South Woods agreement slightly altered

SHORELINE — The tab for the purchase of three acres of South Woods has increased, with the city now funding frontage improvements for the wooded parcel.

Council members approved an amendment to the purchase and sale agreement for three acres of South Woods, for curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements on N. 150th Street.

The work will cost an estimated $125,000 and was approved at the Monday, March 20 meeting.

“I think it seems like a logical step we have to go through,” said Councilwoman Janet Way.

The Council in December 2005 approved the acquisition of three acres from the Shoreline School District at a purchase price of $720,000. The 15.6 acres of wooded property has been held by the School District and the Shoreline Water District as tenants-in-common and one of the conditions of the purchase was approval of a final plat to segregate three acres.

One city requirement for subdivision of property is frontage improvements including curb, gutter and sidewalk where streets have not been improved. City staff members recently discovered the problem and approached the school and water districts to find a solution.

“A week and a half ago we ran into a more serious problem,” city attorney Ian Sievers said. “One of the standard conditions for development is to provide frontage improvements where they are substandard.”

According to city staff documents, the school district asked that the purchase agreement be adjusted to assign the additional cost to the city.

The school and water districts agree that their remaining parcels will be subject to a latecomers’ agreement, which will reimburse the city for street improvements by future owners of the remaining parcels.

City officials hope the entire parcel will eventually be purchased by the city with the park bond issue in mid-May. If the city does not acquire the balance of the property, it is anticipated all but $37,463 will be reimbursed to the city with development through the latecomers’ agreement, according to staff documents.

All council members favored the amendment to the purchase and sale agreement.

“I wish we could have caught this earlier rather than later,” said Councilwoman Maggie Fimia. “I want to make it clear to the public that if the parks bond passes in May then the city will purchase the whole parcel.”