MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council voted Tuesday to set a public hearing for May 6 to consider the advisability of creating a new Community Improvement District (CID) for Phase Two of redevelopment efforts at the Uptown Hutch mall.
RockStep Hutchinson, LLC, the mall’s owner, has petitioned the city to replace the current 1-percent CID sales tax with a 2-percent rate to support further revitalization of the property. The requested resolution does not approve the CID itself but rather sets the stage for a formal public hearing where the proposal will be discussed in full.
Tommy Stewart, a representative of RockStep Hutchinson LLC, was present at the meeting, and Marc Abbott, legal counsel for the developer, joined via Zoom.
“The resolution we’re asking you to approve tonight is simply to set the public hearing for May 6 at 5:30 p.m. during the council meeting,” city finance director Angela Richard explained. “At that time, the public can provide input, and the developer will present more details, including the proposed development agreement.”
The proposed project aims to attract additional tenants to the aging mall, with key redevelopment activities expected to be completed by 2027. Once benchmarks outlined in the development agreement are met, the city would work with the state to implement the 2-percent CID and retire the existing 1-percent CID.
As part of the agreement, RockStep Hutchinson LLC has also committed to maintaining the mall's parking lots and private roads, a request made by city officials. The developer has already provided funding to cover legal and publication costs associated with the CID process.
During the meeting, questions were raised about the effectiveness of the current CID and the state of the mall property.
“How long has this 1-percent been on, and how much money are we sitting on right now before we go and invest another 1-percent on top of it?” asked Mike Warren, a Reno County resident. “There’s nothing being done out there in that mall area at all.”
City officials responded that questions regarding the financial status of the existing CID and future plans would be better addressed at the public hearing. They also clarified that CID funds are collected by the city and distributed to the developer only for reimbursable expenses that align with the approved development plan. The city retains a 5-percent administrative fee.
Marc Abbott emphasized that a comprehensive presentation will be made at the public hearing, including specific project components, total cost, and the portion eligible for CID reimbursement.
Council members noted that the purpose of Tuesday’s vote was only to schedule the public hearing, not to approve the CID itself.
“I believe it’s always a good idea to set a hearing date,” Mayor Stacy Goss said. “There’s a lot of frustration and it's not with this CID, it's the one next door and that's something council has been talking about with staff."
Council members also requested that staff provide a basic primer on how CIDs work at the upcoming meeting, along with a map to help inform the public.
The public hearing will take place at the Hutchinson City Council meeting on Monday, May 6, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.