SEBASTIAN — The City of Sebastian is considering accepting a land donation next to Garden Park Lake on Rose Arbor, so long as it doesn’t cost the city more than $1,500 to take ownership.
The property’s owners are trying to offload the undeveloped land in order to close out the estate and back taxes are owed.
City Manager Al Minner told the Sebastian City Council that the property’s tax assessed value is approximately $12,500. Acquiring the site would help the city mitigate the issue of the park’s lake encroaching on the property.
“Our lake is chewing into their lot,” Minner told the council.
Councilman Jerome Adams was the lone vote against moving forward with the donation. He said he doesn’t see a “dire need” for the property – and, as such, he doesn’t believe the city should have to pay liens or fees on the land.
“That was my initial reaction as well,” Minner responded, but added that the issue of the lake cutting into the private piece of property is what changed his mind.
Vice Mayor Don Wright pointed out that getting a $12,000-$15,000 piece of land for $1,500 is a good financial deal.
“I think it makes complete sense,” Councilman Jim Hill agreed – noting that if all works out, the city would be getting the property for pennies on the dollar.
With the council’s near-unanimous approval, the city’s staff will do its due diligence to assess how much is actually owed on the property, check the title, and review other potential pitfalls before closing on the donation.
Minner told the council that the Rose Arbor property is the only parcel that abuts the lake and is the only one that could be affected by the lake.
“We need to get that lake encumbered into our property,” Minner said.
