Attachment 17Attachment #17
Engelhardt, Karen
From:
Denny Laufenburger <laufendh@mchsi.com>
Sent:
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 12:47 PM
To:
'Michael Clausen'
cc:
Engelhardt, Karen; Gerhardt, Todd
Subject:
RE: The future of Chanhassen
Michael —
Thank you for taking time to reflect on this issue with me.
I have included City Staff on this reply. They will ensure that your note is shared with the other
council members.
will keep your views in mind as I continue to process what I'm hearing from all sides of this issue.
Denny Laufenburger
Cell - 612-327-6800
laufend h(aD_mchsi.com
From: Michael Clausen[mailto:michaeljclausen2000@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 12:18 PM
To: laufendh <laufendh@mchsi.com>
Subject: The future of Chanhassen
Hi Denny,
You can imagine I have spent considerable time thinking about our last conversation and I thought I
would share some of those thoughts with you.
You asked what can government do concerning a new business coming to town. You lead me to believe
your hands are tied if plans submitted to the planning commission meet all requirements. I feel this is the
very minimum that should be done.
The leaders of city governments role is to provide a vision for the city. What should Chanhassen look
like? What things can be done to make our city prosperous, livable, and safe? What does the community
want? What does it need? What do we not want? what do we not need? How do we make our
community attractive to business and people who are looking to locate here? Where do you want to lead
Chanhassen? These are questions that government should be asking and answering.
Is Governments role to to decide the shade of brick on a building? How the windows are framed? The
lettering on a sign? These are the task this city seems to find more important than what will ultimately
occupy that space. Let me share a couple examples with you. The lettering on my signs was not allowed.
It had to be raised a quarter of an inch, something not required in any neighboring community. This
resulted in the near doubling of my sign cost. I asked for signage on three sides of my building and was
told Chanhassen doesn't allow that. I have come to find out it does allow for it, just not my business.
Also check out the monument sign for The Crossroads development. Don't feel bad if you don't recall
seeing one. The size and location were determined by city government. I don't have my name on it
because I find it useless. These and much more minutia local government feels more than compelled to
be involved in but not the type and size of business coming to town.
Being a legitimate business does not give you the right to do business wherever you like. It is not
unprecedented for this city to keep legitimate business out of Chanhassen. Mills Fleet Farm, Harley
Davidson, and Wal-Mart come to mind as well as many others that we have kept out with onerous
policies.I would also remind you of what happens when a business is allowed to come to town
unchecked and unregulated. I'm sure you recall the massage parlor debacle of a few years ago. Now that
industry is regulated and limited and the issues are corrected.
You talk of governments job being to create opportunity. I do not believe that is governments job nor are
they capable of creating opportunity. People with entrepreneurial talents create opportunities and jobs
and prosperity. Government is there to oversee and regulate, minimally to be sure, but to ensure fair
competition and proper business behavior and enforcement of laws.
People talk of free markets and so on. In theory, I agree with that but that ship sailed so long ago it is
barely relevant anymore because of some of the reasons listed above. Especially in my industry which is
heavily regulated, and rightfully so. The local market is very competitive and prices are very good in
Chanhassen with the edition of three new stores in about as many years. The Total wine experience is
not being denied to any Chanhassen resident. They are literally right down the road and many
Chanhassen residents have gone there. Many of my customers. It is there and exists.
I'm sure you are aware of our neighboring communities wrestling with similar issues. Neither at this
point is allowing further saturation of their communities with more liquor stores. Lakeside was able keep
another grocery store out of Chanhassen because it was in their lease agreement. It makes sense.
Chanhassen needs another grocery store like it needs another liquor store.
What does Chanhassen need and want? We have lost two independent restaurants recently and replaced
them them with national chains that have added little if anything to the fabric of Chanhassen. There are
many things that Chanhassen residents want and need. This is not one of them. This is not about the kind
of business Total does, how they operate, or what kind of people they are. This is about the city of
Chanhassen and it's future and what we want it to look like. Do we want to replace independent
restaurants with fast food chains, do we want to replace independent small business with large
impersonal big box stores. Do we want to be Maple Grove or Woodbury or do we want to be
Chanhassen, one of the best places in America to live and raise a family. We cannot be both. The
citizens of Chanhassen do not want to be Maple Grove.
This is not about what is in the best interest of Michael Clausen, his family, or The Vintage. This is
about what is in the best interest of Chanhassen and it's citizen. Do we want to be the fast food, liquor
capital of Minnesota? There is absolutely nothing to be gained from adding an eighth liquor store to this
area.
I'm sure the big check is enticing and the room full of lawyers intimidating. These are short term one
time things to deal with. My store has donated close to $20,000 since opening to local charities, schools,
sports teams, etc. This is an ongoing commitment I have to this community because I live here. My
children go to school here. Our church is here. I don't have plans to be anywhere else. Love Inc, Choice,
Jandy Strong, Williams Wings, Pinky Swear Foundation, Chan, Chaska, and Eden Prairie sports teams
of all kinds, The high School, Middle School, Elementary School, St. Huberts, T he Red Birds, are just
some organizations we support and hope to continue to support. Other businesses in town do their part
as well.
I've known you for a long time as a leader in my church and in the city and have always admired your
integrity and dedication. I think of you as a man of principal. I hope you will do the right thing here for
2
our community. Approving this business for this location is not the right thing to do. I encourage you to
vote against it. Please share my thoughts with your fellow council members and convince them this is
not in the best interest of Chanhassen. That is Governments role in this process after all to do what is in
the best interest of the citizens.
Sincerely,
Michael Clausen