6.5a PCSR 03-28-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Truck Shop owner, Mr. Beaudry, and project team, met with City Engineer Justin Femrite, and County Engineer, Adam Witter, on January 23, 2017 to discuss future road improvements and the proposed project, Both indicated their support in moving the project forward through the development process based on preliminary sketches. What are the reasons /purposes for the proposed Zone Change? The proposed project is comprised of four parcels; the northern two parcels are currently zoned 1 -2 (conforms to proposed project) and the southern two parcels are zoned C4 (does not conform with proposed project). All four parcels are guided Mississippi Connections; on 2- 17 -17, staff indicated the project fit within the guided land use. What has changed to warrant the Zone Change? The proposed project only needs a partial rezone to conform to the city ordinance. There has been numerous discussions regarding the final design of road improvements in the proposed project area (Quinn, 6 th Street, CR 1 /Proctor). A meeting with both city and county engineers on 1 -23 -17 resulted in their support for the project to move forward in the development process. How is the request consistent with the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan? The zoning change request is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan in the following ways: • The project will make Elk Rivera complete place through attracting employment opportunities and creating opportunities for people to live and work in Elk River • The Comprehensive Plan indicates that three aspects of Elk River's future require particular attention: expanding the tax base, attracting jabs and encouraging redevelopment. This project will address all three elements through the redevelopment of four parcels and four existing, non- conforming residential properties built in the early 1930s. • The Plan also indicates that property taxes remain the largest source of revenue far the City and that retaining and attracting livable wage jobs has been an ongoing objective for the city; this project will generate additional revenue through the tax base more than doubling, and create five new jobs for the city, averaging more than $23 /hr • Brings two existing, non - conforming parcels into conformity • Supports the goal of redevelopment: "the city should explore more aggressively the practice of redevelopment ... the stated and practiced posture of the community to allow for and promote the reuse of substandard parcels ... the city should seek to remove obstacles to redevelopment" • Supports to "foster a pro - business atmosphere That provides incentives and other opportunities for new and existing business growth" — this project will be utilizing the HRA Rehabilitation Forgivable loan to offset increased project costs due to demolition of four existing, non- conforming properties The project fully supports the Economic Development Strategic Plan as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan: "Attract new businesses and support existing businesses to increase the city's industrial tax base, commercial base and employment base."