2002-5-15 Meeting Report (Town Square Development)W
4C SPIN
IF
Neighborhood Meeting
Report Form
SPIN Neighborhood #8 Meeting Date 5115102
Meeting Topic and Description: SPIN Citywide Meeting on Town Square Development.
Featured Speakers: Brian Stebbins, Cooper Stebbins, Frank Bliss, Cooper Stebbins.
Number of neighbors attending: Estimated 60, 48 attendees signed in.
Location of meeting: Town Hall, 3 Floor Training Rooms.
Notification Process: (ie. flyer mailed, hand delivered, calls, city publications, etc.) Citywide
Postcards mailed, eight signs placed throughout the City, SPIN Meeting Calendar, postcards
placed in Library, publicized at previous SPIN Meetings.
Follow -Up Information: Summary of Questions and Comments are attached. Developer
was given option to answer the questions raised at the meeting and did not submit answers
on or prior to the stated deadline of Friday, May 17 close of business.
Questions
You mentioned that you talked to "empty nesters," lets assume that there would be one
child per home what do you project would be the impact on the school system from your
development, especially the impact on Johnson Elementary? This is an interesting
concept, I have lived in some of the cities that you speak of, however I really don't
understand the buyer for this product where this City is in this stage of it's development
who is it?
How much are these units projected to sell for on a per square foot basis?
In campaign season there was a lot of talk about the City losing needed retail
development, if we build this land area with residential uses, how much can the City lose
by taking this space away from retail development?
What are the demographics of these potential buyers?
Familiar with this product enough to know that there are speculators that would like to buy
this type product as an investment can someone buy one of these homes and put five
business people in one unit?
Have you done some primary market research other than this focus group of potential
buyers you keep referring to?
Parking, do you anticipate having a multi -level structure in the area anytime soon?
What is the approximate cost of the elevator on a per -unit basis?
Does the elevator in the units make it difficult to move furniture in?
Elevations is that what others you speak of coming in the future would look like also?
Adjacent to State Federal Way, is that area a part of the approval that you are
requesting?
Regarding the Homeowners Association (HOA), on the outside, are people living there
going to be in charge of maintenance? Does the City maintain any areas of this
development?
What are the interior walls made of, what kind of fire protection will these units have?
Do you have an estimate of what the anticipated HOA assessments would be?
Streets, how wide are they? Are there any one -way streets in this development?
What is the anticipated timing and sequence of this development plan?
Roofing are these to be flat roofs only or are there units that will have pitched roofs?
While the first phase of this product would be three story units, is it conceivable that in the
future there would be two story units included?
Regarding the blank area to the north of the residential area, do you own that? What do
you see going in there?
Will there be ins and outs from the residential district onto S.H. 114, or will Central be the
main in and out to the district?
Will these units have wood burning fireplaces or gas? Do you still have the deal with
Eatzi's, and would this go in this area?
When all of this is done, how many residential units are we talking about?
Is this request for approval of the residential units for the total buildout?
How can you be pursuing 120 units and not be able to answer definitively the three
versus two story questions on economic viability?
Concern is that the HOA is as strict as possible roofing issues will occur as a result of
the single wall between units, will cause increased damages by hail storms, etc. Are you
going to address these issues with the HOA?
Why don't you just wish to pursue the 35 units allowed at this time before the market
proves itself? What if you get approval to build 120 units and these things don't sell at
your level, will you lower the pricing of the units? 120 units scare me.
Comments
1 have lived in Southlake since 1977 and my demographic is what you are talking about,
at some point people get tired of taking care of an acre of property but want to stay in
Southlake.
On the demographic issue, everyone has your vision of what we want Town Square to be,
a part of "our town," including a residential component. Most people that I have spoken to
fit that demographic, this makes us look more like a City.
1 have called you a visionary before, you have proven that you do your research prior to
taking on risk, the issues raised here tonight are not any different than the concerns
raised a few years ago on what you have already done. There is another development
like Town Square in Seaside, Florida, and this similar development has a residential
component included. I believe that you have proven your diligence and that this phase of
development will be successful.
Pattie Minder, SPIN #8 Representative