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Councilmember asks staff to explore land‑swap or replacement for 14.2 acres at Yellow Fever Creek
Summary
Councilmember Astrid Lastra asked staff to analyze options to replace 14.2 acres of preserve land slated to be reclassified for a public facilities utility project, including possible swaps with existing conservation easements or nearby parcels to maintain total preserved acreage.
During the roundtable, Councilmember Astrid Lastra asked the city manager and staff to investigate whether the 14.2 acres proposed for reclassification inside the Yellow Fever Creek preserve for a city public facilities project could be offset by replacing the acreage elsewhere.
Lastra suggested several options: (1) identify city‑owned conservation easement parcels nearby (including areas within the Academic Village conservation easement) that could be designated instead as preserved land; or (2) pursue acquisition of adjacent privately owned parcels that would connect to existing preserve lands to mitigate the net loss. Lastra asked staff to return with options that would minimize the city’s purchase cost if possible.
The city manager and multiple councilmembers indicated they were open to exploring options; several members said they would be reluctant to use general fund dollars for a purchase but supported studying whether already‑protected city lands could be re‑designated to preserve overall acreage. The city attorney clarified that any reclassification would change the parcel’s future land‑use designation from preserve to public facilities and that mitigation and conservation options should be evaluated for legal and planning implications.
Council directed staff to research feasible replacement parcels (including existing conservation easements) and to report back with legal and budget implications.
