Minutes of the

Special Meeting Of the Detroit Lakes Development Authority

Thursday, August 14th, 2008 - 7:30 AM

Council Chambers of the City Administration Building

Members Present:        Jim Anderson, Mark Hagen, Mary Beth Gilsdorf, Larry Remmen, Bob Louiseau, Cory Scott, RDG, Marty Shukert,  RDG, Larry Buboltz,  Ron Zeman, James Hannon,

                                   Brad Green,  Lynne Krieger, Brad Wentz, Roger Moltzan, Cal Mayfield, Gary Nansen, Michael Norby and Nancy Wichmann

  I.           Call To Order

                President Jim Anderson called the meeting of the Detroit Lakes Development  Authority to order and noted that the Authority was meeting as the Business Corridor Study Steering Committee

 II.           Presentation by RDG Consultants on the Business Corridor Study

                Marty Shukert and Cory Scott of RDG presented a preview of the public presentation of the Business Corridor Study

                The Study covered the following study areas:

·         The Crescent

·         St, Mary’s District

·         Downtown

·         Holmes District

·         North Washington Avenue

·         South Washington Avenue

·         The Lake District

The key areas of the Study is the redevelopment of the Gateway District, downtown improvements and connection to the lake shore.  The focus of all the redevelopment activities is to add community value.

The Study process involved a survey with 250 responses, focus group meetings and design workshops.  The proposed development is based on market demand.  The proposed projects are scaled to market demand.

Crescent

1)            New Streets

2)            Redesigned Parking

3)            Veteran’s Memorial

4)            Commercial Development (approximately 45,000 square feet)

Downtown

1)            Street Crossing Improvements

2)            Lighting

3)            Architectural Guidelines

St. Mary’s District

1)            Connect To Downtown With Walk- way

2)            Develop More Parking

3)            Public Square

North Washington Avenue

1)            Enhanced  Intersection At 34 & Washington Avenue

2)            Future Commercial

3)            Trail Connections

4)            Two Significant Redevelopment Sites

·         Washington School

·         Block With Grover & VFW

South Washington

1)            Strength Pedestrian Crossings

2)            Baseball Stadium Enhancement

Lake District

1)            Mixed Uses

2)            New People’s Street

3)            Redevelop Washington To Minnesota

4)            Infill Development

5)            Walking/Bike Trail

Conference Center Study

1)            Connect to Club House

2)            Develop Hotel/Event Center At West Lake Drive & Washington

Marty noted that realistically it could be 5 years from completion of the Study to opening of new retail in the Crescent area.  It takes time to get infrastructure and financing in place.

The Public Open House will take place at 6:00 PM on September 24^th at the Minnesota State Community & Technical College Conference Room.  A presentation will also be made at the Chamber of Commerce’s Mini Summit at 7:30 AM

III.          Adjournment

                There was no further discussion and the meeting was adjourned.