State agency that manages forest lands wants to auction off parcels in Pierce County
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is considering auctioning off land suitable for residential development in Tacoma and unincorporated Pierce County, using that revenue to help fund schools and other public services, according to a Thursday DNR press release.
About once a year DNR identifies properties that are no longer suited for its management, usually auctioning about eight to 10 parcels state-wide, said DNR communications manager Kenny Ocker.
This time around the DNR is proposing to auction off 70 acres of undeveloped land in Tacoma, Fredrickson, McKenna and Kapowsin and use the revenue to purchase replacement land that’s more efficient for the DNR to manage and better suited to support long-term revenue generation, Ocker said.
Traditionally the DNR uses the revenue from auctioning land to acquire timberland or commercial land in areas adjacent to land the DNR already has “because that makes it easier and more efficient to manage,” Ocker said.
Isolated parcels, like the ones under consideration for auction, would require more staff time to manage, and the changing use and zoning adds further complication, he said. The DNR makes most of its revenue from sustainably harvested timber, as well as leasing agricultural land in Eastern Washington to ranchers, farmers and clean-energy producers, Ocker said.
A public hearing regarding the 70 acres of undeveloped land will be held on Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library at 13718 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma. Written comments can be submitted to DNR at exchanges@dnr.wa.gov through 5 p.m. October.
Following the hearing and a property appraisal, DNR would finalize an exchange proposal, which would be presented to the Board of Natural Resources for a final decision. That board meeting will also have an opportunity for public comment.
You can learn more about how the DNR manages 3 million acres of state trust lands to fund schools and state services online.
What do we know about these land parcels?
All four parcels in Pierce County are undeveloped. Three are residential-zoned for at least 11 units and the fourth is zoned for commercial use, Ocker said.
One half-acre lot in east Tacoma became state property when the owner died without heirs, Ocker said. It is located near Portland Avenue East and East 56th Street, he said.
An undeveloped 0.78-acre lot in Fredrickson, near 200th Street East and Canyon Road East, also became state property after the death of the owner, who had no heirs, Ocker said. It is zoned for commercial use, he said.
A forested lot west of Lake Kapowsin has 29 acres of land surrounded by other residential-zoned lots, Ocker said.
A 40-acre lot just outside of McKenna has been owned by Washington state since statehood, Ocker said. It is surrounded by residential development and has a state highway running through it, as well as high voltage power lines and a railroad, he said.
