The Clark County Council has authorized the sale of a 40-acre parcel adjacent to Hockinson Meadows Community Park for use as a possible new school site for the Hockinson School District.
The undeveloped plot, located at the corner of Northeast 119th Street and Northeast 172nd Avenue at the park’s northeast end, is expected to be sold for $720,000.
The request passed unanimously Tuesday — with just one comment from Councilor Sue Marshall, who represents Hockinson, saying she “wouldn’t normally be supportive” of the sale of agricultural land but was moved to approve because the deal’s been in negotiations for so long.
The small school district of just 2,025 students has no immediate designs for what will be constructed on the land, but documents posted indicate it will be used for a new school.
Superintendent Steve Marshall began the process to assess and acquire the land in late 2019. The school district and county each completed an appraisal of the land in December 2020 and September 2021, respectively. The district then met with staff from Public Works’ Parks and Land Division in August 2022 to put together a purchase and sale agreement.
The parcel in question is one piece of 240 acres owned by the county — 150 acres of which exists as developed park space. The only other developed parcel on the property with any plans for development is the newly opened Hockinson Disc Golf Course.
During discussion of the item Tuesday, Councilor Glen Yung inquired about whether the price, amounting to about $18,000 per acre, was abnormally inexpensive for Clark County.
A representative from Parks and Lands said the agency properly conducted an appraisal with a comparable sales approach and attributed a lower price in part to some of the plot being wetlands, which is typically more challenging for construction.
More information about the sale can be found at: https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2023-06/d060623_PW_PurchaseSalesAgreement_HockinsonSchoolDistrict.pdf.
