Corridor Improvement Authority

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 13, 2007– 5:30 P.M. CITY CENTER – ROOM 201 Approved Dan Crombez called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Members present at roll call: Daniel Crombez, Salvatore D’Angelo, Denice Gerstenberg, Pat Lehman, Mary Marcinak Doug Skrzyniarz and Rose Tocco Members absent: None Also in attendance: Luke Bonner, Economic Development Manager; Terry Croad, McKenna Associates; Angela Freeman & Brett Freeman, Huntington Bank; Teresa Jarzab, Recording Secretary Motion to Approve the Agenda Moved by Marcinak, supported by Gerstenberg, to approve the agenda as presented. Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried. Motion to Approve the June 13, 2007 Minutes Moved by Marcinak, supported by Lehman, to approve the minutes from June 13, 2007. Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried. Presentation on Corridor Improvement Authority Façade Program by Luke Bonner and Terry Croad Mr. Bonner presented a Review of the business survey results. Seventy surveys were sent out, twenty-six were returned. An overview of the Façade program was given to the committee members. Mr. Bonner informed the committee that Key Bank and Huntington Banks are interested in working with the CIA Façade program. One example program was outlined in the presentation showing the financing options that would be available to businesses in the corridor. Mr. Croad of McKenna, presented an overview of Design guidelines options. Mr. Croad presented all the different design options, he requested the committee provide comments and input about what the committee is looking for in the corridor. Mr. Croad stated that he would work with the committee to incorporate all the design ideas that the committee would like to see and present them to the committee at a future meeting. Open Discussion on Façade Program Ms. Lehman questioned where the monies are coming from to pay McKenna Associates. Mr. Bonner responded that it is not coming out of the CIA monies at this time. Ms Lehman commented that it shouldn’t come from CIA monies now or in the future. Ms. Lehman asked Mr. Croad, how he would work with the problems of the buildings being set back so far off the road and how to incorporate the CIA guidelines in the north corridor, to follow through to the south beyond the CIA corridor. Mr. Croad explained about scale and making common elements in signage and scale. Also including landscaping to bring the building fronts closer to the road, adding outdoor seating, and gateway features, i.e. sculpture and lighting. Ms. Lehman questioned the infrastructure of the Boulevard design. How would construction of the Blvd affect any projects that we would have already completed when the roadwork begins? Mr. Croad stated that this project will not solve all the problems but, that once these guidelines are in place, when funding is in place and redevelopment investment comes, then we can give the developers our guidelines and show them what they are required to do. Discussion ensued about the hard economical times and that businesses may not be able to afford these improvements. Need of an anchor store in the district. Discussion about business in the area, status of new development and redevelopment of existing sites. General discussion of condition of existing buildings and how can we redevelopment of the entire corridor. Mr. Bonner stated that by having these guidelines in place, any developer interested in the corridor properties will know what will be required. Mr. Bonner suggested that we need to get one marquee project started and the rest of the developments will follow. Mr. Bonner explained how new developments would increase the revenue for the corridor, and how that will affect the future revenues for the CIA. Mr. Crombez asked could we set these guidelines without having people go forward and implementing them but use them for new businesses. Mr. Bonner stated yes that this is part of the process and another part is giving existing businesses the incentives to move forward, with expanding their business and buildings. Mr. D’Angelo asked about the Cities program to get businesses to come the CIA corridor. Mr. Bonner explained the process. Group discussion ensued about real-estate agents for vacant properties in the CIA corridor. Ms. Lehman asked Mr. Croad what is the first phase he would recommend to a CIA or DDA. Mr. Croad responded that as a planner, you need the Master Plan, Development Plan, and Design Guidelines. Mr. Bonner stated that the Planning Commission has already incorporated the CIA, and now anything the CIA Board does, will not have to go back to the Planning Board. Discussion ensued about the design guidelines with Mr. Croad, and the multi phasing issues with the small amount of monies available. Ms. Marcinak stated that residential housing would help Kroger’s business. She also wanted to state for the record, if you have respite stations, then the homeless are going to be going into the trash receptacles and making a mess, and you may want to have everything in place before you put in the respite stations. When it becomes more pedestrian friendly than you won’t have that problem. Mr. Crombez asked Mr. Croad his professional opinion on which style would work for our corridor. Mr. Croad suggested the Traditional Guideline, this way the developers will know what our concepts are. Discussion followed. Ms. Freeman explained the finance program that Huntington Bank is going to offer. Ms. Marcinak requested information about what incentives have been offered to developers for the old Jim Muir site. Mr. Bonner responded. Ms. Marcinak discussed tax abatements, and is the City willing to use these incentives to lure more businesses to the CIA corridor. Discussion followed. Discussion ensued on whether or not we needed a motion for Terry Croad of McKenna to start the designs of the master plan, it was decided that a motion was not needed. The committee requested that Mr. Croad make a first draft plan of the CIA corridor guidelines. Mr. Croad asked the committee for some directions about what they wanted to see in the plans. Discussion followed about traditional versus historic and contemporary facades. Mr. Bonner wanted to clarify that the meetings are the second Wednesday of the month, the new City Calendar is printed wrong. Ms. Marcinak suggested that the Riverland Plaza (Kroger) was the perfect place to add a second story. Discussion followed, Mr. Croad agreed that some height at that site would solve the scale issues. Public Comments None Adjournment Moved by Crombez, supported by Lehman to adjourn. Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. TJ