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1986 10 16HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES OCTOBER 16, 1986 Chairman Whitehill called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Present were Commissioners Horn, Swenson, Whitehill and Bohn. Commissioner Robbins was absent. Also present were Don Ashworth, City Manager; Barbara Dacy, City Planner, Fred Hoisington; Brad Johnson; Bob Voto; Don Ringrose, BRW; Jim Lasher, BRW; Gary Ehret, BRW; Rich Thomasgard and Clayton Johnson. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Horn, seconded by Swenson to approve the minutes of September 18, 1986 with the correction to be noted on page 2, deleting the "d" of "scheduled" in the second to last paragraph of that page. All voted in favor and the motion carried. PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDYw VERBAL PRESENTATIONr BRWw INC: Fred Hoisington introduced members from BRW and stated that pur- suant to HRA and Council approval last summer, BRW has been pre- paring the feasibility study in order to document the costs for street, sewer, water and streetscape improvements in the down- town area. He also noted that BRW has been working directly with Bart Engineering regarding the stormsewer improvements. Ehret reviewed the street, water, sewer and stormsewer portions of the preliminary feasibility study. He stated that the street portion includes the new Great Plains realignment behind the Pauly's and Pony Express building, the Laredo Drive intersection improvement, the new north/south road on the west side of the bowling center and the realignment of West 79th Street to the north, and the new north/south road connecting City Hall to West 78th Street. He reviewed the proposed water and sewer improve- ments and noted necessary areas to be upgraded, or looped for property connection. He reviewed the stormwater management plan which includes creation of a ponding area at the termination of West 79th Street. He stated that BRW has been working closely with Bob Obermeyer from Bart Engineering regarding the overall drainage situation. He stated that BRW has located the pipe improve-ments while Bart Engineering has been evaluating the overall system and ponding schemes. Whitehill asked if there was an alternative to the pond area at the end of West 79th Street. Ashworth stated that in evaluating the drainage pattern in the downtown area, the entire watershed area to the north and west as well as the area south of TH 5 to Rice Marsh Lake and Lake Riley, needed to be studied. He stated that the proposed ponding scheme was preferred by Barr Engineering and was intended to take advantage of natural low/wet areas such as the proposed location of the pond for better drainage management for areas beyond downtown. He stated that, as proposed, downstream water quality could be improved. Swenson asked if the HRA would be acquiring a valuable piece of property. Hoisington stated that because of the existing HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES OCTOBER 16, 1986 PAGE 2 access situation, i.e. lack of direct access to TH 5 and because of its poor soils, it is not as valuable as other commercial DroDerties in the area. Jim Lasher from BRW reviewed the street and streetscape proposals. He noted the creation of the historic district and amenities that could be created around it. He stated that the area in and around the drainage pond could be dressed up and a fountain placed in the pond to create an aesthetic function for the pond as well. Lasher reviewed two options for streetscape improve- ments along West 78th Street. One option was to include a median and the other did not include the median. Horn asked why this particular aspect of the project was being presented if the HRA had not determined the financial criteria. The HRA discussed the matter further and felt that BRW in establishing the cost for the feasibility study should prepare those alternative costs/designs. FINANCIAL CRITERIA DISCUSSION: Ashworth stated that the Master Redevelopment Agreement established the need to prepare financial criteria. He stated that the HRA reviewed the generalized list at their September 18, 1986 meeting. He stated that the finan- cial team subsequently prepared a detailed refinement of the general policies. Hoisington stated that the proposed policies constitute a preli- minary document and stated that the financial team ~anted to pre- sent a conservative position given the unknown factors involved with the new legislation for tax increment financing. The HRA reviewed Policies 1 and 2. Whitehill questioned the con- servative approach and asked if it was preventing any develop- ment. Horn stated that each project had to be looked at individually. Voto reviewed the potential changes in the Schreiber Bill. He stated that changes in the law could effect the pay back period on the existing TIF bonds. Hoisington stated that in Policy %2, "a." should read as follows: Certification of projected construction costs by the County Assessor/Building Inspector. He also stated that Item #i." should read: Establishment of a HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES OCTOBER 16, 1986 PAGE 3 six to eight year payback on any TIF bonds. Voto stated that the HRA may want to consider keeping the remainder of the original text in Item i. Brad Johnson stated that he spoke to a Schreiber staff member and felt that he anticipated changes in the bill were not likely to occur this session. He stated that he would want a meeting between CHADDA, City staff and a Schreiber staff member to talk about the potential impacts. He stated that the downtown needs to be competitive with other markets in the metropolitan area. The HRA discussed the proposed Policies 3-9. The HRA stated that they wanted to see specific costs for the public improvements before determination of the financial criteria. CHADDA PROPOSAL FOR HOUSING PROJECT: Brad Johnson and Rich Thomasgard reviewed the request for construction of a 42 unit rental housing project on the south side of Chan View, behind the existing Kenny's shopping center. He stated that if the HRA would recommend favorably at this time, that CHADDA would proceed with the Planning Commission and City Council review of the sub- division and conditional use permit to construct the housing pro- ject. Whitehill asked how the apartment project affected the rest of the proposed development. Johnson stated that money from the project would create increment to create demand for the commercial/ retail west area. Motion by Whitehill, seconded by Horn to table action until staff can evaluate the housing project only to determine how it com- pares to the proposed financial policies created by the financial team. An update of the existing district's financing, using the recommended critiera, should be included. CHADDA PROPOSAL FOR COMMERCIAL/RETAIL WEST: Brad Johnson and Rich Thomasgard discussed the proposal to create the 20,000 to 24,000 sq. ft. of convenience retail center to be located in the northeast corner of Laredo Drive and West 78th Street. He noted that in order to accomplish the project, that existing tenants on the Laballo property would have to be relocated for additional parking area. The HRA determined that certain options regarding this particular development should be evaluated. Motion by Whitehill, seconded by Horn to table action until staff can evaluate the project with the following options: 1. The retail west project without the Laballo property. HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES OCTOBER 16, 1986 PAGE 4 2. The retail west project with the Laballo property and the housing project. 3. The retail west project without the Laballo property and without the housing project. Ail voted in favor and the motion carried. CHADDA PROPOSAL FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER: Rich Thomasgard pre- sented the proposed for construction of a community center. Given the action on the previous two items, the HRA felt that discussion on this item should be tabled. Motion by Whitehill, seconded by Horn to table discussion on the community center. All voted in favor and the motion carried. CITY SIGN REMOVAL: Ashworth stated that he has met with the owner of the Prairie House Restaurant regarding the removal of the existing City sign. He stated that in the past staff has been concerned regarding the safety of the sign, but at the same time wants to maintain signage for the downtown area. He stated that as part of the downtown improvement process that the con- sultants were preparing designs for entrance signs at major entrance points into the community. He stated; however, that in the meantime, the sign would have to be removed. Motion by Whitehill, seconded by Horn to remove the City sign. All voted in favor and the motion carried. APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Whitehill, seconded by Horn to approve the bills. All voted in favor and the motion carried. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Swenson, seconded by Horn to adjourn the meeting at 10:26 p.m. Prepared by: Barbara Dacy, City Planner October 25, 1986