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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 [05] May 215-21-03 Page 1 of 3 CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Meeting Minutes -Wednesday, May 21, 2003 Present: EDA Board Members Ross Rieke, Tom Skahen, Bruce Gohman and Mike Deutz (4:41 p.m.) Absent: EDA Member Larry Hosch. Also present: Dean Wick of Outsource Management Services, Duane Schultz with Winkleman Construction, Tim Ross with North Central Truck Accessories, Jerry Hettwer of Hettwer Realty and Cynthia Smith-Strack of Municipal Development Group. Vice President Gohman called the regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 4:03 p.m. Agenda. Moved by Skahen, seconded by Rieke to approve the agenda. During discussion, Strack requested the addition of item 5(e) regarding a letter from Rinke Noonan Law Offices. The agenda was approved as amended 3:0. Minutes. Moved by Skahen seconded by Rieke to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2003 EDA meeting as presented. Motion carried 3:0. Moved by Skahen seconded by Rieke to approve the minutes of fhe Apri122, 2003 special EDA meeting as presented. Motion carried 3:0. Moved by Skahen seconded by Rieke to approve the minutes of the May 8, 2003 special EDA meeting as presented. Motion carried 3:0. EDA Accounts Payable Moved by Skahen seconded by Rieke to approve the EDA accounts payable in the amount of $1,998.42 as presented. Motion carried 3:0. Financial Report Strack provided a brief overview of the financial report, including an inadvertent accounting inaccuracy relevant to the City contribution to the Minnesota Community Capital Fund. Moved by Skahen seconded by Rieke to approve the EDA financial report. Motion carried 3:0. Re-subdivision Lot 2, Block 1 Buettner Business Park Strack reviewed the request to re-subdivide Lot 2, Block 1 of the original Buettner Business Park plat into three separate parcels of 3.03, 3.0 and 4.0 acres. The proposed re-subdivision meets the requirements of the covenants which specify a minimum lot size of three acres. The Planning Commission will review the proposal for compliance with the subdivision ordinance and recommend an action to the City Council. Jerry Hettwer offered to answer any questions from the EDA on behalf of the property owner. Moved by Rieke seconded by Skahen to recommend approval to the Planning Commission based on concurrence with protective covenants. Motion carried 3:0. Building and Site Plan -North Central Truck Accessories EDA members reviewed a building and site plan fora 30,000 square warehouse and distribution facility proposed for Lot 3, Block 1, Buettner Business Park III. Mr. Tim Ross, developer, Mr. Duane Schultz, Winkleman Inc. and Dean Wick were present to discuss the project and respond to questions. Mr. Wick EDA Minutes -May 21, 2003 Page 1 5-21-03 Page 2 of 3 noted the site plan illustrates a possible 30,000 square foot additional structure and a possible 6,000 sf expansion for the proposed facility. Mr. Schultz reviewed style and color of the proposed tilt-up masonry finish. The EDA discussed the proposed plans as they related to the Protective Covenants in place for the Buettner Business Park, and made the following notations: 1. The Covenants require open areas, excluding parking, driveway and storage areas to be landscaped with trees, shrubs or planted ground cover. The plan illustrates berms and plantings but did not identify the installation of groundcover for the remainder of the lot. Mr. Wick, Mr. Schultz and Mr. Ross indicated that appropriate grass seed, such as blue grass will be installed. 2. Section 5.02 of the Covenants requires loading docks and garage entrances and exits to be screened to minimize visibility from any public street and/or any adjacent building structures front or side yard viewing point. The plan as presented did not include a landscaped buffer on the south side of the parcel adjacent to Elm Street due to the proposed buildings 400' distance from Elm Street. The EDA discussed application of the screening requirement and indicated a desire to ensure the covenants were applied. The EDA recommended a 3' berm and appropriate vegetation, shrubs and trees be installed along the southern border of the property immediately adjacent to Elm Street. Moved by Rieke, seconded by Skahen to approve the building and site plan for North Central Truck Accessories for Lot 3, Block 1, Buettner Business Park 111 as it relates to the Protective Covenants for the Buettner Business Park contingent upon the installation of acceptable groundcover for the remainder of the lot and the installation of a three foot high berm with appropriate screening vegetation on the south side of the property adjacent to Elm Street. Motion approved 3-0. Mr. Hettwer requested input from the EDA on the installation of an indoor firing range in the industrial park. Strack indicated the EDA would review the proposed site plan for consistency with covenants and not the zoning ordinance. Strack further indicated the zoning ordinance did not specifically allow for an indoor firing range in any zoning classification and the Planning Commission and City Council would ultimately decide whether or not to approve the use. Mr. Wick, Mr. Schultz, Mr. Ross and Mr. Hettwer departed from the meeting at 4:35 p.m. Business Questionnaire. EDA members discussed the questionnaire developed to receive input from developers on the economic development, planning and administrative processes in St. Joseph. Strack noted that the Planning Commission and Council had reviewed and approved of the proposed survey instrument. Mike Deutz joined the meeting at 4:40 p.m. EDA members discussed the possibility of adding contact names and phone numbers to the survey to allow those wishing to contact the City directly an opportunity to do so. Commissioners Deutz, Rieke and Skahen indicated a willingness to be contacted. Rieke suggested a test mailing to about one half of the present contacts initially. The purpose of the test mailing is to gauge the likelihood of feedback and test the survey instrument. Moved by Skahen, seconded by Gohman to mail the updated survey to one half of present contacts. Motion carried 4-0. High Speed Data Line Strack provided an update on two meetings EDA and City staff had with representatives from Astound Broadband. Astound is requesting the EDA convene a meeting with interested property owners to EDA Minutes -May 21, 2003 Page 2 5-21-03 Page 3 of 3 discuss the cost of extending plant to industrial areas and gauge the interest of business owners in securing Internet service. Moved by Skahen, seconded by Rieke to direct staff to coordinate and host a meeting with representatives from Astound and the industrial area north of County Road 75 to further discuss the extension of data lines in the area. Correspondence from Rinke-Noonan Law Offices on Behalf of KremerlBechtold Family Strack reviewed a memo sent to the attention of City Administrator Weyrens from James Degiovanni regarding the Karen Bechtold property adjacent to CSAH 134 in St. Joseph Township. One of the purposes of the letter was to gauge the St. Joseph EDA's interest in purchasing a portion of the property for a future industrial park. The subject parcel is not contiguous with existing urban growth and lies within the 10-20 year annexation area. Strack indicated the consumption of industrial land is on a pace to hit 20 acres during 2003 leaving only very minimal platted industrial property available within the City. Boardmembers expressed a willingness to consider possible purchase of a portion of the property at some date in the future. The EDA requested the City Administrator respond to the letter. Prospect List/Activity Report. A report outlining communication with various contacts was included in the EDA's packet. A brief overview of several projects was provided. Adjournment Moved by Rieke, seconded by Gohman to adjourn meeting adjourned at 6:0 p.m. ~~~~~" All present voted in favor of adjournment. The EDA EDA Minutes -May 21, 2003 Page 3