Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Just how deep are the financial pockets of the Forest Lake Economic Development Authority?

That question will be answered in the months ahead as EDA staff explore the potential acquisition of several downtown parcels that could be targets for redevelopment or overflow parking from the Lakeside Memorial Park municipal parking lot.

At its last November meeting, the EDA board set the wheels in motion by authorizing EDA Executive Director Chip Robinson to explore purchase options for the Holiday station, 207 N. Lake St. and the Forest Lake Gas Mart property, 20 S. Lake St. The Holiday business closed on Dec. 1 and the Gas Mart property and business is on the market.

Robinson told the EDA board Monday the city will have first crack at the Holiday land but no purchase terms have been discussed. He said the Gas Mart property is listed at $650,000.

EDA Engineer Paul Hornby reported Monday that his review of the Holiday site concluded it could be utilized for eight vehicles and boat trailers to take pressure off the municipal parking lot and the city/DNR boat launch at Lakeside Park.

The overflow parking has been sought to eliminate the use of regular municipal parking lot spaces for boat trailers and vehicles. The cityís agreement with the DNR requires 20 parking spaces for the boat launch.

Hornby said a second option would be to acquire the Goodroad Driving School building at 31 NE 2nd Ave. to the east of Holiday. If acquired, it would add another 14 boat trailer parking spaces, he said.

Hornby said a review of market value listings for Washington County indicate the Holiday property on two parcels has value of $230,000. The countyís market value for the Gas Mart parcel is $352,000, Hornby said.

The Gas Mart site could provide 42 vehicle parking areas, the engineer said.

EDA members, however, said the corner lot on US-61 and W. Broadway was a ìprime commercialî area that should not be committed to permanent parking area.

EDA member Bob Morehead agreed the land was a prime commercial spot, but not for a gas station. He said it may take EDA involvement to redevelop the corner.

EDA talk

No action was taken Monday, but the EDA will continue the process at the staff level.

The board agreed that appraisals would be needed, but the formal task will be delayed. Instead, land acquisition specialist and tax-increment financing consultant Dan Wilson will be asked to review any potential purchases.

EDA President Terry Smith also asked staff to review a proposition that would allow the EDA to execute a property tax levy to assist in development efforts.

Robinson and Wilson will also look in detail at TIF surplus revenues and projects now on the books to see what flexibility the EDA would have to make any purchases. The matter would also have to go before the city council for approval.

Smith also said it may be time now to look at Centennial Drive with the idea of making it a one-way street.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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