By Jim Bloch
The city of Marysville has waived easement rights to a 10-foot strip of land along Gratiot Blvd. in the Meijer parking lot, which will allow the development of a tri-plex of commercial outlets, including perhaps a Starbucks.
The city has previously vacated unbuilt streets and alleys on the property.
The city council voted unanimously at its regular meeting June 12 to waive its easement rights to the property.
“USA Development has purchased part of the Meijer parking lot along Gratiot,” said City Manager Randy Fernandez, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on Vimeo.
The proposed development may include an outdoor Starbucks — there is one inside the Meijer store — a dental office and a fast-food outlet.
“Over the last few years, the state has changed,” said Fernandez. “When we or others go to sell property, if there’s an easement or a vacated street or whatever, it has to go in front of a judge to get approved. So on March 23, 2023, there was a consent judgment vacating (certain streets and alleyways). The petition was filed Oct. 12, 2022. In April, we were notified by LARA, that the state had flagged an issue.”
LARA is the state’s department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs,
In the plat amendment, the department discovered a city resolution from 1957 that granted the city an easement for utilities.
“And that’s what they want us to vacate,” said Fernandez. “Since I was born in 1956, I know how many years ago that was. Sixty-six years.”
There are no utilities in the easement.
Vacating the easement should clear the way for the commercial development.
“Once you approve that, we’ll send it on to USA Development and Meijer,” said Fernandez. “We’re hoping by the end of 2023, you might at least be able to get a cup of coffee outside in the parking lot there.”
Council member Duke Dunn made the motion to vacate the easement for future commercial use, supported by Mayor Pro Tem Shawn Winston. The vote was 7-0.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.