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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 8, 2000 t Page 4 1 Significant discussion ensued between Cavanaugh, Mr. Shardlow and Mr. Soth regarding the 2 specifics of the proposed plan and various opinions and thoughts were expressed. 3 When asked for a professional opinion on the redevelopment, Mr. Shardlow stated that he felt 4 that Hillcrest Development would entice the type of tenant that the City would be proud of, and 5 that Hillcrest has proven itself with other projects. Mr. Shardlow felt that Hillcrest Development 6 would create an asset to the community and obstacles would be few as far as the City working 7 with Hillcrest. 8 Thuesen recapped that the City needs to determine where it should go with respect to the PUD. 9 Thuesen felt that the City needed to be fair and come to an agreement and decide if the City is 10 comfortable with Hillcrest working on the Apache property. Additionally, Thuesen pointed out 11 that there are financial incentives for both the City and for Hillcrest to make this project 12 profitable. If the City decides not to work with Hillcrest,then this same issue would need to be 13 revisited in the future with another developer, if the City were able to attract another developer. 14 Horst responded about a prior comment regarding the importance of the issue being brought 15 before the Planning Commission. Horst wished to clarify that the Planning Commission was 16 entrusted to take comments from the community and to obtain a reaction from the community. 17 Then, a strong recommendation would be made to the Council from the Planning Commission. . 0 8 The reason,Horst.stated, is that the Planning Commission is the advisory group to the Council, 9 and it is that Commission's job to review any issues and then make recommendations to the 20 Council. Horst further clarified that the Planning Commission had already asked many of the 21 questions asked at this meeting tonight, and that the Commission has researched and reviewed 22 the issues recommended to the Council. 23 Cavanaugh introduced Chris Melsha, Planning Commissioner, and invited him to address the 24 Council. Mr. Melsha stated that it was the consensus of the Commission that it was comfortable 25 with the Plan. Even if it was not the perfect plan for the City, it was a very good plan and it 26 would be a great improvement over what is currently at that location. Mr. Melsha stated that it 27 was the consensus that the Commission was comfortable with the project moving away from the 28 retail sector. 29 Mr. Melsha read for the Council the findings of fact that the Planning Commission listed as part 30 of the approval of the plan. These findings were depicted on page 10 of the Planning 31 Commission Meeting Minutes of August 1, 2000, as well as on page 34 of the Council's meeting 32 agenda packets. 33 Mr. Melsha stated that through the almost nine months of hearing from Hillcrest Development 34 and reviewing the plans and the project, that the Commission was comfortable with the 35 assurances received from Hillcrest. Additionally, Mr. Melsha pointed out that the Planning 36 Commission toured many of Hillcrest's renovated sites, and the Commission was impressed with �7 the quality of work that Hillcrest performed and the appearances of the buildings.