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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/20/2021 - Minutes The Economic Development Authority of Roanoke County Roanoke County Administration Center Minutes Roanoke, Virginia 24018 Wednesday, October 20, 2021, the Economic Development Authority of Roanoke County, Virginia met at the Roanoke County Administration Center EDA Members Present Steve Musselwhite, Chair Woody Windley, Vice-Chair Greg Apostolou Max Beyer (left at 10:24 am) Ssunny Shah Michael Cagle Steve Anderson Patel Kirtesh (arrived at 9:06 am and left at 10:10 am) Kyle Richardson Barry Thompson Peter Lubeck, Counsel Jill Loope, Secretary-Treasurer Members Absent Guest Pete Peters, Vinton Town Manager, Ashley Posthumus, Economic Development Specialist at Virginia Tech's Center for Economic and Community Engagement, Wade Tayler, Economic Development Manager, Joe Zielinski, Economic Development Specialist, Jessica Beemer, Assistant Director of Finance, Financial Analyst; Allison Fay, Recording Clerk CALL TO ORDER Chairman Steve Musselwhite called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. REQUEST TO POSTPONE, ADD TO, OR CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA ITEMS No changes tothe agenda. Mr. Lubeck informed the Board on current updates to County Policy 27-F Comprehensive Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan. He reviewed the new DOLT requirements related to mask wearing guidelines. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 MINUTES On motion by Michael Cagle to approve the minutes of September 1, 2021 as presented, seconded by Ssunny Shah, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Page 2 of 5 October 20, 2021 Economic Development Authority Minutes FINANCIAL REPORT Ms. Jessica Beemer, Assistant Director of Finance, reviewed the information provided in the financial report through September 30, 2021 and discussed recent changes to the report formatting. On motion by Barry Thompson to accept and approve the financial report as presented, seconded by Steve Anderson, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. OLD BUSINESS This item was moved to the end of the agenda. NEW BUSINESS 1. Consideration of Façade Grant request for 131 E. Lee Avenue in the Town of Vinton Mr. Pete Peters, Town Manager, Town of Vinton, reviewed the façade grant application for 131 E. Lee Avenue. He reviewed the exterior improvements that would be made to the building and stated the total grant request was for $5,000.00. There was discussion about the eligibility of the request due to the improvements being made on the side of the building. Staff confirmed that the facade grant guidelines allowed for this type of improvement and recommended approval of the request. On motion by Barry Thompson moved to approve the Town of Vinton Downtown Facade Grant Application for the property located at 131 E. Lee Ave., seconded by Michael Cagle, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Mr. Beyer asked if this was the first grant this year. Mr. Peters stated there is another one coming through and expects more in 2022. 2. Presentation and Authorization to enter into a Performance Agreement with the Town of Vinton, the Economic Development Authority and the McDevitt Company for the development of a hotel. Mr. Peters, Town Manager, Town of Vinton, provided a presentation of the Town of Vinton East Roanoke County Hotel Project and reviewed the following items; the history and location of the proposed project, the performance agreement, the Town and County MOU, Soundvue Development/McDevitt Company, size of hotel and the redevelopment costs including public infrastructure improvements. Page 3 of 5 October 20, 2021 Economic Development Authority Minutes Mr. Peters also reviewed the project's investment details and the estimated annual revenues for the development. He stated they hoped to break ground in January 2022 with a 15-month construction timeframe, and a projected opening date of March 2023. Mr. Peters said the name of the hotel has not yet been released. He stated they expect to employee approximately 20 people: Mr. Kirtesh Patel expressed concern with development costs and questioned if the numbers presented were going to meet the costs of the project. It was mentioned that the cost projections are estimates provided by the company. The Performance Agreement is based on the company's actual performance, and if they don't meet their projections then they would only receive a reimbursement of the actual taxes they generate. Mr. Beyer asked if the hotel was dependent on Rosie's expanding. Mr. Peters stated it was his understanding that the project was based not only Rosie's, but also the need for a hotel in the area to support market demand generated by events, visitors and weddings. Chairman Musselwhite thanked Mr. Peters and said there has been a lot of talk for many years about a hotel in that area and that it will be great when it is completed. On Motion by Barry Thompson to approve and enter into a performance agreement between the Town of Vinton, the Economic Development Authority and the McDevitt Company for the development of a hotel, seconded by Sunny Shah, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 3. Authorization to acquire real property located at 0 Old Cave Spring Rd. (Tax Map No. 076.20-03-05.00-0000), 4555 Old Cave Spring Rd., (Tax Map No. 076.00-03-02.00-0000), 4607 Old Cave Spring Rd. (Tax Map No. 076.20-03- 01.00-0000), 4445 Brambleton Ave (Tax Map No. 086.08-04-04.00-0000), and 