Whitefish ready to proceed with park purchase
The sale of 8.5 acres of land in Whitefish's Baker Commons subdivision will help the city move forward with its purchase of Credit Union Park.
The City Council meets at noon Monday in special session to vote on a buy-sell agreement for the Baker Commons property. Bill Kahle proposes to buy the land for $1.8 million. Proceeds of the sale, if approved, will help pay for Credit Union Park, City Manager Gary Marks said.
"It also gets that 8.5 acres back on the tax rolls," Marks added.
The city had the property listed for $1.7 million.
The City Council in September agreed to buy the 1.8-acre park for $3.8 million.
It's a complex transaction, Marks said, that includes a land swap of 2.4 acres of undeveloped city property at the southwest corner of 13th Street and Baker Avenue, across from The Wave fitness center. The city land to be swapped is valued at $1.7 million, leaving the city with a balance of $2.1 million to pay the credit union within 3 1/2 years.
Park Side Federal Credit Union plans to build a new facility at the Baker location within the next three to four years.
The city's first payment of $800,000 is scheduled to be made April 1. At that time, the city assumes ownership of the northern portion of Credit Union Park, and the credit union assumes ownership of the 2.4 acre parcel in Baker Commons.
A second payment of $1.3 million is due between September 2008 and September 2009. Remaining funds from the sale of the 8.5 acres and tax-increment revenue will be used for the final payment, Marks said.
The city's primary motivation for acquiring the park now is to save the last remaining open space in downtown from commercial development.
A proposed downtown master plan recommends preserving the space as a town square.
The park, with its pond, fountain and shade trees, has become a favorite spot for arts-and-crafts fairs in Whitefish and is the backdrop for the popular Tuesday evening farmers market.
IN OTHER business Monday, the council will take a look at proposed state changes to outdoor advertising rules.
The state Department of Transportation wants to allow community "welcome" signs and electronic changeable-message signs to inform motorists about local cultural attractions. A public hearing will be held March 17 in Helena.
Whitefish council members last week raised concerns about the proposed sign changes and wanted an opportunity to review the changes to see how they compare with the city's existing sign laws.