[5:12] Good morning. If we can call the Economic Development Authority meeting

[5:16] for February to order. If we can start that with a roll call, please.

[5:21] » Director Yanelo >> here.

[5:24] » Director Joyce. >> Director Derby

[5:27] » here. >> Director Mitz

[5:29] » here. Director Almas

[5:31] » here, Vice Chair Fi >> here, Chairman Booth

[5:34] » here. Thank you.

[5:38] Uh first order of business, we have uh consent agenda which includes approval

[5:43] of the minutes from our last meeting on August 5th, 2025

[5:48] and the December 2025 uh report from treasurer.

[5:53] Any discussion needed?

[6:00] Hearing none. Is there a motion for approval? So

[6:03] » moved. >> Second.

[6:05] » Second. >> Call that for a vote, please.

[6:10] » Director Yanelloo. >> Director Derby.

[6:14] » Yes. >> Director Meds.

[6:15] » Hi. >> Director Elmas.

[6:17] » Yes. >> Vice Chair Fi.

[6:19] » Yes. >> Booth.

[6:20] » I. >> Thank you. Uh, first order business,

[6:25] public comment. Not seeing any this morning. I think

[6:32] that we can move on. We don't have any new business that I'm aware of. So, we

[6:38] can move into old business with an update on the wetland delineation.

[6:43] » Um, chairman, no update currently. We're waiting for the weather to kind of

[6:47] relieve itself. Um, right now the grounds are a little hard. I think 1st

[6:52] of April we'll go ahead and coordinate the meeting back with the core and try

[6:56] to get that wetlands delineation for us for the property own across the street.

[7:00] » Don't you think it would it be good if it it was hard they could walk across

[7:04] and there would be no wetlands. It would not sink.

[7:08] » True. True. We want the conditions to be fair and make sure it's reasonable. But

[7:12] I I appreciate the thought. Um but at this point they will not come out until

[7:16] weather kind of >> Yeah. that April is not the best for

[7:21] wetlands. >> Yeah, we'll we'll work with a consultant

[7:25] and so I mean we'll start the conversation in April and

[7:28] » Okay, maybe they'll be there around in August.

[7:33] » Um I think the goal is that before really the summertime season

[7:38] » schedule the visit so that hopefully the delineation can move forward.

[7:41] » Okay,

[7:44] » any additional questions or comments needed?

[7:50] So, moving to the north side of Victory Boulevard.

[7:54] » Absolutely. At the last December council meeting, the planning commission and the

[8:00] council had a joint work session to discuss the north side of Victory. Um

[8:05] the discussion led to um a little bit of language change into our comprehensive

[8:10] plan. Um what they are seeking is a comprehensive review of the property to

[8:16] have more of a cohesive plan come together. Um a lot of talk on the

[8:21] residential side. Um as it relates to the property that the EDA owns um the

[8:26] property adjacent to it which is research and development. They're

[8:30] speaking of potentially changing that to commercial general commercial but that's

[8:35] only in the future land use map. That doesn't mean they're doing a reasoning

[8:38] currently for the property, but that's just discussion that So, I just wanted

[8:43] to bring that to your attention that, you know, planning commission council

[8:46] are moving forward with their strategic initiative that council has as it

[8:50] relates to the north side. >> Which properties do we own up there?

[8:56] » We own six parcels. >> Oh, the six parcels. Okay.

[8:59] » The cleared basically the cleared parcels.

[9:01] » Okay. >> The parcels that we're trying to get the

[9:03] wetlands delineation. >> Okay. Just wanted to make sure I was

[9:07] thinking the right thing. >> So, I just wanted to make the board

[9:09] aware that this discussion is currently going. I believe council is going to

[9:13] potentially at their next council meeting provide direction to planning

[9:16] commission as it relates to the language in the comprehensive plan.

[9:23] » So, if I'm tracking the conversation, would R&D cease to exist on the

[9:29] property? Because it's always been kind of an overlay

[9:32] » potentially. Okay. They're going to suggest it for the change for the future

[9:35] use which means again changing the comprehensive plan looking to a

[9:40] reasonzoning in the future after discussing with all the property owners.

[9:44] I think that's been a little bit of contentious because they see that

[9:47] property owners think they're getting resone. That's not the case. We're just

[9:51] talking about the comprehensive plan and the language in that plan.

[9:59] additional questions or comments

[10:07] and timeline moving forward. You said that city council will have a

[10:12] conversation moving forward in the coming meetings, but any comp plan

[10:16] update is still a year or more out >> potentially. Yes.

[10:26] questions.

[10:30] » Okay.

[10:33] » Um, moving down staff activities. Anything to report?

[10:38] » No report. I just know that we did have a citizen concern about the um

[10:44] frequencies of the EDA board meeting. So I will try to make sure I work with you

[10:49] know Donald on going forward to make sure if we have important information to

[10:53] discuss we will definitely have the meetings. Um so I just bring that to

[10:56] your attention that we'll try to do better to have current meetings topics

[11:00] are available.

