Agenda - Council - 06/14/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LA'ND ACQUISITION FOR DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES By: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator an~ James Gromberg, Economic Development Coordinator Background: The City, with assistance ~rom the Economic Development Commission, has instituted a business visitation progra~a. This long-awaited program has allowed the City to get to know various business owners ~d the issues that face these companies in their continued existence and growth. So far, the City h~ met with the following businesses: Sp~ Parmership · ody Anbka Electric Cooperative Lia~ul Industries Mihnesota Shavings and Sawdust G~sslein Beverage Distribution All of these busin~esses, with the exception of Minnesota Shavings and Sawdust, indicated an interest in constr~cting either a new facility for their use or a facility for some new business venture. MinnesOta Shavings and Sawdust is currently in the process of moving their entire operation to their !Sauk Centre facility. This move was brought about by a numberof reasons, including higher ,t~txes in the Metro Area and a change in the market area and supply of sawdust and shavings. It ~s unfortunate that our meeting with Minnesota Shavings and Sawdust (the fa-st in 18 years in the ~,ity) was, in essence, to "shut off the lights of the facility". With the rest of th~ businesses currently considering new buildings and/or expansion of existing facilities, it may b~timely for the City to consider acqui.tng land for sale to these businesses and other companies pbssibly relocating to Ramsey. City-owned land would allow us to easily deal with a primary obstacle to business expansion (site control). For instance, if a business constructs a new facility on WY property, the City could deed the property to the business as part of a financial assistanc~ package (at or below market pricing) without third party involvement. The City of Anoka haslacquired an option for a tout of 107 acres in the Industrial Park surrounding Thurston Street. T~.ey have currently exercised the options on 82 acres, with terms of no interest over two yea.rs. O~ this g2 acres, 20 acres have to be set aside for the Lund Industries building of 225,000 square fe~t. The City has paid between $2,500 per acre for land with environmental problems, to $I0,0~)0 per acre for a large tract fronting Thurston Avenue. The City of Ramsey should review the possibility of either outright land purchase or the acquiring of options on certain parcels in the City. For your review, the following information has been included: CASE # q l) 2) 3) Table comparing possible parcels for acquisition. Site location maps for each parcel. Ana/:ysis of each parcel. 17/