Sherwood Board advances Knight Drive, approves park design and clears path to pursue grocery with TIF incentives

The Village of Sherwood on multiple meetings in 2012 authorized continuation of the Knight Drive extension and advanced the Upper Wanick Park master plan while formally empowering a small ad hoc committee to pursue a supermarket for the Village‑owned commercial parcel.

The board approved property acquisition steps and contract actions to keep the Knight Drive extension on schedule. Administrator Randy Friday told the Board that one bank would not sign certified survey maps earlier in the year, prompting staff to pursue a relocation order and easement to protect the alignment and allow work to proceed; the Board later approved a payment of $24,570.87 to acquire a needed parcel and adopted Resolution #01‑2012 to formalize the relocation and stormwater approach. Engineer Jennifer Schaff reported permitting progress and that contractor David Tenor Corp. had mobilized to complete trenching and utility installation where right‑of‑way had been secured.

Why it matters: Knight Drive is the village connector to the planned Upper Wanick Park and the adjacent commercial parcel long targeted for retail. The board described the road work as essential to unlocking TIF land for private investment and park access.

The park plan and construction oversight moved forward. The Parks, Recreation & Urban Tree (PRUT) board and its consultant SAA presented a Green Valley concept for Upper Wanick Park that the Village Board accepted; the board later authorized a contract extension with SAA for final design, engineering and construction management not to exceed $297,529 (to be funded from TIF resources). SAA representatives said the contract includes construction oversight and optional DNR grant support work; Trustee discussion focused on cost, maintenance and timing.

The board also created and defined a small grocery search committee and authorized staff and the committee to negotiate developer incentives for a supermarket on the Knight Drive commercial outlot. In a closed‑session‑informed decision, trustees authorized ad hoc negotiators and staff to pursue an incentive package up to $400,000 from TIF #1 funds, and to segregate and report committee expenses quarterly (the board attached a December 31, 2012 deadline for the authorization). Trustee David Miller, Trustee Jim Rath and others said the committee’s task is to recruit and return a firm site plan and term sheet to the Community Development Authority and board for final approval.

Board direction and next steps: Engineer Schaff will coordinate preconstruction work and contractor notifications; Administrator Friday will continue grocery recruitment communications and DNR grant follow‑up for park funding. Public notices and schedules for park outreach and construction milestones will be posted, and the board expects a developer term sheet for the grocery negotiation to return to the full board before the end of the TIF authorization period.

Attributions: Administrator Randy Friday provided the project and acquisition updates; Engineer Jennifer Schaff provided construction scheduling and permit status. Trustee votes and formal approvals were recorded in the Village Board minutes.