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Zion approves one-year MOU with developer to market Route 173 corner property
Summary
The council approved a one-year memorandum of understanding with a developer (Ram Development Partners/Grama/Retail Strategies) to market city-owned land at the northeast corner of Route 173 and Green Bay Road; the MOU gives the developer marketing rights and requires city approval of any proposed uses.
The Zion City Council on June 17 approved a one-year memorandum of understanding giving Ram Development Partners (working with Grama/Retail Strategies) the right to market and seek development proposals for city-owned parcels near the northeast corner of Route 173 and Green Bay Road.
City staff said the parcels include the former ballfield area and roughly 6 to 7 acres near the Walmart and RealWheels relocation site. Under the MOU the developer will act as a marketing and development agent at no upfront cost to the city and would earn a commission on any completed transaction. City officials emphasized the MOU preserves the city’s control: any proposed use or sale would require joint approval by the city and the developer.
Why it matters: City officials said the corner has attracted recent commercial interest — including new and existing retailers — and the MOU is intended to accelerate marketing while protecting the city’s ability to reject inappropriate uses. The administrator said the agreement follows outreach at a national retail conference and reflected interest from firms that match Zion’s demographic profile.
The MOU is for a one-year term. Administrator Naval (who discussed the conference outreach) and city staff said the intent is to use the developer’s connections to attract retail, industrial and other users while keeping decision-making authority with the city. Motion by Commissioner Fisher; second by Commissioner McDowell. Roll call recorded affirmative votes and the mayor announced the motion carried 5–0.
Council members praised recent infrastructure improvements in the corridor and said the city has been actively meeting with existing and prospective businesses to encourage expansion and relocation to Zion.
