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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-14-13 EDCDan Altstatt -- Vacant www.cityofardenhills.org Vacant Vacant Ed Werner Arden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential neighborhoods, vital business community, well-maintained infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our long-standing tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play. CALL TO ORDER Minutes 3.A.July 10, 2013 Documents:13 EDC MINUTES.PDF Unfinished And New Business 4.A.State Of The City Documents:MEMO.PDF 4.B.TCAAP Development Project Documents:MEMO.PDF,ATTACHMENT.PDF Updates 5.A.Commission Members 5.A.A.New Member Recruitment 5.B.Council Liaison Staff Comments A quorum of the City Council may be present at this meeting. CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION JULY 10,20138:00AM CITY HALL --1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Ed vonHoltum called the meeting to order at 8:02a.m. ROLL CALL Present:Chair Ed von Holtum,Dan Altstatt,Jim Huninghake, and Steve Heikkila. Also Present:Council Liaison Ed Werner,Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher, and City Planner Ryan Streff. 1.APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was the consensus of the Commission to accept the agendaas presented. 2.APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was the consensus of the Commission to accept the May 1, 2013,meetingminutes as presented. 3.UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A.Oaths of Office Councilmember Werner administered the oaths of office to Steve Heikkila and Dan Altstatt. B.State of the City Community Development Director Hutmacher asked for Commissioner feedback on the proposed methods of advertising and promoting the State of the City event. Commissioners did not have additions and divided up the City, for the purpose of personally delivering invitations, as follows: EDC Minutes July 10, 2013 Page 2of 4 Chair von HoltumBusinesses along Red Fox Road Commissioner HuninghakeB-2 District south ofCounty Road E; commercial building at I- 35W and County Road E2 Commissioner AltstattBusinesses along Grey Fox Road; Lindy’s Commissioner HeikkilaRound Lake/Gateway Business District Councilmember WernerB-2 District north of County Road E; Bremer Bank; Arden Woods/Gradient Center; Commercial Building at Cleveland/County Road E Since Commissioner Erickson was absent, it was decided that he would be asked to visit businesses along Dunlap in the Red Fox/Grey Fox business district. Postcards and/or a flyer will be available in mid-August. The Bulletin advertisements will occur in mid-and late-August. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that the City Council would consider presentation topics for the 2013 State of the City at the July 15, 2013, City Council work session meeting. Commissioners responded that topics of interest to the business community included the TCAAP project, B-2 corridor improvements, current development projects, and transportation projects. Commissioners felt that businesses would be less interested in City management/budget or in parks/trails topics. Commissioners suggested that someone from MnDOT attend to respond to questions regarding transportation projects. Community Development Director Hutmacher noted that the event was originally planned to begin at 7:00 am. Hutmacher researched the 2011 event, however, and found that it began at 7:30 am. Commissioners agreed that 7:30 am was an appropriate starting time that would be convenient for most business people. C.2013 Work Plan Update Community Development Director Hutmacher presented a progress update on the 2013 EDC WorkPlan. She noted that significant progress has been made on the work plan despite the recent staffing shortages. The only significant item remaining to be completed is the City video tour. Hutmacher expected work on the video tour to begin in Fall or early Winter 2013. Commissioners asked how they would be asked to participate in the video tour. Community Development Director Hutmacher responded that Commissioners would be asked to identify locations that should be highlighted for economic development, draftthe outline, and edit the script. Hutmacher added that the video tour would be posted on the website and would be a tool for people considering buying a home or locating a business in Arden Hills. EDC Minutes July 10, 2013 Page 3of 4 Commissioners asked about new business visits and whetherthe City knew when new businesses opened. Community Development Director Hutmacher explained that most new businesses would need a building permit for interior improvements. Although some tenants may make very minimal changes that would not require a building permit, most businesses makesignificant renovationswhen occupying a new space. The Building Official has been asked to provide the names of any businesses that receive Certificates of Occupancyto the Community Development Director. In late Summer and early Fall, the EDC may want to schedule new business visits with Now Bikes and Fitness (which opened in the E Street Shoppes on July 1), the Gradient Center which is currently completing interior renovations, and a new chocolate store in Arden Plaza which is scheduled to open soon. Commissioners noted that they will plan to visit Now Bikes and Fitness in the coming weeks. 