EDSR MEMORANDUM 04-09-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

new economic development marketing materials that have been developed as a result of the Communication&Brand Plan. • 4. Business Park Zone Issues...Staff has received a request by Rick Martens, Brookstone, Inc. for the Planning Commission's consideration of the attached recently revised business park design standards. The primary items of concern include the percentage of warehouse space allowed without conditional use permit, and the limitation on concrete panels. Mr. Martens has been invited to present his concerns to a Planning Commission work session that would be held,Tuesday,May 8`h. EDA members will be invited to attend the work session since the EDA was instrumental in designating the original business park zone and specific areas of the community. Specific policy issues could then be discussed at the May 19th regular meeting if necessary. Of note, objectives adopted within the Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan are to establish the City of Elk River as the hub of light manufacturing firms in the northwest metro by 2005,and to build-out the East and West Business Parks with a range of building sizes that meets the City's design standards by 2010. According to the business park ordinance, the intent for the business park district is "to encourage businesses which generate a high number of jobs per square foot rather than predominately warehouse type uses." 5. Feature Article...Elk River was recently featured in the attached online exclusive article of Plants Sites and Parks Maga<ine(February,2001). The article features Elk River as a case study example of new industrial development occurring in third-tier Twin Cities suburbs. The article also includes a testimonial from SoftPac Industries, • Inc. in Elk River. The magazine's website is located at www.bizsites.com 6. Related Article...Attached is a copy of the online article from Site Selection magazine, March 2001. The article summarizes the results of a national survey of municipal economic development officials regarding their process for evaluating economic development project impacts. Of particular interest is the rating of key location factors sited by corporate real estate executives and how economic development officials rate the advantages of their community's business advantages. Comparatively, the Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan sites Elk River's business location advantages as the City's strategic location between Twin Cities and St. Cloud (proximity to customers/clients), available land,comprehensive financial package, confidential site selection services and customer-driven professional staff. 7. West Business Park Progress...SoftPac Industries has recently moved into the offices of their Elk River facility. Once the processing equipment is received and tested,production is anticipated to start in September/October. Track of the Wolf and Integrated Power Solutions is anticipating moving into the new Ripplinger/Norha buildings in May. Additionally, final construction on Business Center Drive is anticipated to begin in May. Staff is continuing to pursue a joint marketing agreement with the owners of the Gagne property. Staff also continues to work with United Properties in drafting • conceptual plans for the development of the 80-acre Wilson business park property.