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Home My WebLink AboutI.A - Agenda NotesHASTINGS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY October 12, 2023 - 6:00 pm. HASTINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS I. Quorum II. Minutes Please see the attached HEDRA Meeting minutes from the September 14th Regular Meeting for your review and approval. III. Bills September Bills Raj Gandhi $1,738.88 Façade Improvement Grant – 411 Vermillion Street Levander Miller and Gillen $434.00 Spiral and Glendale Sale – Legal (Reimbursable) Precision Landscaping $240.00 Block 28 – Maintenance - Lawn MN DEED $204.30 Admin – Conference – MN DEED Redevelopment Please see attached general ledger detail for further information. IV. Business A. Resolution 2023-14: Façade Improvement Program Grant for 301 2nd St E HEDRA has received an application from Amy Sutton who represents the property at 301 2nd Street E, also known as Hastings Family Service. The full scope includes the following: - Remove existing wooden awning - Repair any surface damage to underlying brick The scope of services is proposed to be completed by Twin City Demo, The project has eligible costs totaling $4,800.00; Under the program, the grant award is based on matching funds of $2 of private investment for every $1 of grant funding. Action: Motion to approve Resolution No. 2023-14 approving a façade improvement program grant award to Hastings Family Service for the removal of an awning and repairing any discovered damage at 301 2nd Street E in the amount of $1,600.00. Please see the attached application for further information. V. Reports and Information A. Long-Term Strategic Planning Projects 1) Downtown Small Area Plan With the opening of the Confluence and Lake Isabelle Flats nearing completion, two major bookends have been added to the downtown. For the past 20 years, the Heart of Hastings plan has been the guiding document for the vision of the area. While this plan is still referenced and has relevance today, Staff believes that it is time to revisit it and make updates that reflect the state of Downtown now and the desires for it going forward. Staff plans to contract with a consulting firm to perform an in-depth analysis and planning process that will identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) in the Downtown area. This process is hopefully going to happen in 2025, which gives the Confluence and Lake Isabelle Flats time to stabilize and their effects on the area to be measured. Additionally, the City is in discussion with the non-profit Rethos to perform a Downtown Area Assessment before the small area planning process begins. This assessment will take a snapshot of the area and provide a SWOT analysis and recommendations to address the perceived gaps Downtown. This analysis information will be used in the small area planning process to provide better context and assist with the public engagement aspects of the process. The end goal is to have another guiding document that provides a vision for Downtown that is supported by the City, business owners, residents, and visitors. 2) Highway 55 Small Area Plan In recent months, Staff has had discussions with landowners of property on the western edge of the City’s limits. There was an expressed desire to see the City provide unified plan for the development of the area so that discussions with potential developers can be more informed. In response, Staff has added the creation of a small area plan for the Highway 55 and Jacob Avenue area to the project list for 2024. The project area contains a variety of uses, from big-box commercial to single-family housing to public education. This means that there are a variety of development visions that could be followed for this area. To start, Staff has reached out to the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to see if this area would be a good candidate for the Navigating Your Competitive Future Program (NCF). This program provides a SWOT analysis that gives the City a better understanding of what types of industries could be a good fit for the area. Using this information, the consultant group creating the small area plan would be able to make more educated assumptions and assessments about the most viable development options for the western part of the City. The vision for the area is to have a defined entrance to Hastings that provides a similar sense of awe that the northern entrance provides while crossing the Highway 61 bridge. B. Development Updates New Information: The Confluence – Confluence Hotel and Missi’s Sip N Savor are both open! Vermillion Acres – Half of modular units completed at the factory. Developer plans on installing modular units in November with a spring opening planned for the 75-unit senior housing facility near County Rd 47 and Riverwood Drive. Hastings Coop Creamery – Fire investigation continues. No further information on future of business or site. Gregg Lowe – Auto Repair Garage – The Site Plan and Special Use Permit application has been submitted to the City for review for construction of the auto