Meeting Minutes HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STUDY SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2007 The Highland Redevelopment Commission (“RC”, “Commission”) met in Study Session on Wednesday, February 28, 2007, at 6:34 PM in the Council Chambers within the Municipal Building at 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. The Study Session was called to order by Commission President Adam Gawlikowski. The minutes were prepared by Cecile Petro, Redevelopment Director. ROLL CALL: Present on silent roll call included Commissioners: Jim Kessler, Rich Garza, Brice Johnson, Dominic Noce and Adam Gawlikowski. At a later time, Town Council Vice-President Joseph Wszolek, Town Council member Robert Helmer, and Plan Commission member Tom Agler entered the Study Session. GENERAL SUBSTANCE OF THE STUDY SESSION Presentation by Dr. Spott regarding his property on Kennedy Avenue, the former Dog and Suds building at 8032 Kennedy Avenue Dr. Spott presented a power point presentation on his plans for building a medical office at 8032 Kennedy Avenue. His goal is to improve the business corridor on Kennedy Avenue, increase the value of property on Kennedy, and employ at least ten people in his business. He would like support from the Redevelopment Commission in his efforts to gain a ten-year tax abatement from the Town of Highland. Currently the taxes on the property are $4600.00 per year. After his improvements, he estimates the taxes will be $35,000 when the ten-year tax abatement is completed. Dr. Spott also stated that he will try to bring young doctors into the town to increase business for the long term. Discussion ensued among the Commission members and Town Council members present. Commissioners were concerned that his plans reflect the vision that is incorporated in the new Redevelopment Area Comprehensive Plan. Dr. Spott stated that he would like to build a two story building, but did not have the space needed for the parking required. The Commission recommended that Dr. Spott redesign his building as a two story building with set backs to the sidewalk to increase the number of parking spaces. This proposal will need a variance on the set-back requirement from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Presentation by Arsh Group regarding the final Comprehensive Plan for the Redevelopment Area, Phase I. Mr. Taghi Arshami from Arsh Group presented the final Comprehensive Plan for the Redevelopment Area to the Commission. He stated that the Commission needed to begin the following tasks once the Commission accepts the document: 1) begin implementation of the plan; 2) continue community efforts to publicize the different facets of the plan; 3)encourage the Main Street program for the town among the residents; 4) take the lead in pushing for development in the redevelopment area; 5) define a source of dedicated funds to go toward the redevelopment area; 6) recognize that at present, there is very little that the Commission can do to force property owners to improve their properties; and 7) increase the boundaries of the Redevelopment Area to include the areas suggested by the plan. Mr. Arshami also presented a fifteen year Implementation Schedule for the Plan. The steps within the Implementation Plan were color coded as “critical”, “required” or “planned”. The Implementation Schedule was organized by activity, priority of activity, timeline, and funding for ten groups of activities. Commissioners asked questions of Mr. Arshami and altered only one item within the Implementation Schedule. The Commission thanked Mr. Arshami for his work and Mr. Arshami thanked the Commission for the opportunity to work with the town. Wi-Fi Update by Ed Dabrowski Mr. Dabrowski provided a review of the Wi-Fi service in Highland. He stated that in his opinion one more cell should be located at the Main Street Park. Currently three cells are located in the Downtown area: on the top of the fire station (the gateway node), on a utility pole at the Municipal lot on the southwest corner of Kennedy and Highway Avenues, and on the traffic signal mast arm on Kennedy Avenue and Grand Boulevard. The Commission owns two additional spares for back up. Mr. Dabrowski suggested that the Commission should write thank you letters to the Fire Chief, the Building and Inspection Director, and the staff at the Public Works Garage for their assistance in the past few years with maintenance of the Wi-Fi system. Mr. Dabrowski also suggested that the Commission review the renewal of the support services agreement with Tropos when it comes due. He commented that the Commission may not want to renew that contract unless the system is having problems. Riverfront Development District The Redevelopment Commission discussed three options presented by the Director for a Riverfront Development District. The Commission selected Appendix B with one addition: they would like to include the public works garage area and Sharp Athletic Complex in the District. Option B included the areas on Kennedy Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard from the Little Calumet River south 3000 feet and along the easement of the Little Calumet River from Indianapolis Boulevard to Fifth Street. The Director will prepare two resolutions: 1) to approve the area described in Appendix B with the additional area, as described above; and 2) to request the Town Council to designate this area as a Riverfront Development District. Once this process is completed, then the resolutions will be sent to the State Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Fire Arms for their final approval. President Gawlikowski and Director Petro presented information on the status of a possible Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Area President Gawlikowski stated that he attended a meeting on Feb. 21, 2007 with our TIF financial and legal consultants, attorney Westland, and the Director to discuss the feasibility of a TIF for the northwest corner of Indianapolis Boulevard and Main Street. Also attending the meeting were a developer interested in that site, and their financial and legal consultants. The President stated that the group is looking at other potential ways to meet the financial gap between what a TIF would provide for the project and the total needed to complete the project beyond what the developer could provide. Update on the Commission’s corner lot at Kennedy and Highway Avenues by the Director The Director stated that the Commission’s attorney, Dave Westland, has requested an appraisal on the corner lot from two appraisal companies. Once those are completed, they will be presented to the Commission. The Commission also discussed the site and architectural standards which will be developed in the future and how those will impact the proposal by Mr. Baker for the corner lot. The Commission decided that it will address those concerns, as well as the possible need for egress onto Highway Avenue, through the Request for Proposal process. Review of proposals for Design Standards for the Redevelopment Area Due to time constraints, the Commission will review the two proposals at the next study session. The President asked the members to submit questions to the Director to be answered by both firms before the next meeting. Bult Oil Site Due to time constraints, the Commission deferred this item to the next study session. Adjournment The study session was adjourned by general consent at 10:20 PM. BACK TO MAIN MENU