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Commissioners approve letter of intent to sell Red Fern 2 parcel to Young Automotive Group
Summary
Missoula County signed a letter of intent March 5 to sell a 4.47‑acre parcel known as Red Fern 2 (Kalisoga Park) to Young Automotive Group at the appraised price, subject to rezoning and due diligence; residents questioned the appraisal and rezoning during public comment.
Missoula County commissioners authorized a letter of intent March 5 to sell a 4.47‑acre county parcel known as Red Fern 2 (Kalisoga Park) to Young Automotive Group at the appraised value of $155,000, county staff said.
Flann McClardy of the county’s Community and Economic Development department told the commission the parcel — platted in 2006 and since annexed to the City of Missoula — lacks legal access, has a high‑pressure gas main easement across much of the site and does not generate enough homeowners‑association dues to cover maintenance. State law required an appraisal because the county believes the parcel is worth more than $20,000; the appraisal completed in December returned $155,000.
McClardy said Young Automotive Group’s letter of intent would have the buyer pay $25,000 at closing and sign a promissory note at 4.5% interest with two additional $25,000 anniversary payments and the balance due on the third anniversary; the offer would be contingent on a rezoning to limited industrial and a 90‑day due‑diligence period. The county would pay for standard title insurance and would have 30 days after signing the letter of intent to negotiate a purchase contract.
Public commenters questioned the large discrepancy between the appraisal and the Department of Revenue’s assessed value (which staff said reflected a mass appraisal process and did not reflect the parcel’s lack of access or the gas‑line easement). Mike Capron, representing Young Automotive Group, said the buyer is an adjacent property owner and intends to use the parcel for additional parking related to an auto dealership relocation; he denied plans for heavy industrial buildings on the site.
A commissioner moved and the board voted to approve and sign the letter of intent; the transcript shows the motion carried but did not record a roll‑call tally. Staff said the city had already updated its code to permit the rezoning that the buyer requested earlier in the week.
