HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 01-10 3M growth delay relieves planning pressures DISPATCH (E) St. Paul Dispatch
E OFFICIAL SAYS .......A.--- ____-7
lwT
�. growth delayreieves
$y JIM BROEDE ::<::e <: : e "This does not mean,"he add-
* Staff Writer < Washington CO.:< ::;;,.m.,.ms': ::; ed, "that plans for the develop-
ment have been abandoned. But
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The 3M Co.'s decision to delay it does mean that 3M is not now
expansion into Washington Coun in a position to proceed."
ty"isn't such bad news,"says Until last week, 3M's an-
County Planning Coordinator nounced intent was to start con-
William Schwab. struction in 1979 on what is ex Schwab said, "I guess what
pected to become a complex of this means is that we won't get
"IT GIVES US and other agen- 14 million square feet of re- an influx of population from the
cies more time to plan for the search labs and offices on a 563- 3M development until 1985 or
development,"Schwab explained acre site in Lake Elmo and Oak- later.
in an interview. dale.
fe
"We had
ht for awhile
fo, "I was a little worried,"he
But G.G. Mueller, 3M's vice that tth initial�impact would be
w added, "about the problems in- president in charge of engineer- felt in 1980.
volved in serving the develop- ing,said the timetable has
k ment with adequate sanitary changed significantly. So now we have five more
years of planning time on our
sewers by 1981. But now we have
THE COMPANY will delay side. That relieves some pres-
seven years,instead of three the development until at least sure. The communities will have
years to get the problems 1985,he said. time to complete their compre-
solved." hensive plans and get them into
the Metropolitan Council for
approval.
"WHEN THE GROWTH final-
ly comes,we will have a better
handle on it."
And if a"handle"is needed
anywhere,Schwab insists that
it's on serving 3M with adequate
sewers.
Tues.,Jan. 10,''7?
planning
"The plan,"he said, "was to more efficient use of the existing "WE WILL BE able to expand
extend an interceptor sewer to center. (in Maplewood)to meet 3M's
the 3M site by 1981. That was to
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be a temporary solution to the "Van and car pooling,stag projected needs through 1985 at
sewer problem. gered working times and recent least."
improvements in traffic patterns Mueller said consideration.
"It was obvious all along that have enlarged the capacity of will be given to proceeding with -
a more permanent solution the(Maplewood) 3M Center,"he development in Lake Elmo and
would be needed eventually(to said. Oakdale when the Maplewood
handle a projected daily flow of site reaches capacity.
nine million gallons of sewage by "In addition,new office proce-
1995). dures and techniques with the He added, "It must be kept in
"NOW THE PERMANENT use of computers and other mod- ors whowever,f inflthat uence 3M's fu-
solution—such as extension of ern office equipment have en
hanced the productivity. tore business plans in Minnesota, .
the Woodbury-Cottage Grove including personal and corporate
sewer lines and construction of a Additional major buildings at tax structures,the Minnesota
new treatment plant—could be the(Maplewood) 3M Center are business climate,energy cons-
implemented by the time 3M now possible and are being traints,construction costs and . N
completes the first building." planned. transportation needs."
Eventually,the complex
would accommodate 18,000
employees,the company report-
ed.
The Oakdale-Lake Elmo site,
at the northeast corner of I-694
and Hwy. 212, was acquired be-
cause of limited expansion space
at the 3M Center in Maplewood.
However,Mueller said that
3M has taken steps to make