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Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, July 11, 2012 Page 2 which he, as Chairperson, would conduct this appeal process and related public comment, 45 applicant and staff responses, and findings of the body at its conclusion. Chair Boerigter advised 46 that the purpose of this meeting was specifically regarding whether or not the proposed Wal-Mart 47 was a permitted use under the City’s Zoning Code, and the administrative decision of staff; and 48 that comments should be addressed specifically within those confines, and not to address the 49 merits of whether or not a Wal-Mart Store should be located in Roseville. 50 Chair Boerigter recognized the appellants, and while respectfully requesting that their 51 presentations and comments be concise, invite them to state their cases at their discretion, 52 advising that he would be flexible with the amount of time taken to ensure they were heard. Chair 53 Boerigter invited Ms. Schaffer to speak first, as one of the two (2) appellants. 54 The staff report dated July 11, 2012 provided the written appeals of both appellants. 55 Appellants 56 Karen Schaffer, 2100 Fairview Avenue N 57 Ms. Schaffer expressed her appreciation of this opportunity to speak to the Planning Commission 58 and read her statement as well as amplifying her position based on the written appeal. Ms. 59 Schaffer mentioned her service on the 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee, 60 and the discussions held at that level, including the original square footage differentiation between 61 the three (3) distinct business district designations: Neighborhood Business, Regional Business, 62 and Community Business. Ms. Schaffer recognized that the square footage distinction was 63 eventually dropped before final adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, but references still remained 64 in the Plan. 65 Ms. Schaffer provided the definition of Regional Business in the Comprehensive Plan, opining that 66 the proposed development and use was inconsistent with that meaning, and the origin and intent 67 of the Comprehensive Plan. 68 Ms. Schaffer further noted that Roseville currently has more retail square footage per capita than 69 any other city in the State of MN, including Bloomington. Ms. Schaffer opined that the AUAR 70 recognized that reality and didn’t bother to study the traffic impact of such a use and simply ruled it 71 out,. Ms. Schaffer noted that the thought has always been for this area something different from 72 that which there is a surfeit or oversupply, and to have no more of the sameMs. Schaffer opined 73 that Roseville was already a retail Mecca and didn’t need more retail. Ms. Schaffer disputed that 74 the vision of the Comprehensive Plan was not being met, specifically that it not cater to a retailer 75 with a business model whose purpose was to entice shoppers from adjacent jurisdictions as well 76 as from other Roseville retailers. 77 Ms. Schaffer expressed further concern that the proposed use did not promote, as guided by the 78 Comprehensive Plan, a balanced tax base to preserve the City’s financial future. Ms. Schaffer had 79 available for reference a State of MN Study providing professional and independent financial 80 research identifying the cost burdens to cities from significant retail businesses. Ms. Schaffer 81 advocated for a diverse and expanded tax base in Roseville, in accordance with the goals of the 82 Comprehensive Plan. 83 Ms. Schaffer respectfully requested that Commissioners look at the Comprehensive Plan, the 84 Twin Lakes Business Master Plan, and the AUAR in a complete and holistic review to determine 85 the overarching intent of those documents, rather than restricting that vision by allowing the 86 proposed Wal-Mart as a permitted use. Ms. Schaffer opined that their determination would concur 87 with her interpretation that staff’s administrative decision was not only inconsistent with the 88 Comprehensive Plan, but that the Plan’s tri-part vision of those three business zoning districts was 89 obliterated in the approach taken by staff. 90 Regarding the process itself, Ms. Schaffer advised that the findings prepared by the SWARN 91 Committee members were excellent, and asked that those findings be incorporated into her 92 written appeal and verbal comments by references, as part of the record. Ms. Schaffer expressed 93 her appreciation of the SWARN findings and their thorough research and written appeal. 94 Solidarity of West Area Roseville Neighbors (SWARN) 95 Four (4) representatives of SWARN written statement, dated July 2, 2012, were present and 96