Postby Anondson » June 9th, 2016, 7:59 am
In the city staff documents and traffic studies for this area it has been abundantly clear that development is far below what was expected by now. The two six story project end capping Excelsior and Grand both don't even come close to filling the expected, PLANNED, development for the area.
The only reason the "But, Moar Traffic!" is getting any traction is no one had any idea what Trader Joe's was going to do to traffic at Park Commons and Monterey, it's pretty out of control at some hours.
Some are angry this will displace a small batch of local small businesses. I am too, but with the amount of vacancies just down Excelsior on the other side of 100, or at Walker and Lake street. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Last year a residence on Excelsior was proposed to be rezoned Commercial and zoning and planning denied the rezone because this area already had enough commercial where this proposal is going. I'm a bit ticked off zoning and planning denied the rezone because I thought it was obvious coming redevelopment at Excelsior and Grand would displace cheap small sites and rezoning a house to commercial for a coffee place would have been perfect.
Zoning and planning of Excelsior Blvd next to Minikahda Vista has been nothing but a puppet show reacting to angry anti-change voices. I'm a bit disappointed the city council is showing some sympathy towards listening to the LOS ratings as a reason to swat this down. St. Louis Park seems still pretty beholden to the LOS mantra.