A church site that’s been serving Oxford’s spiritual needs since 1982 is being considered to potentially serve the Polly Ann Trail’s parking and storage needs.

Last week, the trail’s management council voted unanimously to have board members Donni Steele and Curtis Wright, along with Trail Manager Linda Moran, approach Pathway Christian Church regarding the “potential purchase, permanent lease or gift” of its land at 1285 W. Drahner Rd. After they meet with church representatives, the three are supposed to report back to the council at its August meeting.

Located at the southwest corner of W. Drahner Rd. and Wood Trail, the church sits on 5 acres that’s zoned R-2 residential, which requires lots to be a minimum of 25,000 square feet in size. The property is bordered by the Polly Ann Trail on the west side.

Steele, who’s the treasurer for Orion Township, told the council “the pastor from the church said that they would entertain an offer to sell or lease” the property. She indicated it’s owned “free and clear” under the name Fellowship Baptist Church.

Moran noted the church is “not for sale” at this time.

“We’re asking them to possibly think about it – to either lease or sell,” she said.

According to Steele, the pastor “said that he would take a bona fide offer.”

Steele said the estimated value of the entire 5 acres is “probably $300,000.” But, she noted that’s just a rough number and an appraisal would have to be conducted.

“That piece of property is worth a lot of money. There’s no doubt about it,” said Bruce Pearson, a trail council member and Addison Township supervisor.

Based on his experience, Pearson expressed his concern that whenever landowners learn the government wants to buy their property, the price usually goes up “because they always think we have deep pockets.”

“You almost have to send a representative there to negotiate for you, so they don’t know that it’s a governmental agency (involved),” he said.

Steele noted the church is already aware of the trail council’s interest because she contacted them and she knows the pastor as her mother-in-law used to attend services there.

Elgin Nichols, a trail council member and Oxford Township trustee, said the big question to him concerning this property is “do we need it or do we want it?”

“I think both,” replied Steele.

“The need is probably not as great right now as the want,” she said, but “the need will be greater as time goes on because (trail users) are parking on Drahner Rd. and it’s very dangerous.”

There was a question as to how the trail council would pay for this potential land purchase given, as was repeatedly mentioned during the meeting, the body has “no money.”

Wright said it could be done via a 30-year mortgage.

“If we bought the entire piece of property, kept what we wanted and discarded the rest (by splitting it off and selling it), we probably could cover the cost,” Moran said.

Should the sale proceeds be enough to pay off the 30-year mortgage, Moran said the trail council would essentially “walk away with a free chunk” of land.

Steele indicated she’s already spoken with Oxford Township about the property and she was informed that it is “splittable” and the resulting lots would be “conforming.”

Mike McDonald, a trail council member and president of Leonard Village, said there would be a “benefit” to Oxford Township if the property was split and buildable lots were sold because that land could then be taxed.

As a church, the entire 5 acres is currently exempt from property taxes.