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Land Bank advances survey and appraisal work for Davis Farm Road parcel; private-road maintenance questions remain
Summary
Commissioners reported a survey is underway for a roughly 10-acre Davis Farm Road parcel with an expected appraisal to follow; the survey cost was reported at about $2,500 (the commission had budgeted $5,000). Commissioners also raised unresolved private-road maintenance and access questions tied to the parcel.
Commissioners updated the Portland Land Bank Commission on work to survey and appraise a Davis Farm Road parcel the commission has prioritized for potential bifurcation and future disposition.
The Chair told the commission the surveyor (Owen Haskell) was working on the parcel and that the survey should be available within about a week; the survey was reported to have cost roughly $2,500 compared with an allocation of $5,000. The plan discussed is to use the survey to bifurcate the roughly 10-acre parcel so the undeveloped portion (roughly 5 acres by commission description) can receive an appraisal and possible market valuation based on that appraisal.
Commissioners discussed the type of appraisal to pursue. A standard land appraisal was the working preference; a 'yellow book' federal appraisal was described as more costly and time-consuming and likely premature unless federal funds were anticipated. "The yellow book is more expensive, more time consuming," the Chair said, adding the commission could incorporate a yellow-book appraisal later if federal money was secured.
Members also raised a practical obstacle: a private/gated road that provides primary access to parts of the parcel. Commissioners said it is unclear which segments of the road are privately maintained and whether an existing road-maintenance agreement covers the portion relevant to access. The Chair said the broker had suggested maintenance responsibilities might apply only to the gated segment, leaving the rest ambiguous, and commissioners agreed gathering a definitive road maintenance agreement or written clarification from the owner would be helpful before finalizing any transaction.
Next steps: finalize the survey, proceed with a standard appraisal unless federal funds require a yellow-book appraisal, and attempt to obtain written clarity on road maintenance responsibilities from the owner or broker before advancing a purchase or sale.
