Since the former Cross of Glory Church donated its building and land to the city back in September 2023, efforts have been rapidly progressing to develop the site at 1315 S. Rock Rd. into a new senior center for Derby.
Now, following action taken by the Derby City Council at its Feb. 25 meeting, a land agreement is in the works with the developer to the north to further enhance the amenities available to senior center visitors.
A design-build contract with Hutton was approved in June 2024, while council gave direction for staff and designers to proceed with a new build option for the senior center development in October 2024. Since that time, city staff was approached by PETRA LLC about its development plans on the property directly north of the new senior center site – looking to reach an agreement on additional land use.
The site for the new senior center encompasses 6.639 acres, with PETRA requesting 1.23 acres of land for use in its planned high-density (potentially four- to five-story) senior housing development. City Manager Kiel Mangus noted the land agreement was the first step so PETRA could proceed with a zone change request – with the land transfer key to those development plans.
Council members got a chance to see a preview of some of PETRA’s preliminary development plans ahead of the land agreement discussion and saw the situation as a win-win.
“It will be a great addition to Derby, so I think this is a great deal,” said Rick Coleman. “It goes hand in hand with our development in that area.”
“We feel like it’s a good use here,” Mangus added of the senior housing development.
Per the agreement, the city’s land (on the north end of the site) would be sold for $1 in consideration for the following shared use amenities to be built for senior center guests: additional shared parking (30 spaces), two pickleball courts, a gazebo and sidewalk trail connections.
Additionally, Mangus noted the agreement would require stipulations be put in please prior to the closing of the sale that requires PETRA to start construction within 36 months of the sale date and finish the project within the following 24 months. If not, the land would revert back to the city.
“It ensures that we’re not selling them the land for $1 and they don’t ever do anything,” Mangus said.
Mangus noted he doesn’t anticipate timing being an issue though, as PETRA is ready to get started upon zone change approval.
Council President Nick Engle asked if additional agreements would need to be crafted for the shared use of amenities, and City Attorney Jacque Butler confirmed that would come later. Asked if those would be in place for perpetuity, Butler noted that is the expectation.
As there are still a few details to work out, the council voted 7-0 to authorize Mangus to negotiate and enter into an agreement for the land sale to further the senior housing development process.
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