The St. Joseph Township Board of Trustees has postponed a decision on the potential donation of land from Hanson Properties to be used for a youth sports park while it researches the implications.
Trustees on Monday considered a motion to accept the conditions for the donation of the 40 acres of property at Maiden Lane and Hollywood Road. It would be used by the St. Joseph Youth Sports Foundation to build a complex for several sports.
The terms of the donation from Hanson Properties stipulate that the township would be responsible for maintaining the property, that the property could only be used as a park, and that it would be named “Hanson Community Sports Park,” or something similar. The arrangement also would have transferred the land to the Berrien Community Foundation before the BCF hands it off to the township.
However, St. Joseph Township Manager Denise Cook tells us the motion on the terms was tabled by trustees Monday. She says members had questions regarding drain assessments, the requirement that the township be responsible for the property’s maintenance, and the logistics of Hanson donating the property to a non-profit. The board also has concerns about the property remaining vacant until St. Joseph Youth Sports acquires funds for development.
Cook says while the board appreciates what Hanson is doing, it’s taken no action while those questions are explored.
