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Meeting Minutes
HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION MINUTES
OCTOBER 25, 2006
The Highland Redevelopment Commission ("RC", "Commission") met in Study Session on Wednesday, October 25, 2006, at 6:30 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 Brice Johnson. The minutes were prepared by Cecile Petro, Redevelopment Director.
ROLL CALL: Present on silent roll call included Commissioners: Bernie Zemen, Rex Burton, Adam Gawlikowski, and Dominic Noce. At a later time, Mr. Rich Underkofler, the Town Manager, entered the Study Session.
GENERAL SUBSTANCE OF THE STUDY SESSION
1. Presentation by Jamie Smith, Calumet Region Office for Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, and David Wright, Wright Visioning and Planning Concepts
Ms. Smith and Mr. Wright provided the Commission with information regarding design guidelines, design standards and overlay districts. Ms. Smith described most of the buildings in Highland as "recent past" and not historic. She stated that Highland has unique limestone buildings and that one of the major problems facing our downtown will be preserving them and creating appropriate in-fill between these buildings. She added that the town will have to look closely at a number of options including façade treatments, in-fill and possible demolition for those buildings that cannot be saved. Also, the town should consider massing, scale and materials when the design standards are decided upon. In addition, the town should not try to duplicate an era, but complement what currently exists.
Mr. Wright explained the difference between design guidelines, design standards and overlay districts. He suggested that the town provide examples to developers of what they can do as well as what they cannot do. The Redevelopment Commission has two options for establishing design standards for the Redevelopment Area: submit the standards to the Plan Commission and then the Town Council for approval, or go through the Town Council directly. Mr. Wright cautioned, however, that the Plan Commission needs to be a part of developing these standards because they will be responsible for enforcing them once the standards are approved.
Ms. Smith also talked about a possible subcommittee of the Redevelopment Commission which would oversee design guidelines. That subcommittee would judge whether a particular project meets the design guidelines or not. If it does, the Redevelopment Commission would give a "Certificate of Appropriateness" to the developer who would take it to the Building and Inspection Department. That certificate would state that the project met the guidelines of the Redevelopment Commission for that area.
The Commission thanked Ms. Smith and Mr. Wright for providing the information.
2. Updates on the following items were given by the Director:
A. Second Joint Meeting with Hammond Redevelopment Commission
Ms. Petro informed the Commission that the second joint meeting with Hammond Redevelopment Commission will be held on November 16, 2006, at 7:00 PM at Hammond City Hall, 5925 Calumet Avenue, Hammond, Indiana.
B. Joint Gardening Program
The last gardening program will be held November 9, 2006 at the Highland Library at 6:30 PM. A presentation will be given by Taltree Arboretum.
C. Kiosks Panels
The Director presented a revised lease and cover letter to the Commission for kiosk panel rental. The Commission requested changes in the advertising costs for Highland and non-Highland businesses. They agreed to a $75 per month/panel for non-Highland businesses and a $60 per month/panel for Highland businesses to advertise on the kiosks.
D. Quarterly update on Redevelopment Goals and Objectives
The Director distributed an update to the Goals and Objectives for 2006-2007. The Commission will respond to the hand out at the next meeting. One Commissioner asked that the response to each objective be given in bold, as well as italics, to distinguish it clearly from the objective.
E. Bult Oil update
Ms. Petro updated the Commission on the Bult Oil situation. The Lake County Commissioners office would like the Highland Redevelopment Commission to write a letter regarding the history of the site up to the Lake County Commissioner’s sale. Ms. Petro will write the letter. This should resolve the problem and the Bult Oil property should revert back to the County until the phytoremediation is completed. When the remediation is complete, the County will transfer the parcel to the Redevelopment Commission.
3. Update on the River Park Apartment demolition by Mr. John Bloskey
Mr. Bloskey was unable to meet with the Commission.
4. Meet with representatives of the Griffith Redevelopment Commission
The Griffith Redevelopment Commission was unable to meet with the Commission.
5. Discussion of the following by the Redevelopment Commission
A. Best House on the Block Award Ceremony held on Oct. 19, 2006
Commissioners discussed the Award Ceremony and made these observations: 1) The Commission would like to see a different format for handing out the awards; 2) Neighborhoods Inc. should have had before and after pictures on posters for every house; 3) the before and after pictures should have been projected on a screen when the entrant came forward for his/her award; and 4) the Commission would like to have a description of what was done at each home with before and after pictures.
Director Petro will discuss these points with Neighborhoods Inc.
B. First Joint Meeting with Hammond Redevelopment Commission
The Commission discussed the meeting and described it as a “fruitful and substantive meeting”. Commissioner Gawlikowski handed out a list of topics for the next meeting and the Commissions agreed with the topics. Director Petro will send the list to the Hammond Redevelopment Commission for their review.
6. Review responses to the RFQ for Financial Consultant for Tax Increment Financing
The Commissioners reviewed and commented on the responses to the RFQ. After discussing the responses, the Commission still had a number of questions which they would like to pose to the two firms who responded to the RFQ: London Witte Group and Cender and Company. They directed Ms. Petro to invite both firms to attend the next meeting of the Redevelopment Commission.
7. Discuss maintenance and marketing of the Redevelopment Commission’s lot on the southeast corner of Highway and Kennedy Avenues
Ms. Petro distributed a list of commercial realtors who are interested in representing the Commission in order to sell the corner lot. President Johnson stated that he would like to know from the Clerk Treasurer what the process is before the Redevelopment Commission moves ahead and selects a realtor for the corner lot. Ms. Petro will email Mr. Griffin and request that information.
8. Change the meeting date for the next full study session
Director Petro stated that the next full study session falls on the day before Thanksgiving. The Commission will decide whether or not to change or cancel the study session at the next public meeting which will be held on November 8, 2006.
The meeting was adjourned by general consent at 9:10 PM.
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