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10f2 Driscoll, Margaret From: Jane Cross [r I ~ @ ] Sent: Monday, September 20,20046:16 PM To: city.council@cLroseville.mn.us Subject: NO to COSTCO/Twin Lakes Project Dear Councilmembers, I mn unable to attend the council meeting this evening due to conunitments at nlY job but I wanted to share my concerns about the Twin Lakes development plan. Once again, Roseville does not need any more big box stores, Inuch less more retail which will under cut the retail that is now already in Roseville. My husband and I own a small retail business in Roseville and will be greatly affected by a "big box" store such as Costco. They will sell items at retail for much less than we can sell thenl, in fact they will be selling for pennies over what we pay for the items. We cannot make a living much less sustain our business if we have to con1pete with that type of retail. We already have Cub Foods in Arden Hills that has taken at least 15% of our business and this another big box store will certainly put us closer to our demise. We purchased our business in July 2003 but the business has been a part of Roseville for over 14 years. We will not be able to continue if Roseville allows another big box store to come in a obtain a liquor license and this business will be selling at grocery store margins. Please reconsider the project and think of the retail that is already in Roseville. Don't put a bunch of small businesses out of business for the sake of one or two big stores!! The property that Twin Lakes entails could be put to a far greater use than a big box store. Senior housing would nlake much more sense than one HUGE store that not only sells everything but also undersells the small competitors, but it will also cause more traffic congestion and pollution to the existing businesses and homes in that area. Is T.I.F. monies going into this project? If that is the case, then the city is still subsidizing the project as it will not recoup any tax dollars from the property for, what 5, 10 or 15 years? Please reconsider this project and is one development worth such a huge subsidy, if I am reading correctly in the Roseville Review and other media? If the city is willing to subsidize big developers and big box stores, then it should consider subsidizing existing small businesses in their city by offering low interest loans to keep those small businesses operating, etc. Eventually Roseville will become "Spra\vl- Mart" of the northern suburbs. Keep your small community as the residents want it to be - I cannot even tell you how many times customers come in our store and say they won't patronize the "big box" stores. The big box stores have "killed" many of the small businesses of yesterday and will continue to cull them out with time and money. Truly look at this project for what it will become and cause - not what you think it should be. Jane & Bill Cross, Network Liquors Inc. 2727 Lexington Ave. N, Roseville MN 55113 9/27/2004