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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/06/2011 EDAC Minutes 1 Approved CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: January 6, 2011 MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Schwartz, M. Keller, J. Stranik, D. Johnson MEMBERS ABSENT: B. Menke, B. Combs, K. Corson, L. Masonik OTHERS PRESENT: M. Divine, P. Bengtson (part) APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Minutes of November 18, 2010 were approved. REDEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE Mr. Stranik said EDAC’s asked if anyone had questions about basic issues with nonconforming uses. The most difficult issue appears to be the lack of utilities to certain sites. The goal is to come to a recommendation that would be forwarded to the council. Ms. Keller said just letting the market take its course is not proactive enough and she’d rather see the city take actions rather than doing nothing about these sites. Mr. Bengtson stated that in his inventory he looked at Lake Drive and Hodgson corridors where the majority of properties of concern are located. It started out with a list of approximately 150 properties zoned, guided, or used for business, then narrowed it down to sites that don’t have city water and therefore have difficulty meeting the fire suppression requirements. Some were eliminated because they had 60 feet of clearance around the building, and therefore didn’t need sprinklers, and some are off the list because city water is very close and could get utilities to the site. The inventory also lists some general redevelopment issues to pertaining to each site. It also lists existing use on each site, whether it is a conforming or nonconforming use, and market value and annual tax information, and zoning and comp plan information. There was no way to categorize these sites except for how far they are from utilities. There are some uses which are actually nonconforming uses, and some that are conforming to the zoning district, but if they were to shut down the building would have to come in conformance with utilities or do the private well and pump, which can be cost prohibitive. Mr. Bengtson reviewed that nonconforming meant that the building was built too close to the road, or the parking lot is too small, etc. An existing nonconforming use can stay indefinitely, and if it closes, the same use can go back in. But if the building is empty for 12 months and the use changes in the building, then it must be replaced with a use that is allowed under the zoning code, and sprinklers are then required to bring up to today’s standards. That’s why the issue keeps coming back to lack of utilities. 2 The issue has become more of a problem in today’s economy, if a business closes, it is likely the use will change, which means they have to do sprinklers, so the buildings may sit. The inventory shows that if the city changes the codes in any way, you are affecting every one of these buildings potentially, which could impact the entire corridor. Ms. Divine noted that the question from council is “is there something that can be done to continue using empty buildings?” Ms. Schwartz asked what would be the economic benefit to even allow a nonconforming use in one of these buildings. Ms. Divine said that currently the annual city taxes on all the properties in the inventory is $64,000. Those that are at highest risk to be closed total approximately $24,000 annually in city taxes. Ms. Schwartz said even if the city is successful in changing something to the zoning allow these buildings to limp along, how is it better to let these buildings continue to exist for an extended period of time, when the economic benefits are so much less than long term redevelopment? The inventory shows that Lake Drive north of Main Street is the largest area where utilities are a long distance from businesses. Discussion regarding the potential for putting in a tank for fire suppression. The problem is that people looking at the older buildings without utilities aren’t willing to spend what it would cost for a well and tank. Ms. Keller noted that the city should look at funds available to assist with redevelopment. Ms. Schwartz asked about the county’s neighborhood stabilization program. Lino Lakes does not qualify. Mr. Stranik said the options are let the marketplace act without city assistance; look at what sources the city has to assist with new development; and ask the planning & zoning board to keep in mind any changes that could provide more flexibility in allowing reuse of some buildings when the board looks at zoning amendments to implement the new draft comp plan. If p&z proposes changes to commercial/industrial zoning ordinances, those would come back to EDAC for review. Ms. Keller moves to pursue Action 2 and Action 3. Ms. Schwartz seconded. Motion passed unanimously. IMEDC Ms. Divine updated EDAC that no actual concept plans have been submitted. Mr. Farnum is still looking for a city council who is interested in pursuing this. The council asked for a noise study, and IMEDC does not want to do one until the council shows some support. The city council requested at the last work session to have something to look at their next work session to decide whether they would want to make any kind of statement of support for the concept of a race track. Ms. Keller noted IMEDC said the NASCAR management was willing to talk if the track were built. Members talked about whether there were enough events to make this profitable. 3 Mr. Stranik said Councilmember Roeser is concerned that the track would move to Columbus. Ms. Divine said that IMEDC is now doing another site plan showing the track in Columbus and the parking and commercial in Lino Lakes. However, they are going to have to do environmental assessments in both cities no matter what they do. Ms. Divine submitted a resolution for EDAC to decide whether they want to recommend that the City Council consider this at the next meeting, as requested by the city council. Members proposed adding additional language about increasing tax base and bringing in additional development. Ms. Schwartz moved to ask the council to consider the revised resolution. Ms. Keller seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Stranik suggested that he call IMEDC and ask again for financial information. OTTER LAKE ROAD Ms. Divine informed EDAC that the pharmacy had pulled from the north side of Otter Lake Road. A fast food chain is the only interested prospect. Getting the north road extended is going to be difficult and expensive. ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN This was moved to the next meeting. MARKETING MATERIALS Ms. Divine handed out the marketing materials she developed. She will be sending them out to a variety of lists she has been collecting. She told members to look at the new video on the front page of the website. Meeting adjourned 9:40 a.m.