HIGHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

Community Development Committee Minutes

March 16, 2010, 6:30 p.m.

CDC members in attendance:  Shawn Bartsh, chair; Tia Anderson, vice-chair; Arline Datu, secretary; Marilyn Tamsky; Mark Forsberg; Greg Campbell, community rep; Bill Rosenbloom, alternate.

Members absent: Katherine Soderberg; Layne Carver; Ryan O'Connor, alternate.

HDC members in attendance: Tim Puffer, Robert Brandtjen.

Staff:  Kathy Carruth, community organizer

Others present: Matt Hollinshead; Henry Waldenberger; Ron & Jeri Pederson, Dennis Rosemark, Legislative Aide to Councilman Harris; Georgia Dietz; S. Goodman; Amy Filice, Jane

Meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.

Walgreen's

The meeting was devoted to a presentation of the new development plans for a Walgreens in Highland.  Semper Development came prepared with plans and drawings, which were presented to the committee and members of the community present.  The plans took into account the area that was once occupied by Snyder's and its parking lot. 

New development plans call for three different structures.  The first is a 2700 sq. ft.  L-shaped building, intended for retail/office space, on the corner; it will incorporate a pedestrian plaza, which will include a Snoopy state and a fountain.  The second building will be a slightly larger Walgreen's than the one drawn in the original proposed development. A third building will occupy 3000 sq. ft. in the area of the former Snyder's; this building also is intended for retail/office space. 

Comments and suggestions from the public included: Concerns that three different owners/tenants of the new buildings should come to some agreement/convenant about unified maintenance of the common areas; Suggestions that trees be planted on the parking islands and for more landscaping behind building 3; that more windows be built into the east side of the Walgreen's building; that the developer use the earlier drawings which indicated windows with more panes in the glass. 

The developer said he would take the suggested community changes and incorporate them into the plans, which will then be published on HDC's web site.  In response to a question about construction timetable, he said demolition of the existing buildings would likely take three weeks and would include asbestos removal and treatment of any contaminated soil (underneath the former gas station).  Subsequent to that, once the footings are in, it would be another six months before construction is completed.  

The committee voted unanimously to support the Walgreen's project.

A motion to take the recommendation to the Board for a zoning study was made seconded and passed with one vote in opposition.

Other Business

Two representatives from the Children's Montessori School at 1194 Randolph came before the committee to say they needed a parking variance because they plan to put an addition on their existing building and hire one more staff person.  They need the variance for one more parking space.  Because they have not yet been before the Board of Zoning Appeals, they were advised they needed to do that first.  Kathy Carruth said she would put them in touch with the appropriate person at the Dept. of Safety and Inspection.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Arline L. Datu

CDC Secretary