A $2.5 million Fox Island deal would mean more shoreline access. Here’s how PenMet voted
The Peninsula Metropolitan Park Board approved a $2.5 million purchase of land on Fox Island, including property next to the DeMolay Sandspit, July 25.
According to the special meeting agenda documents, in spring 2022, the property owner notified Peninsula Metropolitan Parks of its interest in selling the properties. Fox Go Bye Bye, LLC, of Tacoma, owns the two parcels of land, located at 52 and 58 Island Boulevard.
The purchase price would be $2.5 million.
The PenMet Parks staff recommended the board pass the resolution because the location would allow additional public access to shoreline, which was a priority in PenMet Parks’ 2018 Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan.
“This potential acquisition represents an opportunity to expand public access to saltwater shoreline and to preserve open space that might otherwise be lost to development for private use in a location that could function as a natural extension of the adjacent Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve,” Ally Bujacich, PenMet executive director, told The Gateway.
In addition to beach access, the properties could support passive recreation opportunities such as a potential expanded pedestrian trail system that connects with the DeMolay Sandspit property, Bujacich said.
The two parcels that are over 3.5 acres total are adjacent to and south of the Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve on the northern tip of Fox Island.
“They are primarily wooded with some steep slopes and approximately 265’ of Puget Sound waterfront with views to the west of the Key Peninsula and the Olympic Mountain range,” according to the agenda documents.
“The forested property would largely be maintained in its natural state, and no commercial timber harvest or disturbance of the shoreline area is planned,” Bujacich said. “PenMet Parks could steward the land to protect sensitive areas and educate the public through active and passive public education opportunities such as interpretive signage and programming. PenMet Parks is currently conducting due diligence to confirm the property is suitable for the intended uses.”
Bujacich also said the potential acquisition would advance a number of the priorities identified in PenMet Parks’ PROS Plan, which identifies community priorities and needs, including providing more shoreline access, passive recreation opportunities, and stewarding the land to protect sensitive areas and preserve open space.
Bujacich read the agreement statement at the special meeting. Then the PenMet board voted on the resolution.
All five PenMet commissioners voted to pass this resolution, approving the agreement for sale and purchase of the parcels.
The agreement allows up to approximately 18 weeks to conduct due diligence and secure grant funding. The district will pursue funding for the acquisition through Pierce County’s Conservation Futures – Opportunity Account program. Bujacich warned the board that PenMet Parks still needs to decide if the property is suitable. The final sale is dependent on:
▪ Park Board approval, which happened at the July 25 meeting.
▪ Review of the title report, which shows all of the existing encumbrances on the title to the property.
▪ Inspections, which may include surveys and geological reviews.
▪ Funding for the acquisition through Pierce County’s Conservation Futures – Opportunity Account program.