4.UPDATES A.TCAAP Community Development Director Hutmacher reportedthat the City Council approved the Public Involvement Plan for the TCAAP master planning process. The first two public events are a Development Panel and Public Engagement Workshop on July 30 and a public open house on September 17. Commissioners asked about meetings and interviews that staff have had with developers. Community Development Director Hutmacher responded that the meetings have been very positive and developers have shown great interest in the site. At this point, the City and County are primarily providing information on the demolition and remediation project, the master planning process, and the potential development timeline. Community Development Director Hutmacher added that the master planning project management team would be holding interviews with developers to gather insight into the opportunities and challenges of working with a public entity on a project such as this; how the master plan could encourage or facilitate private investment; and potential pitfalls that the City and County may want to avoid. B.Commission Members None. C.Council Liaison EDC Minutes July 10, 2013 Page 4of 4 Councilmember Werner advised the Commission on several upcoming events including: July 16Grand Re-Opening of Valentine Park July 23Committees and Commissions Picnic July 30TCAAP Developer Panel and Public Engagement Workshop August 6Night to Unite Sept 12State of the City Sept 17TCAAP Open House Councilmember Werner also noted that the City Council approved Phase I of the Lexington Station project on July 8, 2013. D.Staff Comments Community Development Director Hutmacher suggested that the August EDC meeting be moved to August 14, 2013. It was the consensus of the Commission to move the August meetingto August 14, 2013. Community Development Director Hutmacher introduced Ryan Streff, the new City Planner. ADJOURNMENT Chair von Holtum adjourned the meeting at 8:55a.m. _____________________________________________________ Ed vonHoltum, ChairJill Hutmacher Community Development Director  MEMORANDUM DATE:EDC Agenda Item 4.A August 14, 2013 TO: Economic Development Commission Chair and Commissioners FROM: Jill Hutmacher, Community Development Director SUBJECT: State of the City Promotion of the State of the City event will formally begin on August 12. The event was posted on the Business News page of the City website in early July. The schedule for additional promotional activities is listed below. CTV Bulletin BoardAugust 12 Post card mailingsAugust 12 August 29 Website posting (home page)August 12 Email invitation August 19 September 5 Shoreview-Arden Hills BulletinAugust 21 advertisementSeptember 4 City newsletter announcementWeek of August 26 Facebook/TwitterSeptember4/5 Commissioner business visitsAug 19 –Sept 6 At the July 10, 2013, EDC meeting, Commissioners agreed to distribute post cards as follows: Chair von HoltumBusinesses along Red Fox Road Commissioner HuninghakeB-2 District south of County Road E; commercial building at I- 35W and County Road E2 Commissioner AltstattBusinesses along Grey Fox Road; Lindy’s Commissioner HeikkilaRound Lake/Gateway Business District City of Arden Hills Economic Development Commission August 14, 2013 12 Page of Councilmember WernerB-2 District north of County Road E; Bremer Bank; Arden Woods/Gradient Center; Commercial Building at Cleveland/County Road E Since Commissioner Erickson was absent, it was decided that he would be asked to visit businesses along Dunlap in the Red Fox/Grey Fox business district. At the July work session, the City Council discussed and accepted the EDC’s recommendations for presentation topics. Staff will be working on the presentation in the coming weeks so that Councilmembers have a chance to review and make suggestions prior to the event. City of Arden Hills Economic Development Commission August 14, 2013 22 Page of  MEMORANDUM DATE:EDC Agenda Item 4.B August 14, 2013 TO: Economic Development Commission Chair and Commissioners FROM: Jill Hutmacher, Community Development Director SUBJECT: TCAAP Development Project The TCAAP redevelopment project is moving ahead. The following memo is intended to provide information to the EDC on the demolition/remediation project, Master Plan public engagement activities, and the Joint Development Authority site visit to Denver, Colorado. Demolition and Remediation Only three buildings remain on site. Buildings 101 and 104 are in the process of being demolished now. Building 502, which contains asbestos, will be remediated throughout the winter months and demolished in 2014. Bolander has now begun sub-grade work where allowed, as they wait for approval of the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to do work throughout the site. They have completed work in the “thumb” area at the north end of the site, adjacent to 35W and County Road H. While Bolander continues tomake progress on demolition of the remaining buildings, they report the following materials recycled or salvaged, and diverted from landfill: Steel Recycled to date:1,485 tons Wood Salvage and Reclaimed:4 Flatbeds Steel on the ground awaiting recycle:4000 tons Steel beams salvaged for re-use as is:700 tons Steel railroad track salvage and on ground:350 tons Raw Concrete and Bituminous on ground awaiting crushing: 35,000 tons Bolander estimates that by project completion, 400,000 tons of bituminous and concrete will be recycled and reused for road bed, foundation work, and other uses. City of Arden Hills Economic Development Commission August 14, 2013 13 Page of Master Plan Public Engagement Developer Interviews On July 10and 11, staff and consultants met with representatives from CSM Corporation, Pulte Group, Lennar, and Ryan Companies. Developers were asked questions regarding attractive features in a redevelopment site, potential challenges for TCAAP and with working with a public agency, suggestions for the Master Plan and regulations, and expectations for environmental and sustainability features. Developers provided frank and useful feedback. A summary of developer comments is attached. Developer Panel and Public Engagement Workshop On July 30, the City held a developer panel and public engagement workshop. The two-hour event began with a panel discussion of land use and development professionals. The facilitator asked the panel questions regarding