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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 12/02/2004DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REGULAR DIRECTORS` MEETING Kim-JORkAN, 4HAIR' 221-0524 (M BILL 89RT00m , COUNCIL LIAISON 484-8838 (W) ANNE GARRISON, STAFF LIAISON 484-2020 (W) MINUTES OF DECEMBER 2, 2004 REGULAR MEETING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MET IN REOULAR SESSION AT 7:30 A.M. ON DECEMBER 2, 2004 IN THE MEETING ROOM AT HOME STATE BANK LOCATED AT 303 EAST MOUNTAIN AVENUE, FORT COLLINS, CO 80524, PRESENT Kim JORDAN, CHAIR STEVE TAYLOR — VICE -CHAIR JASON MEADORS, SECRETARY%rREASURER MARY BRAYTON CARY HEWITT BILL SEARS JACK WOLFE LARRY STROUD ABSENT BILL BERTscHY STAFF ROBERT STEINER. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LINDA GuLA LUCIA LLLEY, COUNSEL GUESTS DARIN ATTEBERRY, ALAN KRCMARIK, SCOTT SMITH, USA MALMQUIST, CRAIG FOREMAN, MARTY HEFFERNAN, KATHLEEN BENEDICT, CRAIG KISSLING, BRUCE HENDEE. CALL TO ORDER MS. JORDAN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:35 A.M. ROLL CALL WAS TAKEN. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MR. SEARS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 1 8, 2004. SECONDED BY MR. MEADORS AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. COOPERSMITH'S MR. STEINER REFERRED TO THE INFORMATION IN THE PACKET WHERE COOPERSMITH'S BREWPUB IS PATIO ASKING THE AUTHORITY FOR PERMISSION TO USE A PORTION OF THE ALLEY THAT BISECTS ITS TWO RESTAURANT FACILITIES FOR ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR DINING. STAFF SUPPORTS THIS PROPOSAL. MR. SCOTT SMITH WAS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER OUESTIQNS. MR. SMITH STATED THE SMOKING ORDINANCE HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED HIS POOLSIDE BUSINESS AND HE IS TRYING TO REGENERATE THAT BUSINESS BY EXPANDING HIS FOOD SERVICE OPERATION. THERE WERE QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD CONCERNING THE SMOKING ORDINANCE AND HOW IT IS AFFECTING BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN AND WHETHER THIS AREA WOULD BECOME THE RESTAURANT'S SMOKING AREA. MR. STROUD ASKED MR. SMITH IF THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE SMOKING ORDINANCE WERE EQUALLY ENFORCED ACROSS OLD TOWN, WOULD THIS PATIO STILL BE OF BENEFIT. MR. SMITH STATED IT ABSOLUTELY WOULD BE OF BENEFIT REGARDLESS OF ENFORCEMENT ISSUES. MR, WOLFE MOVED TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL. SECONDED BY MR, TAYLOR AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. DDA MINUTES PAGE 2 DECEMBER 2. 2004 MASON STREET NORTH MR. STEINER STATED DEVELOPERS OF MASON STREET NORTH HAVE REQUESTED A ONE YEAR EXTENSION TO THE DDA'B COMMITMENT TO FUND CERTAIN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT. THIS IS THE THIRD REQUEST. STAFF IS SUGGESTING EXTENDING THE COMMITMENT FOR ANOTHER 1 2 MONTHS. HOWEVER, STAFF SUGGESTED ADDING LANOUAGE THAT NO FURTHER EXTENSIONS WILL BE GIVEN IF CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT HAS NOT BEGUN BY APRIL, 2005. THERE WAS DISCUSSION AMONG BOARDMEMBERS CONCERNING THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT AND WHERE THEY ARE IN THE CITY PROCESS, AND THE DESIGN OF THE PARKING AREA. MR. SEARS MOVED TO EXTEND THE COMMITMENT FOR ANOTHER 1 2 MONTHS, BUT NO FURTHER EXTENSIONS WILL BE GIVEN IF CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT HAS NOT BEGUN BY APRIL, 2005. SECONDED BY MS. BRAYTON AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. MIKE JENSEN THE APPLICANT WAS NOT PRESENT $O THIS ITEM WAS NOT HEARD. PROJECTS UGHTSOURCE MR. STROUD STATED HE WOULD BE ABSTAINING FROM THE DISCUSSION AND VOTE. MR. STEINER STATED THIS ITEM HAD BEEN HEARD AT THE NOVEMBER 1 8, 2004 BOARD