Plans for two commercial buildings and a restaurant – part of the sports complex at Middle and Forest Grove Roads – are headed for Bettendorf City Council approval, but improvements to that key intersection have yet to be finalized by the city.
Under terms of the development contract between BettPlex LLC and the city, the Middle and Forest Grove intersection was among a list of improvements to be funded by the city. The city's commitment, however, was capped at $3.87 million, and sewers, storm water detention, walkways and streets for the private development have already far exceeded that amount.
Earlier this summer $288,000 of the sewer extension to the development was shifted to "regional infrastructure" to avoid exceeding the contract cap. City officials said that work was needed in order to serve property to the west of the sports complex. Usually, sewer extensions are paid for by the developer of the property.
The Forest Grove and Middle Road intersection upgrade was listed as the most expensive item – $1.15 million – in the list of improvements to be provided by the contract with the BettPlex developer Douglas Kratz.
The sports complex is expected to be open in the middle of 2018, and the developer has touted it will attract more than 818,000 annual visits and up to 10,000 people each weekend during summer months.
The site plan approved by the city's planning and zoning commission Oct. 17 shows two 8,600-square-foot retail buildings and a 4,000-square-foot restaurant on the northwest corner of the intersection. All three buildings include drive-up lanes. By next spring, developer Kevin Koellner told the commission he expects to have commitments for additional development west of the three commercial buildings.
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