Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/05/2001 EDC minutes MINUTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 2nd Floor Conference Room, Village Hall Thursday, April 5, 2001 8:00 a.m. The meeting of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) of the Village of Mount Prospect was held on Thursday, April 5, 2001 in the second floor conference room of Village Hall, 100 South Emerson Street, Mount Prospect, Illinois. CALL TO ORDER Chairmen Norm Kurtz called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Commissioners John Amdt, Kevin Davies, end David Lindgren were present. Commissioners Pat Biedar, Bruce Gillilan end Ben Trapain were absent. Also present were Mayor Gerald L. Farley, William J. Cooney, Director of Community Development, Michael Blue, Deputy Director of Community Development end Madeleine Franklin, Executive Director of the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the February 1,2001 meeting were reviewed end approved unanimously. OLD BUSINESS Status Update Mr. Cooney provided a general update on the economic activity throughout the Village. He indicated that the AutoBam dealership was underway with the construction of their new showroom facility. He indicated that they hope to complete that project by June. Mr. Cooney also provided en update of activity at the Mount Prospect Plaza, winch included the rehabilitation of the Dominick's facility end a new Sears electroinc facility. He indicated that he had met with brokers for Osco who were interested in purchasing the Central Plaza Shopping Center at the northwest comer of Rte. 83 end Central. He stated that they are reviewing the purchase end demolition of the existing facility and constructing a new 10,000 s.f. Osco Pharmacy. In addition, Mr. Cooney provided a general update of various projects that are soon to be underway in the downtown area, including the Train Station, Streetscape, General Store, end Norwood projects. Mr. Davies provided en update on the status of Rendhurst Mall. He stated that Rouse currently does not have control over the Ward's lease end that they are awaiting word from Kimco regarding potential tenents. He stated that he did not have enything to report at this time regarding the status of that lease but they were clearly watching to ensure that a ~iable tenent ultimately is located there. He stated that the Egg Factory restaurent had recently opened end was doing very well. He did note that Rendhurst was being affected by the meny national tenents that are undergoing bankruptcy. He stated he did not beheve the number of recent vacencies was a reflection of Randhurst so much as of the national economy. NEW BUSINESS Proposed Development Code Modifications Mr. Blue indicated that staff was proposing modifications to the Development Code in a continued effort to streamline the development process in Mount Prospect. As currently written, the Development Code has en"all or nothing" application to developments. He stated that there is no middle ground for minor improvements to projects and that the way the current code is written it cen discourage investment in the Village. He stated the proposed modifications would provide a tiered approach to development end that it would apply reasonable conomic Development Commission April 5, 2001 Minutes Page 2 requirements to varying levels of improvements. He stated that staff would be coming forward in the next several months to propose technical modifications to the Development Code but at this point the proposal is for the application component of the code. There was general discussion by the commission members regarding the proposal and a motion was passed supporting the modifications as proposed by staff. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Chairman Kurtz indicated that in light of the recent referendum results throughout the metropolitan area, he thought it was critical that the Village Board move forward with the Village Hall improvements without going to referendum. He indicated it was clear that the voters continue to vote down these referendums regardless of the long term impact on the community and that the Board shouldn't go to referendum unless required to by law. Other commission members indicated their agreement with that statement and that the Village Hall project was very important for the overall development efforts in the downtown. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 a.m. Respectfully submitted, William J., Cooney, Jr., AICP Director of Community Development