Blaine agrees to buy 10-acre site, use strategic-priorities funds to make it development ready and earmarks it as preferred fire station site

Blaine City Council voted 6-1 on April 20 to assign a developer's purchase agreement to the city for a roughly 10-acre pad at the southwest corner of 120th Avenue and Lexington Avenue, approve up to $1.275 million from the city's strategic priorities fund toward infrastructure work and accept a $300,000 assignment fee to the developer. Council also adopted a reimbursement resolution so the city could issue bonds later and repay the strategic priorities fund if the property is used for a fire station.

The council's action covers three linked items: an assignment agreement to acquire Out Lot A for $1,100,000, a cost-share escrow and agreement to fund up to $1,275,000 toward an estimated $5.4 million site infrastructure buildout, and a reimbursement declaration tied to potential future bond financing. Director of Community Development Andrew Thorvig told the council the $5.4 million estimate covers roads, utilities, stormwater work and a county-required traffic signal; the city's contribution is an up-to amount that would be drawn from an escrow as bills are certified.

Why it matters: the 37-acre property has been the subject of workshops and a rejected land-use amendment for high-density housing. Council members and staff…