BizConnect - Spring 2023

Blaine Cub Foods Receives Outstanding Disability Employer

Blaine South (Northtown)

Late last year, the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation (MOHR) recognized several companies from across the state for their efforts to support employees with disabilities in the workforce. The Northtown Cub Foods in Blaine was recognized as one of the outstanding mid-size metro employers along with Driskill’s Downtown Market in Hopkins, New Perspective Highland Park in St. Paul, and Hyvee in Spring Lake Park.

MOHR is an organization that advocates for individuals and supports members that provide meaningful services to persons with disabilities. “Hiring and retaining employees of all abilities strengthens diversity, fosters inclusion, and adds creative energy to Minnesota’s workforce,” says Julie Johnson, MOHR Board Chair and President and CEO of MSS in St. Paul. “The businesses we’re honoring all go out of their way to create an environment where Minnesotans with disabilities can thrive.” MOHR has been recognizing businesses with the Outstanding Disability Employer Awards since 2017 but this is the first time a Blaine business has been recognized.

The City of Blaine thanks Cub Foods for its commitment to a diverse workforce and we are proud that Cub is an integral part of the fabric of the Blaine community. Congratulations!

Blaine Police Department Offers

Premises Surveys to Businesses

An Effort to Help Remove or Reduce Opportunities for Crime

Two members of the Blaine Police Department were recently certified in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) as an expansion of its Community Outreach Unit to create safer neighborhoods. CPTED is a multidisciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior that focuses on changing how properties are laid out, how they look and feel, and how individuals use the space. CPTED attempts to reduce or eliminate opportunities for crime by using elements of the environment to (1) control access; (2) provide opportunities to see and be seen; (3) define ownership; and (4) encourage the maintenance of property. Wide ranging recommendations may include planting or maintenance of vegetation, eliminating escape routes, changing lighting, and encouragement of pedestrian traffic.

To learn more about CPTED, visit CPTED.net

CPTED specialists are now available to conduct premise surveys of commercial spaces in the City of Blaine to provide cost effective recommendations to remove or reduce opportunities for crime.

If your business is interested in using CPTED as a tool in a problem solving or planning process, contact CommunityOutreach@BlaineMN.gov

DEED Needs Your Help

Connecting Underserved Areas to High Speed Broadband

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Office of Broadband Development is encouraging residential and business locations with broadband speeds under 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to apply for a line extension connection.

By submitting your address into the line extension connection portal, internet service providers will have the opportunity to review the location and submit a bid based on the cost to bring service to your location. The Office of Broadband Development will evaluate these bids and required provider documentation and make an award to the providers whose bids propose the lowest cost to the state for extension of service. Submitting location information into the line extension connection portal does not guarantee an extension of service.

To enter your address onto the portal, visit MN.gov/Deed/Programs-Services/Broadband/Extension or scan the QR code.

If you cannot access the online portal, the Office of Broadband Development can assist in this process. Please call 651-259-7610

Development Questions?

Your Most Frequently Asked Development Questions Answered

Can the City slow or stop development?

The short answer is no. Private property owners have the right to develop their property and the right to sell their property to developers so long as the project fits within the criteria of the zoning and/or land use for their property. The City cannot force private property owners to keep their property undeveloped however development must meet the regulations put forth by multiple agencies including the City, State, local watershed, DNR, etc.

Why has Blaine seen so much apartment construction lately?

Apartment construction is not unique to Blaine and is occurring throughout the entire Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Demand for apartments across the metro has increased over the last three to five years for a variety of reasons including the rising cost of purchasing a home, amenities provided by apartment complexes, the desire of older residents to downsize to a lower-maintenance housing option, flexibility for young working professionals, and most recently rising interest rates. The rental market is considered balanced between the number of units available and the number of renters when vacancy rates are around 5 percent. “Rising mortgage rates increase demand for apartments in the Twin Cities” an article that appeared in the Star Tribune in November of 2022 cited the City of Blaine as having one of the lowest vacancy rates in the metro at less than 2 percent, meaning despite rising rents demand for rental units in Blaine is high. Currently, only 10 percent of Blaine’s housing stock consists of apartments. Meanwhile, other suburban and suburban edge communities across the metro have housing stocks averaging 22 percent apartment units.

Why doesn’t the City of Blaine prevent developers from clearing trees?

Unfortunately, constructing buildings often means clearing trees therefore it is challenging to prevent developers from cutting trees, including those that are healthy and mature. However, Blaine’s City Code outlines criteria for tree preservation within the City. Some of the methods Blaine is using for tree preservation and replacement are as follows:

1. On lots without a construction or grading permit, trees removed from privately owned lands must be limited to two significant trees per year, unless an approved Forest Management Plan has been obtained. Trees removed because they are an obstruction to traffic or power lines, or trees removed because they pose a hazard to structures or sewer systems are excluded from these requirements.

2. Forest Management Plans, which are required for the removal of more than two significant trees per year as outlined may require tree replacement as part of the plan.

