Redevelopment Commission - Regular Meeting

We'll call the meeting to order. Uh please note this meeting is being live streamed this evening by under under production multimedia. Everyone would please rise and begin with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Do a roll call vote. Bonita Pton here. Bobby Brooks here. John Spencer here. Jack Deon here.

Here comes also present. We do have Corum. Uh, next up is our nomination for um election of officers. Um, I'll open the floor and ask for nominations for president 2026. I'll make a motion for Derek Combmes to be president. Second. Have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say I. I. Motion passes. Open up the floor for nominations for vice president. Is there a motion for vice president? I'll nominate Bobby. Second. A motion, a second. Any further discussion? Further vote to approve. All in favor, please say I.

I. I. Next up is nomination for secretary. Nom. Motion by second. Motion and second by John and Chuck. Any further discussion? Ask for a vote to approve on that. Everybody in favor, please say I. I. Thank you. Is that all on that material? Okay. All right. Moving on. You provided a copy of the minutes for the December 2nd, 2025 regular meeting. I'll ask for a motion to approve minutes.

I'll make that motion. Motion and second to approve. Is there any further discussion? No further discussion. Ask for a vote to approve the minutes. All in favor, please say I. I. And moving on to claims. You provided a copy of the claims for the previous month. Um, for a motion to approve claims.

Before you do that, uh, I put in the meeting notice that I had neglected to include the two payouts from libs paving for the Madison Street Green Alley. Uh, so that's pay request one and two for $26,812.37. And I'd like to add that to the docket. I make a motion that we add the two ped pay apps for libs to the uh current claims before we approve them today. I second that. Motion a second. Any further discussion on claims? Now ask for a vote to approve. All in favor, please say I. I. I.

There's no one signed up for public comment. That moves us on to the I'd recommend. So since his motion was to add it, then I'd make I'd recommend there be a motion to approve the claims as amended. Thank you. I was almost said that, but I'm glad you jumped. So I ask for a motion to approve the claims as amended. I make that motion. I'll second that. Second. Any further discussion? None. I'll ask for a vote to approve. Those in favor, please say I. All right. Thank you. to the test. That's right. All right. Next up is the weekly group report.

Uh thank you. Um one thing that uh the first thing I'd like to do is ask the mayor to come up and give an update on the business development and marketing section. Good afternoon everyone or evening I guess. Um, I got exciting news and I'm really glad to get to tell you this. Um, I was contacted recently and was notified that a developer has purchased the high-profile Jesse Blue properties in the city of Charleston with the intent to redevelop. So, that includes the area there at 62 and 3, which he referred to as his crown jewel. So, I'm excited. And also the strip mall where the OJC was, where NewU used to be. and um he met with me and asked what he would like to see and I said residents want to see restaurants and grocery stores and shops and so he said okay and there will be a press release hitting Louisville business first tomorrow morning on that. So um I just thought you wanted to know that um that investment is moving along and we're excited to see what they're going to do with those properties. It's good it's good news.

This is someone whom you've been in contact prior to I had not. So are you familiar with the person? Um they have 25 years of experience developing and have developed other similar very highprofile. You've seen some of those or know about some of those. Okay. Um so if you're familiar with the quarter master in Jeffersonville y and colonial banner out nice. Yes. So it's very good very good developer. Um he the first thing he said when he walked in was your community like I thought that was a very good sign um that he's that focused on the community. So I'm excited to have them. We got really good records of project development and I think they're going to be a great addition to this community. So, it's exciting.

It is very exciting. Very exciting. I don't have a timeline for you. Um he had purchased some additional properties and wanted to kind of go through all that, but um he sounds like he's ready to hit the ground running on the at least the strip mall. So, yep. So, look for that. If you have a subscription business, I'm sure Brian, our internal will will share that in the morning as well. um so that that gets out the community. We're excited to show them some support. So, thank you. Thank you.

Along with that on that section, uh the mayor, I met with the uh developer uh that has the corner property under control there by Bolero and I think they are ready to bring something to the commission for consideration. So, uh, before you all leave today, I'd like to get some dates that we could have an executive session. They can come in and talk to you about their plan and their request. So, some good things are happening. It's great.

Um, Master Street Green Alley improvements. U, I sent out substantial completion form. Thank you for approving those requests. We still have uh some, we're still holding some money. we still have a remaining balance of $53,000 which includes $10,000 in retainage before they complete that. Uh after the walkth through there were some I wouldn't say complaints but observations about the tight turn there from Green Alley to Madison Street. Madison Street now is one way towards Main Street. You have to go down Green Alley and make that corner. It's a little tight. Um, and there's concerns of people running over that and causing damage to vehicles and to the curb. So, we've asked HMBB to take a look at that and see what they can do with libs to to rectify that situation. So, it may end up um because they have constructed it as it was designed, it wasn't a problem there. Um, so we'll come back to you once we have a solution to that. But I think all in all things have I know there have been some concerns with residents that I feel have been addressed along the way and as promptly as anyone could. So hopefully we can get that resolved and and we can finish up that project. The striping and all the paving final paving won't be done until the spring anyway. But just wanted to make you aware of that. Then 501 Market Street. Um they Temple and Temple actually submitted a pay request. I have not gotten that and went approved by American Structure Point before Christmas. They were supposed to have a final inspection walkthrough that was cancelled. I don't know if it was

