br />an economic downturn, when someone had attempted to gain entrance to their
<br />home, forcing them to install a security system. Ms,. Knight also opined that a
<br />pawnshop would decrease residential property values, in their immediate area fur-
<br />ther opined that a pawnshop would make it easier for opportunistic criminals, to
<br />get rid of items,. Ms,. Knight advised that her family had made a significant in-
<br />vestment in their property, inside and out, based on their assurance that theirs, was,
<br />a safe community. Ms,. Knight advised that she had visited a pawnshop, after re-
<br />ceiving Mayor Klaus,ing's, response to her e-mail opposing the project, and opined
<br />that she remained unimpres,s,ed after her observations,. Ms,. Knight referenced a
<br />recent Star/Tribune article related to pawnshops,, and opinions, ex pyres ,see by a de-
<br />tective on the additional resource costs,, and additional regulatory legislation to
<br />monitor this type of business, and questioned impacts, to the City's, budget for ad-
<br />ditional police.
<br />Discussion ensued between Councilmembers, and Ms,. Knight regarding linking
<br />and identifying sellers, and merchandise; current City Code not limiting the num-
<br />ber of pawnshops, in the city; whether the City was, being naive and needed to do
<br />more due diligence and ask more questions,- general increase in crime and if it was,
<br />directly related to pawnshops,- with the public not having the burden of proof on
<br />impacts, of proposed land use on general health, welfare and safety issues.
<br />Ms,. Knight concluded by noting that she had initially been insulted by the letter
<br />from the applicant; and then concerned with their poor example expressed in the
<br />letter of merchandise received; and expressed her concern with property values,
<br />and crime on the north end of County Road B
<br />Mayor Klausing identified his intent in seeking additional and specific informa-
<br />tion from residents, related to their concerns,, in an effort to addres,s, those facts,, not
<br />just perceptions,.
<br />Todd Anderson, Midlothian Road
<br />Mr. Anderson advised that he was, a bus,ines,s, owner in town, as well as the father
<br />of three children walking to Brimhall School, and questioned why it was, so im-
<br />portant to license a pawnshop at this location. Mr. Anderson advised that he had
<br />attempted to contact each Councilmember, and thanked Councilmember IhIan for
<br />talking to him. Mr. Anderson expressed concern for his children walking to Brim-
<br />hall with the pawnshop in that immediate area.
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