01-12-1999U en i 4 i770 - i i.tir CfG
To: Mark Anderle
From: Ken Meter, Planning Commissioner
Re: Amending Richfield Planning Commission minutes
Date: December 29. 1998
Here is how I would re -word the November 24 statement (please check to make sure I have
recorded the date properly): Given that RSA also appeared to be uncertain what had been
addressed in the study session, I have elaborated on other concerns I raised that evening.
Commissioner Meter requested that the minutes of the November 10 meeting(NOTE: ?1 be
changed to clarify that he is in favor of the concept of an urban village, but does not feel this
proposal adequately fulfills that concept. While the greater Richfield Lake Area may be a good
location for a village development, it may be difficult to create a "village" at the busy intersection
of 66th and Lyndale with its inherent traffic noise. He does not see enough evidence that the
proposed plan will actually create a place where residents will gather, and thinks more should
be done to develop a place that feels diverse and inviting. Further, he requested that the
minutes clarify that the scale of the proposed businesses is too large to be compatible with the
concept of a village - but he did not have a concern about the scale of the buildings themselves.
He is also concerned that the proposal does not do enough to promote local ownership of
businesses -- this intersection, after all, serves as an important center of Richfield precisely
because it has historically been a cluster of locally -owned small businesses. The current
proposal appears to undermine this.
J
PIANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA
January 12, 1999
7:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Study Session Items
ITEM #1 PC Ltr #1 Presentation by Hal Freshly, Department of Human
Services, on the year 2030
ITEM #2 PC Ltr #2 Big Box Retail
Adjournment
aM Planning Commission Letter
Item #:
Letter #:
January 12, 1999
GENERAL INFORMATION
Type of Request: Presentation by Hal Freshly, Department of Human Services, on the
challenges to be faced by local communities by the year 2030.
ANALYSIS
Background: The attached article from the Star Tribune provides a summary of the
Department of Human Services report on the year 2030. The presentation
will focus on the municipal level, the challenges the community will face
and possible strategies for addressing these upcoming issues. Other City
Commissions have been invited to the study session to hear the presentation.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
Recommendation: No action is being requested.
II Baby boomers must prepare for aging, state re... Pagel of 3
k- Over S Wince WEAR A PiECE o
MINNESOTA
to Choose from HISTORY
a
J J
Story::
Y. Published Thursday, December 31, 1998
Baby boomers must prepare for aging,
startribrmexam state report says
Metro
Warren Wolfe / Star Tribune
0E1i1tEd hm5 By the year 2030, baby boomers will be living well - planned,
6 Aging Minnesotans well - financed retirements. They'll be living healthier lives. Many will
How to prepare for an be doing paid work, volunteering or participating in communities that
aging society weave together the strengths of all residents.
Q Minnesota Dept. of
Human Services This is a vision of Minnesota three decades from now. A report
issued today by the Department of Human Services (DHS) says that
achieving that vision could avert the chaos that might face the state
by then, when the number of older people in the state has grown
considerably.
There have been earlier warnings of dire consequences from the
aging of Minnesotans. Today's report offers possible solutions.
With one of four Minnesotans in retirement by 2030, there probably
will be twice as many disabled older people with half as many
children to care for them. The rising number of older people could
overwhelm the state's health care system, nursing homes, welfare
programs and labor shortages.
Among the report's suggestions:
Don't expect state programs or money to solve the problems. The
state's role will be to target its own programs and help individuals,
families, businesses and communities work smarter.
Individuals must take greater responsibility for their retirement
finances and health, including the cost of nursing homes.
Older people must help by remaining active in society through
paid work, volunteerism, community leadership and other civic
involvement.
Cities must build a greater sense of community by harnessing their
diverse and multigenerational resources.
http: / /www2. startribune. comlcgi- binlstOnLine /article ?perPage =10 &pgraphs = l &orderBy= date&chb6V8SStory--6
Baby boomers must prepare for aging, state re... Page 2 of 3 /
There is no magic pill to take," said Maria Gomez, DHS assistant
commissioner who supervised the study.
No matter how good the economy is, no matter if we find a cure for
Alzheimer's disease, our society will become increasingly older and
more frail," she said. "If we are not ready, it could be overwhelming."
Who carries the load?
The Project 2030 report enlisted the work of several thousand
Minnesotans who took part in dozens of community meetings, task
forces, forums and studies.
What I kept hearing over and over was people who said, 'For this to
work, I have to be responsible. I can't expect others to carry the load
for me,'" Gomez said.
The driving force behind Project 2030 is the aging of Minnesotans.
The numbers of baby boomers -- 1.5 million people, or one -third of
the state's population -- have altered every trend boomers have
touched since they entered first- grade.
Now, as they grow older, they will begin the same massive makeover
of retirement and aging.
But more than just demographics affect the future.
