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City Seeks to Finalize Purchase for Grant Avenue Extension

The acquisition of approximately four acres of land that the City of Sturgeon Bay wants to purchase to connect Grant Avenue with Sawyer Drive on the city’s west side could soon be finalized.

After meeting in closed session Nov. 1, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council agreed to have city attorney Jim Kalny, city administrator Josh VanLieshout and community development director Marty Olejniczak finalize a negotiated property sale with land owner Tim Ruenger and his attorney, Mayor David Ward said.

The land is part of approximately 36 acres that Ruenger owns in that area and previously declined to sell to the city. The city has proceeded with an eminent-domain process to acquire about two acres for right-of-way, where an unpaved roadway already exists, and slightly more than two acres for stormwater retention.

As part of that process, Ward said the city received an appraisal of the land, and Ruenger also obtained his own appraisal at city expense, with the two appraisals coming in at $28,000 and $104,000, respectively.

Upon the negotiations being finalized, Ward said he hopes the council will be able to approve a property purchase during its Nov. 15 meeting. 

A connection of Grant Avenue to Sawyer Drive is included in Sturgeon Bay’s comprehensive plan and would provide another outlet for residents in that part of the city who otherwise could face making a left turn from Grant Avenue onto Highway 42/57 when traffic is heavy, such as during Door County’s tourism season.

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