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Country Drive Redevelopment Project <br />August 9, 1988 <br />Page 2 <br />The City Planner is recommending that this project be allowed to <br />proceed, as it conforms to the existing zoning standards and that <br />because the site has poor soil conditions it would require <br />substantial development that would require an extensive use of <br />"pilings" to alleviate the soils conditions. Our concern centers <br />on the issue of continuing existing development standards within <br />the area that would be inconsistent with the City's intent in <br />sponsoring a high quality, "up- scale" commercial redevelopment. <br />This concern relates principally with the timing of the project. <br />In fairness to the project, we recognize that Phase I of the <br />redevelopment project will most likely be one to two years in the <br />future. <br />We strongly recommend that the development standards within the <br />area adjacent to Phase I of the redevelopment project should be <br />reviewed and upgraded in the near future. The proposed project, <br />however, will not have a major impact on the City's success to <br />market this area as this marketing effort is still in the <br />future. <br />Should the City commit to proceed'with the Country Drive <br />redevelopment project, the new zoning standards for the adjacent <br />area should be in place to serve as evidence to the City's long- <br />term commitment to redevelopment. We do not feel that the poor <br />soil conditions will necessarily impact the ability to attract <br />quality development to this area in the future. Based upon <br />information we have received, the use of pilings for a commercial <br />project will affectively add $.60 to $1.00 per square foot to the <br />acquisition and site development costs of parcels in this area. <br />We firmly believe that the community's long -term approach to <br />upgrade the development in this area will easily compensate the <br />potential developers for the increased site development costs. <br />Property within this area could easily expect to increase in <br />effective value by $1.00 to $2.00 per square foot. <br />In summary, due to the timing of the proposed project, we would <br />withdraw our objection to it. However, we recommend that the <br />appropriate planning be conducted in the near future to establish <br />higher development standards for this area. <br />Page 20 <br />