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Allegan council approves sale of Low Street lot to Tantric Brewing for $1 despite contamination questions
Summary
After discussing a $1 purchase request from Tantric Brewing and noting an environmental study staff has not received, the Allegan City Council directed staff to proceed with sale procedures for the Low Street parcel (51-251-041-00); council voted in favor following discussion of remediation uncertainty and required charter publication process.
The Allegan City Council voted April 14 to direct staff to proceed with the sale process for a vacant Low Street parcel (parcel 51-251-041-00) to Tantric Brewing for the company’s requested price of $1.
City staff told council the request was first received in February and that the city later heard from another private party, which withdrew its interest. Staff reviewed three procedural options: sell directly to Tantric after noticing and public process under the city charter, market the property for bids, or decline to sell. Staff cited the city charter’s sale procedures, which require publication for three consecutive weeks in the local paper and a public hearing no later than five days after the final publication.
Staff also told council there are reports of contamination in the general vicinity and that the city had not conducted its own environmental study. A study performed when the parcel was previously sold to another party was mentioned; staff said that study had not been provided to the city despite requests. Council members discussed the risk and remediation uncertainty but also noted that nearby residential construction had occurred in recent years.
After discussion, a council member moved to proceed with the process to sell the parcel to Tantric Brewing for $1 and the motion passed on a voice vote. Staff and council noted the sale would follow the charter-mandated public-notice process before final conveyance.
Tanya Schaffer attended as a spokesperson for the interested brewery but did not make a detailed public presentation during the council discussion. Council did not specify a remediation plan or a timeline for environmental testing during the meeting; staff said the city has not performed environmental studies and will request available studies from prior purchasers.
Other city land-sale items that night included the council’s earlier decision to reject a separate Monroe Street purchase request to preserve long-term master-plan public open-space goals.
