Laserfiche WebLink
City Council Regular Meeting — 07/12/04 <br />DRAFT Minutes - Page 33 <br />certain phases of the development. Mr. Noonan reviewed the <br />role of the master development in this development, noting that <br />the developer had taken the risk of land acquisition as a <br />specialized developer, not the municipality itself. Mr. Noonan <br />further opined that, from the developer's perspective, the <br />project had to be successful to make it financially marketable, <br />and a worthy project that residents have been demanding for the <br />last 10 — 15 years; with the forthcoming concept plan allowing <br />broader community debate, while allowing the City Council to <br />make the short and long-term decisions for the overall benefit of <br />the community. <br />John Johansson, Welsh Companies <br />Mr. Johansson commended John Shaxdlow and his expertise in <br />facilitating the panel process, confirming that the positive and <br />negative comments were taken to heart by the development <br />team, noting that the team didn't enter the process expecting <br />overall agreement. Mr. Johansson opined that a"do nothing" <br />scenario would result in more industrial development, and <br />encouraged the community and the City Council to consider <br />several practical assumptions: that you couldn't afford to buy <br />one parcel, but needed to acquire the entire development area, <br />and the ability to hold the land is limited by the existing <br />financial gap. Mr. Johansson also noted that tax increments <br />aren't simply a handout to the developer, and that while the tax <br />assessment will be substantially increased from its current <br />levels, the developer was the one "signing on the dotted line," <br />and making a commitment to create a marketable project. <br />Mr. Johansson further opined that the Cleveland/County Road C <br />location was a hot site for commercial development, and not <br />amenable to residential use. Mr. Johansson advised that, given <br />the panel input, the developer had pushed residential use to its <br />limit, which office was not feasible in today's marketplace, and <br />that retail is currently feasible and preferred in an urban <br />residential market. Mr. Johansson noted that the debate seemed <br />to be related to the architecture of the "big box" retailer, and <br />welcomed continued involvement of panel members during the <br />design process, promising that this proposed retail will be <br />unlike any other retail product in Roseville, and similar to Arbor <br />