By Khalida Sarwari
The Saratoga City Council has taken steps toward selling an unused, unimproved, city-owned parcel near Gardiner Park.
On March 6, the council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution of intention to abandon and sell unused city property near Gardiner Park between 18929 and 18947 Harleigh Drive. If the parcel–which is about 2,260 square feet (0.05 acres)–is sold to one of two adjacent landowners, the community development department would initiate a merger with the buyer’s property so that the city parcel would become a part of the buyer’s parcel, according to a staff report.
At the meeting, council members directed staff to prepare a public bidding process. They also discussed the budget allocation for proceeds from the sale.
The property was one of two parcels granted to the city in December 1965 and was originally intended for recreational use, according to the report. The second parcel, which was not proposed for sale, became Gardiner Park.
Originally, the small parcel was intended to provide access to Gardiner Park across Wildcat Creek, because at the time, the park was surrounded by residential parcels. But when the city obtained access between 19070 and 19091 Portos Drive, that parcel was never developed or used for park purposes and therefore is no longer necessary for access to Gardiner Park, the report states.
City officials are considering selling the parcel to one of the two adjoining landowners since the land doesn’t generate any income revenue for the city. Furthermore, development of the parcel would be expensive as it would require construction of a bridge over Wildcat Creek, which would also be subject to numerous state and federal permit requirements, according to the report. The best option, council members said, is to sell the land with proceeds from the sale going to the city’s budget. The property would be sold for no less than its fair market value, which is estimated at $86,000.
The council batted around various ideas about how the money should be allocated, but in the end they all agreed that it should be used for a creek or trail-related project.
“I think it’s kind of public trust that it’s land sold and should be invested in land we bought,” Mayor Jill Hunter said.
The council will hold a hearing on April 17 to pass on any objections to abandoning the property and decide whether to sell it. If the council decides to sell the property, staff will solicit offers to buy and negotiate a sale to the highest bidder, in which case the council will then consider approving a final sale of the property.
Saratoga takes steps to put unused parcel of land up for sale
