Clackamas County approves sale to Hoodland Fire District, preserves community garden and park-and-ride spaces

Clackamas County commissioners approved a purchase-and-sale agreement on April 23 to transfer a former tax‑foreclosure property to Hoodland Fire District No. 74 for development of a new fire station, with conditions to preserve certain public uses.

Assistant county counsel Jeff Muns told the board the agreement stems from an intergovernmental agreement executed in June 2024 that allowed the fire district time to obtain funding; the current sale includes a county reversionary interest should required public uses not continue. The terms explicitly preserve perpetual use of a community garden operated by a nonprofit, reserve 12 parking spaces for Mount Hood Express park-and-ride service, and include a community room in the fire hall for public use under what counsel described as "reasonable terms" for community access.

Commissioner Savas moved approval; Commissioner Helm seconded. The clerk recorded the motion as passing 4 to 0. Counsel said due diligence steps are moving forward and a related replat has been completed to allow the deed transfer when closing occurs.

Commissioners framed the vote as the conclusion of a prolonged effort to return community-serving facilities to the mountain area and thanked staff and district representatives for their work. The board did not identify county general fund obligations in the transaction.