On Tuesday evening, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council approved two recommendations by the Finance/Purchasing & Building Committee that will provide two development incentives to move the respective projects forward. 

The first recommendation was a request for financial assistance for a 10-unit duplex development on North 15th Avenue being built by Paul and Lori Shefchik, which was approved. Sturgeon Bay Community Development Director Marty Olejniczak says the parcel of land is vacant and surrounded by multi-family housing already. It is a good project, like a mini subdivision, that will need sewer and water main extensions to the area. The financial assistance would be capped at $150,000 and could be recouped within five years by extending the TID #6 to include the development, according to Olejniczk. 

The second project asking for assistance was related to a South Grant Avenue development by Lexington Homes Residential for Haven Ridge Crossing townhomes proposed on 79 single-family lots.  Olejniczak says the benefit to the city for creating a development agreement is that the developers would pay to upgrade South Grant Avenue, allowing for the connection of the street to Sawyer Drive, which has been a desire of the city for many years.  It would also allow Sturgeon Bay Utilities to get the water main looped to the far west side, which helps with water pressure in that area. 

The only other business conducted at the meeting Tuesday was the Sturgeon Bay Common Council approving a resolution authorizing the issuance and establishing parameters for the sale of not more than $3,630,000 in General Obligation Promissory Notes.  That will allow more flexibility for the city on financing at better interest rates and keeping its upgraded Double A Rating achieved last year.