WILLMAR -- A preliminary layout for parcels and streets in the new industrial park is being recommended by the Willmar City Council's Community Development Committee.
The committee received three suggested layouts and selected one from consultants Widseth, Smith, Nolting and Associates of Alexandria. The committee approved the concept and directed city staff to proceed with a boundary survey and preliminary plat to establish street rights-of-way.
The council will consider the recommendation on Jan. 9.
"It looks like someone has done some work on this. There's been a lot of thought put into this,'' said committee member Ron Christianson.
The City Council voted in November to hire the consultants. Bruce Peterson, director of city planning and development, said the consultants' $4,750 contract "was money very well spent. They probably have already saved us.''
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The new industrial park will be developed in the present airport when the new airport located west of the city opens next year and the present airport is closed. The new industrial park will offer lots of varying sizes.
Planning and design costs will be paid with a $96,000 economic development initiative special projects grant from the federal Housing and Urban Development. Development costs will be paid with the city's half-cent sales tax, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2006.
Approximately 480 to 500 acres in the old 640-acre airport will be usable. The land not suited for development includes Hawk Creek, which runs through the airport, a proposed municipal power line and rights-of-way for streets.
"We're still going to have some tweaking to do as we determine what size right-of-way we've got in certain locations, what we've got for storm water pond requirements, what we've got for ditch requirements, what we've got for path requirements. All those things will factor into the developable total,'' said Peterson.
Peterson said the city hired the consultants to provide some guidance. The preferred design results in less infrastructure cost because engineering and math principles were applied to maximize the city's return to the site.
"This allows us to get the most developable acres with the least amount of infrastructure, which means we can sell properties at a price that will have the lowest cost for infrastructure per parcel, and in essence it should bring a better return to the city for our investment,'' said Peterson. Committee chairman Bruce DeBlieck asked that right-of-way include land for a walking path along Hawk Creek.
