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Ripon makes sure developers comply with city conditions
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The City of Ripon currently has nine active development agreements.

Ken Zuidervaart reeled off those projects as part of the annual housekeeping process at the Oct. 14 Planning Commission meeting.

“All are in compliance with the terms and conditions of their agreement,” he said.

Calvary Reformed Church, Gil Plaza, Cornerstone II, Orchard View, Alexandra Place, Silverstone, Ripon Gardens II, The Vineyards, Meadowood, and Meadowbrook were listed in the annual review.

“Of those agreements, six are residential – two of the six are built out, two are under construction and two have project approval but have not yet started,” said Zuidervaart, who is the director of planning.

He identified the latter as Gil Plaza, which is a 20-acre commercial site located on the northeast corner of West River Road and Jack Tone Road.

“There was a very nice shopping center laid out for this property, which included a hotel, restaurant, and shopping adjacent to the (Mistlin Sports Complex),” said Zuidervaart of the Gil Plaza plan with the Development Agreement set to expire in 2021.

Not too far from there is the Ripon Garden Apartments – a combination of commercial and residential – on North Ripon Road and West River Road, with a vacant parcel on the corner.

The build-out is nearly completed. The commercial portion has Fina Restaurant and the retail strip, Zuidervaart noted.

As for Calvary Reformed Church, the Ripon City Council recently approved an extension on its development agreement, approving the initial 15-year plan to another 15 years, or to 2034.

The church at 741 Second St. carried out Phase 1 of the plan – the administrative building, the round-a-bout (as requested by the City of Ripon, and the off-street parking – in 2004.

But Phase 2 and 3 were delayed due to staff turnover, the recession, and church officials trying to acquire two parcels for the project.

Commissioners, who will prepare a written report to council, approved the development agreements, determining that all have “been in compliance in good faith with the terms and conditions.”