Redevelopment Commission

TOWN OF GILBERT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 18, 2018, 6:30 P.M. MUNICIPAL BUILDING I, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 50 E. CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA 85296 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Tyler Hudgins, Chair Boe Bigelow, Commissioner Tyler Jones, Commissioner Peter Sciacca, Commissioner COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Ryan Hamilton, Vice Chair COUNCIL PRESENT: Scott Anderson, Councilmember STAFF PRESENT: Daniel C. Henderson, CEcD Economic Development Director Jennifer Graves, Deputy Director, Economic Development Amanda Elliott, Redevelopment Administrator Christopher Payne, Town Attorney OTHERS PRESENT: Don Arambula, Crandall Arambula CALL TO ORDER: The Redevelopment Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Hudgins at 6:30 P.M. ROLL CALL Amanda Elliott called the roll and declared that a quorum was present. COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS Chair Hudgins opened the floor to the public for any comments or communications on matters not on the agenda. The Commission’s response is limited to responding to criticism, asking staff to review a matter commented upon, or asking that a matter be put on a future agenda. There were no communications from Citizens. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS 1. Minutes – Consider Approval of the Minutes for the Meeting of June 20, 2018. MOTION: Commissioner Jones moved to approve the meeting minutes of June 20, 2018, seconded by Commissioner Sciacca. Motion passed 4-0. PUBLIC HEARING Items will be heard at one Public Hearing, at which time anyone wishing to comment on a Public Hearing Item may do so. Comments will be heard from those in support of or in opposition to an item.  Gilbert Redevelopment Commission July 18, 2018 Page 2 of 4 Once the hearing is closed, there will be no further public comment unless requested by a member of the Commission. After the Public Hearing, the Commission may act on all items not requiring additional staff, public, or Commission comment with a single vote. Chair Hudgins opened the Public Hearing. 2. Discuss the Redevelopment Plan Update and consider making a recommendation to Council. Don Arambula, Crandall Arambula, credited Town Staff and the sub-consultant team for making this Redevelopment Plan update represent what was heard from the Commission and the general public. The public process in developing the 2018 Heritage District Redevelopment Plan was broad and inclusive, and extended from the end of October 2017 through June 2018. There were opportunities for public engagement through meetings with stakeholders, the Technical Committee, the general public, and the Redevelopment Commission, as well as one-on-one meetings with residents and the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. Four Public Workshops were held to present the fundamental concepts and gather input. The consultant team took all of that feedback to further refine the fundamental concepts. There was further review by the Technical Committee and the Redevelopment Commission. The Plan was presented to the general public in June 2018. The 2018 Redevelopment Plan includes the vision and character as well as a Master Plan, which is a new element that was not included in the prior 2008 Redevelopment Plan. The Plan also includes implementation strategies, funding, roles and responsibilities, and requirements. There are six identified goals and related objectives that drive the Redevelopment Plan. The Master Plan outlines the vision for buildout of the Heritage District in the next 10 years. A long- range planning area has been identified where the lumber yard is today to consider the possibility of relocating the transit park and ride and for a future commuter rail station. The Fundamental Concept includes the redevelopment areas and essential projects over a 10-year period. Key Public Amenities Living Room Plaza Strengthen and expand the existing Water Tower Plaza to include flexible open space for civic engagement at the center of the community. The Commons Focus on nightlife and family activities and establish a window into the development area. Vaughn Ventilator Provide new access into the District as well as visibility and access to the parcels on Ash and Oak Streets. Characterized as a festival street with high airy covered walkways. Neighborhood Park Provides a public amenity east of Gilbert Road to strengthen residential areas and provide a focus for surrounding development. The Paseo Provides safe pedestrian and bicycle access and serves as a common thread to tie the historic neighborhoods and amenities together through a parallel route through the District. The Paseo extends from Elliot to Juniper and includes a light airy underpass. Key Redevelopment Areas  Gilbert Redevelopment Commission July 18, 2018 Page 3 of 4 North Anchor Extends from Juniper to the Western Canal, and from Ash Street to Gilbert Road. Development is focused around the Commons with uses that provide balance in the Redevelopment District. Uses include restaurant and entertainment as well as office and possible hotel. District Core Downtown center focused around the Living Room Plaza, with activation around the Vaughn Ventilator. Uses include retail, restaurant, multi-family, office, and boutique hotel. Also provides an opportunity for a commuter rail station, if it is