06-14-05 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Johnson asked about the possibility of a land swap with the county along the northern boundary. Black replied that the county has obtained funds to buy a portion of the propane company land to open up the entrance to the park. Johnson supports the proposed office buildings in the Northwest Quadrant plan even though the project didn't work for CMS within the occupancy time frame and cost constraint it had. The current market rates make it difficult for new construction to compete with rates of existing office space. Johnson stated that CMS wanted to remain in New Brighton and was w' ng to pay o $8.00/square foot ($250,000/year)more than other proposals it has. e e is even twice the lease rates, for new construction, the city would have been re -: to down t I land to $1.00/square foot and even then it was questionable that the q ty bui..ings d ' ed c ld be built. He indicated that if companies move outside a five-m'le radi , they ' to lo• employees— another reason for CMS to stay in New Brighton. Aune su ested th. • , ity seek occupants within a five-mile radius. At the June 76 meeting some attendees ex. ested c► - s that t llotted amount of retail is too small. Delaune and Harmon suggeste. hat the Ci -iterate that the amount of retail is market- driven. The developers realize tha •ii ly the nea residents and workers will use the retail, because there is no direct fr acc- Midwest Asphalt Black reported that the mediation se th clarified negotiating positions,but the three parties remain mlions of dollars rt. We are continuing to maintain dialogue through the mediator. The Supreme Court will be ng its ruling at the end of the month and that may enhance the cha e of a settle nt. The cost of the e ntal cle will be up to $6 million. Plans call for an aggressive approa in the clea by remo ng all contaminated soil down to the water table. Rail Spur Black repo d ad a very productive meeting with Minnesota Commercial president John Gohma and o er rail executives on May 25th. The City is charged with identifying a "functional re lacement" for the "team track" operation on the Butcher's Spur east of Old Highway 8. (L dscape boulders and bricks are stored there, and Gohmann wants to construct a building to accommodate a"classic"rail car.) The state legislature awarded the City $1 million this year for construction of a new "wye" in the southeastern portion of the City, which will allow coal trains to pass directly through the industrial areas without impacting residential areas farther north. A triangle of land which will be left by the wye construction was offered to the railroad for the team track; this concept was acceptable to Gohmann. A second possibility would be to route the wye through the TCAAP. Gohmann was also very interested in Matt Fulton's idea of keeping the track for a possible future light rail system.