HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-10-14 EDA MinutesCITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MINUTES
October 14, 2003
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Economic Development
Authority was held at City Hall, 7516 80th Street South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota on the 14th
day of October 2003.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by EDA President Wolcott.
Rni i CAI i
Members Present: Jim Wolcott, EDA President
Gerry Weingartner, Authority Member
Glen Kleven, Authority Member
Sandy Shiely, EDA Vice - President
Mike Wennen, Authority Member
Members Absent: Al Boche, Authority Member
Dick Pederson, Authority Member
Others Present: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator
Ron Hedberg, Finance Director
Steve Barrett, Management Analyst
Scott Johnson, Management Analyst
Colby Johnson, South Washington County Bulletin
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Authority Member Glen Kleven moved to approve the September 9, 2003 EDA Minutes.
Gerry Weingartner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
PROJECT UPDATES
ED -03 -022 — A marketing packet was sent by staff to a prospective developer who is
looking for industrial property.
Economic Development Authority - Minutes
October 14, 2003
Page 2
ED -03 -023 — A developer has contacted the City about building a 15,000 sf Commercial
project on an Oakwood commercial parcel.
ED -03 -024 — Olson General Contractors contacted the City about a wood manufacturer
building in the industrial park. Ryan Schroeder informed the EDA that this project will
probably end up in Hastings due to a lower level of aesthetic requirements in their
industrial park.
ED -03 -026 — CP Rail contacted the City about a 30 acre site for a steel manufacturer.
ED -03 -027 — Industrial developer asked the City about possible sites in the Industrial
Park.
GATEWAY UPDATE
Ryan Schroeder informed the EDA that the concrete work for the walls on the Kohl's
project should be completed by the end of this month and the steel work will begin at the
same time. The landscape work began earlier this month on Hardwood Avenue. City
staff also approved the grading permit for the Oak Park Commons project. The original
retaining walls for this project were to be placed in the southwest corner of the property,
but under the new grading agreement the retaining walls will be shortened and moved to
the northwest corner of the property. Oak Park Commons will pay for the cost of the
retaining walls.
The City recently received a purchase agreement from a restaurant for a 2.18 acre
Oakwood parcel. City staff is also working on a letter of intent with another developer for
the northern Oakwood site. These two items may be on an upcoming Council agenda.
Ryan Schroeder informed the EDA that a proposal for the redevelopment of Cottage
Square Mall may be brought to the next meeting for discussion. He also informed the
EDA that Grove Plaza has received a permit to begin the redevelopment and fagade
improvements of the small tenant space in November. They will commence one bay in
November and start the rest in January after the holiday shopping season.
Jim Wolcott asked about the grading of the Coldwell Banker property. Mr. Schroeder
informed Mr. Wolcott that Coldwell Banker followed their grading plan and it is their
responsibility to pay for any retaining walls or other landscape items on their property
that are not included in the approved plan.
HAMLET STORM WATER
Staff is waiting for firm test results. Additional rock analysis will provide more certainty
for contractors and it will also get the City better bids for this project. It will take five to
six weeks to receive the additional analysis. It may take until 2004 before this project
can move forward. MNDOT just started reviewing the SP SWM model for this project.
Economic Development Authority - Minutes
October 14, 2003
Page 3
CLEAR CHANNEL PROPERTY PURCHASE
Steve Barrett has been talking to Job -Bob Properties about the City purchasing their
parcel for storm water ponding. The property is appraised at $151,000 and they are
currently asking about $250,000. Both partners are willing to talk about selling the
property.
The negotiations for the Clear Channel property are currently hung up on square footage
of the ad space for the billboards. Clear Channel wants 3 flag billboards with 2,800 sf of
ad space for each sign. The City is trying to limit this to 2,100 sf on each sign. Glen
Kleven said that he did not care either way. Ryan Schroeder mentioned that the smaller
billboards should not be included in the square footage for the signs because they will
fall down on their own in the future. Mr. Kleven thought the City should split the
difference. Mayor Shiely did not want Clear Channel to have more ad square footage
than what they currently own. Gerry Weingartner agreed with everyone who thought the
current billboards look horrible and the new 2,800 sf billboards would not make much of
a difference. The EDA directed staff to split the difference with Clear Channel and try to
come to an agreement.
CALENDAR
The Wells Fargo ribbon cutting will take place on Friday, October 17th at 12:30 PM
The Park and Ride ribbon cutting will be held sometime during the first week of
November.
Schmid and Son Packaging's ribbon cutting has been moved to December.
ADJOURN
The EDA adjourned at 8:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott Johnson
Management Analyst