Big Rapids commissioners nix gas station proposal
BIG RAPIDS – Krist Oil Company, Inc.’s recent offer to buy land for a gas station and supermarket in Big Rapids was rejected by the city.
Following a recommendation from the planning commission, the town commission unanimously approved a resolution on Monday to approve an offer from Krist Oil to purchase part of the Hanchett property at 906 N. State St.
Paula Priebe, the town’s community development director, told commissioners that Krist Oil’s new proposal was slightly different from the previous proposal. The company has realigned its site plan to take up less than total area and focused on the street corner space, she said.
The company had previously made an offer to buy the entire property, which the city rejected in December.
The city commissioners at the time said they would like to see the property developed according to the residents’ vision for the property. This included residential and retail developments.
In the new offer, the company offered to purchase a portion of the property on the corner of North State Street and Baldwin Street, with the portion of the property along the waterfront available for future development.
“In my professional opinion and in the opinion of the planning commission, the remaining property would not be very developable and would not function for the purposes intended by the city,” said Priebe.
ReMax Together real estate agent Joe McNally, who represents both the city and the company on the deal, told the commission that he also believed that selling the street portion of the property separate from the rest would negatively affect the remaining parcel would.
“I have a duty to point out any deficiencies in the overall functionality of the remaining property or any other factor that could affect the city,” said McNally. “Their (Krist Oil) thought was that they would reduce the size to the minimum necessary for their operation and leave the water front as usable area. In my opinion, this would have a negative impact on the salability of the package to potential developers. “
McNally said he has expanded his marketing of the property and as a result, some developers have shown interest in the property.
“I had a very serious buyer interested in building two- or three-story condos and they are making a proposal for the city,” he said. “I think it’s worth being patient here. Whether today or at some point in the future, there will be someone who wants to bring what we need there. “
Krist Oil requested the rededication of three blocks along the corner of North State Street and Bellevue Avenue from RR Restricted Residential to C3 Commercial for the purpose of building a gas station and grocery store on the property, which city officials unanimously rejected in June.
Local residents voiced their objections to the proposal during a public hearing, saying that a gas station on this corner would create security problems for neighboring homes.
The planners agreed that the project did not seem suitable for the property in question and recommended that the city commission reject the application.
“Of course, I hope Krist Oil will continue to be interested in our city,” said Mayor Tom Hogenson. “We love when people make investments that offer an opportunity for community betterment, and we don’t want to get in the way of anyone coming here and doing well. On the other hand, we have to respect the ideas and comments of our residents. “
“The bottom line is that these people really want to have a gas station on this side of town, and we hope we can find a place for them,” said McNally. “I am still confident that we will find a place that makes sense for the city, the residents and the company.”