Laserfiche WebLink
Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,January 26, 2015 <br /> Page 11 <br /> site; and expressed hope that the developer would acknowledge and consider that <br /> neighborhood feedback accordingly. Ms. McCormack noted the public percep- <br /> tion that Aldi's was a discount retailer, and the perception that it was already be- <br /> coming a "discount corner." Ms. McCormack noted that neighbors expressed <br /> their preference for Trader Joe's or a Whole Foods, or something more upscale to <br /> balance that perception. Ms. McCormack opined that everyone was in this to- <br /> gether, and expressed that it was unfortunate that the public voice had been lack- <br /> ing at the Planning Commission level. Ms. McCormack recognized that Commu- <br /> nity Development Director Bilotta had conveyed some of the public comments to <br /> the Planning Commission; but opined that it was important for the developer to <br /> hear them from the public as well. <br /> Kathleen Erickson, Centennial Drive <br /> Ms. Erickson spoke in support of Ms. McCormack's comments; and referenced <br /> the comments on NextDoor on the preferred retail choices in the neighborhood. <br /> Ms. Erickson opined that it was unfortunate that the identify of this retailer was <br /> not available earlier in the process due to non-disclosure requirements during ne- <br /> gotiations, and until an article appeared in the Business Journal about the poten- <br /> tial for an Aldi's grocery store. While having nothing against Aldi's personally, <br /> Ms. Erickson opined that a Trader Joe's — even though run by the same German <br /> firm—provided a different feel and clientele. Ms. Erickson opined that it seemed <br /> that urbanization was part of Roseville's changing future, with two new hotels, <br /> the WalMart, and now a potential Aldi's, and it just didn't seem to be an upscale <br /> area. Ms. Erickson encouraged consideration by the developer in keeping the <br /> climate and atmosphere of the adjacent residential neighborhood. <br /> Lisa McCormack <br /> Ms. McCormack expressed appreciation for the developer dividing the retail <br /> space for two end caps and interest from restaurants versus fast food establish- <br /> ments for those locations. Ms. McCormack noted that this was another amenity <br /> requested by residents in that neighborhood, for a sit-down restaurant, and <br /> thanked the developer for taking that initiative. With that type of sit-down restau- <br /> rant, and consideration of an upscale grocer, Ms. McCormack opined that it <br /> would serve to draw patronage from the residential neighborhood as well as from <br /> the broader community and region. <br /> Community Development Director Bilotta clarified that is was his understanding <br /> from the developer that the article referenced identifying Aldi as the grocer tenant <br /> had been published in error due to the project engineer using a template typically <br /> used for that retailer. Mr. Bilotta advised that the developer could still not address <br /> that issue, as they had also stated at the Planning Commission due to non- <br /> disclosure issues during negotiations with tenants. Therefore, Mr. Bilotta advised <br /> that no additional information was available, and any suppositions were inaccu- <br /> rate until negotiations were completed. Mr. Bilotta assured the public that staff <br /> would pass the public comments along to the developer; but further clarified that <br />