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MARQUETTE -- The Marquette Township Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a $25,000 funding request from the township's Downtown Development Association for nonmotorized pathways.
The project is for pathways along Commerce Drive from U.S. 41 to Werner Street and old Wright Street from U.S. 41 to Venture Drive.
The township board in October had agreed to fund the local match for a Transportation Alternatives Program grant, with the Marquette County Road Commission as the sponsoring Act 51 road agency, township Manager Jon Kangas said in a memo to the board.
The estimated cost of the project puts the match at $213,582, with the DDA anticipating adequate revenue to fund most of the local match. However, it had requested support of $25,000 from the township board.
The DDA has about $100,000 in reserves earmarked for the project, and anticipates about $100,000 in new reserves if the township board supports its recommended 1 mill for 2024-25. The DDA, according to the memo, hopes to maintain a sufficient fund balance to cover incidental expenses.
"It really ties together all the pathways together that we have out there," Kangas told the board on Wednesday. "It closes two gaps."
While developing these projects, old Wright Street became an issue with right-of-way constraints, he said.
"The road commission came up with a solution that narrows down the roadway itself to build a pathway behind a new curb, but it would also be enclosing a ditch," Kangas said. "Well, you can't just enclose that ditch and make the water stay on the road, so you have to install storm sewer, and that becomes very expensive."
Kangas noted that's why the $100,000 match increased to approximately $213,000.
"It's certainly the type of project that the township has participated in in the past through various funding sources, including the last TAP grant along the highway," Kangas said, with the $25,000 coming from the township's general fund. "In this case, the DDA is using their own revenue stream for a significant portion of that."
Clerk Randy Ritari said he supports the project.
"For the $25,000, we're getting a lot of work done," he said.
Trustee Linda Winslow also expressed support for the project, saying it's all about safety.
"I still see people crossing the highway on foot," she said.
Option agreement OK'd
The board also approved an option agreement, effective back on April 10, with Renovare Development LLC, based in Ypsilanti. Renovare Development has shown interest in acquiring a 5-acre township-owned parcel on Marquette County Road 492 next to Schwemwood Park.
Renovare indicated that the property would be suitable for a 48-unit project, and has proposed a $500,000 purchase price.
In the option agreement, it states that Renovare plans to develop the property as a "walkable, missing-middle housing" project with a percentage of the units set aside as work force housing, which is considered to be for families between 80% and 120% of area median income as set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The township may grant to Renovare the exclusive option to purchase the property within 12 months of the effective date.
"I'd like to see these folks come into our community," Trustee Dan Everson said. "I'd like to see this development go through for sure. I think there's a huge need for it."
Liquor license approved
The board approved a Resort Class C Economic Development liquor license for Texas Roadhouse.
The restaurant will be at 3440 U.S. 41 West.
Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.