Three years ago, at the request of Gov. Arne Carlson, two experts
studied the state's fiscal future and issued a dire warning that without
sharp spending cuts, the state would be deep in deficits before the
year 2000.
The impact of aging baby boomers could be far less devastating with
continued economic growth and prosperity, creative ways to address
labor shortages, medical advances that reduce disease and disability,
federal fixes to Social Security and Medicare and revamped care for
the elderly.
Or, a recession or other bad news could affect government programs,
over - stressed families and the economy.
We simply don't know what the future will be like," said LaRhae
Knatterud, a policy analyst and the primary author of the Project
2030 report.
If everything turns rosy, the things we do now to prepare will be
even more effective in helping Minnesotans live a good life. But if
things turn sour, we'd better be well on the way toward solutions."
The report was delivered to Carlson and to Gov. -elect Jesse Ventura
on Wednesday.
http: / /www2. startribune.comlcgi- binlstOnLine /article ?perPage =10 &pgraphs = l &orderBy= date&chEd6&tory =6
IBaby boomers must prepare for aging, state re... Page 3 of 3
A wake -up call
Warren Wolfe writes about aging issues. He can be reached at
612 - 673 -7253, or by e-mail at wolfe6i)startribune.com
r Story JNext
Copyright 1998 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
http: / /www2.startribune. comlcgi- binlstOnLine /article ?perPage =10 &pgraphs =l &orderBy= date&chb6V&%tory =6
The purpose of this report is to be a wake -up call to individuals, to
government and the private sector," Gomez said.
The recommendations are important, but more important is that all
levels of government, all businesses, all individuals realize that
actions they take today will have consequences in the future. We
must act with our eyes open."
Part of the report includes evaluations of the 26 state agencies of
issues they must face to serve an aging population.
In general, state agencies say they must collaborate with each other
as well as with outside groups to integrate services, share expertise
and data and find better ways to serve citizens. Some of that is
already under way.
NOW Items The DHS has begun work with the University of Minnesota
Aping Minnesotans Extension Service to develop a retirement - planning educationMHowtoprepareforan
aging society
program that it will test with state employees. It also will issue
Q Minnesota Dept. of periodic reports analyzing key measures of how well Minnesota is
Human Services preparing for the changes to come.
1f a C0R'
Remember, the aging of Minnesota is not temporary," Knatterud
said. "This is a permanent change. We will never be the same. We
Metro can either seize the opportunity and act, or take our chances by
reacting."
httP: / /iv v v. dhs. state. mn. us. For a copy of the Project 2030 report,
call DHS at 651- 296 -2062. A copy will be posted soon on the DHS
Web site at
Warren Wolfe writes about aging issues. He can be reached at
612 - 673 -7253, or by e-mail at wolfe6i)startribune.com
r Story JNext
Copyright 1998 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
http: / /www2.startribune. comlcgi- binlstOnLine /article ?perPage =10 &pgraphs =l &orderBy= date&chb6V&%tory =6
Planning Commission Letter
January 12, 1999
Agenda Section: New Business
Item #: 2
Letter #: 2
GENERAL INFORMATION
Type of Request: Background Information on Big Box Retailing
ANALYSIS
Background: At the January 12, 1999 meeting, Commissioner Meter and staff will present
information concerning big box retailing in Richfield. The staff report done
by Perry Thorvig is attached.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
Recommendation: There is no formal action being requested at this time. The
Commission is being asked to listen to a presentation and provide
feedback to staff on any changes in comprehensive plan policies and
zoning regulations related to big box retailers.
Basis: No formal proposals are before the Commission at this time.
Big Box Retailing
On January 12, 1999, the Planning Commission will discuss big box retailing in
Richfield. In order to clarify terms and issues, a search was done of the Community
Development Department's available literature for relevant articles.
The following question and answer format should provide relevant information.
Question: What is "big box" retailing?
Answer: It seems that everything is coming to us in a large scale these days. It is called
megadevelopment. It includes retailing, multiplex theaters (16 to 30 screens with up to
6,000 total seats), huge churches, and even feedlots in the rural areas. The most common
variety of big box is the retail store. The October 1993 issue of Zoning News described
five different types of big box retailers (also known as value retailers). All of these
operations were on sites of 5 to 25 acres and had floorplates of 50,000 to 300,000 sq. ft.
These five kinds of "big box retailers" are as follows:
Warehouse Clubs — Sam's Club and Costco
Category Killers — PharMor and F & M (drugs and sundries), Toys R Us, Home
Depot, and Menards
Discount Department Stores — Target, K -Mart, Wal -Mart
Off -Price Retailers — Filene's and TJ Maxx
Outlet Stores — Bass Shoe and Anne Klein
Question: Are chain stores or franchise operations considered big box retailers?
