Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Sale Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council authorizes exclusive negotiations for Van Gizen parcel after single RFQ response; residents raise questions
Summary
After staff received one RFQ response for the long‑held Van Gizen parcel, council authorized exclusive negotiations with the respondent. Staff disclosed the city appraisal ($56,000) and the RFQ respondent’s stated price ($87,500), prompting resident questions about process, housing type and potential impacts on adjacent homeowners.
The Caro City Council authorized the city manager to begin exclusive negotiations with the sole respondent to a recent request for qualifications (RFQ) for the Van Gizen property, a city‑owned parcel that has remained undeveloped for decades.
City Manager said the RFQ process produced one submission from Allen Edwood Homes (presented to council by Greg Bird), which included a price expressed as $3,500 per proposed unit, totaling $87,500 for the parcel. For transparency, the manager disclosed an internal appraisal figure of $56,000 for the whole parcel and said the proposed price is favorable compared with that appraisal.
Greg Bird, who said he is program manager with Allen Edwood Homes, introduced his firm and expressed interest in developing the property; he told council the company would collaborate with the city on housing types and community preferences during negotiations. “We would like to work with the city in the negotiation process to determine the best fit — single‑family, duplex, or a mix,” Bird said.
Several nearby residents said they were surprised the RFQ produced one response and asked whether adjacent homeowners had been given an opportunity to purchase lots directly. A resident, Danielle Lando, asked why the city did not re‑post the RFQ or consult neighbors before entering exclusive talks. City staff explained the parcel is a single, large platted tract and that subdividing into individual lots would require additional process and expense; staff recommended allowing negotiations with a developer who would then manage any parcel splits and private purchases.
Council voted to authorize exclusive negotiations; any purchase agreement would return to council for approval and legal review before the city transfers property. Staff pledged to involve legal counsel and to schedule community presentations if a purchase agreement is drafted.
Next steps: city manager to negotiate terms, consult the city attorney about enforceable development timelines, and return to council with any proposed purchase agreement and community outreach plan.
