Minutes 07/16/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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THURSDAY, 3ULY 16, 1998 costs, further reducing the City's direct costs. Council Member Dallas stressed that it was important to maintain a charitable and generous approach to the development and marketing of the site and the homes to be built, as the City had acquired the property under very favorable circumstances, at a very low cost. Council Member Roop agreed that these were important considerations, but that Council had to also give consideration to what was best for all the taxpayers as well. Mr. Reynolds then pointed out that Mr. Hubbell and Mattern and Craig had done the job they had been tasked witl~ and that it was now the City' s job to consider revenue and financing strategies. Council Member Haskell noted the importance of accomplishing the project while interest rates remain low, and encouraged moving ahead with the development plan, adding that the plan appeared to positively impact a number of problems, including drainage issues, landfill cover, housing improvements, and improvement of the tax base. Council Member Dallas stated that the timing for the development could be very good, based on his knowledge of persons he knew of who lived outside the community now but would like to return, if good housing were available at the right prices. Mr. Teague asked when work might begin on the storm drainage work discussed, and Mr. Reynolds stated that he and the staff would come back to the Council at a later date on this, as no additional drainage impact would occur off site until the development was actually done. Mr. Reynolds reminded Council that they had also acquired a 2 acre property across the street from the main R. P. Thomas site, and stated that there had been a number of expressions of interest on the purchase of this site. He stated that a commercial use was not considered acceptable by members of the neighborhood, but that use as a church site had been suggested as the fight kind of use. Mr. Reynolds suggested that Council and staff should move forward on this issue promptly. Council Member Dallas stated that this issue needed to be dealt with equitably, as more than one church congregation had expressed interest in the site. He also stated his belief that use as a church site would be ideal, and complement the rest of the development plan. Council Member Roop stated that he would like to see alternative uses that would put the property into a revenue producing status. Mr. Dallas encouraged Council to resist looking at the project solely from a revenue producing perspective. Mr. Reynolds then stated that staff would have an appraisal done of the 2 acre site and report the findings back to Council, and that he