Last week during the Winslow City Council meeting, the council entered into an executive session to discuss with the city’s attorney an amendment to the purchase and sale agreement that the council entered into with Atlas Global Development (AGD) in late November. The agreement acts as an intent to sell 1,200 acres of city-owned property west of State Route 87 and south of Airport Road while the final sale agreement is negotiated.
Councilmember Jim MacLean explained, “We previously entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Atlas Global Development and Atlas has (now) asked us to amend section 12.5 to remove the residential requirements section. I would like to make a motion that we remove the residential section 12.5. However, we want to make it clear that we are directing city staff to make sure we insert a residential requirement into the development agreement we will be drafting in the future.”
The motion passed unanimously. The section that the council removed includes the passage, “…the above shall require a suitable plan for residential development including apartment and workforce housing options to accommodate industrial development of the Real Property. In order to address the residential needs of the development, buyer agrees to convey to the City of Winslow real property located within the city of Winslow (whether part of the real property acreage or other properties located in Winslow owned buyer) for such residential development purposes. The residential property must be of a suitable size and location to accommodate the impacts of buyer’s development of the City.”
A partner at AGD, Daniel Lupien, said that the reason he requested the council take that section out is because it is a “little too open-ended for investors to feel comfortable” and to attract investors everything needs to be very specific. He said that there will be residential development in the final sale agreement, and they are currently talking to large home developer about a contract to build 200 homes.
Lupien also wanted to urge the public to come to the public hearings they will be having with the city to get input from the public about the project, dates for which should be announced soon.
In other business, the board:
* Proclaimed January 2023 as Rotary Club of Winslow Month.
* Authorized acceptance of a grant for Winslow Police Department from the Arizona Homeland Security in the amount of $6,000 for radios.
* Approved amendment to the city’s municipal code to regulate fats, oils and grease in the city sewer system.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the meeting room, located at 523 W. Second St.
