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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/13/2008 EDAC MinutesApproved CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: Thursday, March 13, 2008 MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Milbauer, B. Combs, J. Helgemoe, J. Schwartz, M. Keller, K. Corson, K. Lodico, J. Stranik, D. Roeser MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: M. Divine GENERAL/MINUTES New Members Introductions were made to welcome Mr. Roeser and Mr. Stranik as newly appointed members. Selection of Chair and Vice Chair It was moved and seconded to appoint Michelle Keller as chair for 2008. Motion passed unanimously. It was moved and seconded to appoint Bill Combs as vice-chair. Motion passed unanimously. Minutes Minutes for December 6, 2007 and February 7, 2008 were approved. Legacy at Woods Edge project Hartford, the master developer of Woods Edge, went into foreclosure. The Marshal Group now owns the unsold property and has it up for sale. The Country Inn & Suites owner informed staff it intends to close. Mr. Milbauer stated that he believed Hartford had good buyers lined up, but they have evaporated over the past couple of years because of the market. JBL has the property listed and is aggressively pursuing a sale. A couple of large development companies have looked at it. It will take someone with the capacity to buy and hold to take out the Woods Edge project. Livable Communities grants were spent on land acquisition and development of affordable housing, both of which were accomplished. The affordable housing project is filling slowly. The YMCA, however, is doing extremely well. Membership is ahead of projections. The Y board is exploring expansion. Ms. Schwartz stated that at some point the city will have to make a decision about changing the plan, adapting to the current market, or staying the course. She asked what other cities are doing. Mr. Milbauer stated the city of Ramsey is staying the course and won’t budge on the development agreement. Two national developers have been interested but the city has not given them any breaks. Mr. Stranik asked how the EDAC message 1 gets to council. Recommendations go in the staff reports to the council. Ms. Divine stated that she believes the messages from EDAC to the council are sometimes less than effective. Hodgson Road/County Road J Ms. Divine stated that Muir Company brought in a grocer that was originally looking at the west side of Hodgson Road. Somewhere in discussions the grocer became set on going on the east side. Access issues may have driven that decision. Lack of landowner interest in selling may make the east side difficult to develop. Ms. Divine said that EDAC’s recommendation to pursue the grocer didn’t make it to the council because the Muir Company proposal didn’t get that far. Another development group would be working with the grocer on the east side. At this point there is are a significant number of obstacles to development. Anoka County has indicated that it will not participate in Hodgson/J improvements. Mr. Milbauer noted that the city continues to have a reputation of anti-development. Mr. Stranik stated that he got the feeling from his interview that the council felt EDAC was reactive, rather than proactive. Mr. Milbauer disagreed. Ms. Schwartz noted that EDAC is only advisory, and that the city council is the EDA. Mr. Combs noted that one council member attended the Comp Plan advisory group meeting and was still concerned about controlling the number of rooftops, even after it was pointed out by the comp plan consultant that Lino Lakes’ method of control could be considered illegal if someone were to challenge it. The council wants the power to control the development. Ms. Keller said EDAC has championed a level playing field, while some council wants to have arbitrary control over new housing developments. Mr. Combs stated he felt at his interview that the council wanted EDAC to be out in the community talking to existing business. Ms. Lodico said she was told by council EDAC was meant to be a think tank for economic development, not going out door knocking. Members discussed the need to have an interim economic development plan to fill the vacancies that exist if new development has slowed. Mr. Roeser stated that there is a survey program that helps to set it up and to interpret the information. Ms. Keller said if we were ever to go out and interview business, EDAC would need a short workshop to ensure everyone was seeking the same types of information. Business Survey Ms. Divine informed the board that responses have been coming back. A total of 208 businesses were contacted, and only about 25% have responded. She plans to resend the email survey. She is mostly hearing from small business. The purpose of the survey is to get a sense of the business climate, and if any business is considering expansion or moving. Meeting adjourned. 2