Bid awarded for Lakeview development infrastructure projects

Rogers City is moving ahead with infrastructure work on the Lakeview residential development site. Following the recommendation of city engineer Rob Fairbanks, council accepted the low bidder, Curtis Excavating, at $144,270.

The project will bring asphalt roads, curb and gutter, as well as water and sewer to the area. Council also approved a resolution announcing its intent to issue bonds to finance the improvements. The funds generated from the bonds are to be used to finance a water main loop, from the existing industrial park to the new industrial park site south of the Rogers City airport.

The accepting of the bid, and the decision to announce an intent to issue bonds, both were accepted on 4-1 votes.

COUNCILWOMAN DEB GREENE voted ?no? on both issues. She didn?t believe she was informed enough to endorse the improvements, plus she has doubts about the marketability of the development.

?I do not feel that I am up to snuff to be voting on anything,? said Greene. ?Initially when I saw the plans, I felt there were still a few things that needed to be worked out, and I haven?t seen any revisions of those.? About 20 parcels have been established in the northern section of Rogers City, as a part of the first phase of the project.

The land is adjacent to the city trail system, and a stone?s throw from Lake Huron. Owners who purchase a home on the land won?t have to pay taxes for almost 15 years because the property is in one of the city?s designated Renaissance Zones. Greene is concerned about green spaces in the development, parking for visitors, and the size of the lots.

?I never did understand to begin with, how we ever came up with the small spaces for houses,? Greene said. ?I think that?s what the residents feel, who live in the immediate area, ?gosh, there goes the value of my property.?

?WE HAVE said they are going to be upscale houses, but what guarantees do the people in the neighborhood have that these are going to be upscale?? Greene also questioned the cost of the lots and how much they will be after the infrastructure improvements. The development has suffered its share of setbacks, mainly because of ongoing environmental clean-up work. A developer from Howell passed on the project a few years ago, and a local group also has backed out.

?There has to be a reason for that,? Greene said. ?Why are we going into something like this, that nobody else would take, and is that why we?re taking it, because nobody else would take it??

?It just seems like there are thousands of questions that need to be answered,? said Greene. In defense, mayor Beach Hall said there have been ?all kinds of meetings? in the community in regard to the project, which is being developed by the Community Development Authority.

?I know that,? Greene responded, ?but do we have to attend every meeting to find out what?s going on in this town? That?s been my big beef all along. I think it needs to be brought back before council, and we shouldn?t have to go to every single meeting.?

THE LAST of the environmental problems was cleared up three weeks ago. Hall said with that cleared up, he is optimistic the project will move forward. ?It is true that nobody has come forth to purchase the property,? said Hall, ?although that could change overnight.?

The mayor believes there is a chance construction still could take place before year?s end. ?Sure there?s some faith involved in this, but I don?t think that the neighbors need to worry a bit about appearance,? said Hall.

The land has been converted from industrial to residential with the remediation of the contaminated soil, Hall said. Greene remains concerned about where the development is going to go

?I truly hope I?m wrong on this,? she said. ?I just don?t think the majority of people who will retire, want to live on a lot where you can see in your neighbor?s window,? Greene said. ?Some of these questions should have been asked about three years ago,? Hall told Greene.

?I DID ASK them, and I never got answers,? Greene responded with a slightly raised voice. ?They kept pushing forward and pushing forward.?

?The CDA feels very strongly that we need to move ahead, in order to try and get something going,? Hall said. ?We?re two years late on this project as it is. It will be attractive.?

Hall expects the homes to be high quality and modern. The bonds will be issued, unless within 45 days after the date of publication in The Advance, a petition requesting a referendum is pursued. A petition would have to be signed by not less than 10 percent of the registered voters.