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Regular Planning Commission Meeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, July 11, 2012 <br />Page 14 <br />Furthermore, Member Boguszewski advised that, while it may have some relevance, at separate <br />667 <br />is the issue of any hyperbole in the findings, since the administrative decision was made by the <br />668 <br />Planning Department based on their judgment that a sufficient threshold was reached for <br />669 <br />compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, or that an insufficient threshold if found out of <br />670 <br />compliance. Whether words were used that were perceived by some to be hyperbolic, Member <br />671 <br />Boguszewski opined would not be a factor in his findings; and while words may be found hurtful to <br />672 <br />some, they were not germane to his findings on the validity of the administrative decision. <br />673 <br />Member Boguszewski advised the key for him was the 2006 decision by the Court of Appeals that <br />674 <br />he found to be extremely parallel to the appeal issue before the Commission. While it may be <br />675 <br />unfortunate, Member Boguszewski opined that, if language in the Comprehensive Plan includes <br />676 <br />terminology indicating something is “not encouraged or recommended,” the harsh reality is that <br />677 <br />this is also reflected in the Court of Appeals ruling. Member Boguszewski opined that he was <br />678 <br />under the impression that things would be no different this time around if the same pathway was <br />679 <br />followed, resulting in the same ruling. To him, Member Boguszewski opined that this was a key <br />680 <br />factor in his consideration. <br />681 <br />In effect, Member Boguszewski likened the Commission as similar to the Supreme Court tonight: <br />682 <br />not determining the merits of the case, but determining whether or not the administrative <br />683 <br />determination was right. Member Boguszewski concurred with the caution expressed by Chair <br />684 <br />Boerigter that comments be removed from the merits of a Wal-Mart in Roseville, since this isn’t <br />685 <br />about that, but the issue was about whether a Wal-Mart development or use was prohibited in this <br />686 <br />area. <br />687 <br />To that point, Member Boguszewski opined that he was leaning toward agreement that the <br />688 <br />Comprehensive Plan was designed to guide development of the Twin Lakes Redevelopment Area <br />689 <br />in total, and not finding restrictions or limitations of any use, business or parcel throughout the <br />690 <br />redevelopment area. Member Boguszewski advised that he was struck by the fact that about 150 <br />691 <br />acres of development area remained undeveloped, and this proposed use represented only about <br />692 <br />10% of that total land; and does not in and of itself mean that the goals of the Comprehensive <br />693 <br />Plan will not be met. As an example, Member Boguszewski opined that often the eye of the <br />694 <br />beholder comes into play, and similar arguments could be used as to whether Rosedale is <br />695 <br />promoting pedestrian traffic for tails. Member Boguszewski, using another example, opined that <br />696 <br />“living wages” were another issue that was subjective depending on one person or another and <br />697 <br />not always based on a national average, as referenced in the Comprehensive Plan goals, but <br />698 <br />highly subjective and unenforceable by the City on businesses. Member Boguszewski questioned <br />699 <br />if that language should serve to monitor development, their business plan, projected income, <br />700 <br />revenue streams and their employment practices to determine whether it’s viable. Member <br />701 <br />Boguszewski questioned how that could possibly be enforced without a review of their specific <br />702 <br />business model. Recognizing that the Comprehensive Plan provided a lot of aspirational goals, <br />703 <br />many of which were extremely worthy, they were by their very nature only aspirational and did not <br />704 <br />have force. <br />705 <br />Member Boguszewski opined that this also applied to considering Community Business and <br />706 <br />Regional Business zoning designations, and as referenced was made to the December 9, 2011 <br />707 <br />City Attorney letter, he noted that Har Mar, zoned Community Business, was certainly a regional <br />708 <br />draw, not just community, with Wal-Mart only a fraction in size of that of Har Mar. Member <br />709 <br />Boguszewski opined that much of the resistance to Wal-Mart was about actual or perceived <br />710 <br />dislikes about Wal-Mart and a qualitative and subjective view about that specific business. <br />711 <br />From his perspective with a career in the planning and development area, Member Boguszewski <br />712 <br />clarified that the City didn’t owe anything to a property owner or developer, or any other business <br />713 <br />that may be as risk in the marketplace. While not part of his consideration in making a <br />714 <br />determination, Member Boguszewski advised that he had found, from past and practical <br />715 <br />experience, that often a major development such as Wal-Mart is proposing, serves to boost traffic <br />716 <br />and encourage other business to follow that traffic. Member Boguszewski opined that there was <br />717 <br />no question in his mind that Wal-Mart would create that traffic. <br />718 <br />Member Boguszewski opined that the bottom line for him was that the City did not own this <br />719 <br />property or these businesses. Member Boguszewski opined that it was easy to fall into the tarp to <br />720 <br /> <br />