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Council extends due diligence for Girl Scout property amid neighborhood objections
Summary
The council granted a two-month extension to the Allegan Development Company’s due-diligence agreement on the city-owned Girl Scout parcel to allow preparation of a purchase and development agreement; residents raised traffic, sewer and character concerns during two public-comment periods.
The Allegan City Council voted to extend a six-month due diligence agreement for two months to allow the city and Allegan Development Company to finalize a purchase and development agreement for the city-owned Girl Scout property.
City Manager Joel Dye explained the developers completed an initial investigation and are proposing 38 units on roughly 5 developable acres west of the Riverside/Walcott/Highland neighborhood: roughly 26 condominiums and 12 townhomes, with land priced at $100,000 and total development costs estimated at $1.6 million. Dye said the term sheet and projected timelines are included in the council packet and that the extension buys time for the developer and staff to negotiate the purchase and development agreement.
Multiple neighborhood residents used both public-comment periods to voice opposition, citing existing sewer backups, narrow streets, lack of sidewalks and concerns about additional traffic and changes to neighborhood character. Ray Birkin said he still suffers sewer backups and requested surveys of sewer elevations; other residents said prior residents have already moved away because of development plans. Council directed staff to review utility as-built data and to bring findings to the next meeting. The extension was approved by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will continue negotiations with the developer, include construction timeline and bonding requirements in the draft development agreement, and report back to council; staff also committed to follow up on sewer elevation and traffic issues raised by residents.
