MARQUETTE — A public hearing will be held at tonight’s meeting of the Marquette County Board of Commissioners in regards to a proposed brownfield plan for the former Cenex fueling station in Marquette Township.

Following the public hearing, the board will vote upon adoption of the plan.

The meeting will be held at 6 tonight in room 231 of the Henry A. Skewis Annex of the Marquette County Courthouse, located along the 200 block of West Baraga Avenue in Marquette.

The proposed brownfield plan would allow local developer Northcrest Group Inc. to recover some costs related to preparing the former Cenex station property for a new use, as an environmental site assessment by the developer “identified contamination in soil and groundwater at levels above Generic Residential Cleanup Criteria,” the brownfield plan narrative states. The group purchased the property for $1.2 million on Dec. 6, according to a land records search from the Marquette County website.

The multiple brownfield-eligible activities needed for site reuse include removal of seven underground storage tanks, an asbestos survey and potential abatement, demolition of the building, canopy and associated former fueling station equipment, site demolition, dust management and potential contaminated soil management activities including proper disposal, according to the brownfield plan narrative.

“The site’s current condition is an impediment to redevelopment,” the narrative states. “Removing these conditions will help expedite the ultimate redevelopment of the site. Once this site is redeveloped, it is anticipated that the surrounding property values will increase.”

Officials anticipate around $3.4 million in private investment — roughly $408,000 of which is reimbursable through brownfield tax capture over 23 years — and 20 new full-time jobs could be generated by the proposed brownfield redevelopment plan for the former Cenex fueling station, according to board documents.

“It was determined that the anticipated $3.4 million investment at this property could leverage tax increment through a Brownfield Plan to reimburse the brownfield eligible costs over time,” the narrative states.

The township, county and other taxing entities will continue to collect revenue based on the property’s current taxable value, officials said.

“The developer will complete and fund all the eligible brownfield activities,” according to the narrative. “Once completed and confirmed by the MCBRA, as taxes are paid on the new, improved property, the tax increment from all taxing jurisdictions will be captured over time to reimburse the developer.”

The public hearing follows the Marquette Township Board of Trustees’ unanimous approval of the plan at an April 16 meeting. The Marquette County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority has reviewed local developer Northcrest Group Inc.’s plan for the site and has recommended approval for the plan.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248.