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Dayton EDA pushes council and counsel to clear path for redevelopment of tax‑forfeited ‘triangle’ and old public works site
Summary
EDA members urged the city council and legal counsel to clarify title, marketability and next steps for a nearby tax‑forfeited triangle parcel and the old public works site; members also directed staff to survey businesses and contact BNSF about the feasibility of a short railroad spur to serve multi‑user manufacturing.
Members of the Dayton Economic Development Authority pressed for action on several redevelopment opportunities, urging the city council and legal counsel to clarify ownership and allow marketing of a tax‑forfeited triangular parcel and to consider options for the old public works site.
At the meeting, the EDA discussed the triangle parcel (referred to as tax‑forfeited property on Territorial Road) and asked staff to petition the council to transfer or otherwise make the parcel available so the EDA can actively pursue redevelopment. One member said the EDA has completed required planning steps and should now ask council to prioritize the parcel for economic development.
Members also raised the old public works property at 16471 South Family Lake Road. Staff (John) described the site as currently used for seasonal equipment storage and a ball field, and said that selling or repurposing the site would require replacing storage or relocating equipment; the site is presently zoned parkland because of the ball field.
On infrastructure, the board revisited a previously discussed short rail spur concept to serve area manufacturers. Staff reported Sunstone (a prospective industrial user) has no immediate plan to build a spur. Members therefore directed staff to: (1) survey adjacent businesses to gauge demand for rail service, and (2) contact Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) to ask whether the track could be serviced and under what conditions. Several members warned that rail construction is costly and that a user must be identified to justify any investment.
Members also debated whether the EDA can market property before obtaining clear title or transfer from the county; they agreed to ask legal counsel for a written determination and suggested any marketing could be contingent on legal clearance. The board discussed engaging the EDA’s commercial broker to identify high‑tech or light‑manufacturing users rather than warehouse uses, and emphasized targeting employers that provide higher wage jobs.
