Report Prepared by: Frank Quintero, Director of Economic Development
Title
SUBJECT: Merced Industrial Park Land Assessment
REPORT IN BRIEF
Staff is requesting the City Council to select either Area 6 or Area 7 for further investigation as the City's future industrial park.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion directing staff to proceed moving forward with Industrial Park Study Area #6 or Industrial Park Study Area #7.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Select Industrial Park Study Area #6; or,
2. Select Industrial Park Study Area #7; or,
3. Refer back to staff for consideration of specific items as requested by Council; or,
4. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Merced City Charter, Section 200
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
City of Merced Budget FY 16-17, Section 7 - Economic Development Objective #1, "Investigate through a feasibility study the opportunities to develop new local and/or regional industrial parks."
DISCUSSION
The City and County of Merced have experienced steady growth in the manufacturing sector over the past years including expansions such as O'Keefes', Label Technology, Rotoplas, Scholle Corporation, and Olam Spices and Vegetables. Merced's manufacturing sector was named the fastest growing in the nation in May 2015. A number of the companies expanded into existing facilities vacated by other industries during the recession. The stock of useable grade existing buildings has dwindled considerably.
Merced's industrial land base is anchored by three major industrial parks, the Western Industrial Park, University Industrial Park, and Airport Industrial Park. Generally speaking, the industrial parks are well suited for users seeking 1-acre to 25-acres. For industrial users needing parcels of 50-acres or more, the inventory of available property is limited to lots in the University Industrial Park.
The City Council and staff agree that planning needs to take place now to secure a suitable area for industrial park land development....
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