By Nancy Huddleston, Editor

Questions about the Dan Patch Trail development were raised at Monday night’s (May 5) meeting of the Savage City Council.

Woods & Wetlands Alliance, a citizen’s group that fought to get an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) performed on the project, asked why an advertisement for Dan Patch Trail showed up in a daily newspaper last week and why the city is selling bonds for a road through the area if approvals on the project were rescinded.

“To best of my knowledge, this property has not been rezoned and no approvals in place for project,” said spokesperson ****** Callanan. “This aberration is called ‘green friendly’ when in fact, an entire forest will be destroyed if this project moves forward.”

Furthermore, Callanan asked why the city was bonding $1.23 million to buy the right of way for a road that will go through the Dan Patch Trail project if it has not received city approvals.

“Isn’t this a bit premature in light of the fact that much is yet to be done with Dan Patch Trail, such as the infrastructure, storm water, 126th Street updates and a whole list of other issues?” Callanan asked.

City Administrator Barry Stock answered both of the concerns.

He said Woods & Wetlands is correct – no approvals are in place for Dan Patch Trail and no new applications have been received by the city. But, he noted: “I do expect to see an application in regard to the various approvals that were recently rescinded.”

Stock said the city cannot control if a realtor wants to advertise a project in the newspaper and noted the city didn’t have anything to do with placing the ad.

In regard to the road project, Stock said the road connection has been identified in the city’s CIP (Capital Improvement Project) to be financed through the sale of bonds. “Whether the project happens this year isn’t the key – we have three years before we have to use the bond proceeds to purchase the property,” he explained.

Stock went on to point out the city sells bonds for road projects ahead of time in an effort to plan and complete necessary studies. “It’s common for us to sell bonds before the project happens and hold the money until the studies are completed,” he said.