By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green is proposing a land swap in order to expand the Wood Bridge Business Park on the northeast edge of the city.
A developer has purchased 43 acres just east of the business park for warehousing and logistic services, Bowling Green Utilities Director Brian O’Connell reported to the city’s Board of Public Utilities on Monday evening.
The warehouse space will benefit existing Wood Bridge businesses, O’Connell said, since many of them will use that space for storage which will allow them then to expand manufacturing spaces.
That will create more jobs – which will increase income tax revenues for the city, O’Connell said.
The warehouse development will require the extension of a public road and public utilities. Sue Clark, executive director of the Bowling Green Community Development Foundation, is working to secure state grants for the road and storm sewer extensions. State funds are not available for water and sewer infrastructure, which O’Connell estimated to cost $100,000 and $120,000 respectively.
The extension of Wood Bridge Business Park to the east opens up the possibility for the park’s expansion to the south – eventually connecting with Bowling Green Road East. It would become an L-shaped development around the Meijer store.
According to O’Connell, the expansion to the south to Bowling Green Road East would provide another road access to the business park which currently only has an entrance off Dunbridge Road. It would also provide for a redundant water main connection to improve reliability in case of a water main break.
But to expand the business park to the south means a land swap with Richard and Judith Carpenter, who own the 65 acres east of Meijer.
The deal goes like this:
- The city will trade approximately 80 acres of farmland east of the solar field, near Carter and Newton roads, for the north 20 acres of the Carpenter farm property.
- The city will have an option to purchase the remaining 45 acres south of the 20 acres acquired in this agreement. The price per acre will be $30,000 an acre for the first 15 acres, $35,000 per acre for the next 15, and $45,000 per acre for the remaining acreage.
- The purchase option will have a term of 10 years.
- Carpenter will be permitted to continue farming the 20 acres until it is sold for industrial uses.
- Carpenter may extend a city water service line to their house on Carter Road.
- The city will provide a farm access lane to the 80-acre parcel from Carter Road. Carpenter will maintain the farm access lane.
- The total 65 acres in the agreement will be annexed to the city and rezoned for industrial development.
The board of public utilities unanimously approved the land deal. City Council will have final say.
Also on Monday, O’Connell asked the board to advertise for bids and enter contracts for leasing city land for agricultural purposes. The city currently leases nine locations to farmers. Following are the locations, acreage and the rent per acre:
- 25 acres on Van Camp Road, east of Brim Road, $177.77/acre.
- 32 acres at the northwest corner of West Poe Road and Green Road, $225/acre.
- 69 acres at the southeast corner of Carter Road and Newton Road, $301/acre.
- 5 acres at the northeast corner of Brim Road and Newton Road, $177.77/acre.
- 36 acres on Napoleon Road, east of Dunbridge Road, $177.77/acre.
- 20 acres at the southeast corner of Brim and Bishop roads, $177.77/acre.
- 15 acres at King Road (west), $262/acre.
- 29 acres at King Road (east), $241/acre.
- 76 acres at the northeast corner of Hull Prairie and Ovitt roads, $282/acre.
The current leases all expire at the end of 2017. The new lease contracts will continue to be for three-year terms.
