15153 Nowthen Blvd Property Development: Consider Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application

PURPOSE OF CASE
Consider SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to allow for _____________  on the Subject Property.
   
DETAILED BACKGROUND
(Subject Property, study group process, development process, public input, general, etc.)
Please see the Findings Report included in this case: pages 1-8 and several Appendix items.
 
CASE BACKGROUND
In some form, this case has been reviewed by the City’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) and City Council a combined nine times from October 2012 to June 2014.  For a record of case presentations and minutes, please visit the project webpage: cityoframsey.com/formerrmc.
 
This case was reviewed by the EDA on May 8, 2014; at which time, a unanimous recommendation was made to the City Council: Submit an application for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to allow for both residential and data center land uses on the Subject Property.  The EDA made this recommendation with the intent of stipulating a timeline/sunset date to market the Subject Property for a data center development (for example, 18 or 24 months).

Notification of this meeting was made via direct mail to 250 surrounding property owners.  Included on the project webpage are all letters sent to the public regarding this discussion: cityoframsey.com/formerrmc.

FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS
Attached to this case is an updated feasibility analysis that compares two data center development scenarios to a single family residential development.  The feasibility analysis draws two major conclusions: (1) from an annual property tax revenue perspective, a data center development is considerably more beneficial to the City than a single family residential development; and (2) from a one-time land transaction perspective, it is anticipated a residential development is marginally more beneficial to the City than a data center development.

It should be noted, a few unmeasurable variables will have an effect on this feasibility report: i.e. fiscal disparities, required land sale discount for a data center development, required land sale discount for a residential development and market trends/changes.
 
PUBLIC INPUT/DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS
Over the past 18 months the City has taken in a large quantity of public input regarding the future development of the Subject Property.  A detailed account of public input can be referenced in the attached Findings Report; pages 5-42 (summary: pages 5-13).
 
Included in the Findings Report is a detailed breakdown of information shared and input received for each specific issue identified by the public (Noise, Site Layout, Building Design, Spot Zoning, Safety, Traffic, Land Values).  Each issue is broken down into the following categories:

1. Summarized description of issue
2. Analytic information
3. Potential mitigation techniques
4. Qualitative public input/feedback
5. Quantitative public input/feedback.
6. Appendix of this Findings Report is raw information utilized in each public meeting; supplemental information submitted by the public; and answers to questions from the public.

NOTES: Staff will walk through a detailed PowerPoint presentation of this case at the Council Meeting.  Also, attached to this case are comments from Council Member Tossey; which were intended to be read at the May 20 Council Worksession.

This process has been captured under 'normal staff duties' of the Administration and Community Development Departments.

Submit an application for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to allow for _____________  on the old municipal center site.