By Alan Johnson, IDB/EDC member
The Lakeland IDB (Industrial Development Board) and EDC (Economic Development Commission) met July 25th at City Hall.
Link to IDB meeting: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/859
IDB meeting
Public discussion
The meeting started with public discussion, where Commissioner Richard Gonzales approached the Board. Commissioner Gonzales wanted the Board to be aware that Yehuda Natanel, developer of The Lake District, had recently asked the BOC (Board of Commissioners) for an amendment to delay a security bond for Phase 1 sewer infrastructure on The Lake District project. Commissioner Gonzales also asked that the Board not solely cheerlead the project, but to likewise be careful in their due diligence regarding the project.
Lakeland Commons
The next item on the IDB agenda was a Contract for Professional Services with A2H to provide project management and inspection services and to verify correct usage of TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds on the Lakeland Commons development project. A2H will be acting as a third party to ensure both the IDB and Simmons Bank that all construction costs reimbursed under the approved Economic Impact Plan are both allowable expenses and that the construction has been completed to satisfaction. Discussion of the Board resulted in one amendment to the Contract. The amendment added language that total expenses were not to exceed $10,000. If more funding was needed for the project, the IDB would have opportunity to review a renewal and/or approve an extension. The amended contract was passed and the Board also asked for A2H to provide total project projections for the next meeting.
HSI Properties, LLC
The next item of business was an Assignment of Interest to Real Estate Purchase Agreement with HSI Properties, LLC. The agreement, in essence, allows HSI Properties, LLC to purchase the tract of land wrapping behind Walgreens on Highway 64 and Canada Road and to donate a portion of the land on behalf of the IDB to ALDI to construct a 20,000 square foot grocery store. The proposed agreement was passed with unanimous approval.
EDC meeting
Link to EDC meeting: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/858
Forrest Owens – Residential permits
The meeting of the EDC began with an update on planning activities and development projects by Forrest Owens, planning director. Mr. Owens explained that as of July 25, 53 residential building permits have already been filed for 2019. This number surpasses the total number of permits filed for both 2017 and 2018, which were 50 and 52 respectively. Expectations are that 80 or more permits will be filed by year’s end.
Construction Plans for Lakeland Commons Phase 1 have been approved. They are awaiting an approval from the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation and should begin construction within a week or two.
The Collection at Lakeland Planned Development was approved by the MPC (Municipal Planning Commission) and BOC at their most recent meetings. The Collection’s plan includes 5 commercial lots and 14 residential lots on 17 acres. This development will include ALDI, which will be located between McDonalds and Krystal on U.S. Highway 64.
Lakeland Meadows Planned Development, a planned residential community on approximately 190 acres, has submitted their construction plans for the first phase. The project is located on the north side of U.S. Highway 70, adjacent to and west of Winstead Farms Development. The overall development includes 367 lots of different sizes with over 63 acres of green space/lakes/woods; almost 2 miles of trails; and 64% of all of the lots will abut or face green space. The first phase includes 33 lots on 16 acres.
Lakeland Marketing Plan
Next Board Member Alan Johnson provided an update on the Lakeland Marketing Plan. The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce has agreed to fund the next three major initiative with funds from an EDGE (Economic Development Growth Engine) Grant already acquired for 2019. The initiatives include an update of the Lakelandtn.gov website, and update of the comediscoverlakeland.com website, and additional elements for the Come Discover Lakeland video. Grant money already allocated will be used for another Lakeland gateway sign on the east end of Highway 64. The sign was recently approved by TDOT and will use the same design as the ones on Canada Road and Fletchers Trace Parkway. Construction of the sign should begin within the next two months.
Other possible projects include the repainting of the MLGW/Stonebridge water tower to include the updated Lakeland City logo that is used on the gateway signs. The Marketing Committee is currently working with MLGW on the details of the arrangement.
Retail Gap Analysis
The final topic on the agenda was a discussion on updating the Retail Gap Analysis, last performed in 2018 by Redding Consulting Group. The Board agreed that an update to the study would be prudent and would helpful with efforts to recruit more commercial development. It was decided that an estimate will be requested for an update to the analysis and the project will be voted on next month.
