7A - School Bus Shelter in Business/Industrial Park

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The EDC, as well as the Planning Commission through the Comprehensive Planning �— process, is working on ways to increase private-sector investment in the business park. The City has already reduced lot size requirements, increased coverage thresholds and is looking to change survey submittal standards to make subdivision less expensive. This is all being done because there is a realization that the return-on-investment in the park has not been high enough for the City,particularly when compared to the long-term costs of maintaining the huge infrastructure investment we have there. The observation I shared with Linnell and the property owner was that the loss in revenue would likely be an issue the City would want to discuss as public officials are well-aware of the cost of our infrastructure commitments and the need to see a return in the park to avoid(minimize)tax increases on businesses and residents. In terms of jobs, I noted that the project would transfer jobs from one site in the City to another, but a net increase in jobs is not anticipated. The majority of the site would be used for bus storage which,while important, does not in-and-of-itself create any jobs. All of this is not to suggest that a bus storage and maintenance facility is not important to the community. It is important to the School District and, as stated in the current draft of the updated Comprehensive Plan, it is critical for the City to support the District. Is there a way we could find an alternate site that would accomplish the same objectives for the School District without the large tax-base hit and without tying up an important business park lot with significant public investments in infrastructure with such a low- return use? Ultimately,the decision will belong to the City Council. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further or provide any feedback or guidance.