Meeting Preview: New Development in Downtown Savage?

Monday 

Savage City Council Work Session: The council will consider purchase of the Hanson Building in downtown, between Buffalo Tap and the Motor Mart Gas Station, which was most recently used as a small warehouse. The building has been vacant for a year. The city has been in negotiations with a local developer on a concept for an office building on the site. Though no formal agreement between the two parties yet exists, the city could buy and raze the building (which would cost $375,000 to $400,000), then resell the plot to the developer at a lower price.

Burnsville Planning Commission: This week, the commission will consider a new storm pond near North Twin Lake, south of County Road 42 and east of I-35E. It is hoped that the pond will stem flood waters and reduce pollution in rain water runnoff. The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. at Burnsville city hall.

Shakopee Historic Preservation Advisory Commission: The commission will meet at 7 p.m. at Shakopee city hall.

Tuesday

Burnsville City Council Work Session: The council will discuss the River Valley Commons project, a proposed townhome development near Parkwood Drive and East 122nd Street that has been approved twice already, once in 2005 and again in 2011. The project fizzled out both times, but the current developer hopes to amend the plan and get the project rolling again. The council will also discuss the city's drinking water supply and the spread of emerald ash borer. Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Burnsville city hall.

Shakopee City Council Work Session: The council will discuss a change to a contract for development with Emerson, which was approved last week. The city offered the company $1.4 million in incentives to locate its new facility in Shakopee with the hope that it would create 400 to 500 well-paying jobs. As per the contract, 60 percent of the jobs created would be engineering or managerial jobs, compensated at a rate of at least $30 per hour, and 40 percent would be manufacturing positions, paid at least $18 per hour.

The company is now saying that those numbers "would not work." 

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Wednesday 

Burnsville Economic Development Commission: The commission will discuss a a possible land sale of between the city and Interstate Partners LLC, a proposed thrift store ordinance, and a new food truck ordinance.

Thursday

Savage will hold an open house to discuss the ins and outs of the Highway 13 Study. The open house will take place at 4 p.m.