05/21/2009 EDAC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Approved CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: Thursday, May 21, 2009 MEMBERS PRESENT: T. Sanvick, B. Combs, J. Schwartz, J. Stranik, D. Roeser, M. Keller MEMBERS ABSENT: J. Milbauer, B. Menke, K. Corson, B. Combs OTHERS PRESENT: Mary Divine GENERAL/MINUTES Minutes for April 2, 2009 were approved. One-Year Action Plan Ms. Divine noted the changes in the draft plan as discussed at the previous meeting. She informed members that the Comprehensive Plan has not yet passed and updated them on the issues at the council level. One council member is concerned about the pace of development that could occur and the amount of land that is at a density that could allow affordable housing to occur. State law requires that each city provide its allotment of higher density land use, but does not mandate that affordable housing occur. EDAC members noted they want to address this issue with council: how citizens worked to put this plan together, but the objections of a few can derail a good plan or project. EDAC would like to be helpful to the council in carrying more advisory responsibility by having standards from which to evaluate the benefits of projects. Ms. Divine reviewed the remaining districts of the action plan. Time frames are to be changed to “ongoing” because of market uncertainty. District 2 is the Legacy project, which is a priority. When developer interest occurs, the design standards will need to be reviewed based on market conditions. Ms. Schwartz noted that the city of Ramsey is purchasing the property to maintain its standards. Mr. Sanvick noted that a recent appraisal showed a negative value due to the restrictions in their standards. Members discussed the potential of hotels being redeveloped into assisted living facilities and whether the city would consider turning uses over in the Town Center. In other plan strategies, members discussed the potential for the city purchasing on a contract a Lake Drive site that is available and needs redevelopment. It may not be feasible currently. Members discussed when Apollo Business Park comes out of the action plan if it’s fully developed, but agreed that business retention and maintenance was a priority in the current economy. Conversations with the biomedical company in Apollo Park need to be ongoing. Ms. Schwartz noted that competition from JobZ, which gives tax breaks to move out of the metro, 1