MEETINO, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUESTED AT THAT MEETING HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PACKET. MS. USA MALMQUIST WAS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THERE WERE QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE PLANTERS AND THE MATERIALS USED IN THE SIGN. MR, HEWITT MOVED TO SUPPORT A COMMITMENT OF UP TO $5000, SECONDED BY MR. WOLFE AND PASSED 7-I. MASON STREET MR. STEINER STATED THE BOARD HAD PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED THE CONCEPT OF ADDING A ONE - PARKING GARAGE LEVEL DECK TO THE MASON STREET PARKING LOT AS PROPOSED BY BILL COALSON DEVELOPER OF THE CORTINA PROJECT. HE REFERRED TO THE TERMS LISTED IN THE PACKET MEMO THAT STAFF BELIEVES SHOULD GOVERN THIS PROJECT. MR. STEINER STATED STAFF IS REQUESTING BOARD INPUT ON THE TERMS. ANY ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE PROJECT TO PROCEED. THE BOARD NEEDS TO DECIDE WHETHER IT WANTS TO SPEND $38.000 FOR FOUNDATION IMPROVEMENTS TO CARRY A THIRD DECK. THERE WAS BOARD DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS ON PARKING IN THE AREA AND THE FACT THAT THIS PARKING LOT IS ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY USED LOTS IN DOWNTOWN. PARKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS AN ISSUE AND IF THE THREE FLOORS OF THE BUILDING ARE LEASED IT COULD BECOME A REAL ISSUE. THE BOARD DISCUSSED LOOKING AT PARKING NEEDS AND PARKING INVENTORY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF LOOKING AT OTHER THINGS LIKE THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING UNDERGROUND AT THE COUNTY PARKING LOT. MR. HEWYR MOVED TO ALLOCATE UP TO $38,000 FOR FOUNDATION IMPROVEMENTS TO ANTICIPATE A POSSIBLE FUTURE DECK, SECONDED BY MR, STROUD MR, MEADORS STATED HE ASSUMED THE MOTION CONTEMPLATES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DDA AND MR. COALSON AND OFFERED A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT THE MOTION IS CONTINGENT UPON REACHING AGREEMENT WITH MR. COALSON.. THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WAS ACCEPTED BY MR. HEWITT AND MR. STROUD. AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. MR. STEINER ASKED FOR BOARD DIRECTION ON DRAFTING A LEASE AGREEMENT. MR, STEINER STATED ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS -1 WE LEASE IT FOR ONE DOLLAR A YEAR OR SOME NOMINAL AMOUNT AND TAKE OWNERSHIP AT THE END OF 30 YEARS, OR 00 WE LEASE IT AT MARKET VALUE. HE ALSO NOTED THE BIG ISSUES ARE THE MAINTENANCE AND THE PARKING MANAGEMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT PUTTING A DECK OVER THE PUBLIC SPACE MEANS THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND LIGHTING ISSUES. HE STATED THAT THE DDA WILL DO THE FINANCIAL PIECE AND THE CITY IS PRETTY MUCH GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT, DISCUSSION AMONG BOAROMEMBERS FOCUSED ON THE VALUE OF AIR RIGHTS AND OWNERSHIP AT THE END OF 30 YEARS, WITH THE DIRECTION TO MR, STEINER TO NEGOTIATE A 30 YEAR LEASE AT A DOLLAR A YEAR FOR THIRTY YEARS AND THE DDA TAKE OWNERSHIP AT THE END OF THAT PERIOD. DDA MINUTES PAGE 3 DECEMBER 2, 2004 MR. STEINER STATED HE WILL BRING THE AGREEMENT BACK TO THE BOARD AFTER IT HAS BEEN PREPARED. NOTE: ON 1 2/ 1 0/04, MR. STEINER SENT AN EMAIL TO THE BOARD STATING THAT MR. COALSON HAS DECIDED NOT TO PUT A DECK ON THE MASON STREET PARKING LOT. OAK STREET PLAZA MR. STEINER STATED THAT KATHLEEN BENEDICT AND CRAIG KISSLINO FROM THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AND BRUCE HENDEE FROM BHA DESIGN WOULD BE PRESENTING AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT. MR. KISSLING TALKED THROUGH THE PRESENTATION BOARDS AND STATED THE THEME WAS "ARTISTIC WHIMSY." MR, HENDEE TALKED ABOUT URBAN VITALITY AND HE PRESENTED PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS