The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is planning a public presentation and hearing on Friday, February 2, in Camas to discuss a proposed Inter-Trust Exchange that would allow DNR to exchange a pair of properties from its Land Bank for two properties that currently support statewide K-12 school construction.

 

The public hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, February 2, at the East County Fire & Rescue Station #91, 600 NE 267th Ave., Camas.

 

DNR proposes to exchange up to 50 acres of land that supports the Common School Trust, across parcels in Okanogan and Lincoln counties, for up to 681 acres of equivalent-value property in Okanogan and Clark counties currently in DNR’s Land Bank. All parcels involved in the transaction would remain in public ownership.

 

The transaction would allow for a subsequent public auction and direct transfer of the newly designated Land Bank properties located in Lincoln and Okanogan counties, as well as keeping the Common School Trust whole financially.

 

Under state law, only Land Bank properties may be transferred through a public auction or direct sale. State law permits DNR to propose an inter-trust exchange to meet the needs of the trust beneficiaries involved and facilitate future transactions.

 

DNR encourages written testimony from interested parties. Attendance at this meeting is not required to testify regarding this exchange, and written testimony is equivalent to in-person verbal testimony.

 

Written testimony must be received by February 17, 2024. Please mail written testimony to the Department of Natural Resources, Strategic Planning Office, Attn: Central Washington Land Exchange, P.O. Box 47014, Olympia, WA 98504-7014, or email to exchanges@dnr.wa.gov.

 

DNR will provide hearing testimony locations at a safe distance from other participants. No food or drink will be allowed at this event.

 

For more information about the proposal, including maps, go to dnr.wa.gov/managed-lands/land-transactions/central-washington-land-exchange.

 

Common School Trust to Land Bank:

 

Sec. 3, T33N, R25E, W.M., Okanogan County

Sec. 16, T21N, R37E, W.M., Lincoln County

 

Land Bank to Common School Trust:

 

Sec. 17, T37N, R28E, W.M., Okanogan County

Sec. 35, T03N, R04E, W.M., Clark County

 

###

 

Kenny Ocker

Communications Manager

Cell: 360-810-1217