WS 2006 07 24
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
JULY 24, 2006
Mayor Furlong called the work session to order at 5:45 p.m..
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Furlong, Councilwoman Tjornhom, Councilman
Labatt and Councilman Lundquist
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
Councilman Peterson
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, Beth Hoiseth, Kate Aanenson, Todd Hoffman and Paul
Oehme
UPDATE ON SAFETY CAMP AND NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, BETH HOISETH,
CRIME PREVENTION SPECIALIST.
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Beth Hoiseth updated the council on the 10 annual Safety Camp which is sponsored by the City
in cooperation with the Park and Rec Department, Carver County Sheriff’s office, and the
Chanhassen Fire Department. She invited the Mayor and council members to participate in
National Night Out activities and provided a map of sites where activities will take place. There
will be a brief meeting held in the Courtyard conference room beginning at 5:15 p.m. on
st
Tuesday, August 1. Mayor Furlong asked about the number of neighborhoods involved. Beth
Hoiseth stated 41 neighborhoods have registered so far, which is the largest number ever. The
first 20 groups to registered received free party packs.
KEY FINANCIAL STRATEGY: 2008 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE/RETAIL
MARKET STUDY.
Todd Gerhardt introduced Jim McComb with the McCombs Group who presented a summary of
the findings of the Retail, Office, and Residential Market Analysis and Development Potential
study. Linda Walton, Executive Director of the Chanhassen Chamber of Commerce was also in
attendance. Highlights of the study showed the future Highway 312 corridor, lifestyle,
convenience and downtown trade areas and population projections associated with the different
trade areas. Mr. McComb noted that the trade area average and median house income stay the
same across all trade areas, which he’s never seen in the 32 years he’s been in this business,
noting this is a very attractive number to prospective retailers. Because the downtown trade area
is pretty well maxed out as far as vacant land, he believes the supportable space numbers show
the need for a lifestyle trade area for shopping goods, which would not compete but compliment
the downtown trade area. He showed a map of other supportable retail land acres available in
different locations in downtown, the intersection of Highway 312 and Powers Boulevard and the
intersection of Highway 312 and Great Plains Boulevard. Councilman Labatt asked for
clarification on how the numbers for median income were established, and a comparison in
square footage for the example of Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove. Mayor Furlong asked for
clarification of supportable retail land area projections. In discussing the possibility of
Chanhassen Dinner Theater leaving the city, Mr. McComb would recommend replacing that
City Council Work Session – July 24, 2006
square footage with office and commercial to bring additional people to make the downtown
trade area more viable and successful. In discussing the office industrial area, he provided
current numbers and future demand numbers for the four different categories of
commercial/office, office showroom, office warehouse and bulk warehouse. Todd Gerhardt
stated staff will be reviewing current zoning to see if the current zoning numbers concur with the
projections of the study. Mr. McComb noted that the Dorsey and Fox parcels could handle
higher zoning than what they’re currently zoned because of their proximity to the Highway 312
corridor and that the City Council can pick uses they want to see in different zoning areas. In
reviewing the numbers for growth in the northern segment of the Southwest Growth Corridor,
which includes Chanhassen, growth has remained consistent over the last 15 years and he
showed the estimated land demand for different categories through the year 2025. He stated the
biggest demand being residential. Todd Gerhardt noted Jim McComb will be making the same
power point presentation to the Chanhassen Chamber Board and staff will bring back
recommendations at a future work session meeting, noting the commercial area and lifestyle
center are two major components the council will need to discuss. Kate Aanenson explained
how the results of this study tie into the comprehensive plan update and the need for a public
process to assess where the city is currently and what direction it wants to go in the future.
Mayor Furlong thanked Ms. Walton for being involved in the study process.
Mayor Furlong adjourned the work session meeting at 6:45 p.m..
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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