COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION MEETING
Monday, December 7, 2009 at 7:30 A.M.
Evendale Municipal Building, 10500 Reading Road, Evendale, Ohio
Attendees: Al Pearlman, Hugh McKinnon, Stiney Vonderhaar, Chris Schaefer, Carolyn Smiley-Robertson, Bob Szczur, Jack Cameron (Dave Harwood absent). Also present from FSA/KKG Chris Breda, Craig Gossman, Linda Armsey, and Steve Armsey.
Roll Call:
Recurring Business:
1. Approval of Minutes from November 2, 2009 Meeting (1st Vonderhaar, 2nd Pearlman – 4 aye, 0 nae; Smiley-Robertson, Schaefer abstain).
2. Economic Development update – no update due to other agenda demanding discussion time.
a. Executive Session – no executive session.
New Business:
1. SAEC/Kinetic Vision Enterprise Zone application review
a. Hamilton County Development Company to present
b. CIC to review and recommend action to Council
i. Application for Enterprise Zone is attached which contains payroll, number of employees current and future as well as total estimated investment.
ii. Jeremy Jarrett, vice president of SAEC/kinetic vision presented background on company, growth plans and decision to pursue Evendale. SAEC/kinetic vision wants to be in the central corridor and Evendale Commons offered a lower cost per acre than Blue Ash and allows them to build a new building to match their desired appearance. The company is an engineering firm that services outsource needs for GE Aviation, Proctor & Gamble, Ethicon Endosurgery to name a few of their larger clients. They are currently in Blue Ash
and have outgrown their space and want to build and own their own building.
iii. Company is primarily salary based in total expenditures with 2009 earnings at approximately $3,000,000. Salary expenditures for 2009 are projected at approximately $1,900,000 leaving the majority of the difference between sales and salary cost as profit which would be subject to corporate tax in Evendale. The company is private and did not reveal the total profit projection for 2009.
iv. CIC made recommendation to Council to approve a Resolution in support of the 6 year 75% tax abatement being presented from the Hamilton County Development Company (1st Schaefer, 2nd Smiley-Robertson – 6aye, 0 nae).
2. FSA project meeting
a. Chris Breda began by updating on recent property owner discussions/meetings that FSA has had since the last meeting.
i. Al. Neyer, Miller Valentine Group and several large retail brokers with a presence in the region. They also have a meeting request of the Archdiocese to discuss the St. Rita property.
b. Several maps and drawings were presented as background for the CIC discussion.
i. Regional transportation and linkages – this map showed the position of Evendale in the center of the north central part of Greater Cincinnati, high speed rail stop proposed in downtown Sharonville, I75 Thru the Valley project. The idea of new pavement makes things happen was stressed and the opportunities with any branding, signage, or landscaping that can happen with the highway project are beneficial. A follow up meeting with ODOT representatives with FSA is desired.
c. Regional overview of land uses – this map had Evendale’s as well as neighboring land uses shown to help the group recognize possibilities that are presented from outside our corporation limits.
i. Chris Breda noted at this time that they had communicated with Sonic, rumored to be interested in the Village Crossings site, and they are not interested in the Village Crossings location but would be interested in Evendale Commons as a location but per acre price is too high.
ii. Chris Breda also noted some per acre costs for land in Blue Ash as compared to Evendale. Blue Ash available sites to build office are $350k and Evendale land is $70-130k for office, $500k for retail outlots and $400k for large retail lot at Evendale Commons.
d. Village owned properties and Master Plan areas map – this map showed the parcels that the Village owned as well as those areas designated and discussed in the Master Plan.
i. Chris Breda suggested that the group decide on 4 areas of concentration at this point. These four areas would be; Travelodge/Interstate, Inwood, 100% Corner and Churchills.
ii. As can be seen on this map the Village is divided in 3 distinct areas; Interstate access west of I 75, Industrial and Residential.
iii. Council Member Schaefer desired to have Churchill’s site removed from the top 4 list and add the Landmark site instead. He noted that Landmark is at a point of change and fluctuations have occurred recently that make it possibly on the market. Discussion ensued about the Landmark site and it was noted in the previous proposed Erickson development that Glendale had a focus on the additional water taps while Evendale had a focus on earnings tax. Discussions need to ensue between Glendale and Evendale to get a
better idea of what each community can support. Chris Breda and Jack are to pursue these discussions with Glendale and their ED consultant.
iv. Council Member Vonderhaar stated that his understanding of FSA’s project work was to focus on Village owned properties solely. The CIC recognized the need to push Village owned property but no decision was made as to the Top 4 list.
e. Chris Breda updated the CIC on discussions with Al. Neyer regarding Village Crossings which was desired by CIC at the last meeting.
i. Al. Neyer is not confident with the marketability of the site in its current configuration. They are set to refinance at the end of 2010 and could be looking to sell.
ii. PNC Bank is to announce consolidation plans in the next few weeks since their acquisition of National City Bank.
iii. The Mayor and Jack had a discussion with Kelvin Hanger of the Evendale Medical Center last week and they are doing well. Kelvin reported that they have set up a meeting with Al. Neyer to discuss the 3 acre site at the west end of the property that they are currently demolishing.
iv. Craig Gossman presented an overlay drawing of the Village Crossings area noting that its highest and best use is not retail. His drawing showed potential for office setting with vehicular and pedestrian access around the site, to the south towards Inwood Drive and to and through PG Graves to Evendale Commons. This drawing is attached.
f. Several items for follow up:
i. FSA meeting with Archdiocese.
ii. I 75 Thru the Valley meeting.
iii. FSA to prepare a property analysis.
iv. FSA to prepare a site matrix for prioritization.
Discussion Items for Next Meeting – see above.
Date of Next Meeting and Adjournment – Tuesday, January 19th at 7:30am.
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