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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RDA Minutes Page 1 March 15, 2006 CITY OF OSHKOSH REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES March 15, 2006 4:00 pm PRESENT: John Bermingham Jr., William Castle, Steve Hintz, Robert Pung, Archie Stam EXCUSED: Thomas Belter, Sheldon Lasky STAFF: Jackson Kinney, Executive Director /Director of Community Development; Susan Kepplinger, Principal Planner; Darlene Brandt, Recording Secretary The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm by Chairman Pung. Consent Agenda The minutes of January 18, 2006 regular meeting, closed session minutes of January 18, 2006 and special meeting of January 31, 2006 were presented as written. Treasurer's Report: Bills were presented in the amount of $29,316.26. Secretary's Report: None Motion by Hintz. Seconded by Stam. Motion carried by voice vote. Res. 06-04 Approve Bid /Demolition & Asbestos Abatement – Marion Rd./Pearl Ave. Redevelopment Area Phase III and South Shore Redevelopment Area Mr. Kinney noted the bids cover 6 properties within the Marion Rd./Pearl Ave. Redevelopment Area and South Shore Redevelopment Area. STS Consultants, the City’s/RDA’s consultant is recommending the low bid of $838,166 from Statewide Razing. It is proposed that orders to proceed will be issued on a property by property basis. Motion by Castle to move approval of Res. 06-04. Seconded by Stam. Mr. Hintz noted the bids received were very good; the next bid was about 50% higher. Roll call was taken. Motion carried 4-0. Res. 06-05 Determination of Necessity; Establish Fair Market Value; Authorize Purchase – Portion of Canadian National Railroad Property Between W. 6th Ave. and E. 10th Ave. – South Shore Redevelopment Area Mr. Kinney noted this is a former railroad spur from Main St./6th Ave. to E. 10th Avenue and will be used for future redevelopment. Motion by Stam to move approval of Res. 06-05. Seconded by Castle. Motion carried 4-0 RDA Minutes Page 2 March 15, 2006 Res. 06-06 Determination of Necessity; Approve Land Purchase /449 Marion Rd. – Mercury Marine Plant 24 /Marion Rd./Pearl Ave. Redevelopment Area Mr. Kinney noted this is an acquisition the City has been working on for over a year. The property is on the south side of Marion Rd. and consists of approximately 6.12 acres of land and is Mercury Marine's Plant 24. Mercury owns two parcels in this area – Plant 24 and Plant 33; the piece the City/RDA is looking at is the piece to the east. Mr. Kinney noted the settlement amount includes the purchase price and relocation costs. Mr. Castle inquired if the City will retain ownership of the area that Mercury wants to use for storage? Mr. Kinney replied yes. There will be an agreement with Mercury to use a 50 ft. strip on the west end of the Plant 24 property that Mercury would like to use for boat storage purposes, as well as the former railroad corridor piece the RDA currently owns, which piece is unbuildable due to the transmission poles and lines over the parcel. Staff will be working with Mercury to buffer and screen the boat storage area. For security reasons, Mercury would like to fence in the area, and it would be in the City’s/RDA’s best interest to also screen this area. Mr. Kinney wasn’t sure how long Plant 33 would be at this location, but Mercury has indicated they need water access for testing purposes. Mr. Stam inquired how many feet of frontage is there? Mr. Kinney believed approximately 1,200 ft. of river frontage. Mr. Kinney noted the current assessed value of the property is based on manufacturing use. The appraisal was based on highest and best use after redevelopment, which is higher than the assessed value. Mr. Castle inquired if the boat storage area needs to be paved? Mr. Kinney replied no; the proposed storage area can be gravel. If it were to be used for parking vehicles, then it would have to be paved. Mr. Castle believed this is the largest piece of property within the redevelopment area to be acquired to date with this amount of river frontage. Motion by Stam to move approval of Res. 06-06. Seconded by Castle. Motion carried 6-0. Res. 06-07 Initial Resolution Authorizing Actions Necessary for