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Home My WebLink About1963 03-22 REPORTANNUAL REPORT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION March 22, 1963 • Village of Brooklyn Center 7100 Osseo Road Brooklyn Center, Minnesota March 22, 1963 To the Honorable Mayor and Village Council: We are pleased to submit the Annual Report of the Industrial Development Commission of the Village of Brooklyn Center. Members appointed to the Commission in April were: Two year terms: Robert Grosshans, Dallas Holm, Frank Kampmeyer, Dallas Lawrence, Roger Machmeier, Mrs. Don McArthur, Charles Nelson. One year terms: Gerald Gerber, Robert Oslund, Harlan Sween. Harry Johnson, Wayne Lubrech, Norman Qualey, Earl Simons, Norman Qualey resigned and was replaced by Charles Gerber in October. Robert Grosshans was appointed to the Planning Commission and was replaced by Marshall Jacobsen in March. Dallas Holm and Charles Gerber resigned from the Commission in March and have not been replaced at the time of this report. However; Charles Nelson and Harlan Sween have been replaced by Arthur Raeker and Earl Rydberg, respectively. Officers elected were Robert Oslund, Chairman; Dallas Holm, Vice Chairman; Ernee McArthur, Secretary. This report consists of our activities during the year, including general remarks and recommendations. Also attached is a copy of the recap of our Industrial Climate Study. Respectfully submitted: Frank Kampmeyer Dallas Lawrence Roger Machmeier Mrs. Don McArthur Gerald Gerber Harry Johnson Wayne Lubrecht Robert Oslund i Earl Simons ANNUAL REPORT . Members of the Commission felt the need to familarize themselves with land zoned for commercial and industrial development, and a bus tour of the Village was arranged for this purpose. In order for the members of the Commission to have readily available this information, a Cataloguing Committee was appointed. Upon completion of the committees work, each member was furnished with a catalogue showing the size, location, and other pertinent information on each of these tracts. During discussion and study of the Cataloguing Committees report, and information received from the Contact Committee, we found this land was not available. It appeared that this land was being held for speculation purposes at prices unattractive to prospective buyers. Since the price of this land was so high, the Commission felt we should investigate the assessed valuation of the various properties. John Nordberg, Village Assessor, was invited to appear before this Commission for purposes of discussing taxation policies on industrial properties in Brooklyn Center. Mr. Nordberg informed us that the land was assessed and taxed at a rate similiar to that of other property in the area, and was not based on the asking price of the land. It has been difficult to retain any real interest in Brooklyn Center industrial properties because of the speculative prices. Primary interest to the Commission has been the proposed Urban Community Plan for Brooklyn Center, reviewed with the Commission by Tom Hodne, of Community Planning and Design Associates Inc. The plan was favorably received by the Commission, and felt that further development of this area should be expedited by all possible means. Since the nucleus of this further development was already established at Brookdale, Robert Crabbe, of Southdale management, and Mr. William Crear, jr. , of Southdale, Brook- dale, and the Dayton Co., appeared before the Commission and explained the proposed use of the land in the Brookdale shopping area. To Inform the Department of Business Development of the State of Minnesota, of Brooklyn Center's interest in attracting industry, Mr. William Farrell, Director of Business and Industrial Services, was asked to meet with us. Mr. Farrell stated that it would be necessary for Brooklyn Center to complete their questionaire in regard to specific information about Brooklyn Center. This complete questionaire is now on file with this department, and will be used for promotional purposes. To update the Community Fact Survey -by Northern States Power Company, current and more extensive information was required. As a means of accomplishing this purpose, the Commission completed a Industrial Climate Study. This study provided the necessary information for the Community Fact Survey, now being prepared by Northern States Power Company. Additional information was gathered, by personal interviews with each business and S industry. The results of this study are compiled and attached to this report. Since the questionaire used was similiar to one used by Bloomington, a comparison of results is also included. ANNUAL REPORT -2- March 22, 1963 To further acquaint the members of the Commission with characteristics that industry finds desirable in a community, Mr. Martin Polland, Northern States Power Company; and Mr. Richard Jesberg, Reviewing Appraiser of Prudential Insurance Company, appeared before the Commission. Some of the other areas covered by committee work were publicity and ordinance revision. The Publicity Committee has had published numerous articles in the Brooklyn Center Press and other news media. The model of the Urban Community Plan was displayed at Brookdale and at the Brooklyn Center State Bank. Members of the Commission studied the proposed revision of the zoning ordinance and made recommendations. At a joint meeting with a sub-committee of the Planning Commission, this Commission went on record as being in accord with the Planning Commission's interpretation of land uses in Brooklyn Center. SUMMARY We feel the Commission has made substantial progress during the past year. A considerable amount has been background information, which is hard to evaluate. Several problems have been noted in the course of the year's work. 40 It has been repeatedly brought to our attention that approval of proposed developments is a lengthy and time consuming process, and might be subject to study for possible revised procedures. Many reports have been received, throughout the year, referring to the sign ordinance as being excessively restrictive and unfairly administered. Several speakers