(Spirit Lake)– Developers have the green light to proceed with plans to build a condominium complex where the Oaks Motel currently stands on the east side of Spirit Lake.
With councilman Kevin Bice absent, the city council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve rezoning where the motel is currently located and to vacate and convey a portion of an alley east of Chicago Avenue and north of 18th Street.
The conveyance of that city-owned land is going to come at a price. After the developers initially offered 40-thousand dollars for the property, the city council upped the price to 56-thousand, citing some recent appraisals. Developers John Klein and Randy Walters…both of the Des Moines area, took a minute to consider that offer, then accepted it.
The action by the council to rezone and convey the land followed a public hearing. Neighbors like Jean Allen are concerned over another public access being lost.
David Stein, Junior, a Milford attorney, spoke on behalf of the developers, saying the benefits the development would bring the city, such as a larger tax base and higher valuation, would far outweigh those concerns.
The developers indicated that without the rezoning and conveyance, they would have been forced to scrap their plans for the development, which they repeatedly stated would be of a very high quality.
