Posted: 3/12/03

Airport site development gets boost

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Development of the city-owned airport property came one step closer to fruition Monday night.

The Forest Lake City Council approved an exclusive development rights agreement with Kami, Inc., a developer.

The developer is seeking to purchase Tract 1, consisting of about 71 acres and Tract 2, consisting of about 43 acres. Appraisals now are being completed on the property. Citing a need to develop the city-owned property, the city sent out 150 proposals to developers and received two responses.

This is an initial agreement, City Administrator Chip Robinson said. Another development agreement, which outlines purchase price, WAC charges and other issues will be presented later, after the assessment has been completed on the property.

ìOnce we know what the property is worth we can go into negotiations,î he said.

Jim Killison, representing Kami, said plans for the land include light industrial use businesses.

Future plans

Looking to the future, the council approved exploring redevelopment of the US-61 corridor. The property is bordered on the west by US-61, on the north by 11th Ave., on the east by the Hardwood Creek Trail and on the south by the southern city offices.

ìMaybe we should look at this corridor, be proactive and try to shape the developments we want in that corridor,î Robinson said.

Doing the study is Sanders, Wacker, Bergley, Inc. Cost of the study is estimated at $10,000. Washington County preliminarily agreed to pay part of the cost, about $2000 or 20 percent of the project cost.

Included in that area is Winnicks and Dresel Contracting, which now are in negotiations with the city to relocate.

Also part of the corridor is the Northland Mall, which is being eyed as an ideal location for a future Washington County Government Center and a transit center.

ìThis isnít going to happen next week, this is a long way out,î Robinson said. ìIt may be 10 years, but right now it is in the books for 2006.

Meetings

The Forest Lake City Council regularly meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month in city council chambers. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 24.

Top of Page