HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.b. Discussion of Business Park Promotional Activities CITY OF ROSEMOUNT
EXECUTIVE S'Ob�9'ARY FOR ACTION
PORT AUTHORITY COMMISSION MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 1993
AGENDA ITEbl: DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS PARK AGENDA SECTION:
PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES WORK SESSION
PREPARED BY: JOHN MILLER, AGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR ��� #
ATTACF�iENTS: MEMO FROM JOHN MILLER, DRAFT AP OVED Y3
"BUSINESS PARK" ZONING AMENDMENT FROM PLANNING
COMMISSION AGENDA
Please see attached memorandum.
RECOP�tENDED ACTION: Motion to direct John Miller to complete a
promotional plan outline with implementation options for port
authority consideration in October.
PORT AUTHORITY ACTION:
MEMO
TO: Chair Dunn
Commissioners Anderson, Carroll, Edwards, McMenomy, Sinnwell,
Wippermann
FROM: John Miller, Economic Development Coordinator
DAT'E: September 16, 1993
RE: Initiation of a Promotional or Marketing Plan for the Business Park
The port authority recently received copies of the boundary survey for the Abbott property.
Prior to that, Rosemount city engineer Bud Osmundson had the phase 1 environmental
assessment completed. No significant problems were identif'ied by this work.
What this means is that the terms of the purchase agreement with Roy and Laura Abbott
have been met and the purchase will be completed.
it has taken the port authority several months to complete its study of the land, e.g.
completion of the concept plan and feasibility report was necessary, and to conclude the
purchase of the Abbott property was a prudent step in initiating and implementing
development of the Rosemount Business Park.
Presently, the port authority is having its engineer, SEH Inc., complete much of the
paperwork for the land to be marketed.
The concept plan for the business park briefly addressed land uses and provided a blob map
for their location. Here is the text from the concept plan regarding land uses.
After evaluating the site for proposed land uses, we developed a preliminary land
use layout which is shown in Exhibit "A". A brief description of each land use
type is a�follows:
� Office/Light Industrial- This would be a land use type that combines
need for office space with light manufacturing and may or may not
include specific retail activities.
• O,�'fice/Service - This would be a land use type that requires office
space for service based firms. This land use would be compatible with
residential development.
• Industrial/Warehouse- This would be a land use type that requires
space within a building and/or lot for manufacturing and storage
facilities. Again, this type of land use may or may not include
retail activities.
• Industrial- This type of land use would be similar to the existing
industrial use that is located aZong 160th Street.
The preliminary land use layout does accommodate the desire to have a transition in
land use from "high quality/high amenity" on the north to the existing land uses on
the south. The layout is also compatible with what we know about the,future land
uses on adjacent property. The layout locates the office/service land use next to
future residential int he northeast. It also locates the industrzal land use next to
future commercial in the southeast.
I think we are all in agreement that this reference to land use does not provide the detail the
port authority needs in developing the business park.
I should also add at this time that the planning commission is discussing an amendment to the
city's zoning ordinance that would crea.te a "business park° zoning district. That district
would apply to the Abbott property but may also include other industrial areas in Rosemount.
As a result, the planning commission's work may not be specif'ic enough to aid in more
detailed development issues before the port authority. I've attached a copy of the first draft
as prepared by the plamiing department.
At this time then, I believe the port authority should begin looking at promotional activities
far the business park, i.e. develop a marketing strategy.
Most texts on marketing and promotion follow the same general steps. In brief you must
determine:
1. What is the condition of the marketplace?
2. Have you got something the market wants?
3. How will you sell your goods or services in that marketplace?
With the Rosemount Port Authority being a public agency with the "public good" as much a
consideration as profit, another element is added:
4. How will these activities benefit the city and its residents?
By way of inechanics, marketing or promotional plans include such things as forecasts and
expectations, strategies, projected costs for implementing the strategies, prices, and market
surveys.
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I can easily put together an outline of a marketing plan and we can discuss whether I should
do it for you or whether we should farm it out. But, before we do that, I would like to hear
your thoughts on some of the larger issues regarding the business park. Is there some
particular market niche we should look at? Do you have any ideas about pricing and terms --
I know, for example, that chairperson Dunn has given this considerable thought. Once we
discuss the promotion or marketing of the business pazk in these general terms, I believe a
plan outline can be better drafted to reflect our specific needs.
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