SHOWING THE WHIMSY OF THE ART FORMS BEING PROPOSED. HE STATED THE PLAZA WOULD CREATE A FEELING OF FUN AND EXCITEMENT AND WOULD CREATE A SENSE OF CONNECTIVITY FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER. HE STATED THE INTENTION IS NOT TO LIMIT ANY ACCESS OR PARKING. CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 2005. THERE WAS A GENERAL DISCUSSION AMONG BOAROMEMSERS CONCERNING EASEMENTS, ACCESS TO PARKING, AND THE USE OF LIGHTING TO CONNECT SPACES. COMMENTS MR. ATTEBERRY STATED THIS WOULD BE A COOL URBAN SPACE; A PLACE FOR FAMILY FUN, SHOPPING AND EATING. HE STATED HE COULD IMAGINE HIS FAMILY DOWN THERE PLAYING AND SPENDING MONEY. MS. BRAYTON STATED SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO THE ENTIRE BLOCK OF OAK, SHE STATED SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKABLE, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO JUST TAKE THAT WHOLE BLOCK. SHE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT ALLEY ACCE58 TO THOSE BUSINESSES. MS. JORDAN STATED SHE LIKED THE IDEA OF DOING THE WHOLE THING TOO; THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AN INTERIM STEP WHERE IT IS STILL A PARKING AREA BUT IT FLOWS NICELY FROM THE PLAZA TO AN ENHANCED PARKING AREA. SHE SUGGESTED WHATEVER WE DO IN THE WAY OF STRING LIGHTING THAT IT COULD BE ONE THEME THAT CARRIES FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION. MR. TAYLOR STATED HE SUPPORTS THE UNIOUENESS AND THE CHARACTER OF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. HE STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CONNECTIVITY EMPHASIZED MORE ON THE SIDEWALKS IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESSES ON THE SIDES THAN ON THE STREET, HE FELT THAT ALLEY COULD BE SPECTACULAR WHEN WE GET THE PARKING SET UP THERE AND THE WAY THE BUSINESSES OPEN ON TO THAT ALLEY. NOTE: MR, MEADORS LEFT AT 8:40 A.M DRAFT LETTER TO MR. STEINER ASKED FOR FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD ON THE DRAFT LETTER THAT WAS DESIGN COMMUNITY INCLUDED IN THE PACKER. COMMENTS: MR. STROUD ENCOURAGED THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT IN DESIGN AND DIVERSITY IN DESIGN WITHIN THE HISTORIC CONTEXT, HE FELT THE LETTER MAY BE SENDING A MIXED MESSAGE. MR. HEWITT STATED HE WOULD HATE TO DILUTE WHAT 15 DOWNTOWN BY NOT DOING HISTORIC DESIGN. MS. JORDAN STATED SHE THOUGHT THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT CALLS FOR MORE THAN HISTORIC. MR, SEARS STATED THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO LEAVE IT ALONE; THE PROCESS WILL GIVE US WHAT IS NEEDED. DEFININO DESIGN STANDARDS IS DIFFICULT. MR. TAYLOR STATED HE THINKS LESS IS MORE. HE STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO BE LESS PRESCRIPTIVE IN THE LETTER. MS, JORDAN SUGGESTED PERHAPS BRINGING THE ARCHITECTS AND DESIGN/BUILD FIRMS TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND GET SOME OPINIONS. DDA MINUTES PAGE 4 DECEMBER 2, 2004 THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WAS THAT THE LETTER WAS A 0000 IDEA AND TO EXPAND THE VISION WITHOUT BEING PRESCRIPTIVE. MR, STEINER STATED HE WOULD REDO THE LETTER AND CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WRITTEN INFORMATION, AS WELL AS LOOK FOR EXAMPLES OF ARCHITECTURE. OTHER BUSINESS MR. STEINER STATED HEHASHAD A REQUEST TO HELP FUND THE FREE SATURDAY PARKING PROGRAM FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THE CITY, DBA AND DDA ARE BEING ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE. THE COST WILL BE SPLIT THREE WAYS. MR. TAYLOR MOVED THAT THE DDA PROVIDE $ 1 500 TOWARDS SUBSIDIZING FREE PARKING DURING THE HOLIDAYS. SECONDED BY MR. HEWITT AND PASSED 5-0 ADJOURN THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9;55 A.M. JASON MFADORS, SECRETARY