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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/03/2005 EDC minutes MINUTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 1st Floor Community Center, Village Hall Thursday, February 3, 2005 8:00 a.m. The meeting of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) of the Village of Mount Prospect was held on Thursday, February 3, 2005, in the first floor Community Center of Village Hall, 50 South Emerson Street, Mount Prospect, Illinois. CALL TO ORDER Chairman David Lindgren called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Commissioners Pat Biedar, Bruce Gillilan, Margaret Lannen, Ben Trapani and Tom Zander were present. Also present were Bill Cooney, Director of Community Development, Ellen Divita, Deputy Director of Community Development and Jim Uszler, President, Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the December 2, 2004 meeting were reviewed and approved unanimously. OLD BUSINESS Development Update Mr. Cooney provided a general overview of development projects throughout the Village. He stated that United Airlines currently had a 27-acre parcel in unincorporated Cook County up for public bid. He stated this land is situated on the east side of Linneman Road between Dempster Street and Algonquin Road. He had received several calls from residential developers regarding development opportunities for the site. He stated that Staff’s preference was for industrial development but that we were evaluating the market conditions for industrial properties in Mount Prospect. There was general discussion regarding the viability of industrial development on this site as well as residential. Chairman Lindgren asked that Mr. Cooney provide the EDC with an e-mail update th after the February 14 silent bid was completed. Mr. Cooney stated that the Mitroff Companies have proposed a 70-unit townhome development for the old St. John School Property on Linneman Road, south of Golf Road. In addition, Mr. Cooney advised the EDC that the Taco Bell on Rand Road would be developing a new facility, Harris and Parkway Banks were nearly complete, and that there was a developer interested in redeveloping the northeast corner of Wolf and Euclid Avenue for commercial uses. Mr. Cooney asked Ms. Lannen to provide a general update on the status of Randhurst Mall. Ms. Lannen stated that the Buffalo Wild Wings would be opening its doors on Sunday for the Super Bowl. In addition, she stated that Old Navy had closed its doors yesterday afternoon and that Steve and Barry’s would soon be starting remodeling and reconstruction to occupy the former Old Navy space along with additional space in the mall. She stated they were ready to close on leases for a restaurant use and a women’s clothing operation but that she could not disclose those names at this time. Downtown Redevelopment Status Mr. Cooney indicated that the Village Board was pursuing a 13-year extension of the TIF in order to complete the development for sub-areas 1, 4 & 5. He stated that Staff had met with District 214 last week and was meeting with District 57 this evening to request support from these districts for the extension. Mr. Uszler reported there was an article in the Daily Herald newspaper this morning that indicated District 214 was positively reviewing the request. Mr. Cooney said that if the school districts did support the request the Village would pursue the extension with the state legislature in the Spring Session in April. He stated that the Village Board had yet to determine which development plan to pursue in sub-area 1 and that they would be having a public meeting regarding this matter in the next few months. Chairman Lindgren asked that the EDC be advised when that meeting takes place so that they could be represented at that meeting. There was discussion regarding the fiscal impact of the various development scenarios being proposed for sub-area 1. There was general concurrence by the commission that they supported complete redevelopment, with a mid-rise development of approximately 8- conomic Development Commission February 3, 2005 Minutes Page 2 stories on that site. Com Ed Business Retention Program Mr. Cooney stated that the proposed retention visit scheduled for today had been postponed due to the departure of Carl Bufalini from Cook County Enterprise. He stated he was working with Mr. Bufalini’s replacement to schedule a future business visitation program. It was determined that the regularly scheduled EDC meeting on April 7 would be the best time to attempt to schedule those visits. Mr. Cooney said he would provide an update to the Commission via e-mail once that visit is confirmed. NEW BUSINESS Goals for the EDC Mr. Lindgren stated that he had discussed with Staff the goals for the EDC in 2005. He said that the Kensington Business Center visits certainly would be a priority in 2005 and that expanding the joint Village and Chamber of Commerce Business Visitation Program should be a priority for the Commission. It was agreed that at least one member of the EDC would attempt to join the Mayor, Staff and Chamber Representative on a monthly visitation program. Mr. Cooney said he would advise when the next visitation was set up. Mr. Lindgren said he also thought that the downtown redevelopment should be a priority for the EDC as this year would be critical in the overall completion of the plan. He stated that he felt that another priority of the Economic Development Commission’s should be improved coordination with the Chamber of Commerce and support of the Chamber of Commerce in their efforts to reach out to the business community. Mr. Gillilan said he felt the EDC should continue to urge the Village Board to include commercial refuse collection as part of the Village’s overall program. Mr. Cooney stated that the Village Board had this as an item to discuss in their upcoming Committee of the Whole Meeting and that they would like it to be part of the upcoming refuse collection contract negotiation. Mr. Gillilan said he also thought the EDC should pursue what other towns have done with banking institutions. He stated several towns including Wheeling had recently enacted a fee in lieu of sales tax generation for any new banks coming into town. There was general discussion regarding this matter and mixed views regarding the appropriateness of such a fee. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT There was no Chairman’s report. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 a.m. It was agreed the next meeting would be held on April 7, 2005. Respectfully submitted, William J. Cooney, Jr., AICP Director of Community Development WJC:bhs