Loading...
05-01-2002 CITY OF ED GE WA TER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD REGULAR MEETING May 1, 2002 8:00 a.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Thomas Alcorn called to order a regular meeting of the Economic Development Board at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 1,2002, in the Community Center. ROLL CALL: Members present were Chairman Thomas Alcorn, Thomas McKinley (arrived after approval of the minutes), Adelaide Carter, Christopher Balmer, Nora Aly and Douglas McGinnis. Also present were Councilman Jim Brown, City Manager Ken Hooper, CRAIGrant Administrator Lynne Plaskett, Planning Technician Pat Drosten, News Journal staff writer Michael Giusti and Board Coordinator Liz McBride. Michael Wilson and Roland Bazin were excused; Edward Keenan was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes for April 3, 2002, were presented to the Board for approval. There being no corrections or changes, Ms. Carter moved to approve the minutes as presented, second by Mr. Balmer. Motion CARRIED 5-0. CITY AND OTHER REPORTS: A. City of Edge water - Pat Drosten, Planning Technician, reported that the City had received a preliminary plan for a new subdivision which will be called Majestic Oaks, located just south of Silver Ridge. The master plan called for 97 single family homes. She said there was a Court Order on the property limiting the site to a maximum of 200 units. She said the City also received an annexation application for 23.5 acres of property on the north side of SR 442, just west of Old Mission Road. Ms. Drosten said it would include both commercial and residential. Chairman Alcorn commented on the 2002 Southeast Volusia Chamber Leadership program held a few weeks ago. He mentioned that Rick Michael (County Economic Development Director) was one of the best additions to economic development in Volusia County. At the meeting, they discussed what economic development was. It was determined that they could not really change the economics of the tax base but could change the job base. He said economic development was really all about adding value added jobs. CONTINUED BUSINESS: A. Discuss Draft Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for ParkTowne Industrial Center - Lynne Plaskett, CRAIGrant Administrator, referred to a draft she compiled using some of the Board's comments. She asked ifanyone had anything else they wanted to add or change. Comments were made on utility lines (above or underground) and restaurants (drive-thm). Economic Development Board May 1,2002 - Minutes Page -2- Prohibited uses were discussed and Chairman Alcorn felt the more general and broad the restrictions, the better off they would be. He felt child care facilities would be very important in an industrial park for those who worked there. The Chairman believed the purpose for the industrial park was to get the parcels on the tax rolls, provide employment and provide the entrepreneurs with someplace they could operate from. Mr. McGinnis said he was concerned with airspace restrictions and the fact that Massey Airpark was specifically mentioned. Ms. Plaskett said the restricted area would probably be along Dale Street and that there are certain height limits of buildings and laws that must be complied with where there are airport facilities close by. She said the City wanted Mr. Massey to "buy into" the project because he currently has property adjacent to the industrial park. City Manager Hooper asked Lynne now that the Board had reviewed the draft, what was the next step. He asked if anyone else had seen the document. Ms. Plaskett wanted to wait until the City Manager reviewed it for changes, then have it sent to surrounding property owners, department directors and other staff for input. Chairman Alcorn questioned a section on taxes for the year of closing under Warranty Deed inclusions and said it should state "pro-rata share" of taxes. After discussion, Chairman Alcorn suggested holding a workshop and notifying property owners within 500 feet of the industrial park and other interested parties of the meeting. He would also like in attendance the City Manager, Pat Drosten and the City Attorney. At the Board's next regular meeting, the Chairman would like to address any issues brought up at the workshop, then submit the Board's recommendation to City Council. Mr. McGinnis noted that while attending a recent City Council meeting it was mentioned that the CRA Board would eventually be the ones holding the declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions. He asked when would that board be named and if the EDB was doing all of this work just to have the CRA Board change what they had already done. City Manager Hooper felt they would not get changed once Council adopts them, that once "they are set, they are set." He said the City Council appoints the CRA Board which could be seven (7) members, but not less then five (5), and consist of Council and a few local owners but it hadn't been decided yet. City Manager Hooper said the County had the City's application for setting up the CRA, they had asked him a few questions on how the dollars would be spent and he felt it was about 60 days out. Chairman Alcorn asked if the CRA district was just the industrial park or would it take in other property. City Manager Hooper said it was the park area and Massey Airpark, about 600 acres total. The Chairman asked about the developed property along the south side of Park Avenue and if it would be included in the CRA. City Manager Hooper said the problem with that is it would mix two types of CRAs. With the area of existing buildings and structures, you would get into a more traditional blighted CRA, where as the one the City is proposing, is really infrastructure driven. He said the CRA can always be expanded to those who may petition to come in at a future date. City