Wellfield #13

Wellfield #13 was used for agricultural and gravel mining prior to its acquisition by the city in 1956. Wellfield #13 is a utility asset, owned by the City’s Public Services Department, and is located in the southeastern part of the city, near Sprinkle and Kilgore. The city no longer uses its wells on the property, due to high levels of naturally occurring iron. The southeastern half of the property contains wetlands associated with Davis Creek, a tributary of the Kalamazoo River which also crosses the southeastern portion of the site. The northwestern half of the property contains about 9 acres prime for light industrial or office development; however, construction of an access drive from Covington Road to the north would first be necessary. The perfect route for this access drive is currently occupied by a crude oil pipeline from the now-defunct Lakeside Refinery on East Cork Street. Our partners at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality have committed to helping us resolve this issue. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment performed on behalf of the city has recommended testing of the soil and groundwater. A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment has confirmed the presence of elevated arsenic in surface soil, qualifying the site for inclusion in the City’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Plan. Inclusion in this plan allows the city to recover cleanup costs from the increased taxable value of the property after development. It will also provide for a 10 percent or $1 million credit against the State’s single business tax liability for developmental investment on the site. A final challenge awaiting us on this site is finding the property user(s) for the site which will maximize tax base enhancement, provide employment opportunities, and preserve or enhance the integrity of the Davis Creek watershed. To achieve these goals, public/private partnerships are beginning to emerge, with diverse parties involved such as city advisory boards, the River Partners Program of the Forum for Kalamazoo County, and adjoining business/property owners.