NEWS RELEASE
February 6, 2009
Contact: Bob Redling, 360-902-1149
State DNR To Hold Public Hearing On Land Exchange Between State Trusts
Exchanges would make possible future leases of trust land to Key Peninsula Metropolitan Park District and Jefferson County
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public hearing in Sequim to provide information and receive testimony on a proposed ‘intergrant’ trust land exchange. The exchange of lands between two state trusts would allow the lease of state trust land to two local agencies to use as open space, public recreation, or wildlife habitat.
Public hearing details
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Clallam County Fire Protection District #3
323 North 5th Ave., Sequim
The proposed exchange would designate a portion of 518 acres of Common School Trust land in Clallam County as University Trust land, which helps pay for University of Washington construction projects. The land would continue to be managed by DNR to produce revenue from its timber and other natural resources and for wildlife habitat.
In the exchange, 50 acres of University Trust land that DNR manages in Jefferson County and 59 acres the department manages in Pierce County would be re-designated as Common School Trust land, which supports school construction statewide. Those two parcels would then become eligible to be leased at a later time to two local agencies – Jefferson County and Key Peninsula Metropolitan Park District, respectively.
The Common School Trust would be reimbursed through the state’s Trust Land Transfer Program for the value of the lease. The leases would each be for 50 years – the Common School Trust would retain the deed to the properties. Independent appraisals will be used to ensure that the combined value of the Jefferson County and Pierce County parcels is equal to the value of the Clallam County parcel.
Written comments welcome by March 3
Written testimony on the intergrant exchanges is welcome until March 3, 2009. Address correspondence to DNR, Asset Management and Protection Division, ATTN: Trust Land Transfer Program, Clallam Intergrant Trust Land Exchange No. 86-083237, PO Box 47014, Olympia, WA 98504-7014; or e-mail comments to: Trust_Land_Transfer@dnr.wa.gov
If the proposal is determined to have significant benefits, a summary of testimony will be presented to the state Board of Natural Resources at a regularly scheduled meeting.
To download maps and descriptions of the two parcels of state trust land that would become eligible for lease to local agencies, use the following links:
PLEASE NOTE: The meeting facility is barrier-free. Persons with a disability who need assistance or information in a different format should call Deborah Whitney, (360) 902-1482, at least 10 days before the meeting for alternative arrangements. The phone number for the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service is 1-800-833-6388.
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