Commissioners say they were blindsided after city selects park parcel for student-build house

Staff read a written statement from City Manager Brian Frannle confirming the next student-build house will be located at 2357th Avenue, a parcel that had been considered during earlier park planning exercises.

"We just finished up our last student build house... the only buildable property that the city owns was the property located at 2357th Avenue," the statement read. The statement said council members agreed to move forward with that property.

Multiple commissioners said they were upset to learn the decision after the parks board had invested planning time for a potential community garden or park use. One commissioner said exchanging permanent parkland for a one-time housing benefit was "wrong" and that the commission should have been consulted. Another raised safety concerns about the nearby intersection, noting previous HDA (housing development authority) survey work that identified a high rate of accidents at that crossroads.

Commissioners asked whether only a single home would be built and whether the rest of the park would be preserved; staff said the plan is for one single-family home or a duplex and that the remainder of the land was not scheduled for development "to my knowledge." Several commissioners suggested asking for a land survey or pursuing a CIP request to stake claim to the remaining parkland.

Staff encouraged commissioners to raise concerns directly with City Manager Frannle and to monitor council agendas. No formal action or appeal was taken at the meeting; commissioners urged clearer communication from council when city-owned land that has been studied for parks is reassigned.

Next step: commissioners said they will contact the city manager and watch for council discussion; staff suggested a land survey or CIP request could be an option to formalize park planning for the remaining acreage.