the Issuance and Sale of Not to Exceed $6,750,000 Revenue Bonds and Public Hearing on Lease of Property to City Mr. Kinney stated this is the initial resolution for borrowing funds for the Mercury acquisition and associated redevelopment work. (Mr. Bermingham arrived at this time.) Mr. Kinney noted this also sets a public hearing date of April 19, 2006 for a special RDA meeting regarding this issue. Motion by Castle to move approval of Res. 06-07. Seconded by Bermingham. Motion carried 5-0. Mr. Kinney noted that Mercury has requested that the City/RDA close on the acquisition by March 28th to coincide with their first quarter financials. Mercury would receive half the settlement amount in June and the balance when they vacate the property. RDA Minutes Page 3 March 15, 2006 Res. 06-08 Amend Term Sheet for Development Agreement /Five Rivers Investment Mr. Kinney stated Council approved the original term sheet in October, 2005. Key changes to the term sheet relate to: dates of commencement of construction, lender commitments and financing, and developer assistance grant. Motion by Castle to move approval of Res. 06-08. Seconded by Bermingham. Motion carried 5-0. Res. 06-09 Approve Redevelopment Plan /Parcel F – Marion Rd./Pearl Ave. Redevelopment Area Mr. Steve Hoopman, 5105 I A May-tah Rd., Oshkosh, stated they are proposing 9 units in two structures, two story town house type units, with 1,520 sq. ft. per unit. Garages will be on the rear side with one driveway access for both structures off Dawes Street. Mr. Castle inquired will these be apartments or condos? Mr. Hoopman stated the units could be either. For the most part the units will probably start as rental units and if the market changes, they could be sold as condos. Mr. Hoopman also noted each unit will have a porch on the front and a deck on the back. The units will be built on slab with furnaces on the second floor and A/C units between the garages. Rents will be between $900 -$1,100 per month. Motion by Castle to move approval of Res. 06-09. Seconded by Stam. Motion carried 5-0. PUBLIC HEARING: Blight Designation – 223 Merritt Ave.; 661 Jefferson St. and portion of adjacent lot; 679 Jefferson St.; 683 Jefferson St. Chairman Pung opened the public hearing. Mr. Barry Haese, owner of 679 and 683 Jefferson St., noted he has tried selling the properties and expects an offer within the week. Would the City be willing to put forth an offer on the property? Ms. Kepplinger indicated she has been advised by the City Attorney’s office that the City will bid on the property at the public Sheriff’s sale. Mr. Haese inquired if he did get an offer within the next week, would the City be willing to negotiate? Mr. Kinney replied no. Ms. Madonna Hill, 456 N. Main St., stated she is adjacent to the parking lot on Jefferson St. that is being purchased. How will this affect her business? Ms. Kepplinger noted the RDA is not acquiring any property in that area at this time so there won’t be any impact. Chairman Pung closed the public hearing. Res. 06-10 Finding Properties are Blighted; Establish Fair Market Value; Authorize Purchase: a) 223 Merritt Ave.; b) 661 Jefferson St.; c) Portion of 656 N. Main St. Motion by Castle to move approval of Res. 06-10. Seconded by Hintz. RDA Minutes Page 4 March 15, 2006 Mr. Bermingham stated he will need to abstain on voting on 223 Merritt Ave. due to a conflict. Motion by Castle to split the resolution and approve Res. 06-10(A). Seconded by Hintz. Motion carried 4-0-1 (Abstain: Bermingham) Motion by Castle to approve Res. 06-10(B) and (C). Seconded by Hintz. Motion carried 5-0. Res. 06-11 Finding Properties are Blighted; Establish Fair Market Value; Authorize Purchase: a) 679 Jefferson St.; b) 683 Jefferson St. Motion by Bermingham to move approval of Res. 06-11. Seconded by Stam. Mr. Hintz asked for clarification on future plans for the west side of Jefferson Street. Ms. Kepplinger noted it is proposed to do a land assemblage with future redevelopment consisting of a townhouse type development similar to what was done on Division Street. There are four other owners in this area who have approached the City about buying their properties. Ms. Kepplinger noted that as lots become available, and