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Wake County commissioners decline two Wake County Public Schools surplus-parcel offers
Summary
The Wake County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 declined two surplus-property offers from Wake County Public Schools — a 21.5-acre tract near Roseville High School and a 0.18-acre parcel at Wendell Elementary — allowing the school system to proceed with the proposed sales.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 voted to decline two offers from Wake County Public Schools to sell surplus parcels so the school system may proceed with proposed dispositions.
Wake County Public Schools staff presented the first proposed disposition: a roughly 21.5-acre tract adjacent to Roseville High School. "These are the statutes that govern how we dispose of property in this manner," Wake County Public Schools representative Miss Parker told the board while describing the statutory process for surplus property offers. The district said it received an offer from Gravity Companies, LLC for $3,500,000; staff said the district's appraised value was slightly higher and the tax value was significantly higher. Parker said reviews with county staff and affordable-housing staff found the county could likely achieve a better return on housing dollars by collaborating with the town of Roseville on redevelopment rather than pursuing affordable housing on that specific site.
A commissioner moved to decline the Wake County Board of Education's offer for the Roseville parcel pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 115C-518; the motion was seconded. The chair called for the voice vote, heard no objections and announced the motion carried.
The board considered a second surplus parcel, a narrow 0.18-acre tract at Wendell Elementary School that the district said had been partially taken by roadway and that the town of Wendell sought to acquire so it could expand Anderson Drive and improve traffic flow near the school. Wake County Public Schools staff said the parcel's tax value is $85,000 and that an exchange with the town of Wendell was under discussion to enable transportation improvements and future school renovation design flexibility.
A motion to decline the district's offer on the Wendell parcel was made and seconded; the chair again called for a voice vote, heard no objections and announced the motion carried.
Later in the meeting the board voted to go into closed session "pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) to consult the county attorney to preserve the attorney-client privilege between this board and its attorney," after a commissioner moved and another seconded the motion. The chair announced the motion carried on a voice vote.
Discussion and context
Wake County Public Schools staff advised the board that proceeds from the sale of surplus school property must be applied to reduce the county's bonded indebtedness for the board of education capital plan or for future land acquisitions. Parker told commissioners that the Roseville parcel is zoned general commercial, includes a stream and sanitary sewer line, and that surrounding growth (the district cited roughly 2,600 new housing lots planned in the Roseville area) had driven commercial interest. For Wendell, staff said the parcel is undersized for development because roadway has encroached on it and that resolving the parcel issue would allow the town to improve the street and benefit the school site's future design.
What the board directed
The board formally declined both surplus-property offers, enabling the Wake County Board of Education to pursue the pending sale or negotiated exchanges with municipal partners. Commissioners did not direct additional follow-up in the public discussion recorded in the transcript; the matters will proceed through the school system's contracting and disposition processes.
Votes at a glance
- Roseville High School area (approx. 21.5 acres): motion to decline purchase offer pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-518 — motion passed by voice vote; chair announced no objections.
- Wendell Elementary parcel (approx. 0.18 acres; tax value stated as $85,000): motion to decline purchase offer pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-518 — motion passed by voice vote; chair announced no objections.
- Motion to enter closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) to consult the county attorney — motion passed by voice vote.
Ending
Commissioners concluded the regular agenda after the votes and moved into the announced closed session. Wake County Public Schools staff said proceeds from any sale will be applied to the school board's capital obligations or future land purchases, per the statutory requirements discussed at the meeting.
