Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 12/19/2013

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(7) 167/47Commercial Node Update Discuss potential initiatives to provide conversation prods for the upcoming public input session; January 16th at 6pm in the Lake Itasca room. Staff has meetings set with various property owners for introduction purposes as well as for new Staff to increase understanding and scope of project. Please see the attached Statement of Goals for discussion and to craft potential agenda items for January 16tn (8) Future Business Park Background Historically, the City of Ramsey has remained competitive in economic development recruitment and expansion opportunities. Unfortunately, the City of Ramsey has recently run low on an inventory of available land for business recruitment (new businesses) and expansion (existing business). Therefore, the City of Ramsey is currently not in a strong position to compete for economic development prospects. The Ramsey City Council and EDA have recognized the state of the City's economic development position and have identified finding a solution a priority. For the past three months the EDA has discussed potential future business park locations. The EDA reviewed six major sites. As a result, the EDA provided staff with direction to pursue the Al Pearson Site (north) as the primary future business park for the City. Said action included a public input process and a feasibility study (to begin the process). Update The City held a public input session on December 12, 6:00 p.m. at the Ramsey Municipal Center regarding a potential future land use change (i.e. allowing for a business park) on the Al Pearson property and planning around that area and up to Armstrong. The feedback was welcomed and is helpful for Staff in determining its future land use. General consensus of the attendees was to create a mix of residential on the northern side of the Pearson property with commercial on the southern side flowing into the Hageman property south of Bunker and transitioning to retail towards Armstrong. The property owners have expressed thanks in being a part of the planning process and were open to business park usage, with some caveats. With this feedback, Staff will work internally to summarize the conversation more formally and offer suggestions based upon it (i.e. a rough zoning map). Staff is working to collect basic information in regards to planning a business park in that area-- information includes an analysis of estimated costs for infrastructure, potential users/hot industries to cater the park towards, preferred broker insight, utility usage, etc. (9) Award Letters/Plaques Update Formal letters were drafted, placed in plaques, signed by various City officials and recently delivered to: a. New Business: Midwest Overhead Crane Corporation b. Local Business Awarded: Cornerstone Custom Construction, BBB Award for Ethics c. New Business: Skeeter Boat Center