ADRIAN — City commissioners appear likely to approve the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute’s request to purchase 22 acres of city-owned land on the north side of town for a new campus.

The commission previously heard about the woodworking institute’s expansion plans at its Oct. 21 meeting. The institute hopes to buy 22 acres of the property known as the Witt Farm, which the city purchased almost 25 years ago for the purpose of future development. 

Four acres of the 22 being considered are farmland, and 18 acres are wooded.

At the Nov. 4 commission meeting, city administrator Greg Elliott proposed offering the woodworking institute an exclusive option on the land for one year, which could then be converted into three years during which SBWI would have right of first refusal, while they are raising money for their expansion. He also proposed requiring that construction begin within 18 months of the sale, and be substantially completed within 36 months.

Commissioners discussed what would be a fair price for the 4 acres of farmland. Several years ago, the city received an offer of $20,000 per acre for part of the property, but that deal fell through. The city had also offered some of the land to the Lenawee Humane Society — which, like the woodworking institute, is a nonprofit organization — at a price of $8,000 per acre. Commissioner Mary Roberts said she looked at prices for farmland in the area and found that the going rate seems to be around $7,400 per acre right now.

Elliott said that if the city were selling the land to a speculator with no restrictions, the price would probably need to be higher, but in this case the city would be selling it with a specific purpose in mind.

“We’re not in it for the sale price of the land,” he said. “We want to encourage something to be built there.”

The woodworking institute has asked the city to consider selling 18 acres of woodland at a nominal cost, and Elliott noted that the city has never viewed the wooded portion of the Witt Farm as a likely parcel for development. Luke Barnett, president and founder of the woodworking institute, said that although some trees will need to be cleared for construction, the institute actually plans extend the wooded area around its new campus, planting more trees than it removes.

“Sustainability is very important to us,” he said.

Commissioner Gordon Gauss said that because the city was willing to sell to the Humane Society for $8,000 an acre, he sees that as a fair price for the 4 acres of farmland.

Mayor Angie Sword Heath agreed. “I don’t feel like we need to gouge and go higher than that,” she said.

Having received some direction from commissioners, Elliott will now draft a resolution for them to consider at their next meeting.