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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1998-06-29 AgendasCITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS NORTH RICHLAND HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MONDAY, JUNE 29, 1998, 6:00 P.M. RECREATION CENTER ASSEMBLY ROOM 6720 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 AGENDA 1. Call to Order by Mayor Scoma: A. Statement of General Purpose of Meeting B. Introduction of Invited Guests - Planning and Zoning Commission Members - Parks Board Members C. Introduction: Ron Ragland, Assistant City Manager to Introduce Arcadia Representatives. 2. Presentation of Market Plan Analysis and Public Attraction Facility Market & Economic Analysis by Zimmerman/Volk & Associates and Leland Consulting Group. 3. Presentation by Staff Regarding Proposed Project. 4. Discussion of Studies, Recommendations, and Possible Direction Regarding Proposed Town Center Project. 5. Adjournment `7 i ssistant City Secre ry ~..~'._ _ POSTED ~8 DatQ y i'~;;,n 1 Ccit secretary ~y ~ , .~%" OUTLINE OF ARCADIA PRESENTATION 1. Re-Introduction of the Project Concept (5:15 p.m.) William Gietema, Jr. Principal, Arcadia Realty Corporation 2. Introduction of Consultants 3. Presentation of Study Results Market Plan Analysis Non-Residential Portion Residential Portion Audience Generation Study-- Public Attraction Facilty 4. Questions & Answers (5:50 p.m.) 5. Adjourn to Remainder of Pre-Council (6:15 p.m.) Bill Gietema William Cunningham Principal, Leland Consulting Group Peter McNally Associate, Leland Consulting Group Bill Gietema Bill Cunningham & Peter McNally INFORMAL REPORT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL No. IR 98-132_ date: Monday, June 29, 1998 ~' ~ ~' subiect: Special Work-session to Discuss Proposed "NRH Town Center ~ Project" Update in Preparation for the Meeting: Please remember that this meeting has been planned as an informal work- session in order to provide ample opportunity for dialogue to take place between all participants (the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Board have been invited to join us as guests of the Mayor and Council). Also remember that the meeting has been scheduled at the Recreation Center Assembly Room from 6 o.m. to 9 p.m. Sandwiches and light refreshments will be provided to enhance the informal session and so we can maintain a working agenda. This is our opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and express our visions for the future. With the work that we accomplished at the Council retreat we have provided a good foundation for making good decisions and moving forward as a team. FYI: We are providing each of you with a lot of information to review before the meeting. We will have on hand representatives of both of the consulting firms to make detailed presentations and to answer any questions. Likewise, the staff will make a brief presentation and will be there to answer questions. I do want to point out, however, that at this stage, the staff is in the assessment phase. Our presentations and comments are preliminary in the sense that the `Town Center Project", at this point, is still in the conceptual phase. While for the most part we are very excited about the potential of this project and its significance to the future of our City, we are at a critical transition point. The next step in the process will require a solid assessment of the City's role and commitments to be active participants and investors. Research on similar projects that have been successful has concluded that a critical factor in the successful implementation of such a project requires strong community leadership. Likewise, a significant commitment of staff time and city resources will be required to move into the next phase. It is with these matters in consideration that we will be asking the Council for a sense of direction. These studies were designed to give us a strong basis upon which to determine the feasibility of this project. Please take advantage of the consultants being present by making sure that you are satisfied with the information we have obtained and the methods used to determine the results being presented. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS Documents for Your Review: 1) Executive Summary of the Zimmerman/Volk Associates Market Position Analysis, including a copy of the Leland Consulting Group's presentation from the April 27~' meeting, 2) The Public Attraction Facility Market & Economic Analysis, 3) A brief Status Report (IR-98-128) on the Library's Long Range Planning Project involving the services of the Providence Associates consulting firm. Library's Status Report: Please note that IR-98-128 (A status report on the Library planning project) has been included for you information. The Council will be receiving a full report on this project in the near future. It is important for you to know that, as a result of a sequence of events involving the long range planning for the future needs of the Library, the issue of whether or not anyone had considered the possibility of the "Town Center" as a potential location for a branch, or for a relocation, was raised. After having conducted five citizens' focus groups, the library consultants felt that consideration of these options along with those originally being examined needed to be added to the list. Monday evening the Arcadia consultants