Board declares Fox Park surplus, approves property exchange and reciprocal easement with City of Molalla

The Molalla River School District Board of Directors on July 24 declared the property commonly known as Fox Park to be surplus to school needs and approved conveying the parcel to the City of Molalla in exchange for a City-owned right-of-way identified as the Heavy Lane Extension. The board also approved a reciprocal shared-access easement and maintenance agreement related to the properties.

District staff told the board the city has leased the Fox Park property from the district for more than 20 years and that a district study concluded the parcel is not needed for future school purposes. Staff said state law allows a school board to sell or convey property it no longer requires for school purposes.

The resolution describes the district’s parcel as approximately 2.3 acres (about 100,188 square feet) at 425 South Molalla Avenue and the city parcel in the exchange as roughly 35,910 square feet (about 0.82 acres) on North Heavy Lane. The board directed the superintendent to execute the necessary documents for the sale/exchange and to implement a reciprocal access and shared maintenance agreement for the parking area adjacent to the library and Fox Park.

Board members moved and seconded the resolutions. The board recorded approval of the surplus declaration, the proposed sale/exchange and the reciprocal easement; staff will complete the conveyance documents and coordinate the exchange with the City of Molalla.

The board cited ORS 332.155 (authority for school-district sale of property) and district policy in placing the item on the agenda. The approved agreements authorize the superintendent to sign transaction documents on behalf of the board.