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Courthouse road: city completes first parcel purchase; DEP permitting and funding remain active issues
Summary
City staff reported purchase of an Adams parcel for $30,000 and said a separate Merrill parcel remains under contract as officials advance road design, stormwater permitting and coordination with the state judiciary; staff hope to qualify for permit‑by‑rule and are pursuing state reimbursement and TIF/other strategies to cover construction costs.
The City Manager told the council on June 16 that the city has completed purchase of the Adams parcel for $30,000 as part of the courthouse‑access road project and that the nearby Merrill parcel is under contract. City staff have submitted initial road and stormwater design to the state judiciary and are working to keep permitting within a "permit‑by‑rule" threshold to reduce processing time and cost.
Why it matters: The road project will create utility and access connections that, staff said, could unlock multiple acres near the planned judiciary parcel for future development, potentially supporting housing and economic development goals in the city’s comprehensive plan.
Details and timeline: Staff said the judiciary closed on a 17.9‑acre Wardwell property for the courthouse site and that the developer agreement requires milestones for road design and permitting. City engineering (Andrew McColl Engineering) prepared the initial stormwater and road plan before the July 1 deadline; the judiciary returned comments and state consultants indicated the DEP might treat separate parcels independently, which could allow a faster permit by rule instead of a longer review. The manager said this would shorten the timeline and reduce costs for the construction access road.
Funding and next steps: The manager said the city has pursued multiple funding avenues, including a possible state appropriation (LD 739) that could reimburse up to $750,000 if approved. The city is also exploring TIF district options, partner contributions, and potential grants; staff will update council with refined cost estimates and scheduling once permitting clarity and final design are complete.
Dependencies and risks: Staff noted the schedule depends on DEP review, coordination with the judiciary’s construction timeline, and costs for drilling/blasting and material procurement; additional budget updates will be provided in Q3 to show in‑house versus external construction cost estimates.
