Councilman Pokorney was absent.
The special meeting was convened to consider four resolutions to move forward a development, Locust Development Second Addition, at the intersection of Jefferson Road and Heritage Drive. Gene Jasnoch, the developer, requested rezoning from Mixed Use Development District to Planned Unit Development. Three of the four parcels in the 6.7 acre property will remain undeveloped, while the fourth will be the location for a 45-unit apartment building and will be built immediately.
Speaking for the developer, Dan Behrens thanked the council for taking up the matter at this special meeting. They have arranged financing and want to move forward as soon as possible. He reviewed the history of the area, noting that the property had originally been part of the Schilling Business Park, but was later separated and added to the Locust addition. When part of the Schilling project, trunk water assessments had been paid. Recently, city staff has been unable to document this information, and had calculated an assessment for sewer and water based on the housing and three commercial buildings, to be constructed in the future and using the present assessment methodogy. The council unanimously passed the required resolutions as well as an additional motion stating that the council is willing to review the assessment fees if the developer wants to return within 30 days with further evidence and a proposed change in the fees. Jasnoch complimented the staff who he said was very good to work with.
The work session was devoted to a joint meeting with the Economic Development Authority (EDA), for an update on the hospital repairs and settlement, and for a review of the city’s Special Revenue Funds and Enterprise Funds. Jody Gunderson, Economic Development Director, led the group through a Power Point presentation explaining the advance work on a site necessary to attract prospective businesses (making the land “shovel ready”). He then outlined steps Northfield might take to make both infill and redevelopment land and unimproved or greenfield sites ready.
The EDA has two committees working on locating sites for business development, as directed by the council’s 2008 goals. One group is looking at infill sites. The other is taking with landowners in the 530-acre area northeast of the city in Greenvale Township about what measures need to be taken to prepare their land to be developed. City staff, as directed by the council, is conferring with Greenvale Township Supervisors to hammer out an annexation agreement.
Mayor Lansing asked whether Northfield is competitive in the business park market place. EDA Chair, Rick Estenson said we could be because of what businesses see in the community, in addition to land. Work force and housing are what the city also needs to consider. We should spend time locating infill sites while working on annexation of the Greenvale area. He mentioned that other landowners, notably Bob Gill and Ken Prawer, who have property south of Highway 19, are now interested in annexation. For Estenson, annexation of land is step one. When that is achieved, then we can work with landowners to find buyers and developers.
EDA member Victor Summa expressed some frustration with the meeting. He had hoped to discuss the status of the annexation, the conversations with the landowners and finally, the status of Gill and Prawer’s interest. The city of Chaska, which the EDA visited, has a blanket policy concept for all sorts of projects which he and Councilman Pokorney would like to discuss. Estenson agreed that he thought this would be a time to “see where we’re at” and to have the council interact with the EDA. There are opportunities for development and we have funds to assist and need to put them to use. Gunderson earlier noted that he has received a number of inquiries from businesses looking for 30-100 acre sites, but Northfield is presently short of appropriate land. Finally, Lansing said that it was a good presentation and that the council is anxious to get something to vote on.
Northfield Hospital President and CEO Ken Bank chronicled the hospital’s experience correcting faulty construction and seeking restitution for the cost. The hospital has been in mediation since February and currently they hope to recover part of the cost through that process rather than engage in a costly legal route. The balance of the repair costs will be paid from the hospital’s reserves.
Finance Director Kathleen McBride was on stage twice. She conducted an information session on what she called “Local Government Finance 101” for candidates for council and mayoral candidates prior to the council meetings. She ended the council work session with a presentation on the city’s Special Revenue and Enterprise Funds.
Comments
The issue of the annexation of 530 acres, IF it happens through a successful agreement with Greenvale Twp, will be one of the biggest issues to watch in the coming months.
There is a lot of variation in what is being said about dollars to be spent, who will spend it, and how much the city will commit to the non-specific term of "shovel ready" which has been darting around like an anxious Halloween ghost!
LWV members will need to be on their toes and insist on implementation of best management practices throughout this ongoing debate (?) and especially in the areas of transparency and citizen input.
This annexation has the possibility of having huge impact on Northfield's future, and it must be handled in a way that is thoughtfully in line with the best outcomes for both 'the city' and the agricultural lands that surround us.
We have a chance to do it right, enable our Greenways Corridor Plan, and provide SOME additional land for smart technology business development.
So far, the discussions have not been policy driven except for the expansion of tax base. That cannot be the only goal, especially in the current economic climate; the goals must be more broad; not based solely on land /taxes/ industrial development.