COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION MEETING
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 7:30 A.M.
Evendale Municipal Building, 10500 Reading Road, Evendale, Ohio
Attendees: Al Pearlman, Hugh McKinnon, Stiney Vonderhaar, Chris Schaefer, , Bob Szczur, Dave Harwood, Carolyn Smiley-Robertson and Jack Cameron. Also present from FSA/KKG Aaron Whittaker, Chris Breda, Linda Armsey, and Sukirti Ghosh.
Roll Call:
Recurring Business:
1. Approval of Minutes from March 2, 2010 and April 6, 2010 Meetings (1st Vonderhaar, 2nd Szczur – 7 aye, 0 nae).
New Business:
1. FSA project meeting
a. Agenda attached from FSA.
b. Aaron Whittaker addressed project status
i. Tracking program is in development and FSA needs to be sensitive to confidential info before being brought online.
ii. Is CIC set with the three PSA’s? Yes – Village Crossings, Former hotel/Fifth Third sites, Landmark Baptist.
iii. Draft ED Strategic Plan needs to be reviewed and second draft will be available for next meeting.
iv. How do we measure and monitor progress and success?
v. Developer/property owner discussions getting deeper sooner than expected but all good progress. This has diverted some attention away from the proposed schedule.
c. Public comment document is OK for publication and dissemination to public. – Yes.
d. Draft Economic Development Strategic Plan
i. Aaron presented the plan explaining that it is a holistic approach.
ii. Chris Schaefer expressed the desire to omit residential from the plan. Nothing that addresses changing housing or includes multi-family housing should be part of the strategy. Hugh stated his opinion that issues need to be vetted and the CIC owes it to the process to address each issue to conclusion. Others agreed that the housing question be put in a ‘parking lot’ for the time being but needs to be addressed.
iii. Aaron continued through the plan noting that this would be a guide for Evendale.
iv. Concern was raised by Stiney about keeping control of development in regard to one thing is presented and another is built. How do we maintain control?
v. Aaron explained that the plan is to have Evendale developer ready and to put us in a proactive role.
1. ED website should list available properties as well as our PSA’s and any other developer ready sites.
2. Evendale’s process should be outlined. External processes, internal process, expedite the process.
a. Internal process should have a scorecard that measures a proposed development against set criteria.
vi. Outreach and cultivation are part of the ED plan.
1. Very large companies, large companies, SME’s (small to medium size)
2. Jack raised the issue of entrepreneurs as a target strategy.
vii. Marketing & Branding – effort would be a signal of change. Web presence could be cohesive with remainder of the Village site or economic development could set a different look and feel.
1. Bob offered his perspective as resident. Business community characteristics OK. Walking trails would be an asset to provide a resident feel. Most important thing to him as a resident is his home. Will this ED plan increase his property value?
2. Chris Schaefer noted that the community facility should serve residents and not be geared towards larger events.
3. Aaron raised the question of using events as marketing tool. Can the Village use existing events to raise the public image desired with the ED plan.
viii. Can the Village affect strategic leasing? Can we direct tenants better? If so, how does that happen? What is our desired direction?
ix. Plan needs to encourage active development participation. Some concept site plans could work as a model to consider other options.
x. Final note on draft ED Strategic Plan is to have CIC members review and provide comments back to Jack in a week.
e. Village Crossing PSA update
i. Chris Breda and Jack met with Kelvin Hanger and Mark Deutsch of the Evendale Medical Center. Presented current concept plans. Evendale Medical Center has a board meeting May 26th. Chris Breda working on offering any assistance they may need to present ideas to their board.
ii. CIC members noted that any concept plans should clearly show connection to Inwood Drive and at some point the residents of Inwood should understand what that means and have opportunity to input.
iii. Carolyn noted that we need to keep an eye out for the existing retailers and make efforts to keep them in Evendale.
iv. All CIC members were in favor of direction of the Village Crossings PSA.
f. Landmark Baptist property
i. Chris Breda noted that discussions are underway. Meeting with Glendale, Matt Holman, FSA and Jack are hoping to take place.
ii. Chris Schaefer suggested that the 3rd PSA be moved from Inwood Drive to Landmark property. No current activity is taking place around the Inwood property and it would make the most sense to address those areas with activity. All CIC members agreed that this should be 3rd PSA.
1. Al asked if senior housing should be dismissed as an option.
2. Bob questioned the possibility of housing option that is not multi-family. Complexion of housing would look completely different if patio home option.
3. Stiney stated that he is not in favor of any kind residential housing on Landmark.
iii. CIC affirmed Landmark as 3rd PSA
1. Approach that develops the property as a whole is the 1st option.
2. Keep open the option of parceling the site.
3. Oak Street would act as a natural break point or divide for the site.
Discussion Items for Next Meeting
Date of Next Meeting and Adjournment
Motion to adjourn (1st Schaefer, 2nd McKinnon – 7 aye, 0 nae).
Next Meeting – Thursday, June 10th at 3:00pm.
| 
