HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2007-08-01 RegularCommunity and Economic Development Committee
Minutes
August 1, 2007
The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday,
August 1, 2007, at 8 a.m., in the second floor conference room of City Hall, 910 S. Friendswood
Drive, Friendswood, Texas, with the following members present; Chair Jamie Ballard, Vice
Chair Kirk Lippert, Michael Barker, Claude McEwen, Pauline Moore, Jon Olansen, Bill
Provenzano, and Dr. Hilmar Zeissig.
Liaisons present were City Council Member Andy Rivera and Planning and Zoning Chair Jim
Gibson.
Staff Members present were Karen Capps, Bo McDaniel, and Nick Haby.
Also in attendance were Brett Nichols, Dick Zinser, and Colleen O'Brien.
Absent were Ed Sebesta, Carol Jones, Trish Hanks, Don Gartman, Jim Reinhartsen, and Michelle
Cruz Arnold.
1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 8:04 a.m. with a quorum present.
2. Roll Call. Roll call was made.
3. Approval of Minutes. Claude McEwen moved to approve the July 18, 2007 meeting
minutes. The motion was seconded by Bill Provenzano and passed unanimously by the
committee.
4. Discussion and possible action regarding the following Action Item reports;
including, but not limited to:
A. Review recommendations made by CEDC in November 2005 for proposed
future land use map.
Vice Chair Kirk Lippert reported on the work done by the committee in November
2005 where members analyzed thirteen parcels that were identified as potential
commercial land use in the proposed land use plan. Vice Chair Lippert described
how each committee member assessed each property's potential future commercial
use by driving by and inspecting the site or sites, reviewing flood status, adjacent
zoning, current zoning, easements, and major roadway access. The CEDC
recommended to P&Z that eleven of the thirteen parcels be considered as future
commercial use in the proposed future land use plan. P&Z Chair Jim Gibson stated
the P&Z Commissioners appreciated the work done by the CEDC. CEDC
recommendations were reviewed by the Commission and some changes were made
to increase areas along major highway frontage. CEDC was in agreement with
those changes. The next step will be the team -building workshop and a possible
work session with City Council to discuss the overall Comprehensive Plan that
includes the future land use map.
B. Business visits update and appointment of new action lead for this area.
There was no report.
C. Update on land use maps and discuss the City Manager Team building session
to be held on August 9, and who should attend.
Chair Ballard reported on a team building meeting that will be held with the Chair
and Vice Chairs of Planning and Zoning, CEDC, the two committees' Council and
staff liaisons, the City Manager, and the Mayor. The purpose of the meeting is to
provide open communication and explore common goals pertaining to planning and
economic development.
Karen Capps provided a draft of a map that shows a breakdown of how much land
in the city is tax exempt, commercial, and residential. From this new draft map, it
appears the city's current zoning may be at 82 percent residential and 18 percent
commercial. There are, however, a few changes that will be made to the map which
can change these numbers.
5. Reports:
A. Planning and Zoning — Pauline Moore reported on the rather lengthy P&Z meeting
that she attended in July. There was no action items discussed relating to commercial
development. P&Z Chair Jim Gibson reported that he would start attending the CEDC
meetings again.
B. Liaisons — Bo McDaniel reported on the budget presentation delivered to City
Council on July 30. CEDC requested a copy of the presentation.
C. Marketing
Karen Capps reported that a banner is now hanging inside City Hall displaying the City
of Friendswood's designation as one of the top 100 best places to live in the U.S. She
also reported that an advertisement about Friendswood would be placed in the
International Council of Shopping Centers magazine named Shopping Centers Today.
This will show that the City will host a booth at their upcoming retail tradeshow event
held in October in San Antonio.
D. City Staff
Karen Capps reported on several conferences and tradeshows she will be attending during
September and October. The annual broker/developer day event will be held again at
Timber Creek Golf Club on October 18. Ms. Capps also gave a status report on the
Friendswood Medical Office project and several other office, retail, and business park
developments that will be soon underway. A new 12,000 square foot retail building is
proposed on Winding Way and FM 528, Barras Office Park will include over 43,000
square feet of office space, and Novolink's 12,000 square foot building should be
underway soon in Banfield Office Park. Goddard Day School, Advanced Auto Parts, and
an existing shopping center expansion are planned or underway.
E. Project Status updates
Karen Capps reported that Eclipse Development Group has hired NAI Partners
Commercial to help secure retail tenants for The Falls project. Two properties will soon
be developed in the industrial/panhandle district. One of these properties is currently in
the rezoning process to add more land from CSC to Industrial. Banfield and Buzbee's
projects were discussed in the downtown area and new development that is proposed.
6. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:50 a.m.