due to weather or just scheduling. Uh, American Constructure Point is going to reach out to me tomorrow to talk about that moving forward to get that scheduled and get that finalized. Um, so I do have a payout from them, but I I don't want to present it to you without the engineer reviewing it and signing off on it, but it would be the final payout is what they've submitted. I've let Simple and Simple know that we can't do anything until that happens. So they're aware of that. The flats, uh, we had a meeting with Marian Group, who's the developer of the flats, recently on another matter, and we asked about Charles Town. They said everything has been completed there. All 176 units are done, and that they are about 50% capacity. That another uh new apartment complex in the city has offered some very competitive incentives to people to lease their units. So that's why they felt like they were only at 50% right now. So um and then Charles, I'm going to ask if you would put up those two photos, please. Um at the last meeting, we talked about uh donations that have been offered in materials and professional services for a new sign at the corner of 62 and three. And so, uh, we have renderings that Taylor Williams had kind of put together for you to look at. Um, and that was part of what they offered. That would be both of these would be backlit. The letters would be backlit. Um, we're only proposing one, but I think the first one, that one is probably the preferred option, or at least in my opinion, that's preferred option. Um,

but wanted to show those to you. I just got those this this evening. That'll give some buffer where people if they needed to jump the curb, which happens to give them some buffer before they actually plow into the sign. Yes.

Um, mayor, do you have any opinions on or did you like to share? Um I think the two the distinction between the two just to note um we're looking at the the companies that have reached out to say that they would help donate materials as part of it to say what materials they have and both of these are designed with that with those companies in mind. Um the other one go back Charles that one was designed to mirror what's happening here on the parklet. So, if you look, it's a small distinction, but the pavers that they've recommended here, um, match the pavers that they're going to be putting in the commons on the walkways. Um, and it's that sawtooth design that supposed to hearken to the rooftops of the old ammunition plant. Um, and the sign there is the same type of that's what the font and the sign will look like here on the side of the hill. It's going to say Charles Town and be back lit as well. So, that's the distinction kind of between the two. And then the other one um is the opposite. There's just a couple little differences there. I think they kept the the tiles in the floor, but the sign is a little different. Um what we the things that we told them that we thought were important um from the other sign and for the community would be of course the flag. We we recognized that the former sign had the flag in there and we came up with the idea of the maybe the flag poles to create a more centerpiece obvious you know um place there for that but also as strange as it may seem to some to be able to place our Santa hat on it because that is very important our Santa hat. Um, we were not able to place the Santa hat this year and I mean that is kind of a very iconic feature of our entryway during our Christmas season and so they know that whichever of these they designed it has to be able to hold the same hat. So that was also considered. We also don't want to plant such tall trees that we block the view

of the development that is happening behind there. want to support their business, but we wanted we told them that we would probably prefer to see some kind of small evergreen tree fitting with our Christmas theme um behind the flag poles so that that we can light those up at Christmas and create a really nice entry point there. The developer is planning on um signage uh monumental signage on both approaches coming down 62 and then also on three that would kind of flank this further down. So, this would not be the developer. The developer is amenable to helping us get ements or whatever we need to make this happen. I was going to say those those will be in ements.

We'll have to push it back a little bit um and get it out of indo right away as our goal so that they can't tear it down again. Um and so the developers will work with us on that as well so that they they have that sign there. But those are the kind of thinking. There's not a huge distinction between the two. We just have kind of two different companies that reached out and said they want to help us with materials. And so they looked at those two companies and said, "Well, this is these are the kinds of designs that we could put together based on those." So it really depends on whichever, you know, the commission would like to see and then they can we can move forward into design and have those conversations. I kind of like that one better myself.

I don't know how many people would uh I like where broke up a little bit better. There's kind of like a little ledge there, like a bench. I don't know how practical that is for people to sit there, but

well eventually we hope that it will be. I mean that's that's the thing is we're I mean we we have that the visioning plan for the intersection and at some point I mean INDOT has put in those pedestrian crossings. We know that, you know, there there's work in progress to move the state park entrance to Charleston Landing Road and do improvements for pedestrian access across. And I think that for so long we thought about that was Highway 62 and we need to start thinking it a little bit more of a part of our downtown area. And as we slow traffic now, the speed limits are slower and there's additional lights. And I don't think that it's too far of a stretch that somebody might walk through there and just rest for a moment on that ledge. You know, I don't think that that's too far away from possibility,

especially if we're able to put it far enough back where the trucks are making turn. You want something that's going to stand out a lot. I'm not trying to steal nobody's thunder, but chief emailed us yesterday, chief of police Eric Cruz, and said that um total vehicle traffic in Charles Town, State Road 62 eastbound and southbound on Market Street, where our block cameras are, kind of blew my mind, was 3,336,454 vehicles. And that was for the year, huh? That was for the year for both cameras.

