It closed nearly three years ago, but the former Health Department site is finally getting closer to being demolished to make way for redevelopment.

The Economic Development Authority on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve an access and demolition agreement for the buyer, KLS Development Group LLC, to be able to demolish the old building and store construction equipment on the site as it works on the new building.

The new site is expected to have a Panera Bread restaurant and several retail shops.

The city has encountered a number of hurdles to getting the property redeveloped since its use as the Health Department ceased in spring 2009. That’s when the new site at Hall Avenue opened.

A number of property-line issues and other roadblocks have been cleared through a series of agreements between the EDA and adjacent property owners. What was thought to have been one site actually was split into two or three parcels in documents dating back almost a century.

A request to rezone the property is expected to be taken up by City Council during its meeting next week.

“We’re actually getting there,” Economic Development Director Kevin Hughes said during the EDA meeting Wednesday.

In addition to Panera Bread, Hughes has previously said a furniture company and two cell phone companies have signed leases.

Demolition and construction should begin at the site this spring.