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The city still has time to determine how best to use a two-acre lot designated for public safety near Elgin High School, and officials said delaying plans could keep their options open.
Development Services Director Beau Perry briefed City Council earlier this month on the status of the property in the Harvest Ridge subdivision, which was conveyed to the city by Clayton Properties Group in April 2024. Under the agreement, the land must be developed for public safety use within five years or it will revert to the developer.
“In the interest of the budget process, we would ask for an extension on the use of that property — that would be one of the main points of any kind of amendment,” Perry said.
While staff aren’t ready to finalize plans, Perry said the city remains in control of the site and is not facing pressure from the developer.
The property was initially envisioned as a future police or public safety facility, but Perry said the term “public safety” is broadly defined in development agreements and could include fire, EMS or health-related uses.
“We have to do something because we don’t want to lose this property,” he said. “It has real value, and we don’t want it to necessarily return to the development.”
City leaders also briefly discussed the addition of a meeting space, shared offices or a backup emergency operations center as part of the development.
“One of the things we’ve talked about was, of course, public safety in different aspects — but also for meeting space that we sorely lack as a community,” Interim City Manager Isaac Turner said.
Turner said the site could support flexible uses, even as a “plan B” facility to supplement the city’s recently built police station.
Perry said the city may eventually request an amendment to the development agreement if broader community functions are considered, such as a civic center or hybrid facility.
“For now, staff feels that we still have control over that particular property,” he said. “We fully feel like we have some time.”
Council is expected to revisit the issue during this year’s budget process.
