Clearlake City Council votes to pursue Redbud Park property sale, 31-acre land purchase for development
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is moving forward with a potential land sale and a land purchase, two actions that are intertwined as part of a larger plan to bring more amenities to the city.
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the council unanimously approved a letter of intent for a six-month exclusive negotiation period with King Management LLC, which wants to purchase a 2.5-acre portion of Redbud Park at 14800 Ballpark Ave.
It followed up by approving a purchase agreement with One Shot Mining Co. LLC for parcels located at 14885 Burns Valley Road, 14795 Burns Valley Road, 14760 Olympic Drive, 3334 Washington St., 3359 Washington St. and 3367 Washington St. The purchase price is $870,000.
The discussion of the Redbud Park negotiations begins at the 52-minute mark in the video above. It is immediately followed by the property purchase item.
City Manager Alan Flora explained that in July the city entered into a letter of intent with King Management for development of a hotel at the former Pearce Field airport property on Highway 53.
“They are still interested in moving forward with that project,” said Flora.
However, the company also has become interested in doing another hotel development at the Redbud Park location, he said.
Altogether, Flora said there is a 6.5-acre area at the Redbud Park site, which encompasses the city’s three Little League fields, for the potential hotel development by King Management, retail and a second hotel. Those plans wouldn’t impact the nearby Youth Center.
The park, overall, is reported to have 15 acres, so even with the sale the boat launch, pier, restrooms and parking would remain.
Having a new hotel and other amenities in place there, Flora said, would let the city take advantage of opportunities such as more fishing tournaments at the park’s Thompson Harbor.
However, Flora said the city doesn’t want to move forward with the hotel project until it has new ballfields in place for the Little League teams, which the city would like to relocate to the new property it is seeking to purchase on Burns Valley Road.
Flora said King Management is proposing a 60- to 80-room national brand hotel, with a small conference center, pool and other amenities, on the 2.5 acres on the far eastern portion of the property.
One of the benefits of moving the ballfields to another location, said Flora, is that it would allow for the city to improve the ballfields and have larger crowds without impacting the nearly residential areas as much. It also would allow for night games.
He recommended moving forward with the letter of intent, which is the prelude to a purchase agreement. The city would then begin seeking parties to purchase and develop the remaining four acres of the available park property.
Council members supported the idea but added that they also wanted new ballfields in place before the old ones are redeveloped for the hotel project.
In response to questions from a community member, Flora emphasized that any hotel development wouldn’t happen until new ballfields are built at a new location. “The city is not interested in disrupting any of the seasons.”
“I have a longtime emotional attachment to that ballfield,” said Mayor Russ Cremer.
The existing fields at Redbud Park have been in place for 60 years, and during the discussion Cremer said he was on the first Little League team for the Clearlake Highlands that played there beginning in 1959.
Helen Mitcham of the Southshore Little League said they are trying to get a season going for early 2021 and was concerned about the timing of the negotiations.
Flora repeated that the city isn’t interested in causing impacts on the Little League season and that removal of the old ballfields wouldn’t be allowed to move forward without new ballfields being constructed.
“I love the vision that you have,” said Supervisor Bruno Sabatier.
He wanted to know if the city could stipulate that proceeds from the park property sale go to developing the ballfields at the new location.
Flora said it’s their intent to use the funds from the sale of the ballfields for construction of the new fields, adding that the money they get won’t be enough to build new fields with adequate lighting, irrigation and parking, and that they’ll be looking for other funds as well.
Mitcham told the council that the Little League has grants they plan on applying for to pay for lights at the new location.
Councilman Phil Harris said he had discussed the concept with the Little League board.
If a sales agreement is negotiated, timelines would be pivotal, with Harris noting that the city’s ultimate goal is to provide adequate playing fields for children and have opportunities to host tournaments.
Councilman Russ Perdock said he liked the idea of creating a sports complex, not just ballfields, and having the opportunity to offer tournament play for both adults and children.
Councilwoman Joyce Overton moved to authorize Flora signing the letter of intent with King Management, which Perdock seconded and the council approved 4-0. Vice Mayor Dirk Slooten recused himself from the discussion.
Council approves purchase of 31-acre property
The council then turned to the proposed purchase of the land from One Shot Mining Co.
Flora said the city has been talking for years about developing a new Public Works yard and relocating from the existing location at the former airport property.
Now, with a new animal shelter at the airport property, it’s even more important to get a new location because there’s not enough room for Public Works and animal control at the site, he said.
Flora said staff had been looking at various opportunities and found some adequate sites. Due to the need to develop a new location for the ballfields, they started zeroing in on this site on Burns Valley Road.
“We think that this particular site also includes an opportunity to have a housing development on it,” along with a recreational center, additional retail and commercial development on the eastern portion, said Flora.
The property’s owners have so far removed one building on the land and a second will be removed prior to escrow closing, Flora said.
The purchase agreement calls for the city to make three annual payments, $300,000 per year for each of the first two years and then a final payment of $270,000, with no interest accruing, he said.
Slooten said he thought it was an excellent opportunity, and a good place to locate the corporation yard and ballfields. The location is flat and will be easier to develop, he added.
Harris agreed with Slooten. “I think this is a premier property for the city to own.”
Harris asked if the city had already started looking for grant opportunities for the ballfield and other aspects of the plan.
Flora said yes, reporting that they think it’s an excellent fit for a grant for infill development.
“There may be some other opportunities out there that we haven’t pursued as well,” said Flora, explaining that the city is working with a contractor on funding for the Highlands Park project, and that they can have the contractor look at other funding opportunities for this new development.
Harris asked if there are any potential issues with developing ballfields on the land due to the nearby Orchard Park Senior Living facility. Flora said they will need to design the project in such a way as to mitigate any issues.
“I just think this is a fantastic opportunity,” said Perdock.
Flora said that if the council approved the purchase, city staff would move forward as soon as possible with planning, explaining there are a lot of pieces between this and the Redbud Park property development that all work together.
During public comment, Sheryl Almon asked them to include a swimming pool in the recreation complex.
Miles Cooley pointed out that there are numerous large and beautiful oak trees on the property and he wanted to make sure they are taken into account in designing a project there.
Vicki Crystal thanked the staff and council for looking for alternative locations for the corporation yard – they previously had considered a location at a county-owned property on Pond Road – and lauded them for their work and efforts to approve the city.
Mitcham asked to establish a committee that includes the Little League to work on plans for the property. “We want to be in the discussion and are ready and willing to help.”
Staff and council members agreed that there should be such an ad hoc committee that includes the Little League to work on the project.
Cremer said he wanted to hold off on development of housing at the site until the sports complex is completed. Harris agreed, unless the housing portion is key to getting grants.
Slooten moved to approve the purchase agreement, which Harris seconded and the council approved 5-0.
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