PRINCE EDWARD — The County owns land along the new Route 786 (Granite Falls Blvd.), but what’s to become of the property?

A plan could help.

County supervisors in their October meeting looked to a committee of its own to weigh in on a possible master plan. Rather than including three parcels the County owns on the new road, they suggested limiting the study to the 13-plus acres they purchased from Glad Hill (located near the intersection of 786 and U.S. Route 15).

Specifically, the committee followed up on cost estimates for a master plan and a grading plan that includes a storm water plans and marketing materials.

The planning process aims to include an engineer preparing a preliminary grading plan to achieve the most reasonable and workable pad site or site for the county to show prospective commercial operators; location of the most favorable spot for a storm water pond to serve the total site and the portion of Route 786 served by the existing storm ponds; a preliminary grading plan, preliminary cost estimates for completing the grading of the site(s); separate costs for the preliminary storm water plan including the preliminary design of the storm water pond and fee for the preliminary grading design; and to have a preliminary grading plan in color and cost estimates.

“After the estimates were received from the engineering firms, the committee met…to review the responses. After that review the committee invited two of the firms, Hurt & Proffitt and Maxey & Associates to an interview….,” cited County Administrator Wade Bartlett. “The committee interviewed the firms and Hurt & Proffitt’s proposal met all of the County’s criteria for both the master plan and the grading plan and provided the lowest cost when those two items were included together. The committee sees the value in completing a grading plan, therefore considered the cost of both when deciding which firm to go with.”

The committee, he further detailed, recommended supervisors enter into a contract with Hurt & Proffitt for the development of a master plan at a cost of $6,340. However, the committee did not recommend completing a grading plan, but to keep the option open for review at later date.

The master plan, Bartlett also clarified for the board, does not include detailed engineering drawings. There are estimates of preliminary grading and site plans “so it’s not as detailed as what we could call a grading plan, which would go to that level.”

Supervisors unanimously approved the committee’s recommendation.