Ellettsville Redevelopment Commission

7 p.m. Fire Station

Ellettsville, Indiana

March 8, 2007

 

The Ellettsville, Indiana Redevelopment Commission met in regular session on Thursday, March 8, 2007 in the Fire Department Training and Conference Room located at 5080 West State Road 46. Frank Buczolich called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call: Frank Buczolich, David Drake, Doug Norton, Darby McCarty, Amber Ragle.

 

David Drake motions to approve the February 15, 2007 minutes

Doug Norton seconds the motion

Vote carries with a unanimous approval of February 15, 2007 minutes

 

Treasurer’s Report: Amber notes that there is no report

 

Frank Buczolich moves to old business:

 

Heritage Crossing Declaratory Resolution creating Development Area-

 

Frank Nierzwicki: status report, staff busy with the review of parcels and possible projects to be included in the new redevelopment area. Staff has produced a listing of 15 projects that total more than $13, 000,000.  It appears that there should be more coordination between some of the groups that have proposed projects. Staff recommendation is to take one more month to coordinate with these groups. Frank Nierzwicki and intern will double and triple checking parcels at Courthouse. Parks Board and Township office are trying to work together on projects.

 

The Utility Department has asked staff to look at extending the redevelopment area with additional parcels along Vine, Sale, Main and Matthew- (35 parcels).

 

Project 1- Street lights on Vine

            2- Sidewalk on Vine

            3- Heritage Trail PhI (most detailed)

            4- Heritage Trail Ph II

            5- Heritage Trail Ph III

            6- Municipal Parking Lot

            7- Municipal Building

            8- Road Extension (Hartstrait to Paddington)

            9- Township/Street Building Remodel

          10- Playground Equipment- Campbell’s Park

          11- Community Multi-Use Building

          12- Park Office-Outdoor Swimming Pool

          13- Campbell’s Park-Township Trail

          14- Open Area- Market Place-Gathering

          15- Reconstruct Railroad Depot

Total Cost= $13, 815, 505

 

David Drake: WOW! Note increased Assessed Valuation (AV) of $1.million only take 613 years to pay all fifteen projects.

 

Frank Nierzwicki: That’s why he prepared sheet, so we could see how long it could take, gave examples of averages of different properties.

 

David Drake: TIF only gets money on what is added from this point forward.

 

Frank Buczolich: What work needs done to see where overlapping is.

 

Frank Nierzwicki: Meeting with Parks, Township, Street Departments to iron it out not get biggest bang for homes-idea is market for Commercial Retail.

 

Dana Kerr: Hasn’t met with School Board, but he reviewed information-has concerns, area between town and Lakeview area will be residential-families-kids-tax dollars not go to support those children-many large parcels will be residential.

 

Also, projects goal should be to redevelop the Sale Street area and to increase the AV and aesthetic value downtown. Projects proposed won’t bring business to town. Dana has some strong reservations about creating a TIF district.

 

Frank Nierzwicki: Process commission can approve Redevelopment Area-Plan Commission to see consistent with future use and consist with Commission plan. Plan Commission can change zoning.

 

Dana Kerr: Not infrastruction for Commercial Development sees commercial along 46.

 

David Drake: Common situation, School Corporation and taxing entities not happy losing tax dollars if we did start bringing in large sums, agreement to give some to entities. Don’t see ever getting enough to argue about who is getting what.

 

Agrees-several projects not what Redevelopment was established to accomplish. Street lights, sidewalks, open area, playground equipment, not new buildings for Town. We want to support the redevelopment in the district and encourage growth.

 

Doug Norton: This is my first chance to go over everything. I agree with David Drake. I think what went through my mind is that we need to have a group of people to consider these projects. We need to have different views, through different glasses. VISION- The toughest job is to make Ellettsville interesting for people outside our community. Take island and make something with it and Jack’s Defeat Creek.

 

Russ Ryle: Heard of TIF, research on Web biggest success is when a TIF District brings in new employers. We have Brownfield area-eye sore and health hazard within in the proposed redevelopment area. It appears that we may have a chance to turn the area into productive, money making establishments. Is any way to define only non-residential properties are part of TIF?

