01-19-10 EDC Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dan stated we may need to customize an approach. The main danger he hears is of a big meeting; there may be arguing rather than getting past the highway issue. We may need to find a new approach and neutralize this issue. How do we use our strengths to turn the issue into an opportunity? PJ stated we need to get past this issue. If others want to be a part of moving forward, they need to get over the issue. Dan stated we need to plan for the future. PJ stated the grocery store is a big solution for the bypass. Kathy asked if a survey could be done to gain a broader citizen input. The Mayor explained the Business Survey and how something like that could be used again. PJ emphasized not doing any more harm. Whatever we do needs to be thought through to not make the divide any bigger. We need to be asking for input on how to help the community develop and get a sense for the future. We need to neutralize the highway question or at least think beyond it. How do we develop to remain strong? There will not be water and sewer extended out to the bypass. We need to let businesses know that we are going to develop the downtown and not move out to the bypass. We are going to support our businesses. Sheila stated that with the new grocery store proposal there was some concern by existing businesses whether the City was supporting outside developers versus local developers. That issue may also come to the forefront. Do we promote new industry or not. How do we bring people to town? P & Z is part of that. Some of this should maybe be included in the Comp Plan Update. We don't need too many distinct processes going on. We could focus on the Comp Plan, have a starting point that there is going to be a bypass, and update the Comp Plan according to that assumption. We need to find that direction, how to fund it and implement it. The results from the Comp Plan Workshop should be discussed at an EDC meeting. The focus group meeting could be a place to begin the discussion on how to proceed. The Comp Plan process may need to be slowed down a bit in order to include results from this survey/SWOT analysis. The City Planner should be informed about the depth of this group's meeting.