Cliff Buchan
News Editor

New street lights, sidewalk and curb and gutter for a four-block segment of Forest Lakeís downtown could cost less than $500,000.

The cityís Economic Development Authority board reviewed a preliminary cost estimate for the work Monday as it entertained the public during a visioning session designed to assist officials in preparing an updated redevelopment plan for the downtown.

The meeting was the first of a number of meetings the EDA will host to collect citizen and business owner input on their ideas for Forest Lake in the future. The input will be a guide as the city updates its 10-year-old development plan, said EDA President and Mayor Terry Smith.

The new street lights, sidewalk and curb and gutter could be an early piece to the redevelopment theme. The improvements would extend along Lake Street (US-61) from 2nd Ave. south and 2nd Ave. north.

City Engineer Paul Hornby said Monday the project could cost $435,000 for a specific design of street lights to match those now in use along the redesigned E. Broadway corridor.

The EDA board voted to accept Hornbyís report and carry the effort forward by applying for state preservation project dollars that could be available next year.

The EDA also directed the engineer to obtain estimates for an upgraded light standard that would allow for flag placement, holiday banners and hanging flower pots. The street light design presented by Hornby wonít accommodate the multiple uses.

With May rapidly winding down, City Administrator and EDA Executive Director Chip Robinson said the project would likely have to wait for summer of 2006 construction.

ìThis is a major project,î Robinson said. The work would result in major disruption for the downtown for one to two months, Robinson said.

Corbett Johnson, a long-time real estate agent in Forest Lake, said the improvements should come first to help stimulate private investment in business improvements. Without the work, Forest Lakeís main street will continue to look like ìsome rural town in Mississippi,î Johnson said.

Visioning

In preparation for the first visioning session, the city sent out 300 letters to residents and business owners in and close to the downtown. About 20 home and business owners attended the 4 p.m. meeting.

Smith said for the future an evening session could be scheduled to improve attendance.

The ideas for the future included a wide range of topics such as parking, access to the municipal parking lot, traffic issues, affordable senior housing, police patrols in the Lakeside Park area and the boat launching area and boat trailer parking.

While the south end improvements and the still-to-come north end municipal parking lot project will increase parking, need for even greater parking was expressed.

ìIf I was a business owner, Iíd be very disappointed,î said Hank Houle, a former city council member and business owner.

Smith repeated his idea of a plan to close Centennial Drive from W. Broadway to NW 2nd Avenue to expand parking on the west side of Lake Street. Traffic to the west could utilize the lights at 4th Street to bypass the downtown, Smith said.

With the new parking lot work to result in a redesigned boat launch with limited trailer parking, there were questions as to where trailers could be parked. A limited number of trailer spaces will be available.

That led Johnson to question why so many of the public access points to the lake have been closed over the years with the result forcing boats to be launched at Lakeside Park where downtown parking space is in short supply.

As the planning continues for a new-look redevelopment plan for the downtown, City Planner Bill Sanders and Robinson agreed it would be wise to expand the target area to focus on business and residential property west of Lake Street and between NW 2nd Ave. and SW 2nd Ave.

Robinson said it was also important for planners to follow developments for the Broadway corridor improvement effort that is now being shaped.

City officials said two major improvements have taken place in the downtown with The Plaza and Park Place but the time was now to redo the development plan.

The EDA also learned Monday that Forest Laker owner Peter Paidar is looking long term for his downtown properties in addition to the current restaurant remodeling expansion.

Paidar has purchased the former Rapid Press and Kopy Boy buildings and is considering a redevelopment project in partnership with other property in the north end of the block.

An estimated 30,000 square feet of new commercial and office space could be constructed, said Jerry Anderson, Paidarís architect.

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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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