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EDC Minutes November 21, 2003 Page 2 2003. The following day Abbey Carpet held a well-attended Grand Opening Party at its new location in Mounds View. D. Report of Staff: 1. Developer Activities—LandCor / Long Lake & Hwy 10 Office & Retail: On November 3, 2003 building permits were issued for the LandCor projects near the theater. The next day earthmoving activities began for both the retail and office buildings. As more information becomes available regarding building tenants Backman will pass it on to the members. 2. Developer Activities—Velmeir Companies (Amoco Site): EDC members should have received a copy of the staff report that Jim Ericson prepared for the November 5th meeting of the Planning Commission. To facilitate the development of the site for CVS Pharmacy, the developer is requesting a variance to allow parking area encroachment into the front and rear setbacks of both Silver Lake Road and County Road 10. Backman reviewed the application and staff report with the Commission. The request was approved by the Planning Commission. Eventually the developer will need to submit to the City detailed site plans and an application for rezoning the site. McDonald asked if there were disadvantages granting the variance. Backman replied that the proposed retail site is complicated by irregularly-shaped lots, mixed ownership and limited lot depth in places. Most of the Planning Commission agreed there was a hardship for the developer. 3. Developer Activities—Pro Craft Homes (Woods of Mounds View): Backman presented the Revised Cost Estimates & Site Acquisition Estimates for the Woods of Mounds View housing project. Backman reviewed the line items with the EDC members. Over the past three months the developer, Pro Craft Homes, has been negotiating with the private landowners in the area (Mr. Fyksen and Mr. Vik). In both cases the developer has not been able to come to terms with the landowners. Backman has taken a hands-off approach to the negotiations, except to suggest that they try to conclude a deal with Mr. Vik first. The financial gap is currently too large with Mr. Fyksen. 4. Mounds View Community Center—Banquet Center Management: Backman noted an article in the local newspaper mentioned Mounds View’s approval of new banquet management at the MVCC. Backman has spent considerable time over the last three months regarding Banquet Center and Community Center issues. He was directed by the City Council to fill the space previously occupied by Community Education and to improve Banquet Center operations that have lost money. At the October 27, 2003 City Council meeting a proposed settlement agreement with current Banquet Center manager, Elegant Thymes Catering was discussed. Also a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for selecting an Interim Manager was discussed. On November 3rd the Settlement Agreement was approved by the City Council (4 to 1 vote). A lump sum payment occurred on November 17th and additional payments would occur in the first half of 2004. The RFP process approved on November 3rd limited applicants to Mounds View businesses with restaurant and liquor licenses (Robert’s Off Ten, Jake’s Sports Café, and the Mermaid). Two submitted the necessary paperwork to the City by the November 7, 2003 deadline—the Mermaid and Robert’s. Backman reviewed the proposals and provided a comparison for the Council at its November 10th meeting. The Mermaid was selected as the Interim Manager for the next 14 months. 5. Metro North CVB—New Meeting Planners Resource Guide: The new colorful resource guide has been published for the CVB. For the first time community centers of the member cities are listed.