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Berrien County preparing resolution to sell 36-acre Short Drain property to outside buyer
Summary
County administrators told the finance committee they will present a resolution next week to authorize sale of 36 acres known as the Short Drain property, following a three-year listing effort; final approval would come to the full board in two weeks if finance approves.
Brian DeSette, Berrien County administrator, told the finance committee that next week the committee will receive a resolution "to authorize the sale of the Short Drain property to an outside buyer." The county acquired title and paid off the property's remaining debt in October 2024, officials said.
DeSette said the parcel is 36 acres and that "roughly $550,000 was invested to pay off the debt." He said a listing agent working on behalf of the board has a buy–sell agreement that corporate counsel and the listing agent will finalize before the resolution goes to the finance committee.
County staff said the village of Three Oaks voted the previous evening to authorize its president to sign a letter supporting the sale; that letter will be bundled with the resolution and the proposed buy–sell agreement when it goes to committee. No final board vote has occurred; DeSette said that if the finance committee approves the resolution next week it will be taken to the full board in two weeks.
Questions raised during the discussion included whether the buyer would need zoning changes. An unnamed planning staff member (Thaddeus) said a portion of the property is zoned commercial and the rest single-family residential, and that "yes, I believe a small amount of rezoning will have to be considered" by the local village.
County counsel and staff will continue negotiating contract terms; commissioners were told they may extend consideration beyond two weeks if needed to resolve outstanding contractual or zoning issues.