expressed the idea that industry does not consider land to be available until zoned for its intended use. This would seem to be particularly important for the Brooklyn Center Urban Community. Since the Industrial Climate Study seems to indicate that the existing businesses in Brooklyn Center feel that the village is not doing all it can to attract new industry, the Commission's future plans include a program of additional promotional work, such as considering a means of distributing a promotional brochure. Studies under consideration are, whether Brooklyn Center should have a consolidated school district for more stablized tax base, and whether Brooklyn Center has a need for a Industrial Development Corporation. We would like to express our appreciation to the Village Administrator, S Art Lee, and his staff, for the excellent cooperation we have received. INDOSTR . AA Df7 VE LO'Ik'v'T CC VA/1 SF I CT!! Brooklyn Cer,ter, Minnesota INDUSTR I A L CL IL4ATE STUDY February 17, 1963 Listed below is a comparison oercentage reoort of Brooklyn Center and Bloomington's Industrial Climate Study. Please keep in mind, that Bloomington's study was made in November, "1961 and included a cross section of the businesses in Bloomington,, We- were fortunate to have used Bloomingtont Industrial Climate Study questionaire as a guide when preparing our questionaire, and now we feel eve can better' interprai.'our percentages by comparing them with another municipality. MARKETS SERVED Brooklyn Center Bloomington local 40% 28% (Blooming tonts comment was Regional 51 36 that the y felt the broad National 6 22 markets served could Indic- International 3 14 ate that Bloomington contains some strong industri es) SERVICES PROVIDED BY LQI'AL GOVERNMENT-Fire, Police, Zonine Ordinance, Building Code, Etc.) Brooklyn Center Bloomington Exce I lent 43% 8% Ple took above c lass if ie- Fair 14 61 ations separately, plus Poor 7 8 adding Cooperation By No Comment 36 23 Village Otticiais.. ) REAL ESTATE TAXES Brook yn Center Bloomington High 3111 30% Fair 33 28 Lease 16 25 No Comment 21 17 PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES Brooklyn Center Bloomington High 27% 33% (SimiIiar comments- Average 32 36 heavily In favor of Satisfactory 9 19 eliminating Personal No Comment 32 12 Property Tax.) BUSINESS CLIMATE CF MINNESOTA Brooklyn Cenfier Bloomington E x c e l l e n t 34% 23% Fair 51 85% 50 73% Poor 6 19 No Comment 9 8 • BUSINESS r L I MATE In: Brooklyn Center Bloomington Exce I lent 37% 23% Fair 42 790 jo 44 67% Poor 9 - , d No Comment 12 25 Comparative Percenfope Reoort- Bloomington and Brooklyn Center • pa ge 2 LABOR RE LAT I C',15 Brooklyn Center Bloomington Exce I le nt 41% 44% Fa it 19 25 Poor 1 3 No Comment 39 28 LABOR RATES IN COMPARISON\X1ITH SIMILAR RATES EXPERIENrED BY COMPETITORS Brooklyn Center Bloomington Higher 4% 11% Same 65 56 Lower 1 3 No Comment 30 30 NEW PRODCJ';TS DEFINITELY PLANRIED Brook l yn Cen ter Bloomington Yes 19 0 36% Nothing Planned 34% 44 No Comment 47% 20 DO YOU PLAN DEFINITE EXPANSION OR RELCCAT ION?-1 F "YES", ""."HERE? Brooklyn Center Bloomington Yes 36°0 44% No 64 53 B. C. or Bloom. 55 63 Twin City Area 27 31 Elsewhere in Minn, 18 6 Elsewhere Out State No C omme n t 21 3 I F YOU WE RE TO E X PAND, wr(-)ULD I T BE IN-B. C , CR R1.00M.? 3rooll(yn 'Centor Bloomington Yes 62% 67% (There were many possible No 38 20 reasons for the "No" No Comment 13 responses in both studies) TRANS POP TAT ION FAr I L I T I E S Brooklyn Center Bloomington Personal Busines s Personal Exce I lent 16% 28% 17% Fair 25 26 14 Poor 45 20 44 No Comment 15 25 25 IS SOURCE OF SUPPLY r'CNVENIENT? Brooklyn Center Bloomington Yes 90% No 10% (Not included in questionaire) DO YOU TH INK (B. C. a BLOOMINGTON) IS DOING ALL IT (-AN TO ATTRACT _ NEW -1F US T R Y? Yes Brooklyn 26% Center Bloomington 44% No 56 28 No Comment 18 28 0 Comparative Percentage 'Exno_-t- B .)cklyn C-ente•- a..In. ~31cancington page 3 REASONS FOR FITIM LOCATI.nTC ITT BLOOt:'aTkTGTO~T "INTIECITY*I!\Y''&',STATIJ FFE'_I,•jAY (easy access from all points of state), large land areas expanding area, friendly people, good zonings employees live south, location of similar types of businesses, good city planning program and aggressive city officialss central locations close to ball park, close to homes close to market area, sewer and waters available buildings cheap land available many years ago, and last of all but not least, some firms located here purely by "chance,") 11 Bloomington concluded that the results of the survey indicated that the business climate of Bloomington vias generally favorable. They drew this conclusion from the fact that 67% of the companies questioned stated that the business climateithere was either fair or excellent while only $1, rated it poor. They supported this statement with the fact that approximately the same percentage said they would build in Bloomington when and if expansion were to take place. To compare above statement with Brooklyn Centers 79% of Brooklyn Center's businesses indicated that the business climate in Brooklyn Center was either fair or excellent while 9% rated it poor.. . . . 62% said they could build in Brooklyn Center when and if expansion were to take place. Bloomington felt improvements were necessary in the following areas; 1. 20PTIM AID BUILDING CODES" Many thought they were too restrictive and not administered fairly, 2. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. The majority of the answers given indicate that improvement would be welcome. Most people have to rely on private transport- ation to get to work; 39 PUBLICITY of the efforts of the city to attract industry to our community-. The answers given to the question "Do you think Bloomington is doing all it can to attract new industry" indicate that perhaps the city could do more to publicize its activity in that area. In comparison with the above corrients of Bloomington's . . . . Brooklyn Center's report indicated the same improvements were needed. One of the areas most needing attention was indicated by the answers received to the question. . "Do you think Brooklyn Center is doing all it can to attract new industry? 0