The South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District is considering the purchase of a property adjacent to Community Park.
During its February meeting, the board of commissioners discussed the 16-acre parcel on Maxwelton Road, which is heavily forested and includes a single-family home. The property owner, a Seattle resident, has approached the district about buying the land, which is currently not listed on the real estate market. The assessed value of the property, according to Island County Parcel Viewer, is $770,947.
The district’s executive director, Brian Tomisser, said the property owner has expressed the wish that the buyer refrains from cutting down trees and developing the property. Commissioner Jennifer Cox, who is a managing broker, wondered if the seller could even pose these constraints. With its proximity to Community Park and the future South Whidbey Aquatic Recreation Center, the board spoke about the possibility of building a parking lot on the land.
The property also includes a 2,542-square-foot home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The owner indicated she would be willing to sell only part of the property, though it is only one parcel. Tomisser said the house could be used for programming or offices, and the land could be utilized for additional trails.
Commissioner Krista Loercher said she had faith that not only this board, but also future boards, would be good stewards of the land and preserve as many trees as possible.
“If you’re not going to put it in a conservation easement and donate it to a land trust or something like that, if you actually want to sell it, it’s then not your property,” she said.
The board directed Tomisser to set up a meeting with the property owner to learn more.