HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-18 PACKET 05.A.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 4/18/2012 'W a 04
PREPARED BY Administration Ryan Schroeder
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Receive response to Open Forum comment regarding retail marketing in Cottage Grove.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
® MEMO /LETTER: Letter from Ryan Schroeder.
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
❑ OTHER:
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
Document2
City of
Cotta Grove
Minnesota
7516 80th Street South / Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016 -3195
w . cottage - grove.org
April 9, 2012
Mr. George Sirbasku
7080 Irvin Avenue South
Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Dear Mr. Sirbasku,
651- 458 -2800 Fax 651- 458 -2897
TDD 651 - 458 -2880
Thank you for taking the time to appear in front of the City Council on April 4, 2012 to express your opinion
about the planning request that has been received by the City on behalf of Wal -Mart. This request was
received by the City on March 28, 2012 and includes the proposed construction of a 177,808 square foot
store on a 22.50 acre parcel, a portion of which is currently used commercially as the Cottage View Drive In
Theater.
Your comments included that the City should attempt to attract users other than Wal -Mart to that site. I can
assure you that the City is constantly working with brokers, bankers, builders and others ensuring that the
retail development community is well aware of the opportunities that exist in Cottage Grove, per very
specific direction from the Mayor and city council. We also list virtually all of the development sites and
tenant opportunities on our WEB site and partner websites targeted to this same development community.
We have specifically approached every major retailer in the Twin Cities market, and in some cases outside of
this market, in an attempt to bring unique end users to Cottage Grove. At the end of the day, however, city
government is not the decision makerfor these retailers. The retailers & restaurants here in Cottage Grove
have chosen to locate here because their market research has provided them with evidence that they can be
profitable in this market. Those retailers & restaurants not yet here have often conducted their own
research and have thus far determined the market is not sufficient for their particular use.
In 2009 the City hired the McComb Group to identify for the City what the most likely candidates were for
future retail locations in Cottage Grove. The study findings were that a huge amount of retail spending in
certain categories was being spent outside of the community. Those categories are:
• health and beauty
• hobby and novelty
• athletic and family shoes
• sporting goods
* electronics
* hardware
* warehouse and discount clubs
• jewelry
• pharmacy
* restaurants
• home furnishings
• family and women's clothing
• fitness centers
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Since completion of this study, Cottage Grove City staff has been specifically focused on marketing our city to
retailers providing these products and services while ensuring they are made aware of the identified
opportunities within this market. Curiously, Wal -Mart offers products in most of the above noted areas.
Wal -Mart has conducted their own market research and has made the determination that there is market
potential for their products in Cottage Grove. That is why they approached a private owner of commercial
property with an offer to purchase that property. The City of Cottage Grove is not a party to or involved with
that transaction.
As noted above, Cottage Grove shoppers are currently going outside of town to purchase their goods and
services. There will be a significant benefit to the community if those shoppers are able to access those
goods and services within the community. A goal of this organization is to facilitate improvements that allow
this to occur.
aga
kyoui or
��y urinputl
Ryan R. Schroeder
City Administrator