MONTAGUE — The Montague City Council approved a revised site plan and amendments for the Bowen Street Planned Unit Development at its regular meeting Monday after discussion of the changes.
The changes were approved 6-0 (Ken Mahoney was granted an excused absence). They included some cosmetic tweaks, like the removal of a planned swimming pool and a fire pit area. The development also originally planned for small spaces in between each residence, but those have been eliminated, and the buildings will now function like traditional duplexes, linked directly. Bowen Woods LLC, which plans to build the development, believes the changes will help sell the buildings, with a target price range of $330-350,000.
There have also been slight changes to the agreement between Bowen Woods LLC and the city, said City Manager Jeff Auch. The original agreement called for a surety bond to be put in place to protect the city, but Auch reported that the city found a more straightforward way would be by placing a temporary lien on the property while it is under construction. This lien would enable the city to resell the development to a new entity if the agreement with Bowen Woods LLC falls apart after the project's infrastructure is put in place but before the development is complete. The Bowen Woods company would also be permitted to sell the rights to the development, though all potential buyers would be fully aware of the preexisting agreement in place with the city. Auch compared the new clause to the Ellenwood Estates development, which was built under a similar contract.
The council also granted a 6-0 approval to a purchase agreement for a lot on the recently named Gillan Street. The lot, which is just over two acres, sold for $6,600 to DEH Holding Company and will house a storage facility. DEH representatives were at the meeting and said they hope to begin construction on the facility in August.
The purchase agreement would allow the city to reacquire the parcel if the company does not begin building within a year, though it was clear the company has no intention of waiting that long. Language in which the city indemnified the company in case of any contract breaches was removed because, Auch said, municipalities are not legally permitted to indemnify other parties in a real estate purchase.
There was a brief discussion regarding planned utility hookups at the storage facility, but company representatives said the only utility hookup will be a bathroom that is required under building codes.
The council also voted 6-0 to approve a Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) 457 employer contribution addendum. The program offers municipal employees to contribute a portion of their salary to a self-directed retirement account.
During the city manager's report, Auch noted that the Montague Police Department will temporarily take up residence in the council chambers beginning Aug. 24 due to renovations. During this time, all meetings normally held in the chambers will take place at the White Lake Senior Center just down the street. Auch also shared that there have been delays in the drywall work to be done at the Senior Center.
