King County is looking to sell the Tall Chief golf course it purchased in 2013 for $4.54 million.
The Department of Natural Resources and Parks said Tuesday that a proposed deal is in the works with Keller Dairy for $720,000.
County officials say the sale is a good one that fits its plan to protect and conserve farmlands and other rural lands; neighbors see it as a victory after they initially feared a development at the site two years ago.
“I was really excited that they’re going to grow things there,” Alison Harter said. Harter buys her vegetables from Jubilee Farm, which is just down the road from the site.
In 2013, neighbors and community members were horrified when King County approved a subdivision of 18 homes on the site.
“This is one of the last few areas left like this that exist,” neighbor Howard Gray said.
Neighbors, including nearby farmers, told the county the homes would be in danger of flooding and that the project would disrupt the area's rural character.
Prompted by those concerns, the county stepped in to purchase the land with property tax money earmarked for conservation. Officials promised to return it to active farming.
The purchase price, $720,000, is a surprisingly low number to taxpayers like Justin Seiling.
“Seems like we took a loss,” he said.
Officials say the project isn't about breaking even; rather, they view it as an investment.
Council member Kathy Lambert explained the sale price is so much less because the site retains development rights for one home, with the option to buy two more. The county keeps the development rights for 15 homes, which it’s put into a special bank that holds about 1,200 more.
If developers want to increase density in urban areas like Seattle, they can buy them, Lambert explained, and King County can get some of the money back.
But the county calls the project a good investment, as is, now.
“We want that area to be a place where we can farm, where the rivers can overflow and not do a lot of damage,” she said.
The deal will be reviewed by the King County Council’s budget committee on Wednesday and still needs to be approved by the full council.
KIRO
