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Council Agrees in Principle to Acquire Canal Trail Corridor from Developer; Orders Appraisal, Delays Final Price Decision
Summary
Hyde Park council voted to acquire a 20-foot canal-trail corridor offered as part of the Berry Hollow Ridge bonus-density proposal and directed staff to obtain an appraisal; members debated who should pay for the appraisal and whether the appraisal would be binding, then tabled the final purchase/price decision until January.
Hyde Park City Council agreed in principle to acquire a canal-trail corridor offered by developer Reid Elder as part of the Berry Hollow Ridge subdivision27s bonus-density proposal, but the council deferred final pricing and asked for an appraisal to establish trade value.
Staff described the code provision (ordinance 13.60.010(b)) that allows developers to use bonus density in exchange for land for trails and that requires an appraisal when the city27s acquisition exceeds the value of available bonus lots. The developer presented a spreadsheet valuing the trail corridor and the exchange lots and proposed that the city accept the corridor as the bonus-density consideration, reducing or eliminating a cash payment to the parks fund.
Council members raised technical questions about how to value a 20-foot trail corridor that sits across canal easements and private property, noting differences between outright buildable land and a permanently encumbered easement. Several members urged an appraisal to determine fair market value; staff agreed an appraisal would provide a defensible number and recommended both that the city and developer jointly select an appraiser as the code directs.
A key point of contention was who should pay for the appraisal and whether the appraisal would be binding. Staff explained the ordinance contemplates a developer-paid appraisal when the developer requests the bonus-density option (the developer finances the appraisal that the parties agree to). Councilmembers said they were uncomfortable committing to a final purchase price without an appraisal; others said an advisory appraisal paid by the city would allow council negotiation without shifting appraisal cost to the developer.
To resolve near-term timing concerns, the council voted that it wants to acquire the trail corridor and directed staff to pursue an appraisal. The council then tabled the final decision on price and purchase until a January meeting (the developer indicated he could proceed with final-plat work if the council27s intent to acquire the corridor was clear). Staff will present appraisal options and recommended payment arrangements at the next session.
