VBT DDA discusses land required by county for Speedway station

Although plans for a new Speedway station at the northeast corner of Belleville and Tyler roads have yet to come to the Van Buren Township Planning Commission the project was discussed in public at the March 28 regular meeting of the VBT Downtown Development Authority.
DDA Executive Director Susan Ireland explained that Speedway needed the DDA’s help to proceed with its plans.
Eric Carter, engineer for the project, said the 4,600 square foot building on 2.08 acres will have an eight-dispenser canopy. He said they have been working with Wayne County and the township and have aligned their Tyler Road driveway with the Meijer driveway across the street.
Carter said they will be providing landscaping, seating, and a decorative wall at the corner that says Welcome to Van Buren Charter Township. They will put in sidewalks along Tyler.
Wayne County wants to make sure the sidewalks work along Belleville Road, Carter said.
He said the county showed them what they want for a Belleville Road entry drive and, “It’s on DDA private property.”
Carter said they asked the county if they could get an easement and the county said no, it’s got to be Wayne County property.
He said the county wanted Speedway to meet with the DDA to talk about it.
“If we can’t work it out, the county would give us an alternate sketch,” Carter said. “Or, we would have to redesign the whole Belleville Road frontage. We’re stuck.”
When asked about the size, a Speedway representative said it is a 4,600-square-foot building and they are not building the former 3,900 square foot building any more. He said a good example of the new plan is the recently constructed Speedway at West and Allen roads in Woodhaven.
He said they already spent $4 million on this project, without the property. He said the land has been on the market for ten years.
DDA member Ron Blank asked if there will be more curb cuts along Belleville Road as the area develops and Ron Akers, director of planning and economic development said, “We try to limit curb cuts and encourage cross-access easements.”
Akers said there were 13 acres of land for sale and this is just 2.08 acres right at the corner.
DDA chairman Craig Atchinson asked if the DDA should give it to the county or sell it to the developer?
Ireland explained that the DDA owns a 27’ strip of property all the way from the corner of Tyler north to Armstrong Funland, where a French drain is at the end.
Ireland said the county allowed the DDA to put the sidewalk in at grade, “doing us a favor.” If the sidewalk was done according to county specifications the sidewalk would be 6” above the center line of the road.
The DDA installed the sidewalk for pedestrian safety, knowing any future widening of Belleville Road by the county would make the sidewalk temporary.
Blank said the property is zoned for Speedway and they are asking the DDA for the property to comply with Wayne County requirements.
“You have a drainage issue,” Blank pointed out, referring to the north end of the sidewalk where the French drain is located.
“What impact is there on the rest of the property they didn’t buy?” asked DDA member Helen Foster.
Blank, an owner of mobile home parks, said he has filled a room with people when he wants to build and, “I kept my mouth shut.” He said Speedway probably should keep its mouth shut, too.
“Those that buy the next piece will be back here,” Blank said.
“Should we sell it off?” chairman Atchinson asked.
DDA member Chris Brown said when Speedway gets it, it will go to the county.
The attorney present for the DDA’s closed-door session on another issue after the business meeting was asked for his opinion.
He was surprised and replied, “Here? In open session?” When he was told yes, he said the easiest thing probably is to sell it.
“This is being done to accommodate the county, not the developer,” Blank pointed out.
“We’ll be getting our money back and not making a profit,” said VBT Supervisor Kevin McNamara. He said they need to negotiate the terms of the sale. The DDA paid $122 per linear foot and that’s what the price would be. Also, the developer should assist with the drainage adjacent to their parcel.
Blank said the worst-case scenario would be that Speedway wouldn’t build but the property would be controlled by Speedway and kept so another service station can’t build. He suggested the ownership of the strip could revert to the DDA if the project didn’t move forward.
“Speedway won’t buy the property until we get approval from the planning commission,” Carter said. “The agreement could be conditioned on approval.”
A Speedway representative said they are on the right track, but they would have to talk to their directors about an agreement.
“We make our decision first,” Atchinson stated.
Blank asked if the DDA is asking them to fix the drainage just north of their property?
Clark said the plans call for underground storm water retention.
He said the township has asked Speedway to look at evaulation of grades and possible reconstruction of the sidewalk in the 27’ adjacent to the 33’ county right of way.
Brown suggested the DDA engineer and Speedway engineer get together.
Ireland said she drives by the flooded sidewalk site every day and doesn’t want it to continue to be in that state.
“We know our objectives and they know their objectives,” said Foster. “We need it in writing so the board of directors is satisfied.”
Supervisor McNamara said, “It sounds like we’ll sell, but need the details.”
The DDA owns 334’ of the 27’ wide strip and Speedway needs just short of 200’, so the cost, at $122 per lineal foot, was figured at about $25,000.
Blank made a motion that the DDA agrees to sell Speedway LLC land at $122 per lineal foot for their frontage on Belleville Road subject to a mutual agreement. Mark Laginess seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
In other business at the March 28 meeting, the DDA:
• Reelected Atchinson as chairman and Carol Bird as vice chairman and elected Chris Brown as secretary, to replace Sophia Zoller who served for many years in that position and recently resigned;
• Heard Ireland report that she is waiting for some additional color samples before final selection is made on the exterior of the house at 10101 and 10151 Belleville Road. She said at the February meeting the DDA approved the counter offer submitted by the owners of 10065 and 10085 Belleville Road. As soon as the appropriate documents are prepared, the DDA has the final dollar amounts for closing, and proof that the parcels are unoccupied, they will be able to close on these two additional properties;
• Heard Ireland announce that a meeting with MDOT had been scheduled for March 31 to discuss aesthetics of the proposed pedestrian overpass on Belleville Road;
• Heard Ireland give an update on the Qualification Based Selection for general planning services. She said proposals for planning and engineering services have been received and the committee has narrowed the field down. Interviews are being scheduled for the committee in order to present the best candidates to the township board;
• Heard Ireland report that the DDA is continuing work on Belleville Road rights-of-way acquisition and she believes they will be closing on another one soon; and
• Went into closed-door session to consider purchase of real property.