District plans surplus declaration for small parcels at Firgrove Elementary after fence‑line encroachments

Beaverton School District staff asked the board on Oct. 14 for feedback on a plan to declare small strips of land surplus at Firgrove Elementary School because a property-line survey undertaken as part of an elementary-school perimeter‑fencing project uncovered multiple private encroachments.

Steven Sparks, the district’s executive administrator for long‑range planning, outlined the situation: neighbors’ fences and other improvements had, over time, been built beyond their recorded property lines and into the district parcel. The district conducted an appraisal and met with neighbors; this group of adjoining homeowners requested to purchase the encroached strips to resolve the irregular fence lines.

Sparks said the district would not gift the land — the homeowners would purchase it at appraised fair‑market value — and that the district would pay some of the transaction costs (land‑use consultant fees and city/county recordation fees) while the neighbors covered consultant and platting work in prior instances. If the board declares the parcels surplus, the district will move forward with a land‑use process with the City of Beaverton and Washington County that includes a replat and recording of new parcel lines. Sparks emphasized the process will take time and requires unanimous neighbor agreement to avoid a saw‑tooth property boundary that would complicate maintenance.

No vote occurred on Oct. 14; staff said they planned to return in November with a formal surplus declaration for board consideration after completing outreach and technical work.