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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/11/2002 ORIGINAL MINUTES OF WHEAT RIDGE URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY February 11,2002 5:30 p.m. 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER The Wheat Ridge Urban Renewal Authority meeting was called to order by Dick Matthews at 5:40 p.m. The meeting was held in the second floor conference room of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Commissioners present: Norm Burkpile Sandra Collins Vance Edwards Elwyn Kiplinger Janet Leo Dick Matthews Margy Platter Commissioners absent: Jim Goddard John Hall Kandi McKay Also attending: Alan White, Planning Director Jim Windholz, Urban Renewal Attorney Randy Young, Interim City Manager Gretchen Cerveny, Mayor Dean Gokey, City Council David Schneider, City Council Jerry DiTullio, City Council Art Anderson, Arthur Anderson & Assoc. Lauren Waterton, Arthur Anderson & Assoc. Justinian Hatfield, The Transcript Ann Lazzeri, Secretary 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes ofthe regular meeting of January 14,2002 were presented for consideration. It was moved by VANCE EDWARDS and seconded by NORM BURKPILE to approve the minutes as presented. The motion passed unanimously. 4. PUBLIC FORUM There were none present to address the Authority. WRURA Minutes 02/11/02 Page 1 A. Authorize Request for Proposals for Redevelopment at 38th and Sheridan Area 5. NEW BUSINESS There was discussion regarding whether or not to post a notice in the newspaper regarding request for proposals for redevelopment at 38th and Sheridan. In addition, a request for proposal will be sent to members of the development and real estate community as well as various state publications to see if there is any interest in this area. Vance Edwards commented that one reason for choosing this area for RFP's is that it is considered a gateway to the City of Wheat Ridge. It was moved by Vance Edwards and seconded by Sandra Collins to authorize staff to do a Request for Proposals for redevelopment of 38th and Sheridan, primarily the southwest corner. The motion passed unanimously. (JIM WINDHOLZ REQUESTED THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR AND THE WRURA COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, LEAVE THE MEETING AT THIS POINT PRIOR TO THE BLIGHT STUDY PRESENTATION BECAUSE THIS MATTER WILL BE GOING BEFORE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. THE COUNCIL MEMBERS LEFT THE MEETING ROOM AT 5:50 P.M.) B. Consideration of Upham Street Area Blight Study - Art Anderson of Arthur Anderson & Associates presented a brief overview of the results of the blight study his firm completed for Upham Street area. Copies of the blight study were provided for each member of the Authority. The report revealed many findings of blight as determined by urban renewal law. For example, Mr. Anderson stated that his firm could find no record of Upham Street ever being dedicated as a public street. Mr. Windholz reminded those present that findings of blight do not mean an area is a slum but addresses areas such as safety, traffic and ownership of properties. He also stated, for the record, that findings of blight in this area were legally not difficult. Chair Matthews expressed appreciation to Mr. Anderson for presenting a well- documented blight study. Mr. Windholz stated that, upon his review ofthe blight study, he was very comfortable in recommending approval of a resolution to accept the findings of blight as presented in the Arthur Anderson analysis and submit to City Council for its review and determination regarding blight in this WRURA Minutes 02/11102 Page 2 area and whether or not City Council wishes to expand the existing Wadsworth corridor redevelopment area and include this particular area. It was moved by Sandra Collins and seconded by Margy Platter to approve Resolution No.1, Series of 2002, finding the existence of blight in the vicinity of Upham Street in the 3900 to 4200 blocks, as found by Arthur Anderson, and make a recommendation of approval to the Wheat Ridge City Council. The motion passed unanimously. (COUNCIL MEMBERS SCHNEIDER, GOKEY AND EDWARDS RETURNED TO THE MEETING AT 6:03 P.M. MAYOR CERVENY RETURNED TO THE MEETING AT 6:30 P.M. JERRY DITULLIO ARRIVED AT 6:50 P.M.) B. Discussion ofthe 1-70 Corridor Study Area Jim Windholz pointed out that the discussion concerned what areas should be included in a blight analysis. He also commented that, even though blight may be determined in an area, it doesn't mean that every structure is blighted. There was discussion regarding the general areas to be included in a blight analysis. . There was consensus that the Grange property and several R-l and R-3 properties on Y oungfield, including the Applewood Shopping Center, be included in the study. . There were four in favor and two opposed to include the A-2 and R-2 property on the southeast corner of 44th and Y oungfield. . On the north side ofI-70, along Kipling, there was consensus to include the Coors property. There was a consensus to leave out the block ofR-l, R-2 and A-2 property north of Ridge Road, the R-3 property on Kipling and north city border; the residential property across the street west from Echters, and the Mesa Verde Apartments. . There was a consensus that no churches will be included in the blight analysis. . The east side of Kipling between 1-70 and 44th will be included and down 44th A venue to the commercial development. . The R-2 property in the southeast corner of Kipling and 44th will be included. The R-3 property will be left out. . There was a consensus to leave the recreation center and the Zarlengo properties out. . The Denning property across Lena Gulch from the recreation center was discussed. Alan White informed the Authority that the parks department is WRURA Minutes 02/11102 Page 3 about half way through the acquisition process for this piece of land. David Schneider requested that this piece of property be included in the blight study because it is a developable property and further, this piece of property is not in the master plan for parks and recreation. He also requested that the Einarson property be included in the urban renewal study. He stated that if these areas are not included in the blight study area, he will not support the study when it comes before City Council. . The Einarson property along Kipling was discussed. Vance Edwards commented that this land was purchased with Jefferson County Open Space Funds and if the city were to place it in an urban renewal study, it would jeopardize the good relationship between the city and JCOS. There was a unanimous decision by the Authority that this property not be included in the study. . There was a consensus that no park land or potential parkland will be included in the study. . Alan White outlined on a map all of the boundaries discussed during the meeting. (COUNCIL MEMBER GOKEY LEFT THE MEETING AT 6:50 P.M. MAYOR CERVENY AND COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARDS LEFT THE MEETING AT 6:55 P.M.) 6. OLD BUSINESS A. Extension of Contract with SzymanskilRay The Firm of Szymanski/Ray has completed Phase I of their project and have requested an extension of their contract to continue the process. The final contract will be brought back to the Authority for its consideration. It was moved by Sandra Collins and seconded by Janet Leo to extend the city's contract with SzymanskilRay. The motion passed unanimously. B. WRURA Meeting Dates The next WRURA meeting will be held on February 25th. Alan White stated that he will not be able to attend this meeting. 7. OTHER MATTERS 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION It was moved by Sandra Collins and seconded by Margy Platter to adjourn the regular meeting to executive session under CRS 24-6-402(a) & (e) for the Page 4 WRURA Minutes 02/1 1102 purpose of developing negotiating strategies for the potential redevelopment and/or acquisition of properties in the 38th Avenue Corridor, Wadsworth Boulevard Corridor and 44th AvenueIWard Road Redevelopment Areas and instructing negotiators, consultants and attorneys; and for the purpose of receiving legal advice on specific legal issues related to the redevelopment of properties within the 38th Avenue Corridor, Wadsworth Boulevard Corridor and 44th AvenueIWard Road. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned to executive session at 7:15 p.m. The executive session was adjourned to the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. 9. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Elwyn Kiplinger and seconded by Sandra Collins to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:33 p.m. ~~w~ Dick Matthews, Chair Ann~sec~~~ WRURA Minutes 02/1 1102 Page 5