City aims to develop Cook Farm site

For years, it's been an alfalfa farm on the edge of Austin, between Hwy 218 North and Fourth Street NW.

The city has owned the Cook Farm property for more than a decade, after it was given to them by the Hormel Foods Corp. Since then, it has been vacant, a blank slate waiting to be filled with homes or businesses.

That may begin to change.

Zoning administrator Craig Hoium says a feasibility study was approved recently which "identified the necessary improvements for future industry development such as water, sewer, storm sewer, electricity, natural gas and a road system."

At a council workshop at 3:30 p.m. Monday, members of the Austin City Council will discuss the future of the land, which spans 152 acres, including the possibility of extending sewer and water services to the area.

According to city engineer Jon Erichson, "the city acquired the land with the thought of developing a business park of some type."

However, because the business park in the northeast quadrant of Austin had plenty of room for expansion, the development of Cook Farm was put on hold.

"We didn't have the need to build an industrial park out there … we would just have been competing against ourselves," Erichson says. "But, from the city's point of view, it was important to acquire the land when we had the opportunity."

With only a couple acres left for expansion in the existing business park, city officials are beginning to think about what to do next. "It's like the chicken and egg question," city administrator Pat McGarvey says. "Do we put the sewer and water out there first and hope that attracts a business, or do we wait for a business to approach us? The downside of waiting for a business to approach us is that they'll be concerned about whether or not we can get water and sewer services out there fast enough and if we can't, will they go somewhere else?"