(Written by Joanne Kittel)
Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. (OPRD) continues its due diligence on the 1100+ acres referred to as Yachats Ridge and owned by Manulife and Weyerhaeuser, Real Estate Investment Trusts. Due diligence includes an appraisal that meets the Unified Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions, known as a Yellow Book appraisal. Yellow Book appraisals require a higher standard of accuracy as to the worth of a property and are generally required before a public agency or a nonprofit can proceed to negotiate a purchase.
Last February, Joanne Kittel, Co-chair; Hui Rodomsky, board member and South Coast Regional Representative, Oregon Coastal Management Program, Land Conservation and Development Department; John Ayers, volunteer and retired Forest service administrator; and Loren Dickinson, community member, Yachats Trails Leader, and City Planning Commission member testified before the OPRD Commissioners, advocating for OPRD to purchase this acreage. View the Future also delivered 20 letters of support for the purchase the Yachats Ridge property.
It is anticipated (although not yet confirmed) that the results of the due diligence will be presented to the Commissioners at their April meeting in Executive Session, which is not open to the public. Discussion of the due diligence report or a decision about the Yachats Ridge property can only be made at a future public Commissioners’ meeting.
This slow and meticulous process by a public agency is required by statute. View the Future continues efforts to increase region-wide support for OPRD to purchase this property.
View the Future is soliciting more testimony and letters of support to present to the Commissioners at their next meeting in April. If you are interested in providing a letter of support, please contact Joanne at the email below.
In March, 15 people toured Yachats Ridge. Tours continue to be scheduled between rains. For those interested please contact Joanne Kittel at joannekittel@viewthefuture.org or Hui Rodomsky at Hui.RODOMSKY@dlcd.organ.gov
