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Staff outlines Proximity Park requirements; emphasizes no site plan filed and terms to protect city resources
Summary
City staff presented operating guidelines for Proximity Park development—power provision, limited water sales, wastewater treatment, nuisance controls and suggested a development agreement with conditions including a 75% abatement cap referenced in the Lightfield purchase contract.
City staff told the commission that Proximity Park is zoned I‑2 with an overlay district and existing covenants recorded in 2020, and that no site plan, building permit, or incentive application had been submitted by Lightfield as of July 1.
City Manager Mady and Director Landis presented eight operating guidelines staff would use to evaluate any application, including a requirement that any technology campus provide its own power at its own expense or pay a franchise fee consistent with large‑load tariffs; a commitment that the city will only sell the amount of water it can prudently provide while maintaining service levels; and a firm position that the city will not accept wastewater it cannot treat in compliance with KDHE or EPA standards. Director Landis also said the covenants and overlay give the city tools to regulate lighting and noise during site‑plan review.
On incentives, staff noted the purchase contract references a maximum property tax abatement of 75% for up to 10 years and said any incentive request would be analyzed by an outside financial firm, routed to affected taxing entities and brought to the governing body for public hearings. Landis stressed that staff’s modeling used developer marketing assumptions, that the city could negotiate a development agreement with specific utility and community benefit commitments, and that the presentation materials and supporting contracts would be posted on ottawaks.gov/proximitypark.
"So at this point there will be measures put in place later on if and when the development comes that would be in the form of a development agreement," Director Landis said. "We will use our full authority granted by Ottawa City ordinances and regulations to ensure orderly, safe, and productive development of Proximity Park."
