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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-11-11 EDA MinutesCITY OF COTTAGE GROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES November 11, 2007 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 11th day of November 2007. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:31 a.m. by EDA President Bailey. ROLL CALL Members Present: Myron Bailey, EDA President Tony Jurgens, EDA Member Paul Poncin, EDA Member Pat Rice, EDA Vice President Gerry Weingartner, EDA Secretary /Treasurer Sara Westall, EDA Member Members Absent: Jim Wolcott, EDA Member Others Present: Howard Blin, Community Development Director Joe Fischbach, Management Analyst Ron Hedberg, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Ryan Schroeder, EDA Executive Director Sandy Shiely, Mayor Ken Smith, Management Analyst Jesse Swenson, Management Analyst Paul Abdo, Anxon Inc. Jon Avise, South Washington County Bulletin Al Ploeger, Mainstreet Bank Ann Simpson, South Washington County Telecommunications Commission Economic Development Authority - Minutes November 13, 2007 Page 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by EDA Vice President Rice to approve the September 11, 2007 Economic Development Authority minutes and acknowledge the minutes from October 9, 2007. Seconded by EDA Member Poncin, All Present in Favor. DEVELOPMENT UPDATE EDA Executive Director Schroeder gave the EDA a development update. The City Council held a special meeting on October 25 to discuss the signage related to the roundabout. The City continues to work with MNDOT to replace some signage with those of a fish hook design. At Southpoint Ridge curbing for the lower portion is in and paving should occur the week of November 11 th . Oak Park Commons is 100 percent leased. The Werner Minnesota project has curbing in and paving is expected the week of November 11 th . At Norris Square, paving is complete and site work continues for the commercial portion of the project. In the Everwood subdivision, the first phase is under construction with one home currently being built. Paving is scheduled for this week at the Preserve at Cottage Grove with home construction to begin soon thereafter. A neighborhood meeting was held for the 2008 pavement management reclamation project on October 29 Due to MNDOT funding issues the Lehigh /Manning project has been pushed back to 2009. The final design for the ice arena project is being wrapped up with a December bid expected. The Pine Tree Valley Park improvements are substantially complete. Utilities are in between Jamaica and Keats for the East Ravine project. Connection to the Preserve and paving of Military Road should occur during the week of November 11 th . The City and County are working on a transportation plan that should be complete in January. Development talks between the City and the developer for the CottageView site have ceased until that plan is completed. Building permit values, including residential and commercial /industrial, are estimated to be around $70 million. 2007 is projected to be the second lowest year in housing permits in the last 38 years. DISCUSSION OF ADVANCE FITNESS REVISED PROPOSAL This item was brought before the EDA for direction to City staff. The EDA has seen this item a few times in the past months. The developer is asking the City and /or the EDA for $5 -6 million, possibly more, in subsidies by way of land, waiving of construction fees, installation of public improvements and paying for the construction of an outdoor pool. It was the consensus of the EDA that the proposal asks too much of the City and /or the EDA in terms of assistance and it is not feasible for the City to pursue this proposal any further as presented. The EDA would certainly look at any revised proposal that relies less on subsidies. AUTHORIZATION TO ACQUIRE TAX - FORFEITED PARCEL IN THE 9500 BLOCK OF ISLAY AVENUE 2 Economic Development Authority - Minutes November 13, 2007 Page 3 Staff brought to the EDA a proposal to purchase tax forfeited property in the Langdon area. The acquisition cost would be $13,262.04 for the 0.5 acre parcel. Motion by EDA Member Poncin to authorize the acquisition. Seconded by EDA Vice President Rice, All Present in Favor. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE- SEPTEMBER SYNOPSIS Community Development Director Howard Blin presented what the Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee has been working on. They had a joint meeting with the City Council in September. They have discussed land use changes, changes to the transportation plan and a possible east -west county alignment. In December they plan to discuss parks planning. In February they plan on discussing the housing element. After that a draft plan would be put together for review. CALENDAR The EDA members were reminded of upcoming meetings and events. MISCELANEOUS BUSINESS ITEMS Paul Abdo from Anxon Inc. gave a presentation to the EDA for a possible Gold's Gym to locate in the Langdon area of Cottage Grove. He describes Cottage Grove as a great market for Gold's in terms of population, demographics and location in the state. The project would not include any public subsidies. Currently there is not water and sewer in the proposed development area and extension of the urban service district would need to be approved by City Council with a comp plan amendment and final approval by the Met Council. It is not feasible to extend utilities to this one project and master planning a larger area would need to be done. A motion was made by EDA Member Poncin to further discuss the feasibility of extending utilities to this proposed site. Seconded by EDA Member Jurgens, All Present in Favor. ADJOURN EDA Vice President Rice moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by EDA Secretary /Treasurer Weingartner, All Present in Favor, the meeting adjourned at 8:29 AM. Respectfully Submitted, Joe Fischbach Management Analyst 3