HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-92 • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 24,1992
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. in the City Hall conference
room by Chairman Emond.
Members present were Berg, Matasosky, Emond, Erickson, Tushie, Brantly.
Absent: Hanlon, Detjen.
Others present: Robert Erickson, City Administrator and Michael Sobota,
Community and Economic Development Duector.
92.05 Motion was made by Berg, seconded by Erickson to approve the minutes of the
February 25, 1992 EDC meeting.
Todd Mestad of the Environmental Affairs Committee ppresented information
about the Community Clean-Up Day to be held Apri125, 1992. Mr. Mestad
asked the members of the EDC to inform their friends and neighbors of the
community wide effort and asked for volunteers to assist. EDC members felt
it is an excellent program with cooperation between the Chamber of
Commerce, citizens, and the City. Chairman Emond thanked Mr. Mestad for
attending the EDC meeting.
Mr. Sobota presented information about the potential of applying for a
• State Department of Trade and Economic Development grant/loan on behalf of
Arden International Kitchens. The State would provide a grant to the City,
the City negotiate a loan with the company. The City would then retain
$100,000 of the repaid loan funds to start a City revolving loan fund for
other businesses. Mr. Sobota indicated he had met with Steve Tanner and
that the project would be an expansion of the existing building with
additional equipment and create 70 additional jobs. Mr. Tanner is in the
process of purchasing the building from the current owner. The company is
currently leasing from the owner of the building. The EDC held a
discussion.
92.06 Motion was made by Erickson, seconded by Matasosky to prepare the
application for the project.
Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Sobota indicated that Mr. Michael O'Donnell, member of the Planning
Commission, had drafted information about an architectural review program
for the City. Mr. O'Donnell was called out of town and could not present
the information to the EDC as planned. Mr. Sobota reviewed the information
prepared by Mr. O'Donnell. Members of the EDC had the following comments:
Mr. Tushie indicated that the idea of architectural review is a ggood idea
generally, however there are difficulties in implementation. He indicated
there have been some past problems including the design of the entrance for
• a building downtown. He also indicated that architectural review can take
additional staff time in the review process.
• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 24,1992
Page 2
Mr. Matasosky indicated that specific guidelines need to be established
with different criteria for different parts of the community and zones. He
further indicated that Airlake Industrial Park should have much different
criteria than a commercial area. He also indicated that from his vantage
point, having architectural review would not be a sales tool for industrial
development.
Mr. Tushie indicated that berming and landscaping in industrial areas can
be beneficial. He cited the City of Eden Prairie as a good example.
Mr. Berg indicated it would stifle creativity and that architectural rule
interpretation by a review committee can be difficult. Staff control of
the process would be better.
Mr. Matasosky indicated that any architectural review process needs to be
sensitive to the City/architect/owner process that is currently in place.
Mr. Brantly indicated that architectural rules for the main corridors in
Burnsville seem to be a success, however he was fearful of over
regulation.
• Jerry Erickson indicated a concern with additional restrictions generally.
Mr. Tushie indicated that property values for corporations are important
and in some cases, architectural review would help preserve those property
values.
Mr. Berg questioned whether architectural review was right for Lakeville at
this time.
Mr. Brantly indicated that the longer the City waits, the harder it would
be to have an impact given the growth that is occurring in the City.
Mr. Matasosky indicated a staff process is much preferred.
Mr. Tushie noted that guidelines to prevent inconsistencies between staff
would be the best procedure, as he is not in favor of any separate process
outside of staff review.
Mr. Berg indicated he is concerned about consistency when dealing with
national firms. He indicated that McDonalds has had issues in communities
not being consistent with their own community guidelines through the
architectural review process.
Mr. Tushie also indicated that it is important that all staff within the
City agree on the guidelines that are created for this process, and that it
• is important to look at the existing policies and guidelines that the City
currently has. He indicated that mayor strides have been made in the site
planning review process in the City m recent months.
• ECONOMIC DEVELAPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 24, 1992
Page 3
After general discussion, the EDC agreed that Matasosky and Tushie should
approach the Planning Commission for a presentation on architectural review
issues. Theyy would provide the Planning Commission with a perspective of
commercia]/industnal development. Mr. Sobota indicated he would set up a
time at a future Planning Commission meeting.
Robert Erickson updated the EDC on the Strategic Growth Task Force
activities. He indicated that the Task Force is reviewing sewer capacity
for the City based on MUSA landbank guidelines and MWCC plant capacity. He
indicated that land absorption will be very important and that the Task
Force is looking at future needs for wmmerciaUindustrial development.
The Task Force's general discussions have been to allow adequate sewer
capacity for commercial/industrial growth.
Mr. Sobota presented the project report. He indicated that a possible
anchor tenant is in negotiations with the City for the Fairfield Business
Campus. A corporate decision will be made approbmately Apri11, 1992.
Mr. Sobota also updated the EDC on the following projects:
- Walmart (staff recently met with the developer and engineer
- Farmington Ford (staff met with the owner of real estate at rank 50
• and Cedar Avenue). The dealership is pursuing a conditional use
permit in conjunction with the platting of the property)
uperAmerica (staff met with uperAmerica who is looking at a number
of sites within the City for possible expansion)
The EDC also discussed other business contacts recently held including
Granse and Associates and Atkins Repair.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
chael Sobota, Community' and Economic Development Director
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Jer Eri on, Secretary
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