[11:08] I'm concerned u just to go back a bit about north side of Victory Boulevard.

[11:12] Um when legacy was approved or discussions and gone through the

[11:19] process, nobody really said anything negatively about it. Once it started

[11:24] building, the community got up in arms about we want green space. We shouldn't

[11:29] have approved it. Is there going to be any pressure on EDA to purchase the

[11:34] property on the north side of Victory Boulevard to leave it as green space or

[11:38] on the city I should say? Currently, that has not been a discussion of

[11:43] council to have green space. I know initially council has discussed about

[11:48] just the EDA parcel and potentially leaving that as future green space or

[11:52] park recreational, but that's the only discussion they had in their retreat

[11:57] that they had back January of. I was going to say that when we at the

[12:02] retreat, we talked about the six properties um that we own,

[12:09] general commercial, and then as you go back into the properties, they wanted

[12:14] more green space to which I brought up, you need to if you want, you know, parks

[12:20] and and sidewalk, you know, all the things that you want at recreational

[12:25] facilities, it costs money. And so you got to have

[12:30] the general commercial to provide the taxes that can help pay for this. So we

[12:36] got that out there. Um it's, you know, everybody wants the green tree and I do

[12:43] too. I mean, I want the green trees. I want the green space. I would like to

[12:46] see the houses not so close together, but that all costs money.

[12:52] » Correct on that. So, um, as C Commissioner Fi did mention, uh, that is

[12:58] the case that she did mention fact that we knew dollars and this this is no

[13:02] different for budget year as we going into our 2027 budget year. We are, um,

[13:07] scrimping to figure out how to meet ends due to the fact that disabled veterans

[13:12] year after year takes pennies away from us. were about 11 on our dollar,

[13:18] » but it's up to now over a million dollars don't get in taxes.

[13:23] » One point it's it's right now at 1.6 million that from disabled veterans tax.

[13:29] » Yeah.

[13:34] My only statement on the the green space certainly I think that there's

[13:39] initiatives for community development that include green space and parks and

[13:43] other aspects of that. Um as the EDA with that being our

[13:49] prime frontage on the corridor coming into town. I don't know that that's the

[13:55] personally the best prescribed use for your gateway park. Keep it as trees and

[14:01] fields and I think they were talking more back in

[14:08] » and that's that that made more sense bit >> bigger on a comprehensive basis that

[14:13] does >> right

[14:14] » so if I recall though we had um somebody owned one of those properties in the

[14:18] back that wanted to sell it to >> town because it was completely

[14:25] landlocked connect to our other properties

[14:28] » so you know again that's I just think think that we should be thinking ahead

[14:34] in the sense of um what does that mean to the community? And my position

[14:40] personally is I got no problem with leaving that green space. It's going to

[14:44] cost Picosenites 5 cents on every $100 to maintain that

[14:50] green space because like you said, we have to have the revenue to run the

[14:55] city. If we don't have the revenues, somebody's got to pay for it. And is

[14:58] that going to increase property taxes? Maybe. But, you know, that's the

[15:02] alternative. You want to vote for, you know, purchasing the property and

[15:06] leaving it green space, fine. Your taxes will go up to counter what we would have

[15:11] gained from developing that property in taxes. So, you know, I'm thankful that

[15:17] the Hunts sold all the property that I live on, you know, as far as Huntwoods

[15:21] goes, because otherwise I wouldn't have a house. But, you know, um,

[15:24] » true, >> there's got to be a balance. But I I

[15:27] just think as the EDA, we better be prepared to look into that.

[15:31] » And uh have what two properties back here that

[15:36] Kosen Legacy wanted to get and we said no.

[15:41] » We didn't say no. We >> we made provisions.

[15:45] » Okay.

[15:48] uh director's comments any

[15:52] » um I was surprised and maybe it's just me and maybe my head's land but I was

[15:58] surprised Planet Fitness came out and I didn't know about it. Um is there any

[16:02] other businesses out on the horizon that I don't know about that you know people

[16:07] say well how come you don't know you're supposed to know?

[16:11] » Well to be fair with Planet Fitness it was the intention of

[16:15] that um my understanding the initial pass the of course uh the owners of the

[16:21] farm fresh building with Planet Fitness could not come to term. So theoretically

[16:26] we thought that was to you dead and then all of a sudden we get a a permit

[16:31] request um they came to you know agreeance and then they it came out

[16:37] before we even knew it. So to be fair, that was our intention to update

[16:41] everybody, make sure you're aware of the business, but again, it was something

[16:45] that surprised us until they asked for the permit. We were not aware that they

[16:50] » That's because it, you know, the other people weren't paying the taxes on and

[16:53] all of a sudden the taxes came due. >> That is correct. Um

[16:58] it's interesting and we're we're excited for them to be a partner here.

