EIGHT FOUR-UNIT apartment buildings will be added to the Evergreen Village complex in Kingsford by 2031 under a purchase and development agreement approved Monday by the city council. The first two buildings are to go up this year. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

KINGSFORD — Planning is nearly completed for a development that will bring an additional 32 retirement apartments to the Evergreen Heights area, with construction of two four-unit buildings slated to begin this spring.

Kingsford City Council on Monday approved a purchase and development agreement with Michael Moroni of Moroni Building Inc. of Kingsford, who plans to buy 6.9 acres of city property for $69,000.

Moroni already has successful projects in the Evergreen area, including a residential subdivision, senior living, assisting living and memory care units. The proposed project is west of Westwood Avenue, north of Evergreen Heights and south of Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

A zoning change to multi-residential will be needed for part of the property. The Kingsford Planning Commission has set a public hearing for 6:45 p.m. Monday, March 27, at City Hall. The city council will consider the commission’s recommendation at 6:45 p.m. Monday, April 3.

Under the purchase agreement, the city’s utility obligations are minimal, consisting of a manhole installation on Westwood Avenue and a lateral pipe connection to the right-of-way.

Moroni will be responsible for all access roads and utility tie-ins, including sewer and water. He will be committed to building two four-unit buildings in 2017, two more by 2020 and the remaining four by 2031.

He also must present a site plan to the planning commission and city officials will have final say on the sale.

In other action Monday, the council:

— Learned that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has given tentative approval to release reverter clauses on six vacant city lots. If approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, the city would be free to market the parcels located on the 300 block of Beech Street and 200 block of Balsam Street. There is room for up to four homes, or parking lots or other developments, according to City Manager Tony Edlebeck. No recreational property would be lost, he said.

— Authorized discussions with the Breitung Township Schools District for a long-term lease for Commemorative Field, a soccer complex developed by the city, Ford Motor Co. and Kingsford Products. The city would retain ownership, as required by a property remediation agreement, but the school district would take over operations and maintenance.

— Appointed Dale Cook to fill a vacancy on the Police and Fireman’s Pension Board. He replaces Dale Frei, who recently stepped down.

— Appointed Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering to represent the city on the Regional Revolving Loan Fund committee for the Upper Peninsula. He replaces Bruce Orttenburger, who retired last year as president of the Dickinson Area Chamber Alliance.