11/13/1991 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Special Council Meeting 11/13/91 Page Two Mr. Chokel explained their expenses thus far on the project which include fees for architects, construction managers, and consultants. He said the momentum is rolling. Mr. Chokel said that Progressive would like some indication as soon as possible. He said their alternatives are to do nothing, or alternatively to respond to other communities. Mr. Chokel said they want to bring the facility to Mayfield Village. Accordingly, they are asking that Council vote next Monday on the 67% tax abatement by creating a community reinvestment azea and attempt to work on the mechanics of setting up the program. He said they have dozens of commitments existing today. Mr. Rinker asked if there were any quesrions. He:asked why they want abatement. Mr. Chokel said they have a successful track record but aze in a dilemma. Because of the depressed economy, now is not the time to build. Mayor Carmen said he would reiterate from the genesis of the project for the members of the audience. Mayor Carmen said that several months ago he received some informamon that the Cleveland project was not likely to happen. He also received information that several communities were wooing Progressive and they they were considering those oprions. Mayor Carmen said that Progressive had a less than happy experience with us some years ago. Mayor Catmen said he asked Mr. Patrick to do a quick estimate of how many dollars of taxes Progressive paid to Mayfield Village and what percent of the project these taxes comprise. Progressive is the biggest taxpayer in Mayfield Village; about one-third of the total. The impact on Mayfield Village would be significant if Progressive relocated to faciliries elsewhere. Based on that, Mayor Carmen said he called Peter Lewis and told him that if Progressive is going someplace else to build a headquarters, he hoped they would consider Mayfield Village. Mr. Lewis asked him if he thought Mayfield Village would be willing to consider tax abatement and Mayor Carmen said he would ? urge it. Mayor Carmen said that about two weeks later he had a call from Louis Bloomfield who said that Progressive is interested in talking to us. Mayor Carmen said that Mr. Bloomfield asked him how Mayfield Village would be about tax abatement Mayor Carmen said he gave Council a highlight of this informarion explaining what impact this would have on Mayfield Village. He explained the impact in terms of financial gain, added jobs, and stability. Mayor Carmen said that for as far as he could see into the future, there would never be a need for a tax increase in Mayfield Village. The dollars generated will benefit the school. The short-term projects the Village is looking at doing (the potential acquisition of the golf course and a new municipal center) don't look as scary if an additional half-million dollars in tax dollars would be generated in 1994. Mayor Carmen said that Council uniformly indicated they would clearly consider some type of tax abatement. They have talked about the impact and what they would be..willirig to do. Mr. Rinker thanked Mr. Chokel for his presentation. Mr. Heller, architect, explained Progressive's current site plan. He said the site plan was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission; they recommended that the plan be presented to this body for approval. Mr. Heller said this plan is similar to the plan they prepared three years ago which was approved by the Village Council. The complex would be located in the center of the property; they have moved the tallest structures to the center and the parking to the outside. Sculpring the property this way will create an increased cost. They want to drop the building lower to make it more pleasant to the neighboring residents in Mayfield Village and Mayfield Heights. Mr. Heller said the Mayfield Village Engineer has requested they take all storm drainage from Mayf'ield Heights and divert it to the freeway and under the freeway to handle the 100-year storm.