Courtesy Photo A rendering of an Aldi grocery store is pictured here in this graphic provided by Aldi.

ALPENA — Alpena Township is wrapping up the process of creating a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority that could help the developer who wants to construct an Aldi on the Alpena Public Schools bus garage property.

The developer, Vautgrand Holdings LLC, would receive the property on M-32 in exchange for a new garage built near Park Family Field at Wildcat Stadium.

A property eligible for Brownfield funding is abandoned, idled, or an underused industrial or commercial facility in which redevelopment is burdened by environmental contamination.

Alpena has utilized its Brownfield to assist the developers for the Holiday Inn Express on River Street and Austin Brothers Beer Company, among other projects.

At its meeting Tuesday, the board of trustees moved closer to forming the authority, which would assist developers who want to develop properties that have environmental issues, like the bus garage property.

Township Supervisor Nathan Skibbe said having the authority sets the stage for the township to receive a $1 million grant that would cover the cost of the needed clean-up at the bus garage, with the balance to be used as seed money for other development projects that face environmental challenges.

He said in 2012, before he was elected, a Brownfield Authority was in the works but the plan was abandoned in its late stages. In order to help the developer now, Skibbe said, all of the required work needed to be done again.

The preliminary draft plans have already been presented to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Once the authority is formed, an application for the funds must be submitted to the state for the grant consideration.

Skibbe said being able to utilize Brownfield helps developers move forward with projects that would be costly because of the pollution on some sites that are otherwise ripe for development.

Skibbe said working to help make the Aldi a reality is a no-brainer because it provides more commercial business for residents to shop at, cleans up a contaminated property, and adds another property; to the township’s tax roll.

The school system is exempt from having to pay property tax to the city, so new development would add revenue to the township’s coffers.

“For all intent and purpose we had to start all over from the by-laws to the appointments,” he said. “We are moving at a fast pace and the best news is for the township, this is by far the most beneficial start to a Brownfield plan we could hope for.”

Alpena Public Schools Superintendent David Rabbideau said a deal with the developer has been drafted and the school is just waiting for the developer to sign the documents.

There is no timeline for the property to exchange hands or for the proposed grocery store to be constructed.