BUENA PARK : City to Make Offer for County Land

The City Council has directed the planning staff to prepare an offer to buy county-owned land on Dale Street, between Artesia and Malvern avenues.

The vacant 6.35-acre site, next to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, is owned by the county flood-control district and has been used for flood-control purposes, said Thomas E. Lynch, director of development services.

“The county has been cooperative. Our desire is to begin active negotiations with them on the property,” Lynch said.

Lynch said any agreement resulting from the negotiations to buy the property would be approved by the council at a regularly scheduled public meeting. The decision to go ahead with the offer was made at a closed session of the council Monday.

Lynch said if the city buys the land, about 1 1/2 acres would be used for a $9-million project that will realign Dale Street to intersect with Burlingame Avenue and to build a railroad underpass on Dale Street.

Residents who live on Burlingame and other neighboring streets in the Bellehurst tract opposed the realignment plan, which has been approved by the council.

Lynch said no plans have been proposed for the remainder of the land.

However, city officials have eyed the property as a possible site for a train station.

“Whether it’s a train center or is used for another development is yet to be determined,” Mayor Donald L. Bone said.

Bone added that if the city is successful in buying the property, the city will be able to determine how the land is developed.

“With ownership, we can begin to have a say on what finally goes onto that piece of property,” he said.