HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/07/2003 EDC minutes MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
2nd Floor Conference Room, Village Hall
Thursday, August 7, 2003
8:00 a.m.
The meeting of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) of the Village of Mount Prospect was held on
Thursday, August 7, 2003, in the second floor conference room of Village Hall, 100 South Emerson Street,
Mount Prospect, Illinois.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Norm Kurtz called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Commissioners Pat Biedar, Brace Gillilan,
David Lindgren, Ben Trapani and Tom Zander were present. Commissioner John Amdt was absent. Also
present were Mayor Gerald Farley, Jim U szler, ExecUtive Director o f t he Mount PrOspect Chamber o f
Commerce, Bill Cooney, Director of Community Development, and Mike Jacobs, Deputy Director of
Community Development.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the April 3, 2003 meeting were reviewed and approved unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
Status Update
Mr. Cooney provided a general update of economic activity in the Village over the past several months. He
stated that Costco was approved by the Village Board at their August 5a~ meeting for the construct/on ora new
facility at the Randhurst Mall. He stated that the Ward's, Kohl's and J.C. Penney's Buildings would soon be
demolished and that the Costco Building would be constructed by fall of 2004. He added that there WOuld be
several smaller shops and a new mall entrance constructed adjacent to the existing Applebee's Restaurant.
Mr. Cooney said there were several retail stores opening in the downtown area. He stated that Tuccio's
Restaurant would soon be replacing the former Pickerman's Restaurant at the Clocktower Shopping Center. In
addition, Around the Comer Market and Neat and Cool Things had recently opened at the Virginia Court
Center. He added that Oberweis had been open for several months and that TCF Bank would be opening next
week at the Lofts Development. Mr. Cooney added that there were several other developments underway
throughout the Village. He stated that Kohl's was nearly complete with the renovation of the former K-Mart
site at the northwest comer of Dempster and Rte. 83. In addition, a banking institution would be constructing a
new development where the former Super Shops outlot is located. Culvers Restaurant will soon be submitting
for approval from Village Board at the southeast comer of Dempster and Busse Roads. Skil Bosch recently
opened its doors at the former 3Com facility at 1800 W. Central Road and will be employing over 1700
individuals at this site.
The Commission members had several questions regarding status of the various projects and future downtown
development issues that would be further discussed later in the meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Downtown Development Committee Status
Mr. Cooney stated that the Village Board had agreed to create an ad hoc committee to further review the next
steps of downtown redevelopment. He said the Mayor hoped to convene the committee by September and
have their recommendations forwarded to the Board by the end of this year. Chairman Kurtz stated he was
very pleased with the May joint meeting with the EDC and the Village Board. He stated that he felt that
meeting was critical in getting the ad hoc committee formed and that he hoped that this committee would spur
conomic Development Commission
August 7, 2003 Minutes
Page 2
further redevelopment in the downtown area. There was general discussion regarding what the committee
should focus on. The greatest importance should be looking at the 1998 plan to determine if those
recommendations were still valid in today's environment. In addition, the Commission questioned whether the
new committee should look at areas outside the original areas of study. Such areas would include the Prospect
Avenue Corridor on the south end of the tracks, the Central Plaza Shopping Center at Rte. 83 and Central, and
the Bank One facility on Emerson Street.
Village Parking Deck
Mr. Cooneyindicated theparking deck would be open for use by the end of September. He statedthat staff is
working on a parking plan that is intended to be easily understood and usable both by customers and
employees in the downtown area. He stated there are approximately 380 parking spaces and that roughly half
would be used for employee parking with the remainder for general customers. The plan would call for 4-hour
free parking for customers.
CItAIRMAN'S REPORT
There was no Chairman's report.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
WJC:bhs
William J. Cooney, Jr., AICP
Director of Community Development