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Cottage Grove trustees approve purchase of 107 East Cottage Grove Road amid calls for more public input
Summary
The Village of Cottage Grove board voted Feb. 16 to approve an offer to buy 107 East Cottage Grove Road for $350,000 with a 90-day due-diligence period and a proposed Nov. 18 closing; trustees pressed staff about valuation, commission and demolition costs and asked for more public engagement on future property buys.
The Village of Cottage Grove Board of Trustees voted Monday to approve an offer to purchase 107 East Cottage Grove Road in TID 9 for $350,000, with $5,000 in earnest money, a 90‑day due‑diligence period and a proposed closing date of Nov. 18, 2026.
Staff described the sale as the culmination of prior negotiations and said the seller would not pay a broker commission. Village staff also said the site’s current tenant expects time to vacate, which informed the longer closing window. Trustees were told demolition quotes for the parcel currently run about $20,000–$24,000, with an additional $5,000–$10,000 estimated for interim site restoration.
The purchase will be funded from cash and TID 9 revenue rather than new debt, staff said; they identified reinvestment of revenues from an apartment property as one revenue source used for TID 9 activity. Staff also noted the village would have 90 days after board acceptance to complete due diligence before the sale became final.
Trustees raised several concerns during the discussion. Trustee Pete questioned the increase above an earlier valuation, the seller’s refusal to pay the customary commission and the long closing date; Trustee Paula urged more public visioning and engagement before pursuing additional property purchases in the downtown area, saying residents had not had adequate opportunity to weigh in on rezoning and development decisions. Staff answered that comprehensive‑plan revision and upcoming public visioning work would provide forums for the broader conversation.
Murphy moved approval of the offer and a second was recorded. The board conducted a roll‑call vote and the motion carried.
The board also asked staff to place broader public‑visioning work on a future agenda so trustees and residents can discuss downtown goals, acquisition strategy and whether to pause further negotiations on additional parcels pending community input.
What happens next: If the board’s acceptance is delivered to the seller, the village will have its 90‑day inspection window to complete title, environmental and other reviews; staff said those reviews would determine whether the sale proceeds to the November closing.