based on funding availability, the City/RDA would look at acquiring properties. Roll call was taken. Motion carried 5-0. Res. 06-12 Determination of Necessity; Establish Fair Market Value; Authorize Purchase – 303 Oxford Ave. Motion by Castle to move approval of Res. 06-12. Seconded by Hintz. Motion carried 5-0. PUBLIC HEARING -Near East Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan Mr. Kinney noted that prior to opening the public hearing, staff would like to give a short presentation on the proposed Plan. Ms. Kepplinger noted one of the priorities of the 2005 Comprehensive Plan was neighborhood improvement strategies. The Near East Neighborhood is one of four priority neighborhood improvement areas identified in the Comprehensive Plan. This neighborhood was selected due to its proximity to the downtown area, which is also undergoing revitalization efforts. The Plan encompasses approximately 19 blocks consisting primarily of single family and two family uses. City staff will be conducting sidewalk inspections on all properties within the proposed district. Based on those inspections, letters will be sent to property owners and residents regarding property maintenance issues observed. Staff also plans to hold a dumpster day where property owners and tenants can dispose of items at no charge to them. Ms. Kepplinger stated approximately 90 people attended a neighborhood meeting held on February 2nd with City staff, the Oshkosh Police Dept. and residents and property owners within the proposed redevelopment area. From that meeting, an Advisory Committee was created. Following the RDA’s action on the Redevelopment Plan, the Plan Commission and Common Council will be asked to review the project boundaries and approve the Redevelopment Plan. Chairman Pung opened the public hearing. RDA Minutes Page 5 March 15, 2006 Mr. Alvin Sawitski, 653 Mt. Vernon St., inquired if there are more properties to be blighted or are the properties before the RDA today the only ones? Ms. Kepplinger reiterated that depending on funding availability, there could be other properties in the future. Mr. Sawitski noted that Ms. Kepplinger indicated inspections would be from the sidewalk. He felt interior work done on properties would also improve the value of the property. Ms. Kepplinger stated the sidewalk inspection will be used for exterior property maintenance issues only. Mr. Sawitski stated that with all the new apartments in the downtown area, it is hard to rent units. Will the City offer funds to assist property owners? Ms. Kepplinger noted staff is still working on various implementation issues associated with this redevelopment area. The Plan is intended to improve the overall neighborhood, targeting owner occupied properties whose owners have decided to make this area their home and want to improve it. Mr. Kinney noted this is an older neighborhood and pro-active steps are needed to upgrade it. Mr. Merl Reed, 541 Madison St., inquired what the intentions are for Madison Street? Ms. Kepplinger noted all properties on Madison St. will be looked at, but there are no immediate plans. Mr. Jim Vajgrt, 670 Grand St., stated he purchased this property about 2 years ago and it contains three units. Ms. Kepplinger noted that one of the recommendations in the Plan is the rezoning of the area to R-2 Two Family with a Planned Development Overlay, which zoning permits single family and two family uses. The R-2 zoning will permit existing non-conforming structures to continue, but they could not be rebuilt if destroyed by fire. Chairman Pung closed the public hearing. Res. 06-13 Determination of Boundaries; Approval of Near East Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan Motion by Hintz to move approval of Res. 06-13. Seconded by Bermingham. Mr. Castle noted there were several citizens at the recent Common Council meeting supporting this effort. Mr. Hintz stated this is a systematic effort of the City to focus resources in a positive way in an older section of the City.Roll call was taken. Motion carrried 5-0. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at approximately 5:00 pm. Respectfully submitted Jackson R. Kinney Executive Director/Director of Community Development