City Council approves development agreement Monday; gas station slated to be built this summer

Kwik Trip officials jumped the final hurdle Monday toward their $5 million gas station on Bridge Avenue.

The Albert Lea City Council approved a development agreement with the company and approved vacating the frontage road to the east of the property.

With the approvals in place, construction is slated to begin this summer, said Kwik Trip Real Estate Development Manager Wade Dumond.

“I’m glad it’s getting done,” Dumond said.

It has been 1 1/2 years since Kwik Trip officials first announced plans to build a gas station at the site, 2611 Bridge Ave. They initially hoped to construct and open the gas station in 2012; however, plans slowed after the company requested a new access point into the property.

Freeborn County commissioners — acting as the road authority — in September approved the access point on the south end of the property to allow semis coming off of Interstate 90 to turn right into the property. To make that turn possible, the council needed to vacate the frontage road, which runs parallel to Bridge Avenue and goes between Sykes and Westron streets.

Sixth Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks said though it took longer than anticipated to approve, he thinks the project will be a good venture for the city.

“I’m so happy to see this finally getting taken care of,” added 3rd Ward Councilor George Marin.

Under the agreement, Kwik Trip will pay for the removal of the frontage road on the property and will replace the curb at its cost, under approval by the city Engineering Department. The work will be done prior to the opening of the convenience store.

Separately, Kwik Trip has agreed to contribute $30,000 for the redesign of the Sykes Street and Bridge Avenue intersection in 2013, plus up to $300,000 for the intersection improvements — possibly including street lights.

Freeborn County has also agreed to contribute one-third of the intersection work, or up to $300,000. The city has not agreed to funding any share of the intersection improvements in 2013 because traffic warrants have not been met for the improvement.

The agreement stated when traffic warrants are met, the city may be eligible for municipal state aid or federal funds for the cost-share of the project.

The agreement also states Kwik Trip agrees to grant the road authority a temporary construction easement in case the intersection needs to be expanded.

The gas station is slated to have compressed natural gas, along with unleaded gas for passenger vehicles.