Proposed travel plaza could be pedestrian-friendly

East Gate Travel Plaza could grow to include a complex with travel plaza, restaurant, hotel, one or two more fast food restaurants and an office building with a bank.

Although the complex is geared to wheeled traffic, East Gate also would have a sidewalk and bike path on the north side of K-68, Wynndee Lee, city planning and codes director, told city commissioners Monday at their work session.

There are no easy pedestrian or bike paths in the area but it could serve as a spur for more in the area.

“The idea is that it would be used as a connection to other pedestrian and bike paths later,” Lee said.

When they meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, commissioners are likely to set a public hearing on the complex, to be 9:30 a.m. June 18.

The city has to have a public hearing on the complex because the developers want to use a special property tax break called TIF — that’s short for tax increment financing.

In the agreement with the city, the developers, I-35 Investments and J&J Equities, would be reimbursed over 20 years for “infrastructure” costs — that’s the roads, sidewalks and city utility lines into the complex — from property taxes on the complex.

A new intersection, and probably another traffic signal, would be built to serve the complex, Lee said. The intersection would be built on the north side of K-68 opposite a spot between the Creason-Tawney auto dealership and Ledbetter homes, which are on the south side of K-68, she said.

The Kansas Department of Transportation has given its approval for the new intersection, she said.

In other matters, the commissioners:

• Agreed to apply for a $13,500 grant to develop a walking trail from the Prairie Spirit Trail at Kanza Park that roughly follows 13th Street to Garfield Elementary School, 12th and College.

The trail would border Ransom Memorial Hospital to allow hospital patients and employees to use it, Richard Nienstedt, city manager, said.

The city, hospital and the school district would chip in to pay the $6,500 local match for the grant, he said.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Commissioner Blake Jorgensen said.

The city has the right of way for the trail, Nienstedt said.

The city will look at the need for a crossing signal for pedestrians at 13th and Main streets later, he said.

• Interviewed applicants for vacancies on various city boards.

They named Sharon Geiss to the Ottawa Library Board of Trustees, Brian Sharp as the city’s representative to the Ottawa Recreation Commission and Ed York and Ruthanne Wasko to the Ottawa Planning Commission.

Commissioners will interview applicants to the Ottawa Tree Board and the 4th Judicial District Advisory Board later.

• Heard from city clerk Scott Bird that sales tax receipts are running ahead of last year.

However, Bird said that April receipts fell 4 percent compared to last year and that given the slowing national economy, he’ll be watching the sales tax numbers closely.