Answer: These kinds of operations are not considered big box until they exceed the size
thresholds cited above. Walgreens and maybe even the fast food chains are sometimes
erroneously referred to as big box retailers. But, they are not. A modern freestanding
Walgreens is typically 15,000 sq. ft. in size.
Question: What about the issue of who owns these businesses?
Answer: Local ownership and involvement in a business is good for a community and
can be encouraged. However, this is very hard, if not impossible, to control.
In San Francisco, there has been an ongoing battle between neighborhood groups and two
chain drug stores — Walgreens and Rite Aid. The neighborhood group does not want the
Rite Aid and Walgreens to squeeze out the locally owned drug stores. They say that, "the
involvement of the owner in the everyday life of the community is just as important as
convenience. "' But, Amit Ghosh,.San Francisco's head of comprehensive planning, says
that neighborhood groups have no means of controlling chains that comply with the
1
Planning, December 1998, p. 18.
zoning. "You can regulate the physical aspects and impacts of land use, but you can't
regulate how businesses structure themselves."
Z
Question: What are the planning issues related to big box retailers?
Answer: The October 1993 issue of Zoning News describes the following planning
issues:
Site design issues — huge parking lots and long expanses of flat walls.
Parking requirements — many stores provide more parking than required by local
codes.
Traffic generation - The article included the following quotes:
There are few shining examples of big box retailers designed with an orientation
to bicycles, pedestrians, or transit." Despite this statement, studies have found
that big boxes generate less traffic and parking then a comparably sized general
shopping center.
3
Economic impacts — This is a two edged sword. On the one hand, there are negative
effects:
Their effect on the main streets of small towns is harsh. "4 But, some towns and
merchants have found a way to survive. They offer service and different lines of
goods that cannot be found in the big boxes.
On the other hand, the city council of Ticonderoga, New York approved a Wal -Mart
partially to off -set the 50 to 60% winter unemployment in this summer tourist based
town.5
Question: What are the big box issues here in Richfield?
Answer: The issues here are the same as those cited above. Richfield has several big box
retailers already. They are K -Mart, Menards, Sportmart, Best Buy and others. (Large
grocery retailers such as Rainbow should also be included in the definition of big box.)
The remaining question is how many more of these should be allowed and where they
should be located. The community does have a choice.
In most communities, the regional and community level shopping areas have been
considered appropriate for big boxes. Whereas, the neighborhood level centers are
limited to small businesses.
Z Ibid.
3
Zoning News, October 1993, p. 1.
Zoning News, October 1993, p. 3.
5
Zoning News, December 1997.
2
Richfield follows this typical pattern. Richfield's C -1, Neighborhood District, limits
individual retail establishments to no more than 2,500 sq. ft. This appears to keep the big
boxes out of neighborhood areas. However, closer examination reveals that very few of
the city's commercial areas are zoned C -1. Most of the commercial areas are zoned C -2,
General Commercial District.
In Richfield's C -2 District, where Menards is located, individual retail uses are limited to
50,000 sq. ft. unless they are located in a shopping center. In that case, they can be
larger. Furthermore, big box operators could also request a conditional use permit to
have a large free standing store in the C -2 district.
There is also a small C -3 district along 77`h St. between Grand and Lyndale that allows
big boxes. It has very rigorous design requirements.
The other major commercial zoning district is the PC -2, Planned General Commercial
District. This district is mapped at the Hub, Urban Village, Lyndale Garden Store, and
Shops at Lyndale. This district allows all the C -2 uses including the big boxes. Any
development in this district requires a conditional use permit, however.
The industrial zoning district also allows big box retailing in stores of up to 80,000 sq. ft.
The Galyans store is built in an industrial zone. Other industrial zoning districts are
located along Penn Avenue between 62 "d and 66`h Street.
In addition to being in the correct zoning district, all big boxes would have to adhere to
the City's zoning performance standards. These standards include review of exterior
lighting, traffic generation and parking demand, landscaping and screening, underground
utilities, exterior treatment of buildings, screening of mechanical equipment, and
dumpster enclosures.
Conclusion: Big boxes could be built in most locations in Richfield without changing the
commercial zoning. They, however, would have to meet fairly rigorous design standards.
The fact that these uses can be built virtually anywhere in Richfield is a problem.
Certainly, there is a place for the uses in the community. However, the locations where
they are allowed should probably be more limited. The comprehensive plan and
associated zoning should be amended to reflect the policy of the City on big box
locations.
There are additional questions that need to be addressed during the process .f
determining policies for big box development in Richfield. There are no answers to these
questions at this time.
Question: Should non - retail uses such as hotels be considered big box development.
Question: Is a big box a single user or can it be a shopping center or cluster of
users? For example, Best Buy is the only user in the Shops at Lyndale that is larger
than 50,000 sq. ft.
3