 

Frank Nierzwicki: Could have special overlay and detail what can be in and can’t be in.

 

Unknown Person:  Don’t need 3 different ice cream flavors, only need 1 good flavor. Purpose is not to fund everyone’s pet project.

 

Frank Nierzwicki: Criticism-too heavy on behalf of developers’ free ride on development

 

Russ Ryle: What is your objective?

 

Frank Buczolich: Take areas of Town that are neglected, make attractive and viable to community. Don’t see serving wish list to provide an identity or focal point that doesn’t currently exist here.

 

David Drake: TIF-not going to solve-TIF put in infrastructure.

 

Russ Ryle: Are they adequate for what you want?

 

David Drake: Someone should promote economic development (ED) and give tax abatements, not many options for government to get businesses.

 

Russ Ryle: Ellettsville known as Old Block Plant. Developing small businesses that would do replicating, renovating and repairing?

 

Evelyn Ryle: Wants to be unique, don’t want to be like Nashville.

 

Frank Nierzwicki: He keeps hearing about needing focal point –auto body and repair, medical cluster, but don’t have downtown cluster. The development of a business cluster along the Sale Street area that generates jobs and business should be a goal for the Commission.

 

Legislation currently under consideration in the Indiana General Assembly will allow Redevelopment Commission to capture increase sale tax if the area is within 500 feet of a trail.

 

Russ Ryle: Is it possible to end Vine St and 2nd Street?

 

Doug Norton: Need Vision-could include craftsman or something else but have to have vision before you go any further.

 

Frank Nierzwicki: Bring documents together for one document try to bring all together. Park Plan, Comp Plan, a number of studies could be combined.

 

Doug Norton: Ellettsville wants to be the “Whoa, we gotta stop!” place.

 

Geraldine McIntyre: When I was on the Town Board we hired our first planner.  He did a good job mapping lights and signs on SR46. I am also glad that the Town hired Frank Nierzwicki, he has accomplished a great deal.   Main Street has also helped Ellettsville a lot.

 

Darby McCarty: What does Ellettsville want to be when it grows up? Passionate

Comp Plan-living document-5 year review

 

The current business district is quite small and basically residential.

 

Frank Nierzwicki: The area between the one way pairs has been designated, by the Comprehensive Plan, to be green space, park space and area for bed and breakfast and small business.  Part of this area is within the flood plain which limits development options.

 

Dana: Vision: Historic Area-converted Sale to divide-Vine vacated offices, café’s on Temperance backs up to creek and has outdoor areas. Place to walk to for lunch.

 

Frank Nierzwicki: Looking at central business overlay downtown.

 

Should we add an extra block which includes Kerr, Endwright and Log house-should in Redevelopment Area?

 

Jeana Kapczynski: Meeting with property owners May 2nd-a lot are in Historic district, need historic overlay in district.

 

Dianna Bastin- Yes included not seeing something not small and attractive.

 

Darby McCarty: Ellettsville never been same since INDOT cut trees

 

Doug Norton & Dana Kerr: Vision-upscale areas and keeping historic areas could complement each other.

 

Russ Ryle: Where is Ellettsville going to be in 20-50 yrs?

 

Frank Nierzwicki: Ellettsville has the potential to be a destination spot.  We have the Hilly Hundred and Fall Festival which brings large number of people to Town.  We need to have a nice, attractive; unique-Ellettsville and they will come back.

 

Jeana Kapczynski: Has tapes from Segedy and a destination marketing if anyone is interested in watching.

 

Russ Ryle: Next step-Mission statement

 

Frank Buczolich: The first question- slowly getting answers now put together with everything else and eventually will be selling statement (point).

 

Frank Nierzwicki: 2-3 week-coordination meeting, Parks, Township, Street over projects.

 

Frank Buczolich: Generate statement and invite everyone to review.

 

Dana Kerr: Marketing small TIF correctly, generate additional revenue outside TIF by bringing people here.

 

Much discussion on timelines, zoning, etc. Comp Plan update has to be completed by June for MPO reimbursement of $2,000.

 

Darby McCarty: makes a motion to adjourn

 

Doug Norton: seconds it

 

Vote carries

 

Meeting is adjourned at 8:39 PM