The BIDC/CDA backed a major land-use shift by recommending the city rezone its 18th & Hawthorne property from industrial to residential for future multi-family development. The board also moved forward on Sandy Bay lot sales, including a counteroffer and a proposed small land sale next to a member’s home.
Key Decisions
The board voted to rezone city-owned land at 18th & Hawthorne from industrial to residential so it can be marketed and sold for future multi-family housing—an important pivot in how the city plans to use scarce developable land.
The CDA countered a $52,000 offer for Sandy Bay Lot 24 at $54,500, signaling the city is still trying to push prices up rather than accept the first number that comes in.
The board authorized the City Manager to subdivide and sell a 0.18-acre slice of Lot 25 to the adjoining homeowner for fair market value—small in dollars, but worth watching for consistency and transparency when city land is sold to neighbors.
Public Input · 1 speaker
David Murack
Murack, the Fire Chief, said he wants the city to split off about 0.18 acres of Lot 25 next to his home at so he can buy it as an extension of his backyard, with no buildings planned and the area kept for wildlife and vegetation.
Agenda Items
Introduction of New Community Development Director and Review of Goals
The minutes note an introduction of the new Community Development Director and a review of goals, but they do not include the goals discussed or any direction given. That lack of detail makes it hard for residents to track what’s changing in the city’s development priorities and how success will be measured.
Update on Construction Activity, Marketing Activity, and Lot Sales at Sandy Bay Subdivision
Staff reported recent Sandy Bay sales and year-to-date numbers, but the minutes don’t include the actual figures. Given Sandy Bay’s role in the city’s housing pipeline, residents are left without the basic data needed to judge whether the subdivision is moving at the pace the city has promised.
Consideration of purchase offer for Lot 24 Sandy Ridge Drive
Passed
The CDA reviewed an offer of $52,000 for Lot 24 and voted to counter at $54,500. This is a straightforward sales move, but it also sets expectations for future buyers and affects how quickly lots move versus how much revenue the city brings in.
Consideration of rezoning of city-owned property at 18th and Hawthorne for residential development
Passed
Staff told the CDA the Plan Commission recommended rezoning the city-owned site from industrial to residential, aiming at future multi-family development, and the CDA voted to support that rezoning so the land can be marketed and sold. This is a big policy signal: the city is choosing housing potential over industrial use for this parcel, and residents should expect follow-up questions about infrastructure, neighborhood fit, and what “multi-family” will look like in practice.
Consideration of subdivision of Lot 25 for purchase by adjoining property
Passed
The board heard from Fire Chief David Murack, who asked the city to split off and sell him a 0.18-acre portion of Lot 25 next to his home, with no structures planned and the area kept for vegetation and wildlife. The CDA voted to give the City Manager authority to subdivide and sell that piece at fair market value; even when the footprint is small, the city should document the appraisal method and terms clearly so neighbor-to-city land deals don’t become a trust problem.
Public Input: David Murack spoke in support of subdividing Lot 25 so he could purchase a 0.18-acre portion as yard/wildlife space; no other public input is recorded.
Status Updates on: 1. Pop-Start Pizza 2. Violet Inn Lounge & Spa 3. The Hook Lanes & Games 4. All Energy Management 5. D&D Woodcrafters
The minutes list business status updates but do not include what was reported for any of the five businesses. Without the substance—jobs, timelines, openings/closures, or requests to the city—residents can’t tell whether these are success stories, stalled projects, or issues needing public attention.
Discussion of per acre pricing for City-owned land in Woodland Industrial Park
Staff reviewed historical pricing and comparables, and the committee reached consensus to raise the per-acre price to a more competitive average, but the minutes don’t state the new price or an effective date. Pricing city-owned industrial land is a major lever for economic development, and the missing number is the whole story—residents should expect the final figure to show up in a later action item or council approval.
The committee reviewed Revolving Loan Fund balances and activity, but the minutes don’t include amounts, outstanding loans, or whether any new lending is being considered. That’s a transparency gap for a tool that can directly shape which businesses get help and on what terms.