3. All building construction in most of Blaine’s zoning districts require a detailed landscape plan. City ordinance requires tree replacement based on lot size, building size, zoning district, and number of trees preserved. Tree preservation and tree replacement are required components of the landscape plan that is reviewed prior to obtaining approval by the Blaine City Council.

What is the Comprehensive Plan? Why is it important?

A Comprehensive Plan is an economic development and planning tool that serves as a policy document providing a blueprint for future land use and development. It allows municipalities to be proactive about the future of their city and provides guidance for orderly growth, development, and physical appearance of the community. In addition, it provides property owners and current and future residents within a city a road map for short and long term goals and plans for their individual property and their neighborhood. Minnesota state law requires local governments to create and update their comprehensive plan every 10 years. The current plan was adopted by the Blaine City Council in 2018. The Comprehensive Plan provides guidance for Blaine’s land use and development for the next 20 years. This plan will be updated around 2028-2030. For cities that fall within the seven-county metro, the law also requires that the Metropolitan Council reviews each city’s comprehensive plan to ensure it is in alignment with the overall framework provided by the Metropolitan Council’s regional plans.

You can view Blaine’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan at BlaineMN.gov/ComprehensivePlan City staff are always available to answer questions regarding development, market trends, and business attraction. The Community Development Department can be reached at 763-785-6180.

Resources and information are also available on the City’s website under Business and Development at BlaineBiz.com or under the Planning sections at BlaineMN.gov/Planning

Blaine Business Council

Do you want to connect with other Blaine businesses and hear about updates in the community? The Blaine Business Council is open to all Blaine businesses and is held quarterly at the TPC of Blaine. The meetings start at 7:30AM, no RSVP is necessary and we hope you can attend.

2023 Blaine Business Council Dates April 27 | July 13 | October 26

Resources to Find STEM Interns Free

Your small company can build its future workforce, source great talent, and access a wage match to cover 50 percent of a college STEM intern’s wages through the SciTech Internship Program.

Employers receive a wage match of 50 percent of the intern’s wages, worth up to $2,500 SciTech is free for students and small employers

At least 200 wage matches are available on a first-come, first-hire basis

Industries include tech, biotech, engineering, manufacturing, energy, aerospace, ag, and more.

Development Spotlight: Lexington Meadows

Residents may be familiar with the ongoing development at the southwest corner of 109th and Lexington Avenue that started back in 2018 when the master plan was approved and ground broke for the Legends of Blaine senior apartment complex. This Wellington Management project has made a lot of headway with Jersey Mike’s, Buff City Soap, Park Dental, Starbucks, and Kwik Trip along with 192 senior families calling this site home. But the momentum hasn’t slowed.

In 2022, Roers began construction on a 182unit luxury, market rate apartment building along Lexington Avenue. This apartment will be horseshoe-shaped with a pool, fire pit, patio, and dog park in the middle of the horseshoe feature. Other on-site amenities include a fitness center, community lounge, coffee bar, pet spa, outdoor pool, business center, outdoor courtyard, and an outdoor patio.

North Memorial completed construction in 2022 and opened a clinic, urgent care, and the first senior clinic in Minnesota that is solely focused on geriatric care.

Earlier this year the City Council also approved a conditional use permit for Culvers to build on the site. The Culvers project will begin this year on a parcel behind the North Memorial Clinic .

Anoka County Announces Pre-Development Grant Program

Last month, Anoka County announced a grant program of up to $15,000 for land-owners and municipalities for pre-development activities. The goal of this program is to increase knowledge of specific high-priority development sites around the County to reduce development barriers, share more information, and increase development confidence for prospective buyers.

Eligible expenses include parcel due diligence (including but not limited to):

• Geotechnical analysis

• Wetland delineations

• Review of threatened and endangered species

• ALTA Survey

• Phase 1 environmental

• Phase 2 environmental (if indicated)

• Archaeological/cultural review

• Historic preservation status

• Soil amendments to make sites “pad ready”

• Due diligence for adaptive reuse projects for existing structures (e.g. conversion of existing office into multifamily residential)

• Commercial or industrial market needs studies

• Additional pre-development studies that are similar in intent may be considered This new program is a great way for property owners to prepare their land for future development opportunities. For more information on this grant contact Ruth Tucker at 763-717-2778 or RTucker@BlaineMN.gov

May is Small Business Month

Small businesses are the life-blood of our community. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business and they create nearly two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. Small business plays such a crucial role in our economy. National Small Business week is the first week of May, but in Blaine we celebrate all month long. Register your small business to be highlighted at BlaineMN.gov/BusinessProfile Follow along on the BlaineBizMN social media channels as we shine a light on Blaine small businesses all month long. BizConnect

BlaineMN.gov/NotifyMe

Blaine BizConnect online is a monthly newsletter delivered right to your inbox that will keep you up to date on development happenings in the City of Blaine. From commercial to industrial to residential, Blaine is one of the fastest growing cities in the Twin Cities metro area and always has new and exciting projects on the horizon.

Sign up online at BlaineBiz.com/NotifyMe, choose BlaineBiz Update