09-24-97 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 24, 1997 to grade and develop the site. However, if it is a matter of waiting a few years, Morelan indicated that he would be wiliing to do so if it meant a more intense development. Pedersen asked what Morelan meant by a more intense development. Morelan replied that he meant more office space. Pedersen pointed out that an office building could be very basic and less attractive than an office/warehouse use. Pedersen also felt that office/warehouse could mean higher paying jobs than strictly an office use. Pedersen did not feel office necessarily meant a higher and better use. Morelan stated that he was thinking along the lines of a corporate office and felt that comparing number of jobs on a per square foot basis would resalt in more jobs in an office use. Morelan felt it would be a different story if the property had been on the market for a long time. Morelan felt the property had more potential than the use proposed by Mr. Frattalone. Fahey did not feel it likely that a corporate headquarters would develop on the site given the land configuration as well as the grading and ponding necessary. With regard to highest and best use and intensity of development, Fahey questioned that the City would get anything larger than a 1,000 square foot building. Fahey also questioned whether one type of use would generate more jobs than another. The City Planner stated that it was difficult to anticipate the footprint of an office building versus office/warehouse building. The Planner felt, however, that an office building could be designed to fit more sensitively into the hillside on the property by using multi-stories. This may gain in saving some of the trees on the site. LaValle questioned the location of a corporate headquarters on the site given the fact that there are railroad tracks on two sides of the building. The City Planner indicated that it is rare that a corporate headquarters development occurs. However, this type of development is out there. Frattalone pointed out that the St. Jude and Fuller buiidings are located on large acreage. This particular site consists of 10 acres, of which 6 are developable. Pedersen pointed out that the St. 7ude building is not strictly office, but consists of industrial/warehouse type of use as well.