10/18/2004
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COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
CITY OF CLEARWATER
October 18, 2004
Present: Brian J. Aungst
Frank Hibbard
Hoyt P. Hamilton
William C. Jonson
Carlen Petersen
Chair/CRA Trustee
CRA Trustee
CRA Trustee
CRA Trustee
CRA Trustee
Also present: Garry Brumback
Pamela K. Akin
Geri Campos
Cynthia E. Goudeau
Patricia O. Sullivan
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
Interim CRA Executive Director
City Clerk
Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:25 a.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
Approval of Minutes
Trustee Jonson moved to approve the minutes of the September 13, 2004, meeting, as
recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Trustee.
Community Redevelopment AQencv Items:
1. Approve Selection Committee rankinQ of respondents to the Request for Proposals and
Qualifications (RFPQ 12-04) for the development of a downtown multi-plex movie theatre within
the Downtown Core and authorize the neQotiation of a development aQreement with Clearwater
Development. LLC.
On February 13, 2004, the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) released a
RFP/Q (Request for Proposals/Qualifications) to select a qualified developer/development team
to develop a multi-plex movie theatre in downtown Clearwater. Staff mailed more than 700
copies of the RFP/Q and 2,000 notices of its availability on the City's website to national
developers, theatre owners, etc.
A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference was held on March 17, 2004. Two
Developers 1) The Beck Group, and 2) Clearwater Development, LLC submitted proposals on
June 30, 2004. The Selection Committee met on July 23, 2004, to review the proposals. Beck
Development Group was eliminated due to non-responsiveness (no site or movie theatre
operator was identified). Clearwater Development, LLC was short-listed and selected for an
interview.
The Selection Committee met again on August 27, 2004, to interview Clearwater
Development, LLC and their identified movie theatre operator, AmStar Entertainment, LLC. The
general project location is the property on Cleveland Street between Osceola and N. Fort
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Harrison avenues ("AmSouth" Block). The developer has selected Farmer Baker Barrios
Architects as the designers/architects of the project. The project components are still being
formulated, however, the developer is planning for a 12-screen multi-plex theatre with AmStar
Entertainment, LLC as its operator. The selection committee also conducted reference checks
for the movie theatre operator.
The Selection Committee rated the responder on five criteria points, each having equal
weight: 1) Experience of the Development Team; 2) Financial Capability of Development Team;
3) Identification of Theatre Operator; 4) Proposed Site Location; and 5) Innovative Design
Concept. The Selection Committee unanimously agreed to recommend Clearwater
Development, LLC to the City Manager to further negotiate the terms and conditions of a
development agreement for developing the movie theatre complex in conjunction with a mixed-
use development on their site.
In response to a question, Assistant City Manager Garry Brumback said approval of this
item would authorize staff to negotiate an agreement with Clearwater Developmen that would
be brought back before a commitment is made.
Trustee Hibbard moved to approve the Selection Committee ranking of respondents to
the Request for Proposals and Qualifications (RFPQ 12-04) for the development of a downtown
multi-plex movie theatre within the Downtown Core and authorize the negotiation of a
development agreement with Clearwater Development, LLC. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
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2. Recommend the City Council adopt Ordinance #7343-04. amendinQ the Clearwater
Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
The City Council amended and approved the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment
Plan on December 4, 2004 through the adoption of Ordinance #7231-03. .The Plan alsowas
approved by the Board of County Commissioners and Countywide Planning Authority and was
made effective on February 3, 2004. At that time, the Design Guidelines had not been
developed, although holding places were inserted into the Plan in anticipation of their adoption.
To assist in the development of these Guidelines, a steering committee was formed with
representatives from the Main Street Design Committee, Downtown Development Board,
Chamber of Commerce, affected neighborhood associations, business owners, local architects
and contractors. This Committee met on a regular basis between December 2003 and June
2004 to develop provisions that require quality site and building design and the use of quality
materials, while also providing for design flexibility. In addition, a series of presentations was
made to the Downtown Development Board, Chamber of Commerce, and the Main Street
Combined Committees to garner input and suggestions. Finally, as these Guidelines were
developed, they were presented to the City Council for the purpose of gathering suggestions
and input and conceptual approval.
Proposed Ordinance #7343-04 amends the Plan to incorporate the Design Guidelines.
