Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />" <br /> <br />PLANNING R(POf~ T <br /> <br />DA TE: <br /> <br />2 July 1986 <br /> <br />CASe: NUtvIIJER: <br /> <br />1676 <br /> <br />APPLICANT: <br /> <br />Costco Wholesale, Inc. <br />(Represented by Wahl and <br />Associates) <br /> <br />LOCA TION: <br /> <br />Northwest Corner <br />A venue and County <br />(see sketch) <br /> <br />of Prior <br />Road C <br /> <br />ACTION REQUESTED: <br /> <br />Amendment to Comprehensive <br />Plan from Industrial to <br />Business, Rezoning from 1-1 <br />to B-4, and Special Use <br />Permi t for Site Plan Approval <br /> <br />PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS: <br /> <br />1. During the past six to eight months, up to four "Wholesale <br />Merchandising" clubs hav~ been looking fOI' sites in the Twin Cities <br />Metropoiitan area. These operations represent a new merchandising <br />technique which includes low markups in the vicinity of 8 ,percent on <br />larger volume sales. A significant portion of -these sales are wholesale <br />to other retailers, restaurants, and institutional users. The typical <br />structure is over 100,000 square feet in area, serviced by parking <br />capacities greater than ordinarily provided for discount stores or regional <br />shopping centers (in the vicinity of 5 to 5.5 spaces per 1,000 square <br />foot gross). These warehouse discount chains are multiplying rapidly <br />across the country Lnd represent a shi ft in merchandising which is <br />comparable to the en of discount store expansion initially experienced <br />in the 19605 in the United States. <br /> <br />2. The first of these stores showed up in Roseville last fal!. seeking to <br />locate on the Swahn Trust Property to the west of the County Road C <br />and Interstate 35W ir.terchange. Having previously agreed with the <br />owners of that property to seek a hotel and office building, we talked <br />the: discounters out cf going on that site. The office complex and <br />hotel development are vitally important elements in the City's tax <br />increment fina.lcing p,ogram, were approved by the City and are now <br />under construction. <br /> <br />3. The wholesale merchandiser next attempted to locate a facility on the <br />Riley land next to City Hall, which is zoned for shopping center use. <br />Again, the Staff opposed this prospect principally due to the lack of <br />adequate east/west traffic thoroughfares and the negative effects <br />associated with a major regional retail facility at that location. <br /> <br />l;. Since the City of r~o::eville is the dorninant merchandising community in <br />the northeast suburbs, we felt that that position will be enhanced by <br />