Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/09/1996 CS minutes MAYOR GERALD L FARLEY TRUSTEES GEORGE A CLOWES TIMOTHY J. CORCORAN RICHARD N. HENDRICKS PAUL WM. HOEFERT MICHAELE W. SKOWRON IRVANA K. WILKS VILLAGE MANAGER MICHAEL E. JANONIS VILLAGE CLERK CAROL A. FIELDS Village of Mount Prospect NEW AREA CODE 847 ) Phone: 708 / 392-6000 Fax: 708 / 392-6022 ... MINUTES TOO: 708 / 392-6064 CLOSED SESSION JULY 9, 1996 The Closed Session was called to order at 9:36 p.m., in the conference room of the Senior Citizens' Center, 50 South Emerson Street, for the purpose of discussing Property Acquisition. Present at the Closed Session were: Mayor Gerald L. Farley; Trustees George Clowes, Timothy Corcoran, Paul Hoefert and Michaele Skowron. Trustees Richard Hendricks and Irvana Wilks were absent. Also present were: Village Manager Michael Janonis, Assistant Village Manager David Strahl, Community Development Director William Cooney and Deputy Community Development Director David Hulseberg. Board members considered the Closed Session Minutes from the April 16, 1996 meeting. A motion was made by Trustee Skowron and Seconded by Trustee Corcoran to accept the Minutes. On a roll call of Mayor Farley, Trustees Clowes, Corcoran, Hoefert and Skowron, Minutes were approved. Board members also considered Closed Session Minutes from April 23, 1996. On a Motion by Trustee Clowes and Seconded by Trustee Hoefert, the April 23 Minutes were approved with a roll call vote of Mayor Farley, Trustees Clowes, Corcoran, Hoefert and Skowron. Property Acquisition Village Manager Michael Janonis indicated that it had recently come to staff's attention that a number of properties in the downtown area were either on the market or their owners had indicated a willingness to discuss with the Village the possible sale of these properties. A list of the properties was distributed to the Village Board members. Mr. Janonis indicated that given the availability and/or potential availability of these properties, it would be an opportune time for the Village Board to look at the feasibility of picking up these properties without the need to consider condemnation. Mr. Janonis indicated that consideration of the purchase of these properties was separate and apart from any approved Redevelopment Plan that had been considered by the Village Board. However, many of the properties were located on the block bounded by Busse Avenue, Emerson Street, Northwest Highway and Route 83. Given the fact that Village Hall was also located on this block, it presented the opportunity to come into control of the majority of the block. Mayor Farley indicated that with two Trustees missing for this discussion that the same subject would need to be covered at the July 16 Board meeting. However, given the fact that Trustee Hoefert would not be available at the meeting on July 16, this would be a good time to allow Trustee Hoefert to articulate his initial views. ' Trustee Hoefert stated that he was somewhat reluctant at this point to make any firm commitment toward purchasing properties in the downtown; especially when there was no clear-cut redevelopment scenario on the table. Additionally, Trustee Hoefert expressed some concern that it will be very difficult to secure approval from residents through Referendum for the relocation of the Village Hall from its present site. He also indicated that since the Pontarelli project, he had begun to change his opinion of the need for the Village to be actively involved in property acquisition. Trustee Hoefert would like to see the private sector become the principal catalyst for redevelopment efforts in the downtown. Trustee Hoefert also expressed concern about preliminary public discussion that suggested that any further redevelopment of the downtown would include condominiums or some type of residential housing. Trustee Hoefert indicated that he did not wish to follow a path similar to downtown Des Plaines which he felt had an over-abundance of such developments. Mayor Far1ey indicated he felt it was important to stimulate redevelopment and added that developers typically look at opportunities where parcels have been consolidated. Given development opportunities in neighboring towns, he felt that it was important for the Village to take an active role in making development opportunities attractive. Trustee Corcoran indicated that through a discussion with a Pontarelli representative, he had learned that the downtown condominiums were not selling as quickly as first anticipated. It was his information that Pontarelli had actually decided to lower its prices. Also, the effort to rent up the commercial properties was moving slower than anticipated. Trustee Corcoran agreed that there needs to be caution with regard to additional multi- family in the downtown due to what appeared to be a current glut based on projects now underway in Des Plaines and Arlington Heights. Finally, Trustee Corcoran indicated that the Village needs to also focus on the possibility of assembling properties areas outside of the downtown. In particular, he pointed toward the area bounded by Rand Road/Kensington Roadllower Brickman subdivision, just east of Randhurst Shopping Center. Trustee Skowron stated that she felt it was imperative for the Village to be an active . player in promoting downtown redevelopment. She felt that there needed to be a strong unified vision for the downtown with the Village Board taking an active role in defining that vision. Community Development Director Bill Cooney agreed that sales at Clocktower Place were going slower than anticipated. Mr. Cooney also indicated that the Tax Increment Financing District in the downtown area has 11 years remaining. It was necessary for the Village to move forward on any new redevelopment projects in the very near future otherwise there would not.be enough time left under the TIF to payoff debt and other expenses. I- Trustee Corcoran asked if instead of purchasing property, could the Village try to negotiate options or contingent contracts with property owners which could at a later date be assumed by the developer. In this way, the Village could de-facto asemble property without having to expend substantial amounts of money. There was general discussion about how this could be worked out logistically. Staff agreed to look into this possibility and report back to the Village Board. In closing, Trustee Hoefert indicated that he was reluctant but willing to allow staff to engage property owners in some preliminary discussions. However, he was not in favor of entering into formal negotiations. . There was no other business taken up during the Closed Session. On a Motion by Trustee Clowes and. Seconded -by Trustee Corcoran, on a roll call vote, the Closed Session ended at 10:03 p.m. No action was taken or further business discussed, the Committee of the Whole meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, M EJ/rcc