not relocated outside of the District. South Anchor Provides a neighborhood retail use at the corner of Elliott and Gilbert Roads in the long term. The market needs to mature in order to attract a high-quality use. In the short term, it can provide parking to serve the district with the potential to transition into a parking structure, depending on demand. Other Projects include a Transit Center, Ash Street Extension and Access Road. Implementation Strategy Catalyst Projects will stimulate private development and generate return on public investment. These projects are more time sensitive and should be planned within the 10-year timeframe. Catalyst Projects include the Commons, Living Room Plaza, and Vaughn Ventilator Key Projects include the Paseo, Underpass, Water Tower Plaza, Neighborhood Park, and South Anchor. These projects are not as time sensitive and may be tied into Catalyst projects. An Implementation Schedule was provided for the Catalyst and Key projects through 2027. Chair Hudgins opened the floor for comments or questions from the Redevelopment Commission. There were none. Chair Hudgins opened the floor to the public for comments or questions. There were none. Chair Hudgins called for a motion. MOTION: Commissioner Bigelow moved to recommend approval of the 2018 Heritage District Redevelopment Plan to Town Council, seconded by Commissioner Jones. Motion carried 4-0. Chair Hudgins closed the public hearing. COMMUNICATIONS 3. Report from the CHAIR on current or future events. Chair Hudgins stated this is a great moment for Gilbert. The work going into Downtown Gilbert has been going on longer than he has been alive. He has lived his entire life in Gilbert. It has been amazing to see the District grow to where it is today and to be involved in this process. Gilbert has a great team with the Town Staff and the Consultants, and he appreciated all of their efforts. This is an awesome opportunity to give Council a vision for what this District can be. As a business owner and resident, he felt this vision builds upon the uniqueness of the District. He felt Downtown Gilbert was already a destination and he is excited to see where Council will take us. 4. Report from COUNCIL LIAISON on current or future events.  Gilbert Redevelopment Commission July 18, 2018 Page 4 of 4 Councilmember Anderson congratulated the team and everyone involved for all of their efforts in this process. He has been through several iterations of the Redevelopment Plan for our Downtown and this is by far the best. The opportunities presented will be fabulous for the Town. 5. Report from COMMISSIONERS on current or future events. Commissioner Jones appreciated everything that has gone into this Plan. He was impressed with the outcome and appreciated Staff, and especially Amanda Elliot, who has been amazing in working with the external consultants. He was happy with the extensive public involvement in the process and felt Staff did a great job to make sure people were aware of the meetings and workshops. This Plan will serve as a great roadmap as we see proposals over the coming years to make sure they fit in with the overarching strategy moving forward. Commissioner Bigelow came onto the Commission towards the tail end of this process. He was glad to see how much work and effort everyone put into making this happen. He did not feel that we were trying to compete with Scottsdale or Mill Avenue or downtown Mesa. Gilbert does its own thing and he loved the fact that so many have worked together to make Gilbert what it is today. As Gilbert continues to grow, the effort that everyone put into this Plan will change the whole dynamic of Gilbert. Commissioner Sciacca echoed the previous comments. He complimented the Consultant and his team. As professionals who have done this in other cities and towns, they did not try to use a cookie cutter approach, but used their experience and knowledge. He was most impressed over the last eight or nine months of this process with the engagement with Staff and the Stakeholders as well as how the Consultant team listened and pivoted as needed. That was refreshing to see and he appreciated their professionalism and expertise. He appreciated the Town Staff, and especially Amanda Elliott, for being actively involved in the process and how well they handled communications. He complimented everyone involved and felt honored to be a part of this Plan and to see the changes down the road. 6. Report from STAFF LIAISON on current or future events. Amanda Elliott advised that this Plan will go before Council, with the recommendation of approval by the Redevelopment Commission, at the August 16, 2018 Council meeting. Per the state statute, there are notification requirements through mailings as well as advertisements. Starting Monday of next week Staff will print mailers, and advertisements will begin on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. There is a second portion of this project, the Heritage District Design Guidelines. The consultant has provided a draft which will be brought to the Redevelopment Commission, the Technical Committee and Stakeholders to make sure that everything in that document encompasses what we want this District to look like over the next 10 years. She looks forward to starting that process. ADJOURN With no further business before the Commission, Chair Hudgins adjourned the meeting at 6:55 P.M. ___________________________________ Tyler Hudgins, Chair