Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 10/12/2017

Home

Member Burandt stated that Connexus has spent more on property taxes for the outlot over the years than it is worth and therefore they do not plan to let it stay vacant. Councilmember LeTourneau agreed that the Connexus outlot would be better used for commercial industrial use. He stated that staff directed Connexus to look at other parcels for their solar farm for that reason and that the Connexus Board also supports that use. Motion by Member Skaff, seconded by Member Hardin, to recommend to City Council that the existing Connexus outlot property be reserved for future commercial industrial use. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Steffen, Members Skaff, Hardin, and Riley. Voting No: None. Absent: Members Brunt and Williams. Abstained: Member Burandt. 4.02: Inland Group Purchase Agreement Economic Dev. Mgr./Assistant City Administrator Brama presented the staff report. Chairperson Steffen asked if staff believes that this is the best fit for this site. Economic Dev. Mgr./Assistant City Administrator Brama stated that the staff reviewed this preliminarily and liked having this project in the correct zoning district and capitalizing on the park improvements. Staff did not have a preferred site. Community Development Director Gladhill stated that from a land use and Planning Commission perspective, Concept C would be the preferred site. He noted that comments from the City Council have been incorporated to provide the Main Street look along Sunwood Drive. Member Riley asked if the City is being smart drawing the boundaries and selling to the right lines to ensure that they are not creating unsellable land. Economic Dev. Mgr./Assistant City Administrator Brama stated that staff spent some time with a designer laying out this concept to ensure the depth of the commercial building site and parking are realistic rather than simply lines on a map. He agreed that it is an odd shaped lot that will have challenges, but the parcel would be market relevant. He stated that before this moves onto City Council he will reach out to developers to ensure that this parcel would work in the market. Member Riley asked if this park concept fits with the plans the City had. Community Development Director Gladhill stated that the Parks Superintendent has seen the plans and agreed that this would fit with the plans for the park in the municipal square. He stated that the idea is to create this greenway corridor up to the Itasca Trail and The Draw. He stated that this would be another great example of how the residential properties work well with the City activities, noting that residents that live in the apartments within The COR are often seen on their patios watching the concert series at The Draw and the Happy Days parade. Economic Development Authority/September 14, 2017 Page 4 of 8