City to Provide Access Road to Grand Sakwa Development

Grand Sakwa had proposed puttingin a road from South Boulevard going north into the property. However, thecity saw another solution.The city wants to build a road bridge over M-59 to connect Adams Roadbetter. Currently, drivers wanting to access northbound Adams Road have toexit at Squirrel Road and head east on Hamlin Road, and then make a leftturn onto north Adams about a mile down the road.

The city has wanted to build an interchange bridge across the highway forsome time, said Ed Anzek, city planner. Since Grand Sakwa's property isin the path of the bridge, the city decided to make an offer, Anzek toldGlobeSt.com.

The city had not approved the former road building plans by Grand Sakwa, andthe company had sued the city.A consent judgment is being created, Anzek said, which will give thedeveloper the right to build what it wants on the property, and the citywill get land right of way to build its bridge, providing access to thedevelopment in the process.

"There will be a public-private agreement between the us and the majorlandowner," Anzek said. "In exchange for the right-of-way, the company willget a planned unit development approval on their site."

He also said the company has suggested plans of a combination of research anddevelopment buildings, offices, a hotel, restaurants and some supportingretail."There isn't a hard plan yet," Anzek noted. "In these economic times, we'rejust going to have to see what the market will bear. They are supposed tostart building about the same time we build the road, sometime in 2004 to2006."

Bill Eisenberg from Grand Sakwa did not return phone calls for comment.The City Council is expected to hold a public hearing at its 7:30 p.m.meeting on April 2 about the consent judgment. The council will then vote onthe judgment, Anzek said.