Des Moines council votes to decline WSDOT offer for 6-acre parcel; grant options remain under discussion

Des Moines — At its Jan. 30, 2025 study session the Des Moines City Council voted 4-3 to decline an offer from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to sell a roughly 6-acre surplus parcel adjacent to S. 216th Street for $5,350,000.

The parcel was described in staff materials as separate from the Barnes Creek Trail and was rezoned to multifamily in late 2023 to help the city meet state-required housing growth targets. City staff told the council that WSDOT’s price is based on a recent appraisal and likely represents the agency’s floor; if the city declines the property, WSDOT will first offer it to abutting owners and, failing that, auction it publicly.

City Manager Tara (last name not provided in the transcript) recommended that the city not purchase the parcel because the purchase price exceeds available liquid reserves. Staff said the city’s general fund balance was $4,600,000 with about $2,000,000 immediately available and that using bond proceeds or fund balance for the acquisition would require cancelling or delaying other capital projects. The city manager also outlined a second option — applying for a King County Conservation Futures grant…