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No sale yet of property by river
January 28, 2007
Development of about 15 acres of city-owned land in Conger Heights, an undeveloped area where portions of a possible housing subdivision overlook the Link River, is no done deal.
For now, Klamath Falls City Council members are gathering information before determining whether that property should be listed for sale.
“There is no developer. The property is on the city's surplus property list,” City Manager Jeff Ball said about 15 acres of undeveloped land bordered on the west by the canyon and river and east by Highway 97. Areas of city-owned land in Conger Heights that are restricted from development will not be considered for sale.
Controversy was generated last week when Todd Kepple, the Klamath County Museums director and a frequent trail user and tree planter, questioned if a possible sale would reduce the outdoor experience for Link River trail users.
Ball said the city has not discussed selling the land to a developer. The council will consider whether to put the property, known as Conger Heights, for sale at its Feb. 5 meeting.
“Do we sit on it forever or take an opportunity,” Ball said of possibly selling the unimproved land.
The city has owned the property since it was purchased from the High Desert Museum in the 1980s for $1,100, or the charge for back taxes.
A property evaluation done last year came up with a suggested minimum selling price of $629,000, but Ball said that estimate would probably be reevaluated. Along with Conger Heights, the council is also considering whether to sell two undeveloped lots bordering Kit Carson Park in the Hot Springs area near the Crater Lake Parkway.
“The challenge and the reason why the council continued both of those opportunities until after New Year's was to see how the parks proposals fared,” Ball said, referring to last November's election, when a park levy was soundly defeated.
“The question becomes, what do we do with our surplus properties and how do we fund our existing parks,” he said. “The parks plan identifies some real needs in the park system and we're trying to decide how to fund them.”
Divided into nine blocks
Ball said the Conger Heights property is currently divided into nine blocks. If a development is built, houses on some of those blocks could be visible from the river trail. The linear shaped property extends south from Stanford Avenue north to near the Link River Dam.
The Link River Estates, a 53-unit residential development, is being built north of the city-owned land.
If the city offers Conger Heights for sale, Ball said potential buyers would be cautioned that a cultural inventory done in the mid-1990s, which identified some American Indian sites, might need to be redone. Ball said a potential buyer would be subject to a “fairly intensive review” of development plans, including public hearings by the council and planning commission.
Special reserve
Conger Heights, which had been zoned residential when the city bought it, was rezoned as a special reserve. Ball said the designation allows residential development, but recognizes the area has unique environmental/cultural characteristics.
“Any development has to address any cultural issues, but also the special reserve characteristics,” Ball said, noting, “Development occurs around cultural sites all the time.”
The Conger Heights area has no trailhead but is most easily accessed off Stanford Avenue, which can be reached off Conger Avenue. The area is closed to motor vehicles, and is bisected with unpaved roads and hiking/mountain biking trails.
- Lee Juillerat
Development of about 15 acres of city-owned land in Conger Heights, an undeveloped area where portions of a possible housing subdivision overlook the Link River, is no done deal.
For now, Klamath Falls City Council members are gathering information before determining whether that property should be listed for sale.
“There is no developer. The property is on the city's surplus property list,” City Manager Jeff Ball said about 15 acres of undeveloped land bordered on the west by the canyon and river and east by Highway 97. Areas of city-owned land in Conger Heights that are restricted from development will not be considered for sale.
Controversy was generated last week when Todd Kepple, the Klamath County Museums director and a frequent trail user and tree planter, questioned if a possible sale would reduce the outdoor experience for Link River trail users.
Ball said the city has not discussed selling the land to a developer. The council will consider whether to put the property, known as Conger Heights, for sale at its Feb. 5 meeting.
“Do we sit on it forever or take an opportunity,” Ball said of possibly selling the unimproved land.
The city has owned the property since it was purchased from the High Desert Museum in the 1980s for $1,100, or the charge for back taxes.
A property evaluation done last year came up with a suggested minimum selling price of $629,000, but Ball said that estimate would probably be reevaluated. Along with Conger Heights, the council is also considering whether to sell two undeveloped lots bordering Kit Carson Park in the Hot Springs area near the Crater Lake Parkway.
“The challenge and the reason why the council continued both of those opportunities until after New Year's was to see how the parks proposals fared,” Ball said, referring to last November's election, when a park levy was soundly defeated.
“The question becomes, what do we do with our surplus properties and how do we fund our existing parks,” he said. “The parks plan identifies some real needs in the park system and we're trying to decide how to fund them.”
Divided into nine blocks
Ball said the Conger Heights property is currently divided into nine blocks. If a development is built, houses on some of those blocks could be visible from the river trail. The linear shaped property extends south from Stanford Avenue north to near the Link River Dam.
The Link River Estates, a 53-unit residential development, is being built north of the city-owned land.
If the city offers Conger Heights for sale, Ball said potential buyers would be cautioned that a cultural inventory done in the mid-1990s, which identified some American Indian sites, might need to be redone. Ball said a potential buyer would be subject to a “fairly intensive review” of development plans, including public hearings by the council and planning commission.
Special reserve
Conger Heights, which had been zoned residential when the city bought it, was rezoned as a special reserve. Ball said the designation allows residential development, but recognizes the area has unique environmental/cultural characteristics.
“Any development has to address any cultural issues, but also the special reserve characteristics,” Ball said, noting, “Development occurs around cultural sites all the time.”
The Conger Heights area has no trailhead but is most easily accessed off Stanford Avenue, which can be reached off Conger Avenue. The area is closed to motor vehicles, and is bisected with unpaved roads and hiking/mountain biking trails.
- Lee Juillerat
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leesa wrote on Jan 23, 2009 12:37 PM:
" these things should never happened in this world. the world should be safe. "
samantha r. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:12 PM:
" this article is So true when your a teen girl and your pregnant It seems to feel like your life is over and there is no way you can fix it but that's not true if your young and your going to have a child then stay focused in school your child wants you to succeed in life so he/she can succeed in life my name is Samantha R. I'm 14 years old i live in Klamath falls and i might be pregnant :] If so I'm determined to make sure my child has a better life then i did :] "
Babe wrote on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I think that chiloquin people do need help and not just the teens but i have also seen places that are alot worse i moved from L.A to chiloquin and ive been back there since and trust me chiloquin is nothing. I also think that crime and drugs etc. are noticed more because it is so small compared to other places and there is no form of disaplin at all "
Tony P. wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:55 PM:
" I remember the night the plane went down.. My mother crying and my dad in tears.. his dad searched for him for years...
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Jane D. wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:00 AM:
I Love You Bobby
May your soul Rest In Peace
-Deems "