Planning & Zoning Commission recommends adding 282 acres to City of Norwalk urban renewal plan

The Planning & Zoning Commission voted Feb. 9 to recommend the City of Norwalk City Council approve an amendment to the city's urban renewal plan to add 282 acres tied to a proposed development.

Luke, a community development staff member, told commissioners that "So this would be an amendment to add, 282 acres, to the urban renewal" plan once the area is fully annexed. He said the annexation goes to the state development board this Wednesday and city staff do not expect complications.

Holly, the city's economic development representative, said the amendment is part of the standard process used when the city makes projects eligible for tax increment financing (TIF) but that this particular development "won't be getting TIF incentives"; she added the city plans to use any TIF generation for infrastructure. Holly also said, "this project that's going to generate over 400,000,000 in new value" if approvals proceed.

Commissioners moved and seconded a recommendation that the City Council approve the urban renewal area amendment. The commission recorded affirmative responses on a roll-call vote and forwarded a recommendation for approval to the council.

Next steps outlined by staff include the state annexation hearing this Wednesday, a City Council public hearing on the urban renewal amendment next Thursday, and consideration of a development agreement at the March 5 council meeting. Holly also announced that Representative Randy Feenstra will tour project areas and hold a public Q&A next Tuesday at 4 p.m., and that a Kosovo Independence Day observance will be held Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. at the World Food Prize Building.

The commission set its next meeting for Feb. 23 at 5:45 p.m. and adjourned at 5:54 p.m.