Sterling Heights approves $770,000 purchase agreement with 6 Rivers Land Conservancy to pursue state grant for 37217 Utica Road

Sterling Heights — The City Council approved a real estate purchase agreement with 6 Rivers Land Conservancy to acquire 37217 Utica Road for $770,000 and authorized the city manager or designee to sign documents required to complete the transaction.

Parks and recreation director Kyle Langley told council the purchase is intended to preserve green space and take advantage of a Natural Resources Trust Fund grant opportunity. Langley said 6 Rivers will serve as a facilitator to "lock up" the property while the city prepares a grant application; Langley said the grant application is due April 1 and the Natural Resources Trust Fund Board is not scheduled to consider applications until December 2026, so the purchase agreement sets a closing deadline of Sept. 1, 2028 to allow contingency time.

Brian Marsoff, land protection manager with 6 Rivers Land Conservancy, told the council the facilitation fee is $9,750 (paid in two parts: half up front and the remainder at closing) and that the facilitation fee is separate from the $770,000 purchase price. Marsoff said the offer matched a qualified appraisal used to set the price.

Several residents spoke during the public comment period, asking for transparency about long‑term plans, whether the land could be sold to developers, concerns about traffic and safety at the Utica Road/Hays intersection, and how the city would provide access to Rotary Park from the new parcel. Councilmembers and staff responded that the current zoning is R‑3 (multifamily) but that Natural Resources Trust Fund grants and similar conservation easements would encumber the property to preserve it as passive recreational/park land if the grant is awarded. The city attorney stated the grant conditions would prevent apartments and that converting parkland would require a major process and offsetting parkland under local rules.

Langley and councilmembers said if grant funding is not awarded the city has PPP millage funds available to complete the purchase; council discussed net cost estimates (Langley and councilmembers described a roughly 70/30 reimbursement expectation if the grant succeeds). After discussion the council approved the purchase agreement by voice vote and directed staff to coordinate grant work and next steps.