will be providing us with an assessment of the impact of including such a public facility in this location. This information was not ready in time for it to be included in your information packet. Brief History Regarding the Market Studv: On November 18, 1997, the City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission met in a joint work-session with the Arcadia Realty Corporation to discuss plans for developing an upscale, mixd-use project on the 333-acre tract (owned by Raytheon/E- Systems). During this meeting Arcadia presented a plan that involved the City's participation in a jointly funded study. The study was designed to address a detailed Market Position Analysis (MPA) of the best uses of this property, including an Audience Generation Study (AGS), which examines the feasibility of developing an "entertainment core", including such features as lakes, an amphitheater, and a City Recreation Center. These studies would identify the optimal types of development the 333-acre property would support, and quantify: 1) anticipated sales tax revenues,2) anticipated property tax revenues that North Richland Hills could expect based on the build out of this project. 2 On November 24, 1997, the City Council approved participation of the City with Arcadia to engage consultants to proceed with the market study as proposed. On March 23, 1998, The City Council received an Informal Report and Marty Weider presented to the Council during the Pre-Council meeting an update on the status of the Arcadia/NRH Market Study. Plans were made to make a "brief" presentation to the City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Parks Board during an upcoming meeting. On April 27, 1998, during a specially scheduled Pre-Council session, representatives from Arcadia and the Leland Consulting Group presented an "Executive Summary" of the Market Plan Analysis and the Audience Generation Study. It was noted that plans were being made to follow-up with a more informal work- session in order to present the result of these studies including time to discuss the results and to provide an opportunity for a Question and Answer session. On June 8, 1998, during the Pre-Council meeting the Council agreed to schedule a joint work-session for June 29, 1998. Direction from City Council: The market analysis being presented Monday evening was designed to provide information regarding the feasibility of the proposed "NRH Town Center Project". In the traditional sense, a project of this nature would usually be done at the sole initiative of the private sector. The next step would be for the owner/developer to proceed with the development of plans to submit to the City for the appropriate zoning and platting applications. The staff would then review the plans for compliance to existing ordinances. In this case, part of what is being proposed involves a collaborative process, which includes the development of a proposal for aprivate/public joint venture, as well as the creation and adoption of a new set of zoning, subdivision and other regulatory standards (development standards). This will require a significant commitment of staff time and other city resources, beyond what is normally required in the standard review process. Arcadia has already submitted for the staff to review a set of the proposed development standards. The staff has done a preliminary review and is prepared to move forward. The next step for the Council involves providing the staff with a sense of direction. Arcadia is ready to proceed with the process of preparing a proposal for the public/private partnership. Simultaneously, this means that Arcadia will also proceed with a formal request for the City to create the zoning and other 3 regulatory changes needed to accommodate the proposed project. These requests will go through the regular steps including any needed public notices, public hearing, and submissions to the appropriate Boards and Commissions. Based on a consensus of the Council to proceed, the staff will continue to work with Arcadia to prepare a partnership plan for future consideration. Staff will also continue to work closely with the respective Boards and Commissions when their involvement or input is appropriate. We have formed a staff project team and Ron Ragland has been designated as the Project Team Leader. We will be working with Arcadia to address the need for providing information to the City Council, Boards and Commissions, community leaders, media, and our citizens, in a timely manner. We want to make sure that everyone has an understanding of this project, and that their concerns are addressed and their questions answered. It is our understanding that Arcadia has assembled a "world class team" of highly qualified consulting firms to handle the architectural design, engineering, marketing, financing, and the urban planning aspects of the "Town Center Project". They will be making a presentation that will include the introducing of the players on their team, the planning process that we will be using to gain public participation and input, and the game plan and road map for where we are going. I think you will be very pleased with the work that has been done and the game plan. In terms of public involvement this project will be more open than what is normally expected. Arcadia will explain during their presentation the planning process and the planned elements public