4441 Brambleton Ave (Tax Map No.086.08-04-05.00-0000), in the Windsor Hills Magisterial District, from the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Ms. Loope reviewed the site and the memorandum of Agreement with the Board. She stated that combining the properties together at this site will allow for the type of commercial development the County desires at this location. Ms. Loope stated staff would come back before the Board once the property is secured and the deed is recorded. She reviewed how the project will progress after the property is obtained and will come back to the board with any proposed contracts to consider. On motion by Michael Cagle to approve the acquisition of the property located at 0 Cave Spring Road from the Board of County Supervisors, seconded by Ssunny Shah, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Page 4 of 5 October 20, 2021 Economic Development Authority Minutes 4. Authorization to acquire property located at the Vinton Business Park (Tax Map Nos. 071.07-03-01M0-0000; 071.07-03-04.00-0000; 071.11-01-01.00- 0000; 071.11-01-01.02-0000; 071.07-03-03.00-0000; 071.07-03-02.00-0000) from the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors and Town of Vinton. Ms. Loope informed the Board that staff is recommending the transfer of ownership of the Vinton Business Center to the Economic Development Authority. She reminded the Board that this request is similar to the CRT property transfer that occurred several years ago, with the purpose of expediting economic development projects on publicly owned property. On Motion by Steve Anderson to approve authorizing to acquire the property located Vinton Business Park from the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors and the Town of Vinton, seconded by Patel Kirtesh, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 5. Draft Economic Development Strategic Plan Presentation Ashley Posthumus, Economic Development Specialist at Virginia Tech's Center for Economic and Community Engagement, said she was happy to present the draft Economic Development Strategic Plan to the Board and explained this was an opportunity for the Board to request any changes to the plan and ask questions that they may have. She stated that on October 21st and 28th two public meetings were being held to introduce the plan to the public and if the Board has any suggested changes, they will be considered and incorporated in the final plan as appropriate. Ms. Posthumus proceed to present the plan to the Board and stated that staff and Virginia Tech have been working on the plan for the past 10 months. The following comments were made by the Board; Chairman Musselwhite stated the plan was will written and well thought out. He clarified that this was the County's first formal Economic Development Strategic Plan. Mr. Beyer requested putting bullet points on some of the items throughout the plan. He stated the individual items would stand out better. Mr. Windley stated the plan was very general and wanted to see some areas of the plan be more specific. He asked if other partner organizations were on board and participating in the plan. Ms. Posthumus and Ms. Loope both explained that many other agencies have been involved since the inception of the plan and have been presented with the draft overview. There were many specific details in the final plan that are challenging to summarize in a presentation. Staff will be sharing the detailed plan with the Board in the near future. Chairman Musselwhite suggested the other agencies that we have worked with be listed in the plan. He stated it was a great presentation. Page 5 of 5 October 20, 2021 Economic Development Authority Minutes Mr. Shah stated this was a well thought out plan. Mr. Cagle suggested adding a summary page that could simplify the information. Ms. Loope explained this was a 5-year plan and stated the plan was a living breathing document and changes would be reflected in the plan as time goes by considering that economic conditions may change quickly as we witnessed during the pandemic. Ms. Loope thanked the Board for their feedback and stated that the Board of Supervisors will be receiving the draft plan presentation in a work session on November 17. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATES Ms. Loope stated that Chicken Salad Chick, located in the Tanglewood Mall, held a Grand opening ceremony on October 19 and provided updates on all of the Tanglewood Mall construction projects. Ms. Loope said the expansion at Rosie's in the Town of Vinton was almost complete and Friendship Retirement's Transitional Care Unit just held a ribbon cutting on their new facility opening, and the new Catawba Greenway recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Catawba Sustainability Center. Ms.Loope reviewed .three grant applications with the Economic Development Administration and regional partners that have recently been submitted. Mr. Apostolou asked for an update on the Woodhaven Technology Park. Ms. Loope stated that the site work and grading on the property was essentially complete and that we are marketing the property for new business prospects, which is increasing in number. REPORTS AND INQUIRIES OF BOARD MEMBERS No items reported at this time. ADJOURNMENT On motion by Ssunny Shah and second by Michael Cagle the Economic Development Authority meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m. The next scheduled meeting will be on November 17 at 9:00 a.m. Respectfully submitted, 4;4. Jial4 cope Secretary-Treasurer