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Board approves offer in principle for donated land for future Fire Station 3; grading estimate $380,000
Summary
The board approved in principle an offer from a landowner to convey property for a future Fire Station 3 at no cost if the city builds a station there; the board also authorized attorneys to negotiate final terms. Staff estimated grading costs around $380,000; station construction costs are not yet known.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve in principle an offer from a property owner to convey land at no cost for a future Fire Station 3, provided the city constructs a station there and the conveyance satisfies commercial requirements for the owner’s MRO-zoned Harvest Park development. The board authorized attorneys to negotiate final terms of the agreement; the vote was 7 to 0.
City staff said the Industrial Development Board has engaged design and construction professionals, but the city does not yet have a construction cost estimate for the station itself. Staff provided a civil estimate for grading and preparing the parcel: “we're looking about 380,000 for just the grading cost and cutting the entrance in,” a staff member told the board. That estimate does not include roadway work, utility relocations or building construction.
Staff described favorable geotechnical conditions on the Harvest Park parcel compared with a previously considered site, saying the earlier parcel showed several feet of unstable material. The proposed principal terms before the board were limited: the owner would convey the land at no cost and, in exchange, the conveyance would satisfy the owner's commercial requirement under MRO zoning. The board asked staff to allow attorneys to complete ancillary contractual terms—inspection periods, representations and warranties—without returning each item to the board for approval.
Board members asked where Harvest Park is located; staff said the parcel sits near the bend of South Main and R.A. Benton Lane. Members also raised potential additional costs if utilities must be relocated because of grading. Staff noted that relocation or raising of utilities could add costs but did not provide estimates.
With the board’s approval in principle, staff will finalize attorney negotiations and return final documents for formal conveyance and any further approvals required for site development and station construction.
