Published: November 19, 2008 10:14 am         

South link road project moving forward

Business relating to Goshen’s south link road project continues to filter through the Redevelopment Commission.

Commission members considered three items related to the project Tuesday, two of which focused on the inclusion of a linear park.

A pair of settlement agreements made by the city with Waterford Development Corp. and other involved parties previously required city officials to install sidewalks along the proposed road. At the meeting, commission members approved an amendment to the agreements altering the requirement from sidewalks to a linear park, which would include a pedestrian and/or bicycle sidewalk.

Continuing from the settlement alteration, commission members approved an agreement with Lehman & Lehman Inc. to provide landscape architecture and planning services to provide a design for the linear park. Lehman & Lehman has previously created a master plan for the Park and Recreation Department and is working with Waterford Development Corp. regarding its new housing development in the area.

Approval was given to complete the purchase of property located at the northwest corner of C.R. 27 and C.R. 40 for the south link road project at a cost of $134,550. The parcel is 5.38 acres, though city officials are only technically gaining 2.99 acres. This is because city officials are also returning a 2.39-acre parcel to the owners because it is no longer necessary for the project and will mitigate the cost of the purchase.

River race project

Authorization to purchase another property, located at 204 W. Madison St., was also approved. The house is part of the city’s redevelopment plans for the river race area. Cost to the city will be $74,500.

Due to the necessity of additional materials for the project, an increase in costs for the Eisenhower Drive North extension was approved. The added cost, $5,159, is only a .29 percent change in the project’s already $1.8 million price tag.

A new access agreement was approved for a property located at 409 Canal St. A previous agreement had been made to allow for environmental testing of the site, which city officials are attempting to purchase. That agreement, having expired, will be replaced by the new one, allowing more time for the testing to be completed.

The commission’s meeting schedule for 2009 was approved.

At the end of the meeting, commission member Tom Stark took a moment to thank retiring Director of Public Works Bob McCoige.

“I’d just like to say thanks to Bob McCoige for all he has done for redevelopment,” Stark said.

The meeting was the last of the commission’s that McCoige will attend.

After the regular meeting was concluded, the commission held an executive session to discuss strategy relating to the purchase or lease of property.