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Home My WebLink AboutEDA MIN 08-23-05 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 23, 2005 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL President, Murzyn, Jr. called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Present: Don Murzyn Jr., Bobby Williams and Bruce Nawrocki, Tammera Ericson Diehm, Gary L. Peterson and Bruce Kelzenberg, Patricia Jindra arrived at 8:25 pm. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Minutes Financial Report and Pavment of Bills Nawrocki stated the Community Development Administration is over budget and asked why there isn't anything under CDBG or HRA. Schumacher stated that he doesn't sign the bills so he did not know the answers to their questions. He knows that the reimbursements have been sent in and received from Anoka County CDBG. MOTION by Ericson Diehm, second by Kelzenberg, to adopt the consent agenda items as listed. Upon vote: Nawrocki-nay, Murzyn-aye, Ericson Diehm- aye, Williams- aye, Kelzenberg-aye, Peterson- aye. Motion Carried. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION 49th & Central Redevelopment Concept Fehst asked that all of the people present at the meeting besides the board and staff to say their names. The was Jim Erickson, Border Foods, Inc., representing Taco Bell, Dave Yonkin, owner of the Car Wash, Scott Banahar, attending with Dave Yonkin, Dave Anderson, Director of Business Development, Anderson Builders, Kathy Anderson, Architect with Anderson Builders, and Greg Anderson, owner of Anderson Builders. Schumacher stated the first property involved in the redevelopment concept is the Taco Bell, owned by Boarder Foods, Don's Car Wash, Udupi Restaurant, Exotic Pets, Barber shop and LaCaberna Restaurant. Boarder Foods has been working with staff and the owner of the car wash to obtain the car wash to redevelop a larger site for the Taco Bell. The Yonkins, the owners of the barber shop, owners of the Exotic Pets are all interested in selling for redevelopment. Mr Greg Anderson, owner of Anderson Builders stated he started the business 6 years ago, last year they did a little of $20 million, they develop and manage projects for other users, currently working in Savage, Minnetonka and most recently purchased property in St. Louis Park, they are a builder, have 18 employees, they were introduced with the owners of Udupi approximately 4 months ago and discussed them and also their banking relationship with Mr. Dennis Welsh, which was their first encounter with this project. Dave Anderson explained the Power point presentation shows some of the same pictures as in the Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes August 23,2005 Page 2 of3 packets tonight. Anderson Builders is proposing a project that will place a new Udupi Cafe on the project site, and create additional new high quality, uniquely designed commercial development on the site. Their objective is to preserve and develop a thriving local business, and redesign and develop the balance of the site to complement the community character and enhance value to the tenants and owners of the new project. In order to accomplish this they would provide the following: 1) a site plan to capture the urban character of the neighborhood; 2) high quality architecture and scale of development; 3) an economically viable, realistic and service offerings to local residents; and 4) cooperative effort with the City to achieve its goals. A meeting was held with staff and the mayor to discuss their interest in the site and to see if this is something the City would be interested in on that block. Kathy Anderson, Architect statedfor the past 23 years she has been an architect for projects such as Tamarack Village, and the award winning Super America's. She stated with Concept A it would provide for 144 parking spaces, whole block development, she likes to balance retail with marketing, there is two smaller builders on the corners with a multi tenant building in the middle, which would have a more convenient, drive up service to it, we haven't incorporated the alley in the design, as it appears the residents do not rely on it as an exit and could possibly vacated With Concept B it would provide 116 parking spaces, it shows the block taking out the Taco Bell site and balancing out the buildings along the block, there are two retail buildings located close to Central Avenue with parking in the rear and another building in the center of the site with parking in front and along the sides. With Concept C it would provide for 138 parking spaces, due to the slop on 50th it was determined you could put a 79 space underground parking facility, the concept is similar to concept B with two buildings close to Central Avenue and one set back, one could be used for a possible Liquor Store with a Clinic above it. The next slide is some of the designs they have worked on in the past, like outdoor seating areas, the Taco Bell at Plymouth station, and the Starbucks also located in Plymouth station. Nawrocki asked why she thinks there is a market for a doctors office in a retail area. Kathy Anderson stated they are finding that doctors offices are showing a trend where people like to drop off family members at the clinic and be able to shop or sit down at a coffee shop while waiting. Murzyn asked if they are prepared to work with Taco Bell. Dave Anderson stated they are willing to work with them and have already been in discussions with them. Ericson Diehm stated for the record that due to a conflict, she would be abstaining from any vote our discussion. Jim Erickson, Boarder Foods, representing Barb Snyder from Taco Bell, stated their position is that they want to stay in Columbia Heights, and would like to propose plans for a new facility. To do this project they would need approximately 14 feet from the Car Wash property. They were unsuccessful in obtaining the car wash property last year, as they could not reach a purchase price agreeable to both parties. Mr. Vitt, from Capital Real Estate, Inc. was interested in purchasing the site for redevelopment and has obtained a purchase agreement for $500,000 from Mr. Y onkin for the car wash. Erickson stated he met with Streetar on Friday to discuss his concerns and plans for their facility. Greg Anderson asked if Mr. Erickson felt the best interest of the building would be to enter from Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes August 23,2005 Page 3 of3 Central A venue. Jim Erickson stated it would Kathy Anderson asked if their plan keeps the existing Taco Bell in business while they would be building. Erickson stated it would be torn down and completely rebuilt. Nawrocki stated: 1) from a City standpoint he was not sure it represents the best use of land in this area, and 2) access along the west side would need to coordinate with the rest of the block development. Fehst ask if Borders was still interested in a dual restaurant. Erickson stated they are not. Williams stated it looks like Mr. Vitt and Anderson Builders are both interested in development. Fehst stated Vitt would be interested in working with the Andersons, he chose not to be here in the best interest of the development, but is willing to work with them and that Mr. Y onkin, the Exotic Pets property owner, the barber shop and LaCaberna is interested in selling, so we are looking at possibly developing a whole block. Williams asked Mr. Y onkin if his purchase agreement with Mr. Vitt would jeopardize this development by Anderson Builders. Mr. Yonkin stated he did not know. Peterson stated we need to make a decision what we want on the site, certainly we want to keep Udupi, and Taco Bell here. Greg Anderson stated they would certainly look at all of the options, what would work best, what would look best, and try to accommodate everybody. Murzyn stated it sounds like a very interesting development, we have a private company that is interested, which ties into the businesses that want to sell and rebuild at this time. Nawrocki stated the possibility of using $249,000 of nF funding for the Car Wash property he did not agree with, and he would hope the Andersons and Border Foods would work out their differences on the development. Motion by Peterson, second by Kelzenberg, to approve the Preliminary Development Agreement between the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority and Anderson Builders; and furthermore, to authorize the President and Executive Director to enter into an agreement for the same. Upon vote: Jindra-aye, Nawrocki-aye, Ericson Diehm-abstained, Williams-aye, Kelzenberg-aye, Peterson-aye, Murzyn-aye. Motion Carried. ADMINISTRA TIVE REPORTS- none ADJOURNMENT Motion by Peterson, second by Williams to adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m. All ayes. Motion Carried. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Bakken Community Development Secretary H: \EDAminutes2005\8- 23- 2005