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City staff to simplify site-plan reviews in March; high commercial costs blamed for vacancies
Summary
Community Sustainability Director William Waters said administrative changes to major and minor site-plan reviews are planned for March and linked downtown vacancies to high commercial electric and insurance rates, millage, parking constraints and the loss of economic-development staff.
William Waters, Community Sustainability Director, summarized upcoming administrative adjustments to the city’s minor and major site-plan review processes, saying the changes are expected in March.
Waters listed factors he believes contribute to downtown vacancies: "we do not have an enterprise zone or other improvement districts, we have very high electric rates for commercial businesses, commercial insurance rates are high, millage is too high, no parking, the city lost its grant writer and economic director and the City Manager-- no one to help fix these items or to market for new." The board discussed whether streamlining reviews and restoring economic-development capacity could help reduce vacancies. No formal policy decision or timeline beyond the March administrative adjustments was adopted at the meeting.
Members asked staff to provide clearer timelines and to coordinate proposed review changes with downtown marketing efforts.
