Update -- Think Credit Union

Sorry for not updating this site for a while. I intended to do so while at the National League of Cities Conference in Washington, DC last week but somehow some of that Washington-itis rubbed off on me and then when I returned home spend a few days with a 102 fever for some unknown reason. Am much better and about to take of for Florida to visit some grandkids for about 3 weeks so I thought I'd better take a shot at this.
(I'll be watching my emails and checking stuff so will be in touch but not planing to be a fanatic about the whole thing either!)

After the last City Planning and Zoning Commision meeting both Think CU and our planning department had been meeting to get to the fne points of what to present to the city council for final approval on the zoning and approval of their General Development Plan (GDP).

There are a lot of details that the average person doesn't see that goes into these things and many of us who work with these things at every council meeting still have a lot to learn but to net it out Think is offering to use only 12% of their property for commercial use and leave the rest as green space.

Now this is much less than the B1 zoning would allow and I think it's a good deal. B1 in this case is overkill and our planning department would rather set the tone for the area by recommending a more appropriate zone, preferebly a "mixed-zone" (commercial/residential) that would do the same thing but set precedence for other future developement that may occur in our area.

They are waiting for the traffic study results to be compiled and analyzed and would like to use this study to make the appropriate zoning recommendation as this would then set the ruel for other land in the area.

So, we're going to have to wait and see but I believe a 35.000 sq ft max floor space with appropriate ratio of parking space is what will probably happen and that's a very good low impact use of almost 9 acres.

Will let you know when I learn more.

PS. You can respond to this blog or contact me at bobnow@charter.net .

Bob

Hold the Mayo -- Info on Upcoming COW

Monday, March 6th's COW (Committee of the Whole) would be a very interesting one to attend. It will start at 3:30 pm in Concerence Room 104 at the Government Center.

A presentation to the council will be made by Front Row Marketing Services, a sports and entertainment marketing company specializing in contracting revenue for sports facilities and otehr sports properties. They plan to present their analysis on the naming rights for MCC and discuss the revenue generation of these kinds of contracts in general.

We're a long way from seriously considering renaming MCC but do need to look at all options to add to our revenue income other than taxes. (Yes, we know that cutting spending in the first place would be a good idea.)

We'll be discussing the selling of some odds and ends of city property no longer needed.

Of greater interest might be the presentation of the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee Report to Gov. Pawlenty. I've got the report and think that you might find it very interesting.

Finally, we're going to have adiscussion on a possible joint City/YMCA Aquatics Facility. I've been a member of an Aquatics Task Force looking at the future of the Silver Lake Pool and the Rec Center. This new option will definitely have an affect on their future so I recommend you get in on the ground floor (shallow end of the pool?).

Second Neighborhood Meeting to be Held

In a previous article I discussed neighbors working together with a business, Think Credit Union, to address their concerns about the proposed use of Think’s newly acquired property on the SW corner of Viola Rd. and East Circle Drive (CR22).

The scheduled City Planning and Zoning Commission hearing originally scheduled for February 22 was postponed to March 8, 7pm in the City/County Council Chamber at the Government Center.

Prior to this hearing Mr. Paul Horgen, CEO of Think CU has called for another informational meeting with the area residents. This is scheduled for Monday, March 6 at 7 pm at Think’s main office 5200 Members Parkway NW (West Circle Drive NW just south of 55th Street---on the east side of WCD).

As always, I would suggest that anyone with any interest in the matter attend this meeting. It’s your opportunity to learn more about what Think is considering after their first meeting with the neighbors and your opportunity to further discuss your concerns prior to the official public meeting. It's YOUR meeting so I sugggest you go.

As the city council representative of this area I am very interested in what transpires at this meeting. I’d been a proponent of this kind of informational exchange for the last 10 years and have seen the benefits of this kind of collaboration numerous times. I believe that both the area residents and the propective new business have good intentions for the area. I have to be at a city council meeting that night so I won't be there but trust that you both sides will do a great job with this exchange.

This particular area of NE Rochester presents challenges and opportunities that are unique and important to all of us living in the area.

I trust that by working together each party’s good intentions will evolve not only into the best use of that particular corner but also help set the stratigic direction of what will be developed in the remainder of NE Rochester.

Thanks to everyone from Think and from the area residents for their interest in working to better our section of the world.