The Kent City Council will have a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at City Hall to consider the potential transfer of city drainage utility fund property to the parks department.
State law requires that before property acquired for utility purposes can be sold, a public hearing must occur and the council must authorize the sale through a resolution.
The city bought the Lannoye property in the 12400 block of Southeast 248th Street in 2010 with plans to use it as a detention pond for a new Public Works operations facility. But the council dropped plans for a new operations center a few years ago.
City staff has proposed that the council use the approximately 2.2 acres as replacement property for the land the city gave up at Morrill Meadows Park to allow the new YMCA to be built. The YMCA is scheduled to open in September.
The drainage utility fund will receive $978,000 from the Parks Department for the Lannoye property, which is considered fair market value for the land as determined by an appraisal, according to city documents. Grants and city funds will be used to cover the $978,000.
Kent must replace the Morrill Meadows Park property lost with the construction of the YMCA because the city used state Recreation and Conservation Office grants to help acquire and develop the park.
The Lannoye land will allow the parks department create new access to Clark Lake Park from Southeast 248th Street. The property also offers a scenic view of the lake and could be developed with amenities.
City staff will make a presentation prior to the public hearing with details about the surplus, property transfer and use restriction. The public will then have a chance to comment about the proposal.
The council is expected to vote on the measure after the public hearing.
• Residents may also submit written comments at the public hearing, or in advance by regular U.S. Mail to the City Clerk’s Office, 220 Fourth Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032, or by electronic mail to Cityclerk@KentWA.gov. Any written comments sent in advance must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Sept. 3.
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