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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 02/06/1997DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT ddoAUTHORITY ONE WEST CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER Telephone (970) 484-2020 201 SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE, FORT COLLINS, CO 80524 Telefax (970) 484-2069 DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Regular Directors, Meeting MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6. 1997 REGULAR MEETING The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority met in regular session at 7:30 a.m., February 6, 1997 in the Third Floor Conference Room at 201 South College Avenue, One West Art Center. PRESENT There were present: Stephen Slezak, Chair presiding Bonnie Bixler Szidon, vice chair Mary Brayton, Secretary Carey Hewitt, Treasurer Bill Attwooll Jason Meadors Absent: Kermit Allard Chuck Wanner Greg Belcher Staff: Chip Steiner, Consultant Anne Garrison Lucia Liley, Counsel Guests: Kris Ticnor, James Leach, Don Bunn, Mike Torgerson, Steve Fobes, Tom Shoemaker, Clark Mapes, Bob Smith CALL TO ORDER Mr. Slezak called the meeting to order, and entertained a motion to approve the minutes of January 9, 1997. Mr. Meadows noted the need for two additions and these are as follows: Prior to the Rand -Scot presentation, page 3, Ms. Brayton declared a personal conflict of interest and excused herself frog participation in the discussion. In the paragraph regarding the Executive Session, page 3, it must be noted that the Board entered into this session DDA MINUTES PAGE 2 with legal counsel to confer on 185 North College. Me. Brayton made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected, seconded by Mr. Meadors and carried unanimously. FRIENDS OF LEE In the months since the Neighborhood appeared before the MARTINEZ PARR Board, its goal has been to stimulate an acceptable development that was less dense in nature. What is proposed by Messrs. Leach, Torgeson and Bunn of Wonderland Companies, comprises 60 residential unite and a 12,000 square foot commercial space. The residential portion would be co - housing and Wonderland has successfully completed similar projects in the area. DDA is being asked to contribute $35,000 in the form of a grant to the City, to assist in purchasing the eastern 2.1 acres of the site. The City has committed $70,000 and Trillium Corporation will be asked to donate $35,000. Construction is slated to commence late this year, and DDA may be asked for additional monies to fund right of way improvements at a later date. Ms. Szidon moved to contribute $35,000 toward the 2.1 acre acquisition and this was seconded by Mr. Hewitt. A discussion arose about whether or not the City would proceed with the acquisition if the rest of the project did not go forward. Me. Brayton offered a friendly amendment to indicate that the $35,000 would be given only if the project proceeded as proposed. This was seconded by Mr. Hewitt and carried unanimously. HOME STATE BANK Mr. Fobes updated the Board regarding some plan changes which have occurred since the decision was made to support this project in the amount of $190,000. The changes are as follows: Plana now call for a two instead of a three story building Farm Bureau will not be part of Phase I Mr. Fobes explained that they had experienced some difficulty with the City concerning height restrictions, and in addition, the proposed third floor tenant is no longer interested. He assured the Board that the design, street and site features will remain the same. Although the amount of housing will be reduced, the amount of parking will remain the same. Mr. Steiner and Ms. Liley reported having met with City representatives to discuss methods of financing for this project. POUDRE RIVER Mr. Steiner's assessment was faxed to the Board just prior CORRIDOR to the meeting, and in general, reaction to the zones is positive. Major criticisms relate to design constraints, arbitrary setback requirements for riparian transition zones and the need for greater intermingling of the urban and river environments. Mr. Steiner emphasized that this is both a human and a wildlife environment and each shape the natural setting, and both should be allowed to do so. There was some discussion between City representatives and the Board, and it was agreed that design problems were more difficult to work out than the philosophical issues. The City's time constraints in needing DDA's input by February 14, brought forth the suggestion that the special committee which had assisted with Principles and Policies be reactivated to deal with this issue, and before proceeding, relate its findings to the full Board in a special meeting. DDA MINUTES PAGE 3 RESOLUTION 97-01 Mr. Slezak called for approval of Resolution 97-01 which addresses the Agreement between the DDA and the Downtown Business Association, for marketing and promotional services. This had been approved, with one change, as Resolution 96-14 in December 1996. Me. Szidon moved to adopt Resolution 97-01, this was seconded by Mr. Attwooll and carried unanimously. Mr. Steiner formally acknowledged, with the Board's appreciation, the assistance rendered by Mr. Attwooll in the issues relating to 185 North College Avenue. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:35 a.m. Mary Brayton, Secretary THE STEINER COMPANY Urban Development TO: DDA Board of Directors 201 South College FROM: Chip Steiner /J Fort Collins, Colorado 80524 DATE: March---, (970)221-5023 Fax (970) 221-5058 RE: County Courthouse Frank Lancaster, Larimer County Administrator, will be attending the DDA meeting this month. In conversations following a joint County, City, and DDA meeting in January regarding the development of a new courthouse, it has been suggested that the Authority play a larger role in the advancement of this project. More specifically, this means helping the County put together an appropriate information program about the needs of and benefits from developing new courthouse facilities. Since downtown Fort Collins would be a beneficiary of such a project, the Board of Directors may want to evaluate the extent of DDA involvement. The issue is more complicated than it appears on the surface. The benefit to downtown is clear. However, there is a possibility that the DDA and the County and the City will be negotiating various parts of this development among themselves. This raises the issue of potentially conflicting interests. One approach the Board may wish to consider is to ask legal counsel to work with the County and the City to establish a working agreement which keeps clearly separate the advancement of the project as a whole from the actual development negotiations of various pieces of the project. The implication is that the DDA may need/wish to hire two people. Legal counsel could perform the negotiating function. Just a reminder to the Board: I still have a contractual arrangement with Hensel Phelps and cannot perform any of the functions discussed in this memorandum.