CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: July 1, 2009
SUBJECT/TITLE: Second and Final Public Hearing on Development Agreement Between the City of Tallahassee and S.T.O.F. Holdings, Ltd., Related to Demolition of Downtown Structures
TARGET ISSUE:
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
S.T.O.F. Holdings, Ltd. (S.T.O.F.), a subsidiary of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, owns two parcels near the intersection of Jefferson Street and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee. (Attachment 1-sketch of property) Structures on the property are in disrepair, and S.T.O.F. is seeking permits to demolish the structures shown in cross-hatching on Attachment 1. Demolition is expected to begin within the next few months. S.T.O.F. has no immediate plans to improve the property, and intends to fence the property after demolition. To avoid having barren, fenced property facing both South Monroe Street and Jefferson Street for an undetermined length of time, the City and the Downtown Improvement Authority have contacted S.T.O.F. about the possibility of obtaining a temporary easement over the property that would allow the City and the DIA to install landscaping and informative exhibits on the site until S.T.O.F., or its successors in interest, are ready to develop. In exchange, S.T.O.F.’s redevelopment rights, which are time limited by the Land Development Code, will be preserved for the life of the development agreement, or 10 years. The proposed development agreement is attached as Attachment 2. The proposed agreement is before the City Commission for the second and final public hearing. The first public hearing was held on June 24, 2009.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Option 1: Hold the second and final public hearing on the proposed development agreement with S.T.O.F. Holdings, Ltd., and approve the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Parks and Recreation Department has developed 3 landscaping options for the property, and cost estimates range from $6,575.00 to $10,555.00 for installation and $1,440.00 to $2,800.00 for annual maintenance. (Attachment 3) It is expected that the costs will be shared equally by the City, the DIA, and the Community Redevelopment Agency.
James R. English, City Attorney
For Information, please contact: Linda Hudson, Assistant City Attorney, Ext. 8554
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
S.T.O.F. owns two parcels near the intersection of Jefferson Street and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee. (Attachment 1) Structures on the property are in disrepair, and S.T.O.F. is seeking permits to demolish the structures shown in cross-hatching on Attachment 1. Demolition is expected to begin within the next few months. S.T.O.F. has no immediate plans to improve the property.
To avoid having barren, fenced property facing both South Monroe Street and Jefferson Street for an undetermined length of time, the City and the Downtown Improvement Authority have contacted S.T.O.F. about the possibility of obtaining a temporary easement over the property that would allow installation of landscaping and installing informative exhibits on the site until S.T.O.F., or its successors in interest, are ready to develop. In exchange, S.T.O.F.’s redevelopment rights, which are time limited by the Land Development Code, will be preserved for the life of the development agreement, or 10 years. The proposed development agreement is attached as Attachment 2. The proposed temporary easement and a list of redevelopment rights that would be preserved for S.T.O.F. are in Exhibits 2 and 3 to Attachment 2.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department will landscape the area and maintain the landscaping until the property is improved by S.T.O.F., or its successors in interest; and has developed 3 options for landscaping. (See Attachment 3) The Downtown Improvement Authority, the Community Redevelopment Agency, and the City are each expected to participate by contributing one third of the cost. The City Planning Department is exploring possibilities for informative exhibits on topics including the history of the Seminole Tribe in this area, and the history of civil rights demonstrations on or near the site.
The proposed agreement is before the City Commission for the second and final public hearing.
OPTIONS
1. Hold the second and final public hearing on the proposed development agreement with S.T.O.F. Holdings, Ltd., and approve the agreement.
2. Hold the second and final public hearing on the proposed development agreement with S.T.O.F. Holdings, Ltd., and approve as revised by the City Commission.
3. Do not hold the second and final public hearing on the proposed development agreement with S.T.O.F. Holdings, Ltd., and provide directions to staff.
ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES
1. Sketch of downtown property owned by S.T.O.F. Holdings, Ltd., with demolition area shown in cross-hatching.
2. Proposed Ch. 163 Development Agreement.
3. Landscaping Options for the S.T.O.F. Holdings Property.