City of Burlington Economic Development Committee

At the meeting this Thursday afternoon Mayor Lois called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. starting with a roll call: Mayor Lois, David Torgler, Frank Cannella, Larry A. Dawley, Ken Jaeger, Bill Phenicie, Paul Mueller and Robin Vos. Excused: Pat Hoffmann, Matthew Russell and Karen Schinke. Also present were Matt Wagner and Jenny Trick of Racine County Economic Development Corporation.

Approval of Minutes. Motion by Robin Vos, seconded by Frank Cannella the minutes of the February 20, 2002 EDC meeting were approved.

Old Business. None

New Business.

Matt Wagner presented information regarding the general concept of CATI and its potential benefit to have a location within the Burlington area.

The CATI West facility should have approximately 2,000 square feet of incubator space. CATI would maintain a master lease relationship and sub lease to the tenants. Mr. Wagner distributed financial projections reflecting the potential revenues and expenses related to this project. Within these projections, Mr. Wagner identified the need for start-up costs and related costs associated with build-out and fixtures. A potential source of funds could be the Burlington TID-RLF loan program.

EDC member, Robin Vos, stated that the opportunity is a good idea, but it may be beneficial for other western Racine County municipalities to participate as well, since the benefit would likely spill over into surrounding areas. Further, Mr. Vos, recommended that Mr. Wagner investigate the possibility of using a building adjacent to the former high school, that he believed was available for consideration.

After additional related discussion, Mayor Lois asked that Mr. Wagner investigate the building site referred by Mr. Vos, as well as, gain more information regarding potential surrounding municipalities participating with expenses related to the site. Mr. Wagner will return to the EDC with additional information.

Mayor Lois began the discussion with a general overview of the Master Plan document completed for the City of Burlington and its contents relating to commercial/retail development.

Mr. Vos interjected a more specific topic, relating to Big Box development within communities. He offered that he had completed preliminary research regarding the impact on various communities and wanted to voice his concern regarding the potential impact on the Burlington area, should a large retail development occur within the City limits. He continued by referring to West Lake, OH community, wherein a limitation of square footage % concentration within the municipality’s ordinance was adopted.

Mayor Lois offered his comments regarding the City’s historical efforts to prepare for larger developments, specifically within the STH – 36 corridor, via the Plan Commission’s review and modifications of the ordinance in support of said developments. He referred to the numerous public meetings where the subject (ordinance) was discussed at length and further offered his frustration that pubic input was requested during the process, but wondered why the concerns were not offered during the aforementioned process. He completed his comments by offering the concern that the committee and audience members should be concerned about trying to control commerce.

Mr. Vos continued the discussion by offering his concern of the potential negative impact of a large development (in excess of 100,000 square feet) on the downtown merchants and existing grocery stores. Audience member, Bill Stone, echoed the concerns of Mr. Vos, and further offered that a commercial/retail development that offers the variety of products, from household goods, clothing, automobile tires to groceries, allegedly may attempt to capture the entire market by undercutting all operators within the market. He offered that he was not adverse to competition, but rather some of the tactics that are employed by the Big Box retailers.

After related discussion, Mr. Vos moved to recommend to the Common Council the institution of a 6-month moratorium on "Big Box" development, with the size to be determined by the Common Council, and with the time utilized in the research of "community impact" issues and review of the Racine County planning efforts in the Highway 36 corridor, seconded by Frank Cannella and the motion passed unanimously, David Torgler abstained.

None

Adjourn.

On a motion by Robin Vos, seconded by Ken Jaeger the meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

Recording Secretary – Jenny Trick, RCEDC