Summer 2020
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Interactive Development Resources Want to know what development activity is occurring the community? The City of Blaine has an interactive development map available on the city website under the Business and Development section. The interactive map allows anyone to see what projects are currently under review, upcoming, under construction, or recently completed. Each project is identified with a location on a map along with a flag to click for further information. Most of the time only projects that are new construction are listed. Remodeling of existing spaces is typically not identified unless it is a highly visible project such as when Aldi remodeled the former Best Buy building. Other information maps that have been created include Blaine senior housing options, Blaine residential development, and also a link to the Anoka County economic development webpage for commercial and industrial land and building listings. For any questions regarding proposed, current, or future developments, please contact the Community Development office at 763-785-6180. View the new development activity portal at BlaineMN.gov/DevelopmentActivity
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 Twin Cities in Blaine. The meetings start at 7:30AM, no RSVP is necessary and we hope you can attend. 2020 Blaine Business Council Dates July 9 | October 22 For more information please visit the Metro North Chamber of Commerce at MetroNorthChamber.org
Small Business Loan Program
Neighborhood Meeting Policy for Development Projects The residents of Blaine may have noticed that some of the more recent land use applications within the city have garnered a lot of attention, and more specifically, a lot of attention from residents immediately adjacent to certain developments. The Blaine City Council has directed staff to generate a neighborhood meeting and notification policy to help residents navigate questions regarding developments happening around them and to provide yet another means to voice their opinion on such applications prior to them formally being heard by the Blaine Planning Commission and Blaine City Council. Key points of the policy are as follows: •
Neighborhood meetings will be required for certain land use applications that are proposed immediately adjacent to residential neighborhoods. The applications requiring the meetings include property rezoning, comprehensive plan amendments, multifamily residential projects in single family neighborhoods, and in some instances, conditional use permits.
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The developer who is proposing the development is responsible for holding the meeting and promoting their project. City staff typically will not attend and the public is encouraged to engage with the developer directly.
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Neighborhood notification areas for neighborhood meetings and public hearings will remain at the state required 350 feet from property lines of the proposed development. These areas may be extended based on the size and neighborhood of the project.
There are more specifics within this policy and the Community Development staff would be happy to respond to any questions. The city hopes this provides more opportunity for open communication on development related issues. Please contact Lori Johnson, City Planner at LJohnson@BlaineMN.gov with further questions.
The City of Blaine Economic Development Authority offers a small business loan program to provide additional financial assistance to small business owners who are improving an existing building and/ or redeveloping a commercial or industrial property. In general, projects will increase tax base, improve blighted properties, increase 3 employment, and bring properties into conformance with existing city and state codes. Loans are available up to $75,000 with a private match required. Eligible expenses include exterior site improvements such as parking lots, trash enclosures, signs, fences, and landscaping. Exterior building improvements such as additions, windows, awnings, masonry repairs, and demolition are also eligible. For more information, please contact the Economic Development Department at 763-785-6147 or BlaineMN.gov/ EconomicDevelopment