participation that goes beyond the City's required public hearings. In conclusion, we would hope that this will be a very productive meeting. We will be looking for a sense of direction from the Council. This does not mean. a formal vote or a commitment to do a specific "public facility". It does mean that we need to know that the Council is willing for the staff to continue to move forward into the next phase of planning and developing this project. It is especially important to Arcadia, if they are to continue to invest in this project, to know that we like what they are doing and would encourage them to proceed. It may be helpful to put what we are we are expecting to get from Council (a sense of direction) in the form of a few question: 1. Is the Council receptive and willing for the staff to continue working closely with Arcadia, and the appropriate Boards and Commissions, to create the development standards for this mixed-use development, leading towards the creation of a special district that we are currently calling the "Town Center Project"? 2. Is the Council interested and willing to begin discussing and considering the potential for the inclusion in this project certain "public facilities, and to have the staff working on the details and options to be considered? 4 3. Is the Council receptive to authorizing the staff to perform the necessary financial analysis for the public improvements? 4. Is the Council receptive to the staff continuing to work with Arcadia to develop a "partnership" so that this project. is the combination of a private/public investment in the future of our City? I hope this will help give the Council ample opportunity to lead the meeting Monday evening toward some meaningful dialogue, not only between Council members, but our invited guests, the staff, and our citizens.lt is intended to be a very informative presentation. I want to thank Ron Ragland for accepting the staff team leader and coordinator for this project. Respectfully Submitted, ~~ ~_ Larry J. C r4i'ngham City Manager 5 INFORMAL REPORT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL Date: June 24, 1998 subject: Status Report on Library Long Range Planning Project No. IR 98-128 On March 23, 1998 the City Council authorized the Library to enter into a contract with Providence Associates of Denton, Texas to assist the Library in developing along-Range Plan that will meet the needs of our growing city. One of the principal goals of this study is to determine the best way to provide for the future space needs of the Library. It is critical to the Library's mission that we find a way to provide room for growing numbers of library users and the library materials they need. This includes finding a way to accommodate the growing importance of electronic information sources in public libraries. In defining the facility options to be examined, library staff had initially outlined three basic options. Providence was asked to make recommendations on whether it is best to: Maintain the Library in its present Loop 820 location, expanding and renovating it to meet growing needs 2. Keep the Library where it is (renovating it to accommodate technological changes and improve customer service, and plan to build a branch library north of Loop 820 3. Relocate the library to a new freestanding facility, large enough to meet future needs and more centrally located in the city. Providence Associates visited the Library April 27 and 28 with a team that included a library consultant, an architect, and three engineers. The purpose of this visit was to assess the condition and the potential of the present facility, to interview staff, and to meet with the Library Board. They also met with other city staff, including the Support Services staff and City management. During their investigations it became apparent that there was a fourth option that should be explored: the possibility of relocating the Library to a shared facility as part of the Town Center Project proposed for the Raytheon Systems property. Accompanied by the Library Director, Providence Associates met with Bill Gietema of Arcadia Development May 29 to discuss the feasibility (and desirability) of this option. Avery productive discussion led to further investigation of the possibility, including a preliminary assessment of the economic impact of including the library in the project. Arcadia expressed a strong interest in further exploring the possibilities of such a public private partnership. Providence Associates' principal investigator Dick Waters returned to the Library June 4, 5 and 6 to conduct a series of five Citizens' Focus Groups, gathering public input on the future directions of library services. Also two City Council members responded to an invitation provided to all Council members to meet with Dick Waters. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS Each of the focus groups was asked to discuss the pros and cons of the various options for providing adequate library facilities in the future. The possibility of a partnership with Arcadia Development was included in the options discussed. Providence Associates expects to deliver its initial report and recommendations in draft form early in July. We at the Library eagerly await their recommendation, and look forward to continuing the process of developing our Long-Range Plan. Respectfully submitted, Steve Brown Library Director S B/cs