HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetterBridgette George
City of'College Station May 24, 2007
Development Services
1101 Texas Ave S.
College Station, Texas 77840
RE: PAC—May 301h Ramada/Re!lJnond Drive Properlies
Dear Bridgette,
We are interested in redeveloping several tracts of land in College Station, located
in/around the area of Texas Avenue and Redmond Drive. We currently have a Pre -
Application Conference scheduled for May 30, 2007 at Ipm for these properties.
Because of an extremely short due diligence time period in the property purchase
contracts we need to have a very productive PAC meeting on May 30, 2007. Based upon
past experiences with PAC meetings, we believe that the only way to accomplish this is
to give staff very detailed questions that must be answered at the May 30`x' meeting. By
submitting these questions in writing, well prior to the meeting, we are trying to give staff
as much time as possible to discuss these questions with as many departments as
necessary. Our due diligence period ends on the 27'x' of July and my client is NOT
willing to close on the property on the 27`x' of July if lie is not sure of the answers to the
following questions and if the rezonings as discussed below are not approved by P&Z
and City Council.
We are looking at the acquisition of the Meridian Apartments and the Ramada Inn
property. Our first phase of this development is to_redevelop the Il rise Hotel building
on tlic Ramada proPertY_Ps � pi iy,�,te_ p17nitory. Our second phase is to raze the lobby
building of the Ramada inn and re� it as a mixed use structure with retail on the
=round floor and_a multi -storied student housing above the retail. In order to do this we
rea at we need to rezone the 3956 acre Ramfr
Ramada tract ons C -I to P -MUD.
ize th
Subsequent and/or concurrent phases will be to add a parking structure, add additional
units on the currentl vacantyro p� +wand remodel the existing Meridian Phase I and
Phase III.
To further this project we have the following questions that we feel are vital to the
redevelopment of this property.
1. Would staff support the rezoning of Lots 18, 19 and 20, Block 4 of the Redmond
Terrace First Installment Subdivision from its current C -I and R-1 to R-4?
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2.
Would staff support the rezoning of the Ramada 3.956 acre tract from C- I to P -
MUD?
3.
Will we be required to submit a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to accomplish
the above rezonings?
4.
If the answer to #3 is yes, will staff support a Comp Plan amendment that changes
the Floodplain & Streams designation on the property to Residential Attached'?
We believe this is the only way to accomplish the R-4 rezoning on Lots 18, 19
and 20, Block 4 previously requested.
5.
If we must submit a Comprehensive Plan amendment can we do that concurrently
with the rezoning cases?
„Q 6.
There was a study completed by HDR engineering in which the City was looking
at redevelopment of the creek behind the Meridian Phase 11 and Phase 111. Is the
City still considering any of these improvements'?
u 7.
UUP
Is the City looking at acquiring any of the creek for any ti ture,hike/bikc.proiect,
greenway project or other creek acquisition or drainage project'?
Wf 8.
Given the City goals to increase student housing density around the TAMU
campus we will be utilizing the maximum density that we can achieve on the
property. We realize that in developing to this density we will likely need to
construct a parking structure. The only location that we have to develop a parking
structure will be on the currently vacant tract across Redmond Drive from the
Meridian Phase I project. Will staff support development on the vacant property
of a parking structure and additional multi -family units? (We will stay completely
out of the floodway with all of this development.)
9. If the parking structure is located on this vacant tract can it still be counted as
parking for the two structures on the Ramada tract. (i.e. is it close enough
(distance) to count as the required parking)?
We realize that there will be other standard PAC meeting items that we will need to
discuss, i.e. fire, electrical, planning, drainage, platting, parkland dedication but the above
questions stood out as critical questions that could break the deal.
Based upon the results of the PAC meeting we will be submitting a rezoning application
and Comprehensive Plan amendment on the June 4"' deadline to meet the July 5"' and
July 26'x' Council dates.
Tl k you very much for your help in resolving these issues.
Si erely,
___
Veronica J.Q. or n,P.E.
Managing Partner
Cc: file
Toni Keenan, TCK Realty Corp
Paul Thrower
Jerry Tipps, AIA, RS&I-I