development features for TCAAP, likely land uses, and sustainability strategies. Following a question andanswer session, attendees divided into four breakout groups to discuss key development issues: commercial and residential development; transportation and access; recreation and open space; and environment/energy/sustainability. Each group summarized their discussion for all event attendees, then attendees had an opportunity to participate in a second breakout group. A summary of panel and breakout group comments is attached. TCAAP Open House The first TCAAP Master Plan open house event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 17, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the Marsden Room of the Ramsey County Public Works facility. At this time, the consultants are still in the “discovery” phase of the project and will not be prepared to present findings. Instead, information on how this project differs from earlier redevelopment efforts (i.e., market, access points) will be presented and public input encouraged. RSVPs are not required, and attendees may arrive at any time during the event. Denver Redevelopment Visit The Joint Development Authority (JDA) visited the Denver, Colorado metro region on August 1 and 2. The group visited three redevelopments in Denver and Aurora over about 36 hours, beginning with Stapleton, the old airport. Stapleton has been under development for about 15 years, and is approximately 4,700 acres in size. It is a mixed-use development. Next, they toured the Fitzsimons/Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Formerly an Army Medical facility, Fitzsimons is now home to the University of Colorado, and the beginnings of a synergistic medical technology campus. Finally, the group visited with Lowry Redevelopment in Denver. Lowry, a former Air Force Base, closed through the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) process in the mid-1990’s, and is now a mixed-use redevelopment with a diversity of housing types, retail, commercial and public amenities such as parks and trails. It is approximately 1,800 acres, and is nearing 70% completion.A detailed description of the three redevelopment areas is attached. City of Arden Hills Economic Development Commission August 14, 2013 23 Page of These developments gave JDA commissioners and staff a great deal to consider, and some ideas for how to approach the redevelopment of the TCAAP site.Written commentsand insight gained from the trip are currently being collected and compiled. A more detailed presentation of lessons learned will be provided at a future meeting. Attachments Summary of TCAAP Engagement Activities –July 2013 Description of Denver redevelopmentareas City of Arden Hills Economic Development Commission August 14, 2013 33 Page of SUMMARY OF TCAAP ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES  JULY 2013 The following provides a summary of developer interviews held July 10-11, 2013; and the TCAAP Development Panel and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop held July 30, 2013. Developer Interviews City of Arden Hills staff, Ramsey County staff, and consultants interviewed representatives from Opus, CSM Corp, Lennar, and Ryan Companies. Common themes/highlights: The site is in a desirablelocation and the cleanup to residential standards is attractive. This is a large site; development will need to be phased over a longer period of time (15-20 yrs). Market cannot absorb it all at once. Break into manageable pieces. Have patience to stick with the vision and don’t force solutions, but also be flexible. Create a solid framework/vision, but don’t be too restrictive. More flexibility = more opportunity, because the market will change, and the market drives development. Developers are very cost-conscious and market-driven.They evaluatethe land cost per square foot including costs for infrastructure and amenities. Too much green space or amenities can cause the land to exceed the price point.Density maybe useful to help pay for amenities. Get developer input into the Master Plan to ensure that the community isn’t overpromised a certain design standard,level of amenities, or land use. Access is key. Improvements to H will be very important. Developers viewed the remediation of the property to a residential standard and the preservation of areas north and east of the property for open space as a huge achievement for environmental sustainability. Many sustainability features, particularly building and mechanical systems,are already built in without specific LEED certification. Sometimes getting the plaque isn’t worth the extra investment. Sustainability features can work if payback is within a reasonable period. Must be cost-effective and proven; if not proven, customers won’t pay. Developers are not yet embracing net zero energy and on-site generation. City and County may need to pay if they want these features. The idea of a regional stormwater system makes sense. There is a stigma in the community regarding contamination. The City and County will need to actively work to dispel misinformation and alleviate concerns about the property. The Master Plan should clearly articulate the opportunities and requirements for development so that developersand private investors have certainty regarding what can be approved. The master planning process can add significant value by overcoming political hurdles to development. The City and County should reach out to the brokerage communitysince nearly every office and industrial user is represented by a broker.Businesses, which are represented by a broker,should not be approached directly to avoid alienating the brokerage community.Single-and multi-family brokers also have good insight into consumer preferences. Development Panel Panel consisted of representatives from Duke Realty, Pulte Homes, United Properties, St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, and Urban Land Institute/former Edina City Manager. Common themes/highlights: TCAAP is unique and attractive to develop because thesite is a clean slate for development, large in size, and good location. The needs of “Generation Y”should be considered in planning for development. They want walkability/trails, transit, sustainable features, etc. Amenities are important –green space adds value. A mix of uses isappropriate for the site. August 2013 Any plan needs to have built in flexibility because market will change many times before a full build-out. The site will need to be divided into much smaller pieces to accommodate an extended absorption period. Important to engage a diverse set of stakeholders to communicate expectations and build capacity. Audience Q&A What about retail development?