Additionally, the Planning Department has identified several needed modifications, which are
included in this ordinance and outlined: 1) Make a variety of editorial changes and clarifications
in the Goals, Objectives and Policies Section of Chapter 3 Land Use Plan/Redevelopment Plan;
2) Clarify Transfer of Development Rights provisions of Policy T in the Goals, Objectives and
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Policies section in Chapter 3 Land Use Plan/Redevelopment Plan; 3) Change all references to
the Town Lake to Prospect Lake Park in all text and graphics throughout the Plan; 4) Add adult
uses as a prohibited use within the Downtown Core character district; 5) Revise the intensity
standards by adding permitted heights for multi-family buildings and permitted density for
overnight accommodations within the East Gateway character district; 6) Revise Appendix2
Downtown Milestones to reflect correct County approval dates and public review of the Plan; 7)
Add a new Appendix 9, entitled "Design Guidelines Glossary"; and 8) Add a new Appendix 10,
entitled "City of Clearwater Representative Downtown Architecture."
On September 21,2004, the CDB (Community Development Board) reviewed and
recommended approval of the proposed amendments to the Clearwater Downtown
Redevelopment Plan in its capacity as the Local Planning Agency (LPA).
The CRA has the authority and responsibility to make a recommendation on the CRA
Plan to the City Council. The Council has the authority for the final decision on the
amendments.
The Steering Committee was thanked for their efforts.
Concern was expressed the CDB (Community Development Board) currently has sole
authority to approve use of the amenity pool units in Downtown and it was felt this approval
should be at the Council level to be consistent with the approval of the density pool on the
beach.
Planning Director Cyndi Tarapani said this issue was discussed when the Downtown
Plan was approved and it was found to be more appropriate for the CDB to approve TDRs
(Transfer of Development Rights) and amenity pool units as part of the site plan process. She
said the density pool on the beach is different in that it consists of made-up units, an incentive to
attract a particular type of development, subject to the developer meeting a number of
conditions as outlined in the Downtown Plan.
Discussion ensued and it was suggested the Council approve amenity pool units above
a certain percentage. Ms. Tarapani said Downtown development is a challenge and expressed
concern Council involvement would extend the process by six to eight weeks.
Trustee Jonson moved that approval of the amenity pool units in Downtown be moved to
the Council rather than the CDB. The motion was duly seconded.
Discussion ensued regarding approval of the use of the density pool on the beach being
done by development agreement and concern was expressed in putting every development in
Downtown through this intense process.
It was noted the ordinance title does not reference amenity pool units and would require
an amendment.
Trustee Jonson withdrew his motion.
Discussion ensued and it was felt a four-week delay would not kill a good project and
that a threshold for Council review for use of the Downtown amenity pool be established.
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Consensus was for staff to recommend thresholds for requiring City Council review of
Downtown amenity pool units.
Trustee Hibbard moved to recommend the City Council amend the Clearwater
Downtown Redevelopment Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Approve extension of time for "Aareement of Development and Disposition of Property IMR
Site II" located at 1180 Cleveland Street throuah April 30. 2005.
On October 13, 2003, the CRA extended this Development Agreement for 1180
Cleveland Street through October 30, 2004, in order for the current property owners of the site,
S&P Properties LC (S&P), to develop and commence construction of 55 hotel rooms in three or
four floors, as described in the amended Development Agreement of June 19, 2000.
Since that time, S&P Properties has been actively marketing the site. They currently
have an interested party in buying the property for a hotel use. In order to allow enough time for
the prospective purchaser to investigate and move forward with the acquisition and
development of the site, S&P has requested a 6-month time extension for a due diligence
period.
At the same time, this new timeframe will allow the CRA the opportunity to renegotiate
the Development Agreement. The CRA approved the original Development Agreement with
Information Management Resources, Inc. (IMR) on October 27, 1998, for the purchase of the
approximate 1.23-acre parcel (Site) located on the north side of Cleveland Street in the amount
of $131,770.00. The Site was sold on March 10,2000 to Paul Simone or assignees (Buyer) for
the proposed 55-hotel unit development. On April 12, 2000, the Buyer assigned all rights to
S&P who assumed all of IMR's obligations under the Development Agreement.
The Development Agreement states that the Developer must commence construction of
the Project by October 30, 2004, or the Agency will no longer be obligated to pay Impact Fees
for the Project and the Developer will be required to pay $35,000 to the CRA. The $35,000
represents the difference between the Purchase Price of the Site payable pursuant to this
Agreement and the estimated Fair Market Value of the Site.
Trustee Petersen moved to approve the extension of time for "Agreement of
Development and Disposition of Property IMR Site II" located at 1180 Cleveland Street through
April 30, 2005. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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Executive Director (Assistant City Manaoer) Verbal Reports - None.
Other Business - None.
Adiourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:59 a.m.
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