Dockton Water Association (DWA) seeks input from Shareholders regarding the possible sale of a conservation easement for its property on SW 268th Street. Specifically, the DWA Board of Directors would like to know what questions Shareholders have and/or what information Shareholders would like to know before considering the possible sale of a conservation easement. Please complete this survey or return the paper surveys included in the January billing by Monday, January 20. This is NOT an official vote.
BACKGROUND: King County Parks has submitted an offer to purchase a conservation easement on DWA’s property at 10127 SW 268th Street. The property fronts the south side of the street, between 99th Ave. SW and Hake Road SW, and is adjacent to the recently established Manzanita Natural Area. The property size is approximately 25 acres.
King County Parks has offered to purchase a conservation easement on the property for $590,000. An independent appraisal firm, hired by King County Parks, assessed the current value of the property at just under $690,000. The same firm estimated the value of the land at $100,000 if the easement were granted. Therefore, King County Park’s offer of $590,000 is intended to cover the difference between the current assessed value and the estimated value after the easement.
IMPACT: The conservation easement would eliminate the residential development rights for the property. As a result, no residences could be constructed on the property at any time in the future. DWA would continue to own the property and would retain the right to build a well on the property. However, the permissible nature and scope of a well and/or other water production facilities is not currently known by the DWA Board of Directors.
PROCESS & TIMELINE: The DWA Board of Directors will seek input from Shareholders in multiple rounds of surveys and meetings before making a decision on whether and how to proceed. In addition, a representative from King County Parks will attend an upcoming meeting so that Shareholders may ask questions directly.
DWA’s bylaws require that Shareholders vote on real estate/capital asset transactions, so the conservation easement would not be sold without a formal vote by Shareholders.
The timeline for next steps is:
- Now until Jan. 20: First-round survey to collect initial questions and other input from Shareholders
- Jan. 25: King County Parks representative will attend the monthly Board meeting to answer questions and provide more information.
- Late Jan. to Feb. 17: Second-round survey to collect more input from Shareholders
- Feb. 22: Monthly Board meeting, during which the Board will decide whether and how to move forward (i.e. to put the sale of a conservation easement up for a formal vote by Shareholders as is, to ask Shareholders to vote on a counter-offer, to investigate further, or to reject the offer).
- Spring 2025: If the Board determines that a vote by Shareholders is needed to either sell the conservation easement to King County Parks or to submit a counter-offer, ballots will be mailed with a regular monthly billing (exact date TBD).
At this time, the DWA Board of Directors seeks initial input and questions from Shareholders via this survey. Responses to this survey will inform our deliberations and help guide the conversation with King County Parks. Responses are collected for informational purposes only, and are non-binding.
All Shareholders are also encouraged to attend the upcoming meeting on Saturday, January 25 at 10:00 AM. Shareholders can attend in person at the DWA building or by Zoom.