(yes, opportunity for some commercial) How does this development affect the surrounding communities positively or negatively?(linkages are crucial/Gen Y wants to stay connected; growth is good for surrounding communities; need to sustain existing businesses and bring in new ones, not just jumping from one community to another) Should the site be marketed nationally and internationally?(yes) Plan has to be prescriptive enough to reflect values, flexible enough to allow developers, and what does a master plan like that look like?(be a keeper of the vision over time; identify “sacred elements” of the site; create frameworkand then let the market dictate) Breakout Groups Attendees visitedtwo of four stations focusing on specific topics of Commercial and Residential Development, Transportation and Access, Environment/Energy/Sustainability, and Passive and Active Open Space. Commercial and Residential Development Common Themes: Mixed use development desired (good restaurants, housing/residential called out specifically as desired; heavy industrial was undesired) Focus on retail Senior and affordable housing important Balance with surrounding communities and greater Ramsey County Develop land in phases according to access points, infrastructure development and cost, and cleanup Consider departure from current development pattern with continuation of what makes Arden Hills a place where people want to live their full lives Transportation and Access Common Themes: Look into incorporating transit on the site Don’t build high-volume infrastructure Neighborhood oriented streets (low-volume, tight grid) Adequate connections to CR 96 and CR H Multi-modal connections Environment/Energy/Sustainability Common Themes: Investigate regional stormwater systems; find creative ways to reuse stormwater Open to using public financing for systems that make sense, i.e. result in lower overall energycosts, payback over time Capitalize on unique site features like topography and elevation Finding a way to utilize the groundwater is of interest Active and Passive Open Space Common Themes: Investigate recreational and trail access to AHATS outside of the TCAAP reuse area Incorporate significant amounts of greenspace on-site Connect an extensive on-site park network to the external parks and trails system Possibility of a greenspace facility that acts as regional draw to the site Use a complete streets/active streets model for the roadway network Plan early to maximize benefits of the park and trail system August 2013 Denver Redevelopment Areas Stapleton Redevelopment Lauded as a national model of new urbanism and sustainability, Denver’s Stapleton airport redevelopment is 10 years into a 15 year build out. The former airport is 4,700 acres and 10 minutes from Downtown Denver. Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises is the developer and began construction in 2001. Today more than 4,500 homes have been built as well as 400 apartments, retail and office space. At full build out, Stapleton is expected to be home to some 30,000 residents in 12,000 homes, with six schools, an 80 acres central park, a light-rail station, 10,000,000 sqft of planned office space, 1,500,000 sqft of retail space, and 1,100 acres for parks and open space. The $5 billion development has won numerous awards, including from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Urban Land Institute, the National League of Cities, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Stockholm Partnerships for Sustainable Development. Fitzsimons/Anschutz Redevelopment Formerlythe Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, the Anschutz Medical Campusis now touted as a model military base conversionanda catalyst ofregional economic development. Its economic impact onthe state amounts tomore than $2 billion in direct campus expenditures.The Anschutz Medical Campus directlyemploys more than 8,000 people andhas a total employment impact of more than 17,000 jobs in Colorado. The development now includes a cutting-edgehealth care campus that bridges education and research with two world-class hospitals and the schools and colleges ofMedicine, Nursing,Dental Medicine,Pharmacyand Public Health. Lowry Redevelopment When Lowry Air Force Base closed in 1994, the cities of Denver and Aurora lost 7,000 jobs and $295 million in annual spending. The Lowry Redevelopment Authority (LRA), a quasi-governmental entity, was created by the cities of Denver and Aurora to redevelop the base. The vision was to create a new urban community based on the best of classic Denver neighborhoods with the best new ideas in urban planning. Today, Lowry is one of Denver's premier neighborhoods and a national model of sustainable development. More than 25,000 people live, work and go to school there. The LRA is the master developer of Lowry, with responsibility for land planning, engineering, environmental cleanup, parks construction and sale of property to residential and commercial developers. It has a board of directors and several committees.