June 2012 Planning Report

1) APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED/UNDER REVIEW – MAY 2012
a) Commercial-Industrial Code revisions Public Hearing – under Council review.
b) 4J Annexation request (August hearing)
c) Plat Reinstatement Ordinance modifications (July hearing)
d) Sandy River Park Comprehensive Plan/Zone Change (July PC hearing, August Council hearing)

2) BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY – MAY 2012
a) Total value for the month is $7,643,325.
b) 4 permits for single family dwellings with a value of $976,161.
c) 4 permits for additions to single-family dwellings with a value of $20,400.
d) 8 commercial permits with a value of $6,646,704.
e) 1 other permit with a value of $60.

3) MAIN STREET (from Jason McNeil, Main Street Manager)

The Sandy Main Street committees continued work on many of the ongoing Main Street projects this past month:

  1. Steering Committee: The Steering Committee has begun outreach to property and business owners in regards to the proposal to create an Economic Improvement District (EID) in Downtown Sandy. One-on-one outreach with targeted property owners seems to be going well and we will be holding a meeting for property owners to gather more information on the EID on June 25 at 5:30 pm in the Library Community Room. A similar meeting for business owners will be held on June 28 at the Library at 5:30 pm.The Steering Executive Committee is still focused on some key behind-the-scenes work, including the establishment of the Sandy Main Street nonprofit corporation. The application will be submitted to the IRS in the coming weeks. The Executive Committee is also developing a brochure and handouts that explain the benefits of a Main Street program and the EID proposal.
  2. Promotion Committee: The committee continues to focus on expanding First Friday events. Participation has been holding steady with 24 businesses for the past two months, but outreach to non-participating businesses has resulted in commitment from at least 8 additional businesses for the summer months. The committee also finalized the design and procurement of Event Banners that participating businesses can hang out during First Friday (these can also be used for all Main Street events). The banners should be ready and delivered by the July First Friday. We are also coming up with creative ideas to encourage circulation of visitors and customers throughout the entire downtown during the events. Finally, we put the call out for street musicians to perform during First Friday and expect to have a few out playing this month.The Promotion Committee also began selling Sandy Main Street merchandise at downtown retailers. We’re starting out with greeting cards and postcards that feature photographs of scenes in and around Sandy taken by local photographer Krissy Aldous. The proceeds from the merchandise will be reinvested in other Sandy Main Street merchandise items, and hopefully will grow as a source of revenue over time.
  3. Economic Restructuring Committee: Vacancy assistance to downtown property owners is one of the many roles that the ERC has taken on, and we’re currently working with a downtown property owner to help fill a vacancy. Through this, we’re developing a vacancy assistance process that will allow us to be more nimble for future vacancy assistance.  The Market Analysis Subcommittee continued work on a Vision Plan for downtown based on the data in the Downtown Sandy Market Analysis and are also using that information to develop profiles of the “typical” downtown Sandy shopper.