A proposed land swap of Bettendorf's Forest Grove Park property would give a Texas-based land developer nearly five acres designated for parking and playground areas under the park master plan, and leave the city with three parcels essentially unusable for recreation purposes.
The swap also would enable the developer to add 11 additional home lots. Residential lots in Huntington Meadows subdivision, just south of Forest Grove Road and across from the park, range in price from $55,000 to $70,000.
The proposed swap was given approval by the city park board June 10, despite commissioners not knowing how much the city will end up paying for extension of the street serving the park and subdivision.
The city paid $2.92 million – nearly $32,000 an acre – for the 92-acre park property in 2010, and have spent nearly $200,000 on master plans for development of the park south of Interstate 80 and north of Forest Grove Road.
Under that master plan, the eastern edge of the land was targeted for parking, a playground area and an access point to park recreational trails. The area would have been served by a new street, shared with the developer east of the park property.
However, under the land swap and development plans now being fast-tracked through the city council, the city would hand over nearly five acres on the eastern edge of the park to Ven Green Development LLC, of Dallas, TX.
In return, the city would get three smaller separate parcels around Ven Green's planned housing subdivision. None of the parcels can be used for park development because of their steep terrain, and the private developer retains the right to use those areas for storm water detention for the housing subdivision.
The developer is to contribute $225,000, which would be used to fund a portion of the cost of the street serving the subdivision and park. However, developers normally pay the entire cost of streets serving their subdivisions, and city estimates peg the cost of the street in excess of $500,000.
Under the proposed agreement, the developer can contract for construction of the street without city approval, and the city will be liable for any costs beyond the $225,000 put up by the developer. One park commissioner pointed out the agreement could leave the city open to paying almost any price for construction of the street.
Despite the concerns raised at the park board commission meeting, City Administrator Decker Ploehn urged the board to approve the deal calling it "a pretty good trade."
The Texas developer was represented at the park board meeting by former city attorney Greg Jager, who retired in 2013 and now works for the Pasternak Law Firm. Earlier this year, Jager was hired as an consultant to assist with city employee negotiations and paid $10,000 for the work.
The proposed agreement is on the city council's June 17 consent agenda to be scheduled for a public hearing July 1. Rezoning and preliminary platting of the subdivision – Spencer Hollow First Addition – is on the city planning and zoning agenda for Wednesday, June 18.
Master Plan layout of Forest Grove Park
