The city of Soldotna wants to put more city-owned land back into private hands.
An ordinance was introduced at Wednesday’s city council meeting that would allow the city to sell some property it no longer deems necessary for municipal use.
The city has identified seven properties that will be sold via a sealed bid process. Two properties are on West Marydale Avenue, while the others are located on Sohi Lane, West Riverview Street, Smith Way, East Redoubt and Griffin Avenue.
In a memo sent to Soldotna City Manager Mark Dixson from the city’s department of economic development and planning, the city chose the seven properties from a list of 22 potential parcels.
By having such a sealed bid process, the city will “save costs and include the greatest number of potential buyers,” according to the ordinance.
Each property is given a minimum bid amount, which is set at full market value, according to the ordinance. The seven properties are diverse when it comes to zoning. Three are zoned as multi-family residential, two are rural residential, one is commercial and one is parks and recreational. More information about the properties will be published should the ordinance pass.
If the city decides to sell, people will be able to submit their sealed bids from May 1 to July 31, according to the memo.
If none of the properties sell during the sealed bid process, people will have eight months after the opening of the bids to purchase the land over the counter at the minimum price established by the city.
At a Chamber of Commerce luncheon held earlier in the week, Stephanie Queen, Soldotna’s director of economic development and planning, said the city has spent approximately two years trying to identify land that it would like to part with.
“We have experienced what we feel like is an increase in demand for property in the city in recent years,” she said. “These properties were acquired and no longer serve a municipal purpose.”
The proceeds from any sale of property will be placed in Soldotna’s general fund, according to the memo.
Queen said that if the city passes the ordinance, the process of preparing the sale would begin shortly after.
“If the (city) council agrees, we’re going to spend the summer trying to get these properties back into private hands,” she said.
A public hearing on the subject will be held at the April 22 city council meeting.
Reach Ian Foley at ian.foley@peninsulaclarion.com.
