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Junction City Land Bank reviews dwindling lot inventory, approves sale of two Deer Creek lots
Summary
At a Junction City Land Bank meeting, staff reviewed remaining lots and utility availability, discussed future park and public-safety site reservations, and the board approved the sale of two Deer Creek lots to Chin Vu for $10,000.
Junction City’s Land Bank reviewed its remaining inventory of lots, utility access issues and potential future public uses Wednesday, and approved an offer to sell two Deer Creek lots for $10,000.
Land Bank staff summarized recent sales and current supply, telling the board that the program sold 295 lots in 2023 and 59 in 2024 and that sales have been slower so far in 2025, with two lots under consideration at the meeting. The presentation mapped lots by utility status — green for lots with power, yellow for lots with limited or indirect power, red for no power and gray for builder reserves or lots reserved for future city use — and staff said there are 357 lots in the inventory, including about 19 green, 30 yellow, 89 red and 19 gray lots.
The review highlighted several parcels the city has identified for future public uses. Staff said three lots at Sandpiper Court have been designated for a park and recommended removing those parcels from land-bank listings or deeding them to the city so they are no longer marketed as available. The land bank also noted two lots in Sutter Highlands that back up to a lift station and a 10-acre lot near Helen Park that staff have discussed retaining for a future fire station or a potential animal shelter site.
Board members discussed utility access as a limiting factor on sales and construction. Staff described the land-bank pricing policy that offers rebates for on-site utilities if a buyer installs power and builds within a time window; the policy was described during the meeting as offering up to $4,000 if a house is built within one year and a lower rebate if construction is completed within two years. The board asked staff to provide the written pricing policy by email and discussed whether the land bank should solicit bids to extend power to subdivisions where supply is dwindling.
One board member cautioned that building a new fire station would be expensive to staff and operate and said the city should not build one unless population growth warrants it; another member said keeping land available for a future station or related public uses was prudent.
On formal business the board approved the consent agenda, adopting land bank minutes for Jan. 21 and Feb. 18, 2025, and then approved the consideration of an offer from Chin Vu to purchase Lot 25 and Lot 26, Block 4, Deer Creek Addition Unit No. 3 for $10,000. The motion to approve the offer was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; no roll-call tally was given in the record. After completing business, the board adjourned.
The meeting also included a brief explanation that the Land Bank uses a single listing agent for administrative continuity, and that any licensed real estate agent in the regional MLS may submit offers on listed lots.
The land bank presentation and discussion covered inventory and utility constraints rather than new policy changes; board members asked staff to provide the pricing policy and consider cost estimates for extending utilities to remaining lots if demand increases.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of Land Bank minutes (Jan. 21 and Feb. 18, 2025): motion moved and seconded; voice vote, motion carries (tally not specified). - Sale: Consideration of offer from Chin Vu to purchase Lot 25 and Lot 26, Block 4, Deer Creek Addition Unit No. 3 in the amount of $10,000: motion moved and seconded; voice vote, motion carries (tally not specified).
