HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 10 2015 EDAC rept 5a_Attach12015 Prior Lake Business Mixer
Common Themes/Comments
Business
Use business connections to expand business that best fits the character of Prior Lake.
Signage – need more visibility
Explore SMSC/Mystic Lake purchasing agency engaging with local businesses and chamber
Local business synergy
Need businesses support other businesses
Need to grow Prior Lake as a great place for businesses
How can Mystic Lake/SMSC engage local businesses?
Most important marketing efforts were: having a website; paid Facebook ads, word of mouth,
Facebook friends turn into customers; print marketing was used very little but with some
success.
City-wide events (Music Fest) are big events that help businesses.
City should develop a business directory on the City of PL website for all Prior Lake
businesses.
As an outer-ring suburb it is a challenge to bring in bug business.
Government/Communication
We need to focus on issues in the neighborhood and communicating to the residents (public
notices)
Consistency in zoning
Reevaluation of assessed values because taxes are too high
City needs to do less research and take more action.
Compile compelling stories about Prior Lake success stories and positives that have
happened to market the City. Just giving numbers are easily forgotten or distorted. Stories
are remembered and make an impression.
Add more portable restrooms to the farmers market. A lot of the businesses on main have
their restrooms closed during the farmers market.
Would like to have property values re-assessed to lower their taxes – it is felt that property
values have dropped since the Pole Barn structure has been built.
Signs on 21 for Deerfield Park and Welcome Ave.
Buckingham would like to discuss their options for expansion with the appropriate city
people. Concerned with wet lands on/or by their property.
Developments in neighborhoods and city communicating with those neighborhoods.
o Stemmer Ridge, development behind Wilds?
How are schools distributing information? Twitter and Facebook
Communicating better with home-based businesses.
Growing Technology Village into a larger space.
Wilds community, McKenna one way 3 way stop – what steps to take protecting that
neighborhood.
Transportation / Infrastructure
Make improvements to State Highway 13 to improve traffic flow and to make it easier to get
on and off. This would improve exposure to businesses located along Highway 13 and
increase their business traffic.
The truck accesses to Deerfield are inadequate and very dangerous. The intersection at
Revere Way is the worst, but Adelmann is a close second. Need turn lanes! They are
dangerous for trucks and school busses.
Parking, truck accessibility, and room to access garages at the 17,000 addresses on
Adelmann.
CH21 blocking Main Avenue will ruin downtown.
Infrastructure / Traffic
o No stoplights Franklin Trail area
o 20 min. to get into downtown Prior Lake.
o Transportation – not a lot of great solutions for turn lanes, very costly, logistics, on
city plans.
Public Assets / Quality of Life
Need for a Community center /Theater 1
Take advantage of beautiful lake
Make Prior Lake a culinary destination
Community activities (Farmer’s Market, Music Fest) are positive but we are missing a big
winter activity
Maintain small town/comfortable fee – what is the theme for Prior Lake
Prior Lake is ‘different’ due to its small town – not suburb – feel.
The park system is family orientated.
Prior Lake feels like a small town; comfortable place to live.
Community Centers; (indoor parks, theatre, recreation, swimming)
Downtown
Downtown Parking – limit time on Main Avenue, more lighting on busy streets (including in
front of Premiere Dance), speed bumps on busy streets. Parking ramp
Do not want to see change, need downtown to prosper.
Downtown Farmer’s Market is positive.
Access issues.
The mall should support downtown and downtown should support the mall.