CITY OF LAKELAND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008, 6:30 PM
CITY HALL, LAKELAND, TENNESSEE, 38002
I. CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m., Thursday, October 23, 2008, by
Mark Lawrence, Chairman.
II. ROLL CALL:
Don Barber Present
Shirlee Clark Absent (excused)
John Dudas Absent (excused)
Mark Hartz Absent (excused)
Connie Hess Present
Mark Lawrence Present
Josh Roman Absent (excused)
Boyd Ruppelt Present
Pamela Womack Present
City of Lakeland Staff Members Present:
Growth Management Director, J Higbee
Office Coordinator, Theresa Meyer
III. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES:
EDC Regular Meeting Minutes, September 25, 2008, 6:30 p.m.
Motion made by Pamela Womack to approve the EDC Regular Meeting Minutes dated September 25, 2008, as written. Motion seconded by Connie Hess.
Motion carried, voice vote, all in favor.
IV. PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
NONE
V. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD:
Update on Lakeland’s Chamber of Commerce. (Lawrence)
Rene Daniel, Leasing Manager for the Lakeland Outlet Mall, was the speaker for October meeting. Ms. Daniel provided the following update concerning the mall: (1) Mall will remain an outlet mall. (2) Tenants are lined up and the financing is in order, just waiting on economy to stabilize. (3) Memorabilia store is moving out; the stores with existing leases will remain open during the renovation. (4) At this time, it is not possible to put a timetable on the mall redevelopment.
The October meeting was well attended (50-60 people).
The next meeting will be held November 13 at Stonebridge Clubhouse. Ed Horrell, author and proponent of The Kindness Revolution, is the confirmed speaker.
Update on New Business Licenses. (Franklin)
There was one (1) new business reported operating in Lakeland since the September 25, 2008, meeting. Chairman Lawrence will forward contact information to the Chamber.
Update on Planning Department. (Higbee)
Lakeland Commons is proceeding to November BOC.
Four projects were submitted in October:
•Harding is on file
•The Meadows SDDP— to November MPC if complete
•Village at Waters Edge—zoning will be at MPC in November; if plat is complete, it will go to December MPC
•Discussion on first commercial phase of Lake Forest—25,000 square feet of retail
Code Project: goal to BOC in April ‘09
•Report included in packet
•Doug Farr will present at a meeting in January 2009
Public meetings will likely be scheduled at the following locations:
•Oakwood Clubhouse for Central Lakeland
•Stonebridge Clubhouse for South Lakeland
•Jim Atkinson to organize for North Lakeland
EDC Resolution 2008/09-01 – viability of proposed retail development types
•Need information in response to questions contained in EDC Resolution 2008/09-01
o Keep cost of information down.
o Find experts to provide information and take cost to BOC.
o Can the answers be found in the University of Memphis Market Study?
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
NONE
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
Vince Smith gave a presentation on the economic impact of neighborhood centers such as Lakeland Commons which included the following:
•What makes good retail—retailers have a very precise criteria
1. Location, location, location—existing stores, traffic patterns, and a major drawing card - anchor stores
2. Demographics
•How it relates to Lakeland
1. The best type of anchor store for Lakeland would be a grocery store of some size to attract the little “mom and pop” businesses. Mr. Smith gave statistics of the Arlington Kroger store and the Kroger on Hwy 70 in Bartlett to show the need for another grocery in Lakeland
2. Do not strip out Hwy 70; contain retail in one area.
•Urban Land Institute (ULI)—for a nominal fee ULI can review plans and provide a written report or make a presentation.
Presentation only. No action taken.
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
NONE
IX. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no other business to discuss, Connie Hess moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Don Barber.
Motion carried, voice vote, all in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
These minutes were approved January 22, 2009.
