HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2003-04-02 RegularCommunity and Economic Development Committee
Minutes
April 2, 2003
The Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, April 2,
2003, in the second floor conference room of City Hall, at 8a.m. with the following
members present: Chair Gregory Crinion, Tony Banfield, Sr., Kevin Candee, James
Gerland, Brent Goswick, Andy Massicott, and Zekie McVeigh. Also present were
Council liaison Tracy Goza, Chamber of Commerce President Carol Jones, and Planning
and Zoning member Tom Burke.
Also present at the meeting were Gwen Griffin and Wendy Slaton of Griffin Integrated
Marketing, and Doug Konopka of DHK Development, Inc.
Staff members present were Karen Capps, Ron Cox, and Mike Hodge.
Absent from the meeting were Maurice Estlinbaum, Gary Harris, and Jim Reinhartsen.
Call to Order. Chair, Greg Crinion, called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. with
a quorum present.
2. Approval of Minutes. Andy Massicott made a motion to approve the minutes of
the meeting of March 5, 2003. Brent Goswick seconded the motion and it carried
unanimously.
3. Discussion regarding CLAEDF's new image and brand campaign. Gwen
Griffin, Managing Director of Griffin Integrated Marketing, discussed CLAEDF's
name change to Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. Ms. Griffin also
provided a PowerPoint presentation of the new image campaign showing samples
of the new logo and marketing materials for Bay Area Houston's image launch
event scheduled for May 14, 2003 at South Shore Harbour.
4. Discussion and possible action regarding proposed planned, mixed -use
development in Friendswood. Doug Konopka of DHK Development was
introduced to the committee. Mr. Konopka represents an individual who owns
several hundred undeveloped acres inside the city boundaries, and another several
hundred adjacent undeveloped acres in an adjoining city. The landowner plans to
sell these properties sometime this year and is looking to incorporate a potential
mixed -use commercial town center development on the single -family -residential
zoned property. Mr. Konopka provided information to the committee regarding
his efforts to locate a suitable developer for the properties. From a list of forty
potential developers, they have now narrowed the list down to ten.
Mr. Konopka stated that he spoke with several well-known national commercial
developers and brokers to gauge their interest in developing a new Friendswood
commercial/town center project similar to Sugar Land or Southlake's
development, but possibly on a smaller scale. Results from initial discussions
with these commercial developers indicated an interest to develop approximately
100,000 to 300,000 square feet of retail in a lifestyle center or commercial town
center. Mr. Konopka indicated there was some hesitation by developers due to
the property's location without a major freeway access, high competition from
Baybrook and Webster, and lack of rooftops in the immediate area.
Mr. Konopka asked the committee to consider the commercial/residential
development aspects of the properties, what the City can do to market
Friendswood for retail, and the City's desired timeframe for development.
Committee members asked various questions regarding what kind of population
would be needed to support this development, how the owner/developer would
integrate high -end multi -family residential into the mix, and the need to
accommodate a new mixed -use zone. Chair, Greg Crinion, stated that a sub-
committee would research these issues and help plan the next steps and approach
to encourage the development.
5. Reports from Development Process Steering Committee. Due to time
constraints, this item was not discussed.
6. Adiournment. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
l0a.m.