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b. Discussion on Commercial Buildings <br /> Mr. Adams explained that during the SuperValu discussion the topic of large, big box <br /> stores came up. It is worthy of a discussion and the Planning Commission may need to <br /> make a recommendation to the Council. <br /> Mr. Marohn explained the Staff Report. He asked the Planning Commission what they <br /> would like included in some type of code. <br /> Council Member Nagel stated after lengthy discussions as Sibley Township they decided <br /> they didn't want to discourage people from doing their own thing. There are dangerous <br /> areas where we are regarded as the real estate police and he doesn't know how much <br /> more of that we want to do. <br /> Mrs. Seils stated codes can be arbitrary and go too far when it comes to design and color. <br /> Chairman Woog stated Council Member Nagel's comments made sense in a rural setting <br /> but it doesn't make sense in an urban setting. In the Grow Zone,the ordinance states to <br /> build to a certain standard. Outside the Grow Zone, would big box stores undermine our <br /> own businesses and economy if we allowed that? <br /> Mr. Adams asked if we would be comfortable simply citing size, not design. Would we <br /> be comfortable with a 100,000 sq. ft. facility for Wal-Mart? Make it a size issue. <br /> Mr. Hallan stated being respective of Pequot Lakes being anti-business,the Crafters <br /> Market was allowed and we didn't try to regulate that. They are a magnitude smaller. <br /> The smallest Fleet Farm is 100,000 sq. ft. The new SuperValu is approximately 33,000 <br /> sq. ft. Mr. Pederson stated some towns have limitations, such as 40,000 sq. ft. <br /> Chairman Woog stated we could use big box or formula store. That is how Nisswa <br /> regulates McDonalds; they allow a formula store in certain places or sizes. <br /> Mr. Marohn asked what has to happen to build the critical mass of other things to create <br /> the volume of traffic for the McDonald's. It takes decades. In the meantime we will be <br /> called anti-business. <br /> Mr. Hallan asked if they would then move outside our limits, such as Jenkins. <br /> Mr. Marohn explained that local entrepreneurs use local businesses for day to day <br /> operations. <br /> Mr. Habein stated you either want big box stores or independent businesses. We made a <br /> commitment to small businesses. We need to eliminate big box stores. <br /> Mr. Adams asked if we could have some kind of limit, such as 50,000 sq. ft. Do we want <br /> stores bigger than SuperValu? Chairman Woog stated Best Buy in Baxter is 20,000 sq. <br /> L <br /> Minutes 6 <br /> Pequot Lakes Planning Commission <br /> September 16, 2010 <br />