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Mounds View EDA June 26, 2006 <br />Regular Meeting Page 3 <br /> <br />comes up in the next 2-2.5 years and it favors the EDA. 1 <br /> 2 <br />Commissioner Thomas said until the letter is in hand, her trust level is very low. She said she is 3 <br />less concerned about financial liabilities and more concerned about timing issues. She said she 4 <br />has very little trust that the previous owners, who will be liable legally, can be contacted in a 5 <br />timely manner. She said she believes the City is in a tenuous position. She said if something 6 <br />were to happen, she suspects the City will have to step in and is not thrilled with the idea. She 7 <br />said she is looking for every shred of assurance before she will sign off on the purchase. 8 <br /> 9 <br />President Marty said he feels the same way and would like to have the letter in hand. He 10 <br />commended the staff report with the several options about how to market the land. He said there 11 <br />were two options for the site, and he likes the second option of hiring consultants to conduct a 12 <br />site-specific market analysis as to the highest and best use of the parcel recognizing its inherent 13 <br />impediments such as lot configuration, access, and lot size rather than simply reacting to 14 <br />proposals as they are presented. 15 <br /> 16 <br />President Marty stated that Staff could actively market the site to developers who specialize in 17 <br />areas identified in the analysis consistent with the declared plans optioned by the City. He said 18 <br />such a plan could conceivably involve adjacent properties as well. He stated Staff is 19 <br />recommending such a plan and if the EDA concurs, they will go ahead and receive proposals 20 <br />from consultant firms. 21 <br /> 22 <br />President Marty added he sees this as proactive rather than reactive and commends Staff for such 23 <br />a stance. He said he would like to have some consultants look at the area and market it as is 24 <br />determined. He stated he agrees with the Staff report. 25 <br /> 26 <br />President Marty explained that some of the costs could be passed on to future developers. 27 <br />Community Development Director Ericson said those costs could be passed on to the developers 28 <br />through the asking price of the property. 29 <br /> 30 <br />Vice President Stigney said they are talking about adjacent properties as well and asked how it 31 <br />would be paid for, whether through TIF funding or development funds. He said he wished all of 32 <br />that was “ironed out” before it was brought to the EDA. 33 <br /> 34 <br />President Marty noted that one of the adjoining property owners has stated willingness to sell 35 <br />depending on the price. He said the other property just opened, but it would not necessarily be up 36 <br />to the City to acquire the properties, but having the consultants looking at the adjacent properties 37 <br />for future development. 38 <br /> 39 <br />Vice President Stigney asked if TIF funds would be used, and Community Development Director 40 <br />Ericson said that would not be indicated up front. He said the EDA could communicate to 41 <br />potential developers that TIF funding would not be used, but does not want to “close the door” 42 <br />on TIF funding. 43 <br /> 44 <br />Vice President Stigney stated TIF could always be opened up, but if the developers know TIF 45