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Developer presents 54‑lot concept for Burns Harbor site; commission agrees to seek Army Corps jurisdictional review
Summary
A developer presented a 54‑lot residential concept for a 28‑acre Burns Harbor parcel that includes wetlands. The Redevelopment Commission agreed to submit a request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a jurisdictional determination and to table final action on the purchase offer until August.
A developer presenting by phone outlined a 54‑lot residential concept centered on the southern portion of a 28‑acre Burns Harbor property and asked the Redevelopment Commission to move into a purchase agreement contingent on a site plan and federal wetland findings.
The developer said the design concentrates lots on the south side of a trail to “use some of the credits from the Northern wetland,” and described the northern wetland as likely jurisdictional while the southern wetlands are likely isolated. The developer added that mitigation and bringing utilities to the site are part of the project and estimated wetland mitigation costs could be “as high as $200,000” for purchasing credits.
Commission members and staff said the next step is a jurisdictional determination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The commission approved a motion to submit the Corps’ documentation to begin that review and to table consideration of the developer’s request for offer (RFO) until August while the Corps evaluates the wetlands.
Why this matters: the Corps’ finding will determine what parts of the site can be developed and what mitigation will be required. Commissioners repeatedly said they do not yet have final acreage or permitting answers and that those findings could materially change the project scope and economics.
Details and debate: The developer emphasized the submission would be followed by a purchase agreement contingent on site‑plan approval, and said the northern portion of the 28 acres could be retained by the town if needed. Commissioners expressed concern that the wetlands delineation and related approvals only became recently available and requested time to review new information.
Residents raised concerns at the meeting about the proposed sale price and appraisal. Resident Jim Micks asked whether the property had been appraised for the amount discussed and said he opposed selling the land for what he described as a low figure. Another resident, Deal VanMooney, recommended wider public outreach if the town moves forward with a sales proposal.
Next steps: The commission will submit the Corps’ form to request a jurisdictional determination and will revisit the RFO in August after reviews and Corps feedback. The developer indicated it has engaged Soil Solutions to support wetland delineation and that Soil Solutions’ recent field work informed the current plan.
Attribution: Developer representative (phone) presented the plan; Soil Solutions (consultant) was referenced for wetland delineation; multiple commissioners spoke during the discussion.
Ending: Commissioners stressed that any purchase agreement would be contingent on federal/state permitting and site‑plan approvals and that the town will not commit to developer costs beyond the contingency processes already described.
