County supports Dayton Landing transfer

Dayton Landing may be sold or transferred from Yamhill County to the city of Dayton as soon as next month, following support from the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners.

Details still need to be worked out over potential deed restrictions and whether the property will be sold or transferred to the city of Dayton; however, the plan to transfer ownership received consensus support from the board last month.

Commissioner Kit Johnston said the move is supported by the county Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and the city of Dayton has appraised the property and is ready to move forward.

“They are ready,” Johnston said of the city. “They believe they’ve possibly earmarked some funds that they could purchase it with if it comes down to that, depending on what the deed restrictions are.” He said those restrictions are still unknown.

County staff is looking into potential restrictions such as whether the property can be sold and requirements to keep the area public use and will develop an agreement when research is complete.

Planning Director Ken Friday said the park land includes several parcels, some of which were obtained by the county through foreclosure.

“We’ve got some digging to do to understand exactly how we hold this,” he said.

Commissioner Mary Starrett and former Commissioner Lindsay Berschauer had said last month that they would prefer a sale of property over a transfer, to be able to use funds for other county projects.

“I think there’s going to be a huge difference between a sale and a transfer,” Starrett said.

Johnston agreed the plan forward should include a sale.

“I am striving to sell it, there is an appraisal for it, so if it’s possible, that’s definitely the direction I want to go with it,” Johnston said.

Publishers Paper Company donated the land that would become Dayton Landing Park in 1966. The park’s outdated boat launch was poured a decade earlier in 1956, and has been in need of repairs since the 1990s.

The park is entirely within Dayton city limits and discussions have occurred in the past about transferring the property to the city to fully develop the park with public bathrooms, lighting and an improved parking lot from the current gravel surface.

Johnston indicated the city would like to move forward with an agreement as soon as possible, potentially at its Feb. 3 city council meeting.