Friday, March 29, 2024

City authorizes purchase of Sunset Drive well site property

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BREWSTER – The City Council authorized $155,000 plus some extra funds for the purchase of a nearly five-acre tract of land for a new city water well site during its regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, Dec. 12.

The target property owned by Brewster businessman Said Velasco is 4.7 acres at 1108 Sunset Drive adjacent to the Brewster High School soccer field.

City officials approached Velasco in November 2017 with a proposal to acquire a portion of his property for one of its new well sites as part of its comprehensive water system upgrade. At the time of the initial discussions, Velasco had four seasonal renters on the property and intended to subdivide the parcel for a possible home site.

After the city drilled a pilot well and performed tests to assess water quality, representatives advised Velasco that the city wanted to purchase the entire 4.7-acre plot.

At their December meeting, city attorney Chuck Zimmerman advised council members that a MAI (Member of Appraisal Institute) appraisal from Pacific Appraisal Associates of Wenatchee resulted in an appraised value of $145,000 for Velasco’s property.

A second appraisal performed by a real estate agent on Velasco’s behalf produced a market estimate between $145,000 and $155,000 for the parcel. Negotiations between city officials and Velasco settled on the $155,000 purchase price.

All but one resident who occupied the site have since moved, so the city has arranged to compensate the remaining occupant $2,000 in relocation costs.

At Zimmerman’s recommendation, council members voted to authorize Mayor Art Smith to sign a purchase and sale agreement to purchase the property and pay the additional $2,000 relocation costs.

Money for the purchase will come from the city’s water fund.

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