repair garage at 3000 Lightbourn Court. Closing of the property is anticipated by the end of 2023. Industrial Park Agricultural Lease – Bids are being taken for a three year contract to farm vacant land within the Hastings Industrial Park. Dakota County Solar – On October 9th the Planning Commission will review a variance to install ground mounted solar panels at the Dakota County Administrative Center. City Council will review on October 16th. Suite Living - Senior Housing – Building plans have been submitted and the plat has been recorded for the 32-unit senior housing facility at the southeast corner of 33rd Street and Vermillion. The one-story project consists of both dependent and memory care units. South Oaks 4th Addition – 35 lot single family home subdivision near 31st Street and Century Drive. Planning Commission approved plans on September 25th. City Council review scheduled for October 16th. Current 33 Apartments – Work on the 2nd building has begun. The first building is nearly complete. Total of 211 apartments at 33rd and Vermillion. Hastings Theater – 1313-1325 South Frontage Rd – Building being converted into multiple office\warehouse, restaurant and entertainment spaces. United Heroes League - Outdoor Refrigerated Rink – Parking lot for the outdoor rink is nearly complete. City Council approved an Interim Use Permit to construct an outdoor refrigerated rink along with temporary parking at their 15211 Ravenna Trail campus. Previous Information: Augustine Property Development – Work has begun on the municipal utility study for potential annexation and development of property at the western limits of the City, north of 15th Street past Jacob Avenue. Upon results of the study the property owners would likely seek annexation and development. Walden at Hastings - Annexation - Redwing Blvd – Traffic Study for the development has been completed and the EAW worksheet is expected soon. Development plans are expected for City review by the end of 2023 for the residential development containing approximately 450 housing units near TH 316 and Michael Avenue. Housing would include single family, twin home, townhome, apartment and senior housing. Many, if not all of the units would be rented. 315 Pine Street - Thorwood –Special Use Permit for use of the first floor area for a 25-30 person meeting space approved by City Council. Work is commencing KFC – Construction is progressing on the new KFC on the northwest corner of 18th and Vermillion (former Erickson Freedom Gas Site). Interior build out is underway Shephard of the Valley - Townhomes – Staff has reviewed concept plans for approximately 15 townhome units east of Shepard of the Valley Church located near 4th Street and Whispering Lane. City Council approved a minor subdivision to split the church land from the development site at the July 17th Meeting. Tyler Street Landing Apartments (Luke Siewert) – 32-unit apartment building at 3rd and Tyler Streets. HEDRA approved 3rd Amendment to Purchase Agreement on July 13th extending approvals to August 1, 2024. City Council took similar actions on the Site Plan and Plat approvals, also extending to August 1, 2024 . Dakota County has extended the $250,000 Redevelopment Incentive Grant for the site to December 31, 2023. Heritage Ridge – Grading activities have commenced for the final addition of the 116-lot single family residential development near General Sieben Drive and Northridge Drive. City Council approved a one year extension on the final phase of the project at the July 17th meeting. 418 Vermillion Street – Dicks Barber – HEDRA purchased the property on May 30th. A two-year lease has been executed to allow operation of the existing tenants. A blight study is being conducted to determine TIF eligibility and we are reviewing a contract for potential payments to tenants. Regina Assisted Living Addition – Regina plans to reconfigure a parking lot due to interior renovations at their 1008 1st Street W building. City Council approved on June 26th. Dakota County Law Enforcement Addition – Plans for a 13,000 s.f. Integrative Health Unit have been submitted. City Council approved on June 26th. Green Mill – 909 Vermillion Street – Camegaran LLC’s franchise agreement with Green Mill will discontinue and the restaurant will be closing at the end of June. The owner will be seeking another restaurant for the space. Lake Isabelle Flats (NJS Stencil Apartment) – Exterior framing is complete, and work is commencing on interior units for the 89-unit apartment building at 3rd and Bailey. A spring 2024 opening is anticipated 114 West 5th Street – As of April 27th, HEDRA is now the proud owner of the single- family house across from the fire station. Villas at Pleasant – More permits have been submitted for construction and work continues on the first model home at the 32-unit subdivision near Northridge and Pleasant. ATTACHMENTS  Minutes – September 14, 2023, Regular Meeting  Bills – September 2023  Resolution No. 2023-14 –Façade Improvement Program Grant – 301 2nd St E  Grant Application – 301 – 2nd St E Next Meeting: Thursday, November 9, 2023