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Committee backs fee purchase of 1.21‑acre 'pocket' parcel to simplify easement monitoring
Summary
Staff recommended buying a 1.21‑acre 'pocket' property encumbered by a conservation easement for $10,500 to simplify monitoring and land management; the advisory committee unanimously recommended acquisition to the commissioners.
Parks staff proposed Oct. 23 that the county acquire a 1.21‑acre parcel adjacent to county open space near Highway 66 and North 53rd for $10,500. The parcel, described by staff as the "pocket property," is encumbered by a conservation easement conveyed in 2013 and is currently vacant and unbuildable.
Tina Burkhart said fee acquisition would allow the county to fold a small southwestern triangular piece into management of the adjacent open space and would reduce the administrative burden of monitoring an orphaned easement. Staff also said they may explore conveying the northeastern piece to the adjacent landowner and replacing multiple easements with a single consolidated easement for simpler long‑term monitoring.
Committee members asked whether adjacent owners had been approached and whether owning the parcel outright was preferable; staff said there had been prior discussions but tax and valuation concerns affected negotiations. Carol Byerly Posak moved to recommend acquisition and the committee voted unanimously.
Staff will continue outreach to adjacent landowners and finalize purchase terms before forwarding the recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.
