Contract signed for possible school site near Liberty Lake
The Central Valley School District is going forward with plans for the possible purchase of a 12.6-acre piece of property from a Liberty Lake developer.
Under a contract under negotiation between River Crossing LLC and the district, the district would have two years to decide whether to buy the land at Mission Avenue and Holl Road to be used as a possible elementary school site, said Dave Jackman, director of auxiliary services for the district.
The contract has been signed by the Central Valley School Board of Directors, and was turned over to the developer. As of Tuesday, it had not been returned.
River Crossing plans to build 2,000 homes in the area under negotiation, west of the Liberty Lake city limits, in the next several years.
Under the agreement, the district will pay $25,000 up front and within two years if the district decides to purchase the land the total purchase price would not exceed $275,000.
The developer would agree to develop access along Holl Road, while the district would pay to develop the road along Mission Avenue.
Central Valley would also agree to waive up to $475,000 in any impact fees that the developer may be assessed by local jurisdictions. Currently, developers do not pay impact fees, but school districts challenged by massive growth are hoping to change that.
In May, Superintendent Mike Pearson sent letters to Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and Spokane County asking for the collection of the fees on behalf of Central Valley to help ease the burden of widespread growth.
Schools in Central Valley’s eastern half are already feeling the pinch, and the district is seeking voter approval for a $55.2 million construction bond this spring.
The bond would pay for the remodel of four aging school buildings throughout the district, and the construction of two new ones – middle and elementary – in the eastern half.
In addition to the site at Mission and Holl, the district paid $850,000 in February for another 17-acre site at Mission Avenue and Long Road as another possible site for the new elementary school.
The school board has not yet made a decision where the new school would be built, said Melanie Rose, district spokeswoman.
Pending the contract negotiations with the developer, a decision could be made at the next regularly scheduled meeting Monday, or at the next meeting Jan. 9.