Minutes of the workshop session held
August 16, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Members Present
Mayor Ronald Drake and Council
Members Betty Lynch
Albert
Carroll, Jr.
Jason Earp
Marie
Lopez-Rogers
Raymond
Shuey
Chuck
Wolf
ABSENT/EXCUSED None
ALSO PRESENT
Jeff Fairman, Economic
Development Director
Linda Farris, City Clerk
Mayor Drake called the meeting to
order.
Commercial Infill/Incentive
Plan
Jeff Fairman explained they are
looking at changing the automatic infill portion of the Commercial Incentive
Program. He stated the location of the business, type of use, whether it is a
new or existing use, and whether it is an expansion of an existing use are all
taken into consideration when determining whether a business qualifies for an incentive.
He stated the commercial infill incentives include a 50 percent rebate of
building permit fees, a 50 percent rebate of development fees and a 50 percent
rebate of sales taxes for qualifying new and expanding businesses. He said
there are four commercial districts, each having distinctly different
opportunities and challenges. He said the Historic Light Industrial District,
which includes Eliseo Felix Way and parts of Main Street, has limited land
available for future development and eligible users may not be appropriate or
realistic. He stated the Cashion Multi-Cultural District, which includes
commercial property on the south side of MC 85 between 109th and 113th
Avenues, has extremely limited uses, with limited property available for new
construction or expansion of existing businesses. He said the Gateway Avondale
District, which includes parts of Van Buren Road, Dysart Road, and Central Avenue, is largely developed and is expected to improve without the need for special
incentives. He explained the Old Town Commercial District has seen reasonable
success and the city has made a significant investment in planning, roadway
improvements and landscaping in the district. Mr. Fairman recommended a five
step approach, with the first step being that they separate the residential and
commercial components of the existing ordinance. He said the second step will
be to eliminate the Cashion Multicultural Development District, Gateway
Avondale and Historic Light Industrial District from the Automatic Infill
Incentive Program. He stated the third step will be to expand the existing Old
Town District to include Western Avenue from Dysart Road west to the city
limits and Central Avenue north of Western Avenue to Brinker Road. He said, as
the next step, staff will make recommendations to Council regarding a
comprehensive Old Town redevelopment program, including appropriate levels and
types of incentives, developing a marketing plan, and reviewing existing
planning and design documents. He said the final step will be to implement the
program and track its performance. He stated other alternatives include: 1)
leaving the program as it currently exists; 2) expanding the existing program
by reviewing, modifying and refining each district on a case-by-case basis; or
3) eliminating the commercial automatic infill incentive program altogether.
Councilman Carroll asked if
incentives will still be offered to businesses coming into the districts that
are recommended for the automatic infill incentive program. Mr. Fairman stated
eliminating the automatic incentive program will free the Council to look at a
different set of customized incentives for a particular type of use.
Councilman Carroll asked what is
being done about the eyesores currently on Main Street. Mr. Fairman agreed a
number of issues on MC85 need to be addressed. He said the area is too
important and far reaching for an automatic infill incentive program to
address. He suggested MC85 deserves a plan of its own that creates a better
vision for the road, stating it will likely include roadway improvements,
landscape improvements, and a new set of rules under which the area will
operate. He expressed concern the automatic infill incentive program will act
as a disincentive by perpetuating uses and not taking a holistic view of the
roadway.
Council Member Shuey stated he
supports staff’s recommendation, expressing his opinion any plan for MC 85
should also include the City of Goodyear. Mr. Fairman noted the City of Goodyear recently established a redevelopment program and is concerned about MC85.
Council Member Wolf said the
steps the city has taken over the past five years have greatly enhanced the
city’s marketability. He said the investment the city has made in Western Avenue is far greater than any incentive that could be offered to a single property
owner. He said he also likes the idea of consolidating their focus to areas
where they can have a high impact. He questioned whether the city should offer
automatic incentives at all, stating he believes it is far more effective to
work with individual developers to create unique solutions.
Council Member Lopez-Rogers said
she supports staff’s recommendation and appreciates the plan’s vision.
Council Member Shuey moved to support staff’s recommendation.
Council Member Wolf seconded the motion.
Motion carried
unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business
to come before the Council, Vice Mayor Lynch moved to adjourn. Council Member Wolf
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Mayor
Drake
Linda M. Farris, CMC
City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the
foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the workshop
session of the City Council of the City of Avondale held on the 16th
day of August, 2004. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and
held and that the quorum was present.
City
Clerk
