08/06/2020 EDAC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM 3A STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director EDAC MEETING DATE: August 6, 2020 TOPIC: Woods Edge Developer Forum REQUEST: Discussion BACKGROUND In 1998 the City of Lino Lakes, following award of a Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Planning Grant, retained the services of the Calthorpe Associates to design a Master Plan for the City's Town Center District. The purpose of the Lino Lakes "Town Center" development is to provide for the orderly and integrated development of a high -quality Town Center which includes a mix of shops, offices, entertainment, housing, recreation, community facilities, and open space. The mix of uses was designed to implement the principles of the Livable Communities Act and the City's Comprehensive Plan by creating a Town Center for the community and providing more diverse, life -cycle housing —including affordable and rental housing —within an active and interesting pedestrian -oriented community. The development was a cooperative effort intended to leverage public and private investment to create sustainable value, ecologically, economically and culturally. The City entered into an agreement with the Hartford Group to develop the property in 2004. When the project was first envisioned and approved, it was based on a set of core principles and objectives: • Develop land uses linked to local and regional transportation systems • Connect housing and centers of employment, education, retail, and recreational uses • Provide a range of housing choices • Protect and enhance natural resources The project started off strong with the YMCA, Lakewood Apartment Building, and Country Inn and Suites as the initial project components. However, during the great recession, development came to halt and the developer lost the property. In 2010, the Legacy at Woods Edge property forfeited to the State of Minnesota for failure to pay property taxes. In June of 2013, the City facilitated the sale of approximately 1 acre of land to Lino Lakes Assisted Living in the amount of $321,000. The sale allowed for a 36 unit expansion of the existing facility with a value of nearly $2,000,000. The City's Economic Development Authority (EDA) obtained title for the remaining 20 acres of undeveloped land in September of 2013. The acquisition was made possible through special legislation approved in the 2013