For the year for both cameras. And that's just southbound and eastbound. That's not westbound and northbound, you know. So, I mean, yeah, some of those could be the same, but still, even if you cut it in half, you're still a million million and a half cars coming through. So, I mean, I I like the idea of that where you got the papers, you're you're possibly going to have a walkway and I mean, sidewalks could extend and all that stuff. So, I I like where it's broke up there myself. I think the other distinction is I don't think the other one had Indiana and it just had Charles Town. Right. Right. And I like that this one included Indiana. So anyway, those those are those are your options and if you have a preference you'd like to see them kind of see us move forward with getting that design and start talking about materials and costs as soon to do so.

I'd like to second design too. I make a motion that we uh advance the idea of that second. The one with the Indiana on it. The one with Indiana. I'll second that because I like that one a lot better. A motion a second. Any further discussion on the sign to approve. All in favor, please say I. I. I. Passes. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, one last thing that I have is uh the agreement with Wheatly Group to continue as the uh your consultant for 2026. I make a motion we keep the group and Jill's got to stay here all year. I second Jill's day.

Thanks, Bob. We have a motion in a second. Is there any further discussion? And then I'll ask for a vote to approve. on police side. All right. Motion passes. Thank you.

Thank you. It is a privilege to work here and work for you and to see all these great things happening here. Um that is all I have in my report unless you all have any questions. Oh, of the Short Street Commons should be starting uh I believe next week where they are going to start first on the retaining walls and the switchback walls. That's going to be the first thing unless something's changed since the last time I attended a progress meeting. That's where they were going to start. So, you'll see work down on the end. Are we going to limit that parking over there? You're talking about up here on the square. Is that what you're talking about? The Short Street Commons? Yeah. Yeah.

Are we going to limit that on that side? Do they need it limited for construction? No. We shouldn't be in that. We should Okay. I didn't know. I just wondered it. If anything, it might be when they're doing the sidewalk there or something like that, but I didn't know if they need equipment there or whatever. Um, I haven't heard that yet, but they're going to start on the back side of the lot first. So, um, so that would be exciting also. Sorry. All right. Thank you, Joe, for your report. There's no new business. There's no old business. Moving on to new business. Do we need to discuss the uh dates for the executive session?

If you don't mind, I whatever um if you all have dates um sometime in January that you would be willing to have executive session. Are you want it on a Tuesday? I don't care when it is. It doesn't matter. I'm I'm good any any day but next Tuesday. Okay. And do you want legal counsel there? Um that's if you would like to be here, that's fine. Oh, okay. I mean, it I think it wouldn't be it wouldn't hurt if somebody was here, but I don't know that we have to have you here. Makes sense. Okay. We don't want to drive you away. We want you. We always I'm good any day, but next Tuesday.

I can't do next Tuesday either. So, that works out for me before that. Wednesday. I can do Wednesday. Yeah. Wednesday. Wednesday. Yeah, that's okay. All right. Um, what's another day then?

No, we have to have 48 hours notice to advertise it. 48. What about Monday? I'm good. Monday. Do you have a meeting in here on Monday? Second Monday. Yeah, we have pl commission. Plan commission for zoning. What about next Thursday? Nice Thursday. Looks good. I think it'll be 15. I think Jill, it'll be clear though by 7:30 on Monday. Okay. If anybody needed it that late, it's kind of late, but there's not big business before the Well, I don't know. I say that maybe not because they have the public hearing. They're going to do the public hearing on the comp plan on Monday. What?

The comprehensive plan going to the plan commission for the public hearing before it gets about. Actually, Thursday the 15th. Okay. Thursday 15th. You want to do six or do you want to do a different time? What do you guys think? Six is fine. I can do a little earlier or or Yeah, I can do too if you want. Five. Keep it six. You want to do five? Five. Five. How about you? I Yeah, I guess so. Yeah. Well, if you can't, that's okay. Yeah, we can keep it at 6. What day? On the 15th. That's next Thursday. 15. Well, let's do six then. Let's just at 6:00. 6:00.

Bonita has a commitment earlier. Switch it on. So, we're going to do an executive session on January 15th at 6 p.m. here. Okay, great. Um, I will work to get those notices ready and let the developer know. And then just a reminder that our next meeting is on a Thursday, not a Tuesday. It's on February 5th because Derek was going to be out. That's right. Yeah. Derek was going to be out on the Yeah. So, we changed that on the meeting schedule to make that February 10th, which is Thursday. There's no further new discussion. Ask for a motion to make a motion. We

second. All those in favor, please say I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I got to go this be.