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Valley Center council approves purchase of downtown lot at 39 Main Street for $150,000
Summary
Council voted to buy a downtown parcel (39 Main Street) for $150,000 after hearing public comment and reviewing environmental reports; staff outlined holding options including an interest-only loan while the city determines long-term use.
The Valley Center City Council voted to purchase a downtown lot at 39 Main Street from the Tom Fairway family trust for $150,000, approving a purchase agreement after public comment and staff discussion of environmental studies and financing options.
Why it matters: the parcel is currently used informally for community events such as the farmers market, Main Street activities and Fall Fest. Councilors and several public commenters urged preserving the site as public green space or a community-focused venue; staff described financing options and noted past environmental assessments on and around the site.
What staff presented: city staff said the property owner offered the council first right of refusal after an MOU lapsed. Staff summarized three prior environmental reviews (a KDHE letter/report in 2014, an earlier EPA item referenced from about 2009, and a 2018 independent Terracon study) and said the reports showed contamination had been investigated at or near the site. Staff said Terracon’s recent materials include a recommendation to conduct additional investigations to evaluate subsurface conditions associated with identified recognized environmental conditions.
Financing and holding options: staff outlined options for paying for the lot. One option discussed was using a short-term, interest-only loan through Halsted Bank (staff said the estimated interest-only payment would be about $275 per month while the city holds the lot, with the expectation a developer would later purchase the site). Staff also said the council could use reserve or land-bank funds if it chose to retain and improve the parcel as public green space.
Public comment and council discussion: two residents spoke in favor of city ownership and preserving the lot for public uses, including a permanent green space for markets and community events. Councilors discussed the environmental findings, the citys desire to control future use, funding options and the timeline for any remediation or additional testing. One councilor said they did not want the city to buy the property only to resell it immediately; several councilors said they favored keeping control of the parcel to protect downtown uses.
Action: A motion to purchase 39 Main Street from the Tom Fairway family trust for $150,000 carried by voice vote (motion carried). The motion authorized staff to execute the purchase agreement and pursue short-term financing or other funding options the council directs.
Clarifying details: staff identified three environmental documents from 2009, 2014 and 2018 (Terracon) and said Terracon recommended additional investigation of subsurface conditions tied to recognized environmental conditions. Staff also described a potential interest-only holding loan with estimated interest payments of about $275 per month for up to five years as one option if council prefers not to use reserves immediately.
Next steps: staff will execute the purchase agreement and return with recommended financing and a plan for any required environmental assessment/remediation and public-input processes before any permanent development is approved.
