Laserfiche WebLink
AttachmentH <br />May 19, 2012 position statement from the “Solidarity of West Area Roseville Neighbors (SWARN)” <br />175 <br />expressing concerns and opposition to Wal-Mart <br />176 <br />David Nelson, 2280 W Highway 36, representative of “Solidarity for West Area Roseville <br />177 <br />Neighbors (SWARN)” <br />178 <br />As previously noted, written comments were provided from SWARN; with questions specific to the Plat <br />179 <br />related to reimbursement for the I-35W and Twin Lakes Parkway interchange; and clarification of <br />180 <br />whether or not the Twin Lakes Master Plan was part of the current Zoning Code and Comprehensive <br />181 <br />Plan. <br />182 <br />Mike Gregory, 1945 Sharondale Avenue, representative of: “Solidarity for West Area Roseville <br />183 <br />Neighbors (SWARN)” <br />184 <br />Mr. Gregory expressed concerns related to economic and/or social concerns, and read his written <br />185 <br />comment (no copy provided), opining that Wal-Mart was not a “community-based” business, but a <br />186 <br />national chain that will negatively impact and/or close many local business. Mr. Gregory referenced <br />187 <br />numerous studies; and questioned what legacy the City Council wanted to leave for western Roseville <br />188 <br />and asked that the City Council consider the record of this corporate citizen elsewhere. Specific <br />189 <br />questions of Mr. Gregory included: 1) the impact on taxes to Roseville compared to what they’re paying <br />190 <br />versus City costs; 2) impact to local roads; 3) impact to local roadways (maintenance and clean-up); and <br />191 <br />crime statistics of other Wal-Mart stores (e.g., Vadnais Heights store). <br />192 <br />Sue Gilbertson, 2000 Cleveland Avenue N (SWARN) <br />193 <br />Ms. Gilbertson shared crime statistics that she had researched from the Ramsey County Sheriff’s office, <br />194 <br />and incidents at the Vadnais Heights Wal-Mart Store over a five (5) year period, and comparing those <br />195 <br />statistics between Wal-Mart and the Target store in that same vicinity at 975 and 850 County Road E <br />196 <br />respectively. Mr. Gilbertson reviewed the number and type of calls. Ms. Gilbertson also referenced her <br />197 <br />discussions with Roseville Police Lt. Loren Rosand and Chief Mathwig for their anticipated annual call <br />198 <br />rate of between 900-1000 calls with this Wal-Mart development in Roseville, exclusive of related <br />199 <br />officer, squad car and support staff costs. <br />200 <br />Megan Dushin, 2249 St. Stephen Street (SWARN) <br />201 <br />Ms. Dushin opined that legal language could be interpreted as anyone’s discretion; however, she further <br />202 <br />opined that the City Council had sufficient language in the Comprehensive Plan and other documents to <br />203 <br />fully support its denial of this proposed development. <br />204 <br />Ms. Dushin referenced CMU zoning provisions, regional trip calculations, and definition of this as a <br />205 <br />regional business, questioning the logic in such a definition for this proposed use. Ms. Dushin <br />206 <br />referenced Chapter 4 (page 8) of the Comprehensive Plan for definitions of Regional Business and <br />207 <br />various sections (1005.05.f) included as Attachment C in the meeting packet (page 3) related to surface <br />208 <br />parking on large development sites, and other areas this did not meet requirements. Ms. Dushin asked <br />209 <br />why these discrepancies were not being addressed. <br />210 <br />Gary Grefenberg, 91 Mid Oaks Lane (SWARN) <br />211 <br />Mr. Grefenberg referenced the written comments of SWARN in making his points in opposition to this <br />212 <br />development. Mr. Grefenberg alleged that staff had been proposing and advocating for this <br />213 <br />development all along, whether at the Planning Commission or City Council level. Mr. Grefenberg <br />214 <br />opined that SWARN disputed whether or not the Comprehensive Plan or the Twin Lakes Master Plan <br />215 <br />ever recommended a development of this type. Mr. Grefenberg stated that, as part of the <br />216 <br />Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, on which he had participated, he had been led to believe that <br />217 <br />the Twin Lakes Master Plan would be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan; however, something <br />218 <br />happened between the Steering Committee final recommendation and City Council adoption of the <br />219 <br />Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Grefenberg alleged that staff selectively picked what they thought was or was <br />220 <br />Page5of14 <br /> <br />