Michael DeHart – Economic Development Coordinator
Creswell Urban Renewal Agency meeting was held Sept. 24 before the regularly scheduled city council work session. At the meeting, Consultant Elaine Howard and Economic Development Coordinator Michael DeHart provided updates regarding the proposed boundaries of the Urban Renewal District as well as the projects to be included.
Projects include street, water and sewer infrastructure projects to industrially zoned land. These projects are prioritized as they aim to alleviate infrastructure constraints that prevent undeveloped commercial and industrial sites from being ”shovel ready,” or ready to build.
DeHart lamented that recently, a developer contacted him on a possible future development of more than 15 acres of land. Creswell met all the criteria, such as being within 30 miles of a city with a population of 150,000 and being in close proximity to the airport.
The issue was that the developers wanted to move on an aggressive timeline, DeHart said, and Creswell couldn’t throw their hat into the ring because the land is not shovel ready.
”That’s been the case with every developer since I got here,” he said of developer inquiries.
Project allocations include $2,176,531 for transportation; $2,194,132 for water; and $300,000 for administration, totalling an estimated maximum indebtedness of 6,471,663.
Transportation projects include Oregon 99 North Mill Street modernization; Oregon 99 South Front Street modernization; a new roadway; Oregon Avenue and Oregon 99 (or ”the jog”) intersection improvements; and C Street intersection pedestrian improvements.
Sewer projects include an alley trunk sewer between 1st Street and Front Street; trunk sewer from D Street to South Front Street; trunk sewer on both north and south sides of Mill Street; three sewer basins for trunk sewers; a sewer basin for pump station and trunk sewer; the Bald Knob sewer; and South Front Street sewer extensions.
Water projects include C Street from North 3rd Street to North 2nd Street; areas of South Front Street; North Mill Street to Urban Renewal Boundary to Martin Road; North Mill Street from Martin Road to Art Lott Lane; and South Mill Street from East Oregon Avenue to East Park Drive.
These projects also aim to improve the safety and efficiency of Creswell’s transportation system for all modes within the Urban Renewal District boundary; use public improvements to increase viability of redevelopment opportunities in Creswell’s downtown commercial zone; and provide a competitive development environment that leverages Creswell’s advantageous location along Interstate 5 to draw investment, according to the update.
There will be another Creswell Urban Renewal Agency meeting on Monday, Oct. 8 beginning at 7 p.m. in the McCluskey Chambers in City Hall. A city council meeting will follow. The public is encouraged to attend.