City Council Minutes 2014 10 07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes October 7, 2014 Page 8 of 27 BLIGHTED AREA AND DIRECTION TO PREPARE AN URBAN RENEWAL PLAN — Public Hearing Mayor Muckle opened the public hearing and requested a staff presentation. Economic Development Director DeJong reviewed Resolution No. 60, Series 2014 — A Resolution Finding of Blight for 550 S. McCaslin Blvd, the former Sam's Club. Sam's Club closed in January 2010. The Sam's Club property is 13 -acres and the building is 128,000 SF. The new owners, as of January 2014, were concerned the reduced viability of adjacent properties could contribute to neighborhood decline and weakens the McCaslin Corridor. Council directed staff to perform a Conditions Survey in May 2014. An Urban Revitalization Consultant looked at defined blight factors in State Urban Renewal Law as follows: — Deteriorated or deteriorating structures — Defective or inadequate street layout — Faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness — Unsanitary or unsafe conditions — Deterioration of site or other improvements — Unusual topography or inadequate public improvements or utilities — Defective or unusual conditions of title rendering the title nonmarketable — Conditions that endanger life or property by fire or other causes — Buildings that are unsafe or unhealthy for people to live or work in — Environmental contamination of buildings or property — Existence of health, safety, or welfare factors requiring high levels of municipal services or substantial underutilization or vacancy of buildings, sites, or improvements The results of the Conditions Study July of 2014 found four (4) factors: 1. Faulty Lot Layout 2. Deterioration of site or other improvements 3. Defective or unusual conditions of title rendering the title non - marketable 4. The existence of health, safety, or welfare factors requiring high levels of municipal services or substantial physical underutilization or vacancy of sites, buildings, or other improvements Faulty Lot Layout: Observed during the field survey and also using parcel maps from the Boulder County Assessor. Lot configuration results in former Sam's Club building being narrow and deep with respect to the front entrance, rather than shallow and wide. Building orientation makes it difficult to partition effectively; resulting spaces would be too narrow and deep for adequate retail layout. Other non - retail uses that might be compatible with a deep, narrow layout are prohibited. Deterioration of Site and Other Improvements: Facility is 127,000 SF with a 600+ car parking lot, requiring significant upkeep expenses. Currently only used during a small portion of the time by a community church, which does not generate the revenue