The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is getting ready to gather ideas on how to develop a 36-acre parcel in Three Oaks after effectively clearing a half million dollars of debt off the land.
The land is the Schwark Drainage District parcel. It’s at 6974 West US-12 in Three Oaks and it’s land that was part of a failed residential development plan in the early 2000s. The county drain commissioner at the time borrowed money to improve the land, but Berrien County’s treasurer foreclosed on the developer for unpaid property taxes. That effectively left the County with $551,000 in debt for the drain improvements.
County Administrator Brian Dissette says the County Commission has now general funds to pay off the outstanding $551,000 obligation, transfer the title from the drain commission to the county, and work with the Village of Three Oaks to come up with a development plan.
“We have to ensure that we have a really good understanding of what the residents of Three Oaks want to see for the piece of property. We then have to work through our process to ensure that we (allow) for the public to see, for the public to understand, and then for the interested bidders to participate.”
Past proposals for the property have included residential, recreational, even an industrial solar farm. But Dissette says the focus is likely to center on building homes for county residents.
“The value of dirt just seems to be going up, up, up. You’ve got a whole lot of new residential development, so I am excited. I know this is an area that could use some help. I know that there is a need for greater housing within the county.”
The commission approved the land transfer at their meeting Thursday. Now talks between the county and Three Oaks will begin on the best use of the land. Dissette says next will be an open Request for Proposal process to solicit the most qualified buyers and developers for the land.