[17:01] » Oh, yeah. I think it's great. Um, we've heard, you know, positive things and I

[17:05] love seeing advertisement on commercial where they're actually pronouncing

[17:08] Bakosen correctly. Um, so, you know, >> is there lots of people? I haven't been

[17:13] there yet. >> It hasn't opened yet.

[17:14] » It hasn't opened yet. Um, they've got a following on Instagram. Um, so there's a

[17:19] couple social media sites that they're posting on. I know certain employees

[17:22] have already registered to be members, so we're excited to bring that. And my

[17:26] hopes is my understanding they do like a pizza fry. So I'm hoping that they'll

[17:31] utilize the Dominoes, the Pakosen Diners, the Mr. C's um use

[17:37] in town pizza shops to host our next niche is to make sure they're

[17:42] utilizing us. Of course, there's also seafood festival that we definitely need

[17:46] sponsorship. So we're hoping partners with us.

[17:50] » I have heard I have heard a complaint about it

[17:54] already though. no child care. >> They don't have a facility inside like

[17:59] some of the other ones do to provide for infant care while you're using facility.

[18:07] So, I don't have any kids like that. You little bit. So, but I have had two

[18:13] people ask me about that. It's like I didn't even know they were moving in.

[18:17] So, >> when are they expected to open? Do you

[18:21] know? >> I do not know. I reached out to them in

[18:23] December um to try to set up a ribbon cutting and they did not want to commit

[18:27] to it currently. So, I'm waiting for them to reach back out to me.

[18:36] » I I was thinking they were should have gotten right in January when everybody's

[18:40] gung-ho on their New Year's resolutions. >> New resolutions. Absolutely. when when

[18:45] they came before the architecture review board, I think that they had set a goal

[18:49] of >> what was their goal at that point in

[18:52] time. All that was aligned with getting materials and contract

[18:58] » equipment and everything necessary to do that. uh the young lady who was

[19:04] associated with management I don't know her exact title

[19:09] excited about being a partner in the community

[19:14] and on a positive as the architecture review board there's some

[19:18] beautifification coming to the shopping center as a whole as a result of the

[19:27] my understanding is they're only taking about 65 70% % of the footprint that

[19:35] Farmfresh had. So there is a an additional suite if you want to think of

[19:39] it that way. Storefront that uh could potentially be

[19:45] » another business. >> Did not know there was another part in

[19:48] there that could be could be helpful. >> Yeah. So whatever the whatever the math

[19:54] is of square footage that farmfresh used to be my understanding footprint is only

[19:58] 60 or 65% of that footprint.

[20:03] » Correct. So >> I think it's the side closest to the

[20:05] Dollar Tree that's going unused.

[20:11] » I do think Kathy had a good point and as long as I've been on the EA it's come up

[20:16] continuously. at least like I don't know we don't meet every month don't need to

[20:20] meet every month but in a perfect world would be nice if we did have some sort

[20:24] of flow of

[20:30] and that's no one's fault we just were never set up to kind of insight on these

[20:36] things so you know when >> some people some of people in the

[20:39] community know that we're on the economic development authority and they

[20:44] say well what's coming is this coming I've heard this rumor or I've heard that

[20:47] rumor, you know, and it kind of helps to be in the know.

[20:52] » Okay. Absolutely. Well, the only thing that is coming up currently that's

[20:55] coming up to council is a cup for um a business across from McFersonson is

[21:01] going to be a landscaping business. Um so other than that, there's

[21:06] nothing else that have any additional permitting that's going on in the

[21:10] business corridor. You know, of course, we constantly, i.e. the city office

[21:14] reaching out to a couple contacts trying to get them in property. Um but again

[21:20] it's very hard no one's calling us back um as it rel

[21:34] to put a location for a grocery store. My concern is if that's successful it

[21:39] would you know would it basel

[21:51] that particular rumor though has been going around a long time

[21:55] a long time and I would be very surprised

[21:59] not saying that they're not I'm just saying I'd be very surprised with crow

[22:05] because their in the middle

[22:07] » is owned by Cro.

[22:11] » I tried reaching out to another food chain that's a sim

[22:18] community. Um, currently they only have a few grocery stores,

[22:22] but again, you know, it's hard getting someone to call you back.

[22:30] Trader Joe's was the only one that was successful with getting an actual comp

[22:35] area. So, at least I appreciate someone giving me an

[22:41] that's that's terrible because they they their footprint is the size that we're

[22:47] looking for. I think it would be a good niche for

[22:51] Vicosa to have a

[22:57] my kids turn me on to that store and I'm like, "Oh, now I get it." It's, you

[23:00] know, it's not like a Food Lion. It's a little different. You don't have to

[23:04] worry about sales. They come in competitively. So

[23:11] any additional comments, questions

[23:16] that I think that uh we can adjourn. So

[23:23] » thank you everybody. >> Thank you.

City of Poquoson - EDA Meeting - 2026-02-03

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