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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 [10] Oct 1710-17-01 Page 1 of 3 City of Saint Joseph Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes -Wednesday, October 17, 2001 Present: Bruce Gohman, Mayor Larry Hosch, Bob Loso, Ross Rieke, Mike Deutz. Also present: Joanne Foust-Municipal Development Group, Bradley A Terok- Miller Architects & Builders, Rick Adams -Comtrac Inc., Leo Buettner -owner of the business park and AI Witte -Miller Architects & Builders. President Bruce Gohman called the meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 4:00 p.m. Minutes: Moved by Loso, seconded by Deutz to approve the minutes of the July 23, 2001 EDA meeting as presented. Minutes were approved 4;1:0 with Rieke abstaining. Moved by Rieke, seconded by Loso to approve the minutes of the September 19, 2001 EDA meeting as presented. Minutes were approved 4:1:0 with Deutz abstaining. The minutes of the August 8, 2001 meeting will be presented at a future EDA meeting for approval. Amendment to Section 3.07 of the Protective Covenants for Buettner Business Park (a.k.a. St. Joseph Business Park). Written requests were received from Miller Architects & Builders, on behalf of Comtrac Inc., as well as from Leo Buettner, park owner, requesting an amendment to Section 3.07 of the Protective Covenants for the Buettner Industrial Park relating to permissible exterior building materials. The covenants include language that includes the EDA in the approval process for site plans for park tenants as well as approval of amendments to the covenants. Discussion relating to the original intent of Sections 3.05, 3.06 and 3.07 and the ability of tenants in the business park to utilize pre-finished steel as an exterior building material took place. EDA members noted they were not involved in the original drafting of the covenants. Buettner noted it was his understanding pre-finished steel would be permitted, excluding pole barn style buildings. Mr. Adams noted that he and his attorney interpret the covenants to allow pre-finished steel. EDA members discussed the vision for the development of the business park, style of buildings in adjacent subdivisions and the various sections of the covenants. Hosch noted the development of the new business park was an opportunity for the city to develop a quality park and he would like to see the EDA be consistent with standards in area communities. EDA members concurred it may be more appropriate to clarify the type of exterior building materials in Section 3.05 rather than 3.07. The applicants agreed. Moved by Deutz seconded by Loso to recommend to Leo Buettner that Section 3.05 of the Protective Covenants for Buettner Business Park be amended to read, "Acceptable Construction Material. All construction of new facilities shall consist of pre-cast or cast tip up concrete walls, concrete block (painted or decorative), post frame/steel frame with a concrete block or poured concrete complete perimeter foundation with frost footings extending a minimum of eight inches (8') above the final grade; and stick built construction. Pre-finished architectural metal panels maybe used as a construction material, provided the requirements of Section 3.06 are adhered to. Surface painted metal and unfinished metal panels are not permitted as acceptable construction materials. "and that Section 3.06 be amended to read, ": "Exterior Building Standards. Buildings within the Development built with the materials defined in Section 3.05, shall be required to contain a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of one or more of the 10-17-01 Page 2 of 3 following Approved Exterior Building knishes, on the side(s) directly facing the streets. Pre-cast or cast in place concrete buildings shall provide as much adornment as possible, considering their exterior knish limitations. A. Approved Exterior Building Finishes a. Face Brick g. Cut Block b. Natural Stone h. Concrete Block (the surface must be treated c. Glass with an applied decorative texture or material) d. Vinyl i. Other approved decorative siding e. Stucco f. Aluminum Lapsiding Motion approved 4:1 with Hosch voting nay. Amendment to Section 5.03 of the Protective Covenants for Buettner Industrial Park (a.k.a. St. Joseph Business Park). Written requests were received from Miller Architects & Builders, on behalf of Comtrac Inc., as well as from Leo Buettner, park owner, requesting an amendment to Section 5.03 of the Protective Covenants for the Buettner Industrial Park relating to outdoor storage of materials within the business park. The applicants requested the covenants be amended to allow open outdoor storage areas provided they are screened from the public right away and be conditionally approved by the EDA. Existing covenants prohibit the storage of outdoor products, non-movable equipment inventory, or storage in any container or semi-trailer. In addition the storage of allowable material (moveable equipment) must be screened from the public view from the public right-of-way. EDA members discussed their role in reviewing and enforcing outdoor storage versus the zoning ordinance and Planning Commission. It was noted that the City's zoning ordinance is currently less restrictive than the covenants and neighboring communities' outdoor storage regulations. Sample requirements from Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, Clearwater, Avon and Cold Spring were reviewed. Hosch emphasized his desire to have the community develop quality business sites and not permit businesses which utilize outdoor storage that are not accepted in other communities. Hosch noted the goal of the EDA was to increase the tax and employment bases which would not be achieved with small facilities with large outdoor storage areas. Rieke noted he felt the outdoor storage topic should be administered by the Planning Commission rather than EDA. Foust suggested some limitation be included while the Planning Commission reviews and amends the ordinance including a maximum percent of the site or building square footage for outdoor storage, height of items stored and type of materials which would be permissible. Moved by Rieke, seconded by Deutz to recommend to Leo Buettner to amend Section 5.03 of the Protective Covenants for Buettner Business Park to allow the outdoor storage of equipment and materials directly related to the use of the principal building, provided the storage area does not exceed seven (7) times the gross floor area of the principal building and the area is contained within and screened with an eight (8) foot high chain link lathe fence. Motion was approved 4:1 with Hosch voting nay. Hosch excused himself to attend another meeting at 5:45 p.m. Approval of Site Plan, Building Plan for Comtrac Inc. Discussion relating to the proposed site plan for Comtrac occurred. Deutz noted that the side of the building, facing the street is required to contain 25% of an acceptable building exterior material. Comtrac representatives agreed to make this change. Moved by Deufz, seconded by Rieke to adopt Resolution 01-01 Granting Conditional Approval to the Site Plan for Comtrac, Inc, provided the Protective Covenants are amended to reflect earlier action of the EDA 10-17-O1 Page 3 of 3 on October 17, 2001 and the building exterior on both sides of the building meet the requirements of Section 3.06 relating to approved exterior building materials. Motion was approved 4:0. EDA Levy Moved by Rieke, seconded by Loso to approve a levy for 2002 in the amount equal to .01813% of the city's taxable market value, or $18,087. Motion was approved 4:0. A budget outlining the proposed uses of the levied funds will be discussed at the November, 2001 meeting. Authorization to Execute Grant Agreement for Farmer's Market with Initiative Foundation Moved by Rieke, seconded by Loso to authorize the City Administrator to execute a grant agreement with the Initiative Foundation for $1000 for the Farmer's Market. Motion approved 4:0. Discussion regarding the Farmer's Market and non-compliance with the city's sign ordinance occurred. Loso agreed to bring the matter to the Administrator and Council at a future meeting. Project Updates The status of various projects, which are pending, were included in commissioners' packets and reviewed. EDA Director Position EDA members briefly discussed the EDA position noting only three applications were requested with one application for part-time employment being submitted. EDA members concurred to continue with the current arrangement at this time. Next Meeting The next regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA was scheduled for Wednesday, November 21, 2001 at 4:00 p.m. Adjournment The EDA,meetin/g'adjour/%n~ed a~t 6:30 p.