Presentation of the check to the Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation. From left, Stefanie McElroy, CTF board member; Greg Vital, CTF board member; Ted Rogers, city manager; Mike Barto, CTF finance director; Dr. Jack McClarty, CTF board member; Chris Thomas, CTF board member; Jill Howe, CTF board member; David Barto, CTF director; Mayor Katie Lamb; Commissioner Ethan White; Commissioner Debbie Baker; Commissioner Phil Garver and Vice Mayor Tim Johnson.
photo by Gail Perry
Renderings for the Collegedale Commons
photo by Gail Perry
Renderings for the Collegedale Commons
photo by Gail Perry
Renderings for the Collegedale Commons
photo by Gail Perry
Renderings for the Collegedale Commons
photo by Gail Perry
The Collegedale Commission on Sept. 6 approved a contribution of $1.5 million to the Collegdale Tomorrow Foundation. The commissioners made the official presentation of the gift to the board of directors of the foundation Monday night at the Commission meeting. This money will allow the building of Collegedale Commons to start. Hopefully, it will become seed money to attract more funding, said City Manager Ted Rogers.
The multi-use community project is planned to be built in four phases. The money for phase 1 is $3.9 million is in hand, said David Barto, director of the foundation. Once the last of the permits has been secured, and a little more civil work is done, said Mr. Barto, work will begin. This phase will include the entry pavilion, a shade market, two bathroom pavilions, parking and a storage area. Completion is expected in April 2017.
Phase 2 will include a sound stage and outdoor amphitheater at a cost of $75,000. Fundraising for it will be done this fall. Work on both phases can be done together.
Phase 3 will be 30,000 square feet of covered market space at an estimated cost of $1.5 million. Long-term, phase 4 will add a community center/event hall.
The eight acres where the commons will be built is just south and adjacent to City Hall.
Ten years ago, representatives from North American Development Group out of Ontario identified Collegedale as a growth area and invested in around 100 acres on Apison Pike. The company is now getting ready to begin a commercial / residential development on the site which is intersected by Meridian Drive. Two parcels are adjacent and the largest one that runs along Apison Pike is zoned and planned for commercial use with a Planned Commercial Development overlay which would allow housing. The owner requested rezoning a smaller tract behind this larger one from Residential 3 to Commercial. Because there is no road access to Apison Pike and because the topography is hilly and more suitable for housing, staff made the recommendation to deny the change, Strategic Planner Kelly Martin told the commissioners. In order to accommodate the 180 residences and all the commercial buildings that are being planned, rezoning a third parcel that is across Meridian Drive to Commercial is recommended by the planning and zoning staff.
The commissioners voted to approve this plan on first reading Monday night. A public hearing and second and final vote concerning this property will take place at the next commission meeting on Oct. 3.
The city manager’s financial report showed that revenues received and expenditures are exactly where they should be at this time of the fiscal year. Mr. Rogers said that money from the Hall tax has been received and is higher than it usually is, but will be declining as that tax is being phased out by the state.
Mr. Rogers also received approval from the commissioners to work on a lease agreement for the owner of a house that he recently bought from the city which is adjacent to the police firing range. The owner would like to lease the buffer property between his house and the police facility to use for a few cows and horses.
Mayor Katie Lamb has received a complaint about stray bullets and target practice within the city limits of Collegedale. City Attorney Sam Elliott said there is an ordinance in place about that which he will send to the commissioners. Mayor Lamb gave a reminder that a blood drive will be held on Tuesday at city hall.