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Committee considers Walmart‑adjacent site and Pacific Cycle lot for regional site‑readiness grant
Summary
Council members and staff debated two candidate locations for a 20%‑match site‑readiness grant, weighing sewer and water extension costs (staff estimated roughly $3.0M plus $250K–$300K for roadway work) and the relative shovel‑readiness of a Walmart distribution‑center–adjacent parcel and a larger Pacific Cycle site.
Committee member Burke reopened the discussion of which property the council should nominate for a regional site‑readiness grant, saying the group had narrowed options to two candidate locations. "We had 2 options," Burke said, and indicated a preliminary preference for the site near the Walmart distribution center.
A staff member provided cost estimates for preparing the Benton/Walmart‑adjacent site for development, saying work to extend water and sewer and to redo an entrance off Route 50 would "be somewhere around 3,000,000." The staff member added that improving the roadway with soil‑cement would likely add another "$250,000–$300,000," producing a combined estimate in the neighborhood of $3.3 million.
Council members discussed the alternative north‑of‑Pacific Cycle parcel, noting it already has water service but lacks sewer. "The other thought was ... the Pacific Cycle property, which ... it's already got water. We just have to get sewer," the Chair said. The Chair and others also noted the Pacific Cycle parcel is larger — "So it's like 75 acres, we'll say anyway" — and might be subdivided for smaller developments in the future.
Participants stressed the grant's 20% match requirement. Burke said, "We have an opportunity to apply for some grama money," using the transcript wording; council discussion reflected uncertainty in the meeting record about whether the grant award cap was $3 million or $5 million, and participants cited both figures. Staff characterized the site‑selection decision as partly about which location could be made "shovel ready" more easily given existing sewer mains, lift station placement and bedrock depth, which staff said has not yet been determined.
Chair and members also noted that Greater Wabash is assisting with site work and awaiting the council's site selection. No final formal motion selecting a site appears in the transcript.
