IRON MOUNTAIN — A purchase agreement will be drafted as Iron Mountain City Council accommodates a request from a developer to acquire 7.25 acres of city property in the Pewabic Hill area that offers access to 160 acres of undeveloped property where homes could be built.

The request is part of plans put forward a year ago by Ridgeview Development LLC, represented by property owner Bob Forgette and Luke Carey, president of Carey Design Build of Iron Mountain.

A development agreement is in place for an initial project that envisions 22 residential lots east of East E Street that will be accessed through a cul-de-sac maintained by the city once the project is finished.

The purchase agreement discussed Monday involves nearby city property that’s needed to build another street to access further phases.

“The sale would require a public hearing and a five-sevenths vote of approval from the council,” City Manager Jordan Stanchina said.

The council directed City Attorney Gerry Pirkola to draft a purchase agreement after reviewing a document from Advanced Appraisals PC of Iron Mountain that estimates the value of the property at $39,000. A licensed survey of the vacant wooded parcel has been provided by Ridgeview and a site plan is also required.

The requested property is just south of the Pewabic Hill mountain bike trail now under construction. The undeveloped 160 acres owned by Forgette is to the east.

About seven homes could be built on the requested parcel but no buildings are planned at this time, as that would be the responsibility of any subsequent purchaser. Also, no development agreement is yet in place for any future phases made accessible by the proposed new street.

In the 22-lot project, Ridgeview will build water and sewer lines and roads, which the city will acquire and incorporate into its own systems.

The street on the 7.25-acre parcel would be built to city specifications on the southern boundary over an existing water line and provide service to building sites. Sanitary sewer would be depend on whether the city extends its system, or allows private septic systems.