MARQUETTE — The Marquette Township Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a one-year option agreement for a downstate developer interested in creating a workforce housing project.

Renovare Development, based in Ypsilanti, had submitted a letter of interest for a five-acre township-owned parcel next to Schwemwood Park. Renovare indicated that it would be suitable for a 48-unit project, and has proposed a $500,000 purchase price.

On Jan. 18, the board of trustees voted to authorize staff to move forward with the project. At that meeting, township Manager Jon Kangas expressed concern about the gravel access drive that connects Marquette County Road 492 to the back side of a row of businesses, including the Goodwill store and a strip mall. In a memo to the board, Kangas indicated that if the township wants to retain the access, it would need to be negotiated into the final agreement.

Township Trustee John Markes said on Wednesday that he favors giving the developer license to go ahead and seek financing.

“I don’t think the road should be holding us up,” Markes said.

Trustee Dan Everson expressed concern about the close proximity of the road posing a danger to kids playing in the future development.

He also noted that residents will get by without the access road.

“It should be just taken out of the equation,” Everson said. “Sell them the property right up to the north edge of the road.”

The board on Wednesday voted to remove the section regarding the road from the agreement, which involves a few minor changes from the original one.

“This would be our document that we present to them, and then they will come back with any changes or no changes, and then it would be for another final approval at this board,” Clerk Randy Ritari said.

The agreement does not include an option for first refusal, which would mean that if a developer makes an offer in the meantime, that offer would have to be brought to Renovare, Township Attorney Roger Zappa said.

Solar panel project supported

The board also on Wednesday approved the request from Marquette Alternative High School to apply for Keweenaw Bay Indian Community 2% grant funding and have township Supervisor Lyn Durant send a letter of support to KBIC for a solar array project at MAHS.

MAHS social studies teacher Brian Prill had requested that Marquette Township act as the school’s pass-through government.

In a March 16 letter to the board, Prill listed the project specifics:

≤ It will be a 20-kilowatt solar array with an estimated cost of $65,000.

≤ The school already has obtained a special-use permit from the township.

≤ The school has a site plan and job estimate with Peninsula Solar, based in Marquette.

≤ MAHS had received $14,141.56 in a 2% fund grant from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and will reapply for further funding from the tribe.

“It’s been a three-year project in the making,” Prill told the board on Wednesday.

The solar array, he said, would be on the south flat roof and provide about a third of the building’s energy, which is enough production to pay off the solar system in about 11 years. The long-term goal is to help Marquette Area Public Schools become more sustainable and teach students about the issue.

“It’s something the district would be excited for, the district would be excited for, and our students are definitely excited by it,” Prill said.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.