The planned 64-home development on Kent’s 10-acre Pine Tree Park property includes 4.5 acres the developer bought from the Kent School District.
Kirkland-based Oakpointe Communities paid $800,000 to the district for the property next to Pine Tree Elementary School, 27825 118th Ave. S.E., and south of the city’s neighborhood park that includes trails, trees and open space.
“The district was approached by the developer and it was determined that the area was surplus and could be sold,” said Fred Long, director of facility services for the district, in an email. “This was a portion of the original site that was not usable because of the terrain and was fenced off during the original construction. It is not usable as a play field.”
A baseball field on the school property will remain but the fence and backstop will be moved about 23 feet to the north to provide a portion of the street access for the development, Long said.
Pine Tree Park neighbors are trying to stop the city of Kent’s sale to Oakpointe. The City Council unanimously approved the $2 million sale in September when it reconvened in open session after discussion of the sale in executive session. City officials said they need the money because of financial struggles, including needs to upgrade park facilities.
But because the city took over the park from King County as part of an annexation, sale proceeds must be used to purchase other park land and not for maintenance or upgrades. King County opened the park after voters in the 1960s approved a Forward Thrust bond measure to preserve open space. City officials said they might use the $2 million to buy land to expand other parks.
A public hearing about the proposed development is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6 at City Hall in front of the city hearing examiner.
Reporter Heidi Sanders contributed to this story.
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