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Planning commission rejects request to sell about 200 sq ft of school-reserved land at Dolphin Street
Summary
The commission voted against recommending sale of roughly 200 square feet adjacent to a Trask property after public testimony raised boundary and precedent concerns; transcript shows multiple public commenters and the school district opposed selling school-reserved land.
The Petersburg Borough Planning Commission voted against recommending that the borough assembly sell roughly 200 square feet of land at the Dolphin Street parking lot to Grant and Lila Trask. The proposed sale was described by applicants as a way to resolve an encroachment by a greenhouse.
Grant Trask testified in favor of purchasing the strip, describing longstanding use of the area and saying he had discussed the matter with borough staff. He told the commission the greenhouse portion in question had been in place about 10 years.
Several neighbors and other speakers urged caution. Marge Joines said she supported the Trasks as neighbors, while Catherine Schneider recommended surveying the parcel first, warning the encroachment might be more than 2 feet and noting the school district’s concern about setting precedent. An adjacent property owner, Kelly O’Connor Demko, reported a recent survey showing the fence and backyard extend onto school property and said the encroachment could be about 8 feet in places.
Staff and commissioners noted the school district’s recommendation that the greenhouse be allowed to remain but that the district did not support selling school-reserved land because of precedent. Commissioners asked about zoning, fire code and whether grant or other funding had designated the parcel’s use. A staff member explained that the greenhouse could remain for the time being but the school board did not favor a sale.
The commission took a roll-call vote. The transcript records: Jim (no); Philip (no); Marita (no); Chris (no); John (yes). The chair announced the result so the motion did not carry.
The commission’s discussion noted potential need for a survey and possible changes to zoning or lot consolidation if a sale were later approved. The transcript does not show an assembly decision; the commission’s action was only a recommendation and not a final sale.