Manager Hooper said he would provide a copy of the boundary map to the Board. Economic Development Board May 1, 2002 - Minutes Page -3- The Board continued discussing permitted and prohibited uses. Mr. McGinnis felt with the advancement of technologies, new issues would arise that would have to be incorporated. He said things may be undesirable in the future that we cannot imagine now. Ms. Aly asked how many businesses were we looking at coming into the park. City Manager Hooper said we have the acreage and someone could buy 30 acres or two. He indicated it looked like the current interest was in the purchase of two or three acre lots, but that it could change. Figuring on the increase in population, Ms. Aly wondered if the area schools were adequate. Mr. McGinnis said he liked the idea that it was spelled out what the City would provide and what it controlled and asked the City Manager ifhe foresees a business owners association within the park to handle security, irrigation issues, etc. It was the City Manager's idea that at one point the City would turn it over to an association, that the majority owner would get to dictate the rules. Ms. Aly brought up allowing child care (as a permitted use). City Manager Hooper said you want child care close but not on industrial zoned property, that is why there is different zoning districts. He said to keep in mind that when you develop a work environment that creates many jobs, the economy will start to dictate services. With the consensus ofthe Board, the regular meeting of June 5, 2002, was canceled and a workshop was scheduled for June 11,2002, at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Center. The Board would be sent an updated draft of the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions. B. Dates and Time to Tour Massey Airport and Selected Businesses - Ms. McBride said she set up two tours on May 15,2002: R. J. Dougherty at 8:30 a.m. and D & S Camshaft at 9:15/9:30 a.m. Ms. McBride asked if the Board wanted to do more tours on the same day or another day. It was decided to make a decision after the Board's first tours. C. Ad Valorem Tax Exemption 1) Cost for Special Election - Ms. McBride reported that it would be approximately $5,000 to put this item on the County's ballot and $7,500 if the City was to hold a special election. It was reiterated that during a ten year period, the City received two applications and only one took advantage of the exemption. Chairman Alcorn wondered if the City would have a lot of applications because of the industrial park and this would be money well spent. City Manager Hooper said his position would be no because the City is putting in the infrastructure. As he said in the past, he would not recommend City Council give a tax break plus put in the infrastructure. It was the consensus of the Board to pass on this issue and perhaps bring it up in the future. D. Business Expo 2002 - Ms. McBride said "it didn't happen." The New Smyrna Beach/Chamber expo had been canceled due to late publicity and lack of participants. Ms. Aly said they were looking to hold it in October and discussed whether to have a joint expo. She said she didn't want to set the cities apart, but wanted to have it in Edgewater to bring the focus on Edgewater businesses. Chairman Alcorn said he could talk to the Chamber Board of Directors to make them aware that Edgewater was holding its expo in October. The Chairman would like to hold it at the same location, do it in the same nature and open it to New Smyrna businesses. Economic Development Board May 1,2002 - Minutes Page -4- Presenting the Business of the Year award at the same time as the expo was discussed. The expo hours and whether to have food was also discussed. The Board set a tentative date for October 24, 2002, from 4-8:00 p.m. at the YMCA. Parking was an issue last year and Councilman Brown suggested using the lot at the City's new building by Dustin's. Councilman Brown also suggested the Fire Department be contacted to set up their hotdog cart to sell food and drinks. Whether to have the event catered or not was discussed. It was noted to work out the details at a later date. NEW BUSINESS: None at this time. CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS REPORTS: Ms. Carter reported a short term goal of the Historical Preservation Board was to get the museum (at Turgot) up and running and that Tropical Blossom had loaned them various items for display in mid- May. She said they would have a grand opening and that the Board talked about displaying various artists' works in the museum. Ms. Carter said they were having an archaeological survey done of the City to identify the oldest buildings. She said an ECHO Grant that was recently applied for had been denied and that no city had been granted funds. Ms. Aly asked if the location of City Hall had been decided on and if the current location would be expanded. Ms. McBride said it was still being worked on, and that two workshops were planned at the club houses of the Florida Shores Property Owners Association and Edgewater Landing Home Owners Association. She said City Manager Hooper, Jack Corder and herself would show the residents conceptual plans, listen to comments and answer their questions. At the end of June, this matter would go back to Council for their final decision on the location. Mr. Balmer asked about a recent article in the newspaper concerning Oak Hill's objection to Edgewater's annexation ofthe right-of-way to the south and asked what the City's position was. Ms. McBride said Edgewater was waiting to see what Oak Hill was going to do. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Board, a motion was made and approved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m. Minutes respectfully submitted by: Elizabeth J. McBride, Board Coordinator Economic Development Board F:\edb-m inutes\050 1 02 .reg