Jul 25, 2008 7:16 am US/Central
Commission Says No To Bloomington SuperTarget
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Target has applied to put a 179,000 square foot SuperTarget grocery/department store on a site where a vacant warehouse now sits.
CBS
More than 500 people packed the Schneider Theater at the Bloomington Center for the Arts on Thursday night for a hearing on a proposed SuperTarget at the corner of Normandale and Old Shakopee Roads.
The Bloomington Planning Commission, who heard arguments from city planners and Target, said it was their most crowded meeting ever. Target has applied to put a 179,000 square foot SuperTarget grocery/department store on a site where a vacant warehouse now sits. To allow that store, the city would have to rezone that area because it is zoned for industrial use.
"They raise the question, is the city willing to change its vision to put a store here," said Larry Lee with the City of Bloomington.
Last week, city staffers released a report that opposed rezoning the area. The report said the new store would increase traffic and weaken other nearby retail areas that already have vacancies. The report said the proposal is not in line with Bloomington's Comprehensive Plan to balance retail and industry.
Target has held community meetings to address neighborhood concerns. They've also offered to pay upfront for road improvements that would change traffic patterns in the area.
"Our guests are here and we are looking to put our SuperTarget in a place where we can best service our guests and create a convenient shopping experience," said Target spokeswoman Amy Spencer.
Several Bloomington residents came to the hearing Thursday night in shirts that said, "No Re-Zoning." Sue Wolf lives near the proposed site.
"I like Target, clearly, I'm a Target shopper," she said. "But I have five within 20 minutes of my home. I don't need anymore so close. I like them in their established area where those areas are set up to accommodate it."
While most of the people who attended the hearing were opposed to the re-zoning, Target said it has a silent majority of support in the community.
John Chadwick would like to see a new store.
"With $4 a gallon gas, if you can move this Target store within a mile of me, that's a great thing. I have four kids. If they could walk to work or walk to Target, that would be a great thing for my family," he said.
After more than three hours of debate, the planning commission voted down the proposed store. The city council is expected to vote on the re-zoning Aug. 18.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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