Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Purchase topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council agrees to meet with neighboring city to explore purchase of Better Beach Park
Summary
Council directed the mayor and administration to meet with officials from a neighboring city after receiving an appraisal of roughly $1 million for Better Beach Park, and discussed deed restrictions that could require the land to remain a park.
Mentor on the Lake council voted Tuesday to begin exploratory talks with a neighboring city about acquiring Better Beach Park after staff shared an appraisal valuing the property at about $1,000,000.
Administrative staff said the neighboring city's council prefers to sell rather than lease the property. Council members asked whether the appraisal included deed restrictions; staff noted the appraisal flagged possible deed-restriction language that could require the parcel remain parkland and that those conditions would affect future uses and resale options.
Council discussed next steps: due diligence on the park's condition, cost of necessary renovations, and how deed restrictions would affect potential commercial uses such as a restaurant (one council member asked whether deed restrictions would prevent a restaurant). The council motion directed the mayor and administrative staff to meet with the neighboring city's manager and relevant attendees to discuss parameters; the motion passed by unanimous roll call.
Several residents and comprehensive-plan steering-committee members urged the council to involve steering-committee participants in implementation if the city acquires the property. No purchase was authorized; the council asked staff to report back after the intergovernmental meeting and after further due diligence.
