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<br /> <br /> <br />Introduction: This is a collection of what I regard as the best arguments, pro and <br />con, relating to the current effort to redevelop Twin Lakes. Following these <br />arguments, I suggest some compromises for the City Council to consider in an effort <br />to find some reasonable middle ground. Neal Beets <br /> <br />ISSUE I: Is THERE A TWIN LAKES' REDEVELOPMENT LAND USE PLAN THAT THE CITY <br />COUNCIL CAN SUPPORT? <br /> <br />1. The "NO" Position: There should either be no City-assisted redevelopment at Twin <br />Lakes, or ifthere is a City-assisted project at Twin Lakes it should be entirely, or <br />almost entirely, a housing project carried out pursuant to an RFP process. There <br />should be no retail at Twin Lakes, or retail should be small-scale, neighborhood- <br />based retail. There should definitely not be a big box retailer at Twin Lakes. <br />REASONS: <br /> <br />a. In general, housing generates less traffic than retail. In general, less traffic is <br />better than more traffic. <br /> <br />b. In general, housing generates more TIF than retail. For a financially <br />challenged brownfield redevelopment project such as Twin Lakes, more TIF <br />is better than less TIF. <br /> <br />c. If Roseville needs anything, it needs more housing for families with children. <br />We don't need more retail, especially regional retail. We have plenty. We <br />don't need more jobs, especially low-paying retail jobs. <br /> <br />d. The current Twin Lakes Master Plan says that "big box retail and strip <br />centers" are "not recommended" at Twin Lakes. (pg. 11.) <br /> <br />e. Residential neighborhoods in the vicinity of Twin Lakes do not want <br />significant traffic generating uses at Twin Lakes. A significant traffic- <br />generating use there may bring more traffic by or through those <br />neighborhoods. Traffic congestion is already bad enough. The residential <br />neighborhoods on the west side ofRoseville already bear an unfair burden due <br />to the retail traffic congestion there. <br /> <br />f. An RFP process is more likely to attract a developer and a development team <br />that will build something closer to what the City wants at Twin Lakes rather <br />than what the developer wants. It will also build public trust in the process. <br /> <br />g. The current status of Twin Lakes is not so bad. Private property owners are <br />using their land as they have always done and as the law allows. They are <br />