After a nice resolution in honor of "School Board Appreciation Week," Council got down to real business.<\/p>\n
First, an ordinance was adopted designating the Highland View Redevelopment area as a residential rental inspection district. The whole resolution is here (page 25)<\/a>, but in essence, it permits housing inspections in that district only.<\/p>\n They approved a resolution accepting $1.3 million in payment in lieu of taxes, which Councilman Abbatiello noted was about 1\/10th of what it should be. Nonetheless, it was unanimously approved.<\/p>\n Another greenway was approved, continuing the Melton Lake Greenway under the bridge at Bull Run, which will hopefully connect our greenway with those in Knox County at some point. (Knox County? What about the rest of Oak Ridge?) Councilman Beehan brought up a need to eventually connect the West end to the East side, coming through the middle of town.<\/p>\n A resolution was approved to award the contract for shoreline stabilization at Melton Hill Lake. Part of the stabilization will occur on private property (now Flatwater Grill), but the owner will make a payment in lieu of taxes in the amount of the shoreline stabilization cost. A new dock is included.<\/p>\n Planning Commission: Council re-appointed Linda Brown and Marty Cole to the Planning Commission. There will be eight elections up for grabs at the Feb. 19th Council meeting on various boards and committees.<\/p>\n Golden reported on the meetings of the Budget & Finance Committee, which will meet on the first and third Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m., each month leading up to the budget process. The first meeting will be held on Feb. 6, and a calendar for all meetings will be up by the beginning of February.<\/p>\n Abbatiello called attention to the fact that the "corridor study" is coming up, which he promises that the Planning Commission will be apprised of. Secondly, all members got a copy of the tax incentives report "which was incomplete, as it lacks a return on investment on each of these items." O’Connor said that information would be provided. Lastly, Abbatiello asked whether any progress has been made on the AMSE property; David Bradshaw noted (as president of the AMSE Foundation) that information should be forthcoming by the end of the year.<\/p>\n THE BIG DEAL:<\/strong><\/p>\n The City Manager addressed the possibility of siting a super-Target anchored shopping center (450,000 sq. ft.). The City would have to provide $10.5 million, to be paid from the redevelopment of the property. Craig Cole of GBT explained that Oak Ridge is "underserved by retail," but the desired locations are all along Illinois Avenue, where there is a shortage of available land.<\/p>\n Pine Ridge is a development challenge, but it’s available. They plan to call it Crestpointe, but acknowledge the significant challenge of developing the site. That’s why they need $10.5M. Much more dialogue and discussion will occur at the work session next Monday evening.<\/p>\n O’Connor says there will be risk for the City, as well as for GBT, but they’ve checked and double-checked the development potential and now desire community input. Really.<\/p>\n Bradshaw notes that it’s an opportunity, but it’s a big investment, and it will require a comfort level and approval from the community before Council will be prepared to approve the project. However, upon questioning from Councilman Beehan, it was agreed to try and hold the meeting in the Council chambers so that it can be televised, and to try to adjust the time so that School Board members may attend prior to our meeting at 7 p.m. (Thank you, Tom!<\/em>)<\/p>\n Wrapping up was simply a discussion of meeting dates, followed by the appearance of citizens (there were none). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After a nice resolution in honor of "School Board Appreciation Week," Council got down to real business. First, an ordinance was adopted designating the Highland View Redevelopment area as a residential rental inspection district. The whole resolution is here (page … Continue reading