Renaissance Zone Authority - April 5, 2017 Minutes
Regular Meeting: Tuesday: April 5, 2017:
The Regular Meeting of the Renaissance Zone Authority of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at 8:00 o'clock a.m., April 5, 2017.
The Renaissance Zone Authority members present or absent were as follows:
Present: Dr. Dean Bresciani, Commissioner Dave Piepkorn, Bruce Furness, Commissioner Tony Grindberg, Cari Luchau, Deb Mathern,
Chad Peterson, Steve Swiontek
Absent: None
Chair Mathern called the meeting to order.
Item 1: Approve Order of Agenda
Chair Mathern presented and asked for any additions or corrections to the agenda. Hearing none, she stated the agenda stands approved as presented.
Item 2: Minutes: Regular Meeting of February 22, 2017
Member Peterson noted a correction to the minutes. Member Piepkorn moved the amended minutes of the February 22, 2017 Renaissance Zone Authority meeting be approved. Second by Member Bresciani. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3: Review Application from Northland Hospitality, LLC (New Construction) at 301 3rd Avenue North: APPROVED
Planner Derrick LaPoint presented this item and noted a correction to the staff report referring to Block 10, which should read Block 8. Mr. LaPoint stated staff is recommending approval as the proposal does meet the guidelines and all required approval criteria.
The Board discussed additional parking availability; existing storm water policy in the DMU, Downtown Mixed Use zoning districts; and the proposed legislative changes that may affect this application.
Applicant Kevin Hall spoke on behalf of the application.
Member Piepkorn moved to approve the application submitted by Northland Hospitality, LLC, and to grant the property tax exemption and the State income tax exemptions as allowed by the North Dakota Renaissance Zone law, contingent upon completion of the project and verification of costs. Second by Member Swiontek. On call of the roll Members Piepkorn, Luchau, Furness, Swiontek, Peterson, Grindberg, Bresciani, and Mathern voted aye. The motion was declared carried.
Item 4: Review Request from Rick Nymark to add one (1) additional RZ “Candidate” Block: APPROVED
Derrick LaPoint reviewed the request stating staff is recommending approval to add Block 54 to the City’s Renaissance Zone Plan.
Board discussion ensued regarding staff’s review of the current Renaissance Zone Map; the process staff follows to determine their recommendation for changes to the map; what the term “candidate block” means; and the request for staff to provide an updated map at the next meeting.
Member Furness moved to approve the request of the addition of the proposed Renaissance Zone Block 54 as a “candidate” block as recommended by staff. Second by Member Luchau. On call of the roll Members Luchau, Swiontek, Grindberg, Piepkorn, Furness, Bresciani, and Mathern voted aye. Member Peterson abstained from voting. The motion was declared carried.
Item 5: Review Request from Jade Companies to add/move two (2) additional RZ Blocks: APPROVED
Derrick LaPoint briefly reviewed this item, that was discussed at the February 22, 2017 Renaissance Zone Authority meeting. He stated staff is recommending approval with the request to remove Block 40 from the existing Renaissance Zone Boundary, to remain within the cap of 49 blocks total.
Commissioner Grindberg asked if staff had received any concerns from area property owners. Mr. LaPoint stated no opposition has been received to-date.
Member Grindberg moved to approve the request of the addition of the proposed Renaissance Zone Blocks 52 and 53, and the removal of Renaissance Zone Bock 40, as recommended by the staff. Second by Member Bresciani. On call of the roll Members Grindberg, Peterson, Piepkorn, Swiontek, Furness, Luchau, Bresciani, and Mathern voted aye. The motion was declared carried.
Item 6: City of Fargo Zone Plan Amendments: APPROVED
Derrick LaPoint reported staff has contacted the State to confirm the process when requesting amendments to the existing Renaissance Zone Plan and Map. He stated the following documents are required: an updated map and property inventory list (copies are included in the packet), and a notification letter of the proposed changes to be mailed to the area property owners. Mr. LaPoint stated upon approval from this Board and the City Commission, a formal packet and request will be submitted to the State for final approval.
Member Peterson shared the following suggestions after reviewing the existing RZ map: focus on the RZ blocks that have met or are near completion of their goals; revisit the RZ blocks with no development or activity in the past 10 to 15 years, and notify the owners with the options to either begin rehab or development, or to remove their block from the map to allow other viable areas the opportunity to be added.
The Board further discussed the following: opportunities for continued success under the City’s RZ Plan; utilizing the Downtown Plan as a guide for decisions on the next steps taken for the RZ areas; adding markers to the RZ map to identify the various stages of development of the existing RZ approved projects; and reviewing the RZ map every two (2) years to reevaluate and make the needed changes.
Member Peterson moved to recommend to the City Commission approval of the proposed Renaissance Zone boundary changes as presented. Second by Member Furness. On call of the roll Members Piepkorn, Luchau, Furness, Swiontek, Peterson, Grindberg, Bresciani, and Mathern voted aye. The motion was declared carried.
Item 7: Legislative Update
Planning Director Jim Gilmour presented an update on the two bills that would affect the City’s existing Renaissance Zone Plan and staff’s review process of applications received.
Mr. LaPoint added staff is also informing any new applicants how the two Bills could affect their proposals.
Item 8: Other Business
Derrick LaPoint stated staff is expecting Renaissance Zone applications for the April 24, 2017 Renaissance Zone Authority meeting.
The time at adjournment was 9:55 a.m.