The property, owned by the Norman G. Alumbaugh Revocable Trust, is about a city block in size and is composed of five parcels, with frontage on Highway 29/Calistoga Street.
The 2009-10 final budget includes the $500,000 appropriation for the property – most of which comes from geothermal resource royalties, said County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox.
He said the county looked at the land because of its ideal location, located in the 21000 block of Calistoga Street and situated next door to the location of the planned new Middletown Library, senior center and sheriff's substation, and directly across the street from the old library.
Cox said the current $500,000 asking price is less than the property's current owner purchased it for several years ago, and down from the original asking price of $700,000. He said both he and District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock met with the property owner to discuss the potential purchase.
“Middletown really does need something like this,” said Cox.
He said the goal is to develop a town center and central gathering place, which Middletown currently doesn't have.
Although the town does have a larger park a few miles from downtown, along with a nature preserve and a swimming pool, “They don't really have a park like this,” said Cox.
He said the Middletown Area Town Hall also has been discussing the proposal.
“If we were to do a redevelopment plan in Middletown I think this would be one of the recommendations,” said Cox.
He said the property has large, mature trees. “It could be developed into a really attractive and heavily used town square facility,” Cox said.
Comstock said having a nice park facility in the heart of Middletown, which is the main entrance to the county for many Bay Area visitors, would be a “tremendous benefit” to the county and its residents.
With the owner willing to drop the asking price, Comstock said it's the right time to seize the opportunity to purchase the property.
Cox told the board that county officials looked at other downtown properties in seeking a park space, but concluded that the other properties they looked at were best developed for other uses.
“It is at the best location at the best time,” Comstock added.
Supervisor Anthony Farrington asked why the option to purchase agreement was ahead of the appraisal. Cox said the appraisal is expected to arrive any day and, if the land is appraised for less money, he would bring it back to the board.
“Typically this is the way we always used to buy property,” said Cox, explaining that more recently county staff has come to the board for a direct purchase.
Supervisor Rob Brown said he had concerns about the proposal, particularly the fact that the county hadn't even begun work on the library and planned sheriff's substation yet.
“I just have a problem buying more and more land,” Brown said.
Supervisor Jeff Smith said he had mixed emotions about the proposal, but he was open to considering it and wanted to see the appraisal. He added that it seemed like a fairly good price.
Cox said that, based on the work they've done in the county's redevelopment area, he's positive that if Middletown was a redevelopment area the county would be urged to create a town center.
“This is really the only opportunity to do that with frontage on Highway 29, which it would have,” he said.
Farrington said he also had concerns about the proposal. When county staff brings back the appraisal, Farrington said he wants them also to bring information on the total budget for the new library project so they can make sure they have enough money for the projects.
Comstock moved to approve the option to purchase agreement, which Smith seconded. The board approved the agreement 4-1, with Brown voting no.
The agreement calls for escrow on the land to close no later than Oct. 31. Cox's report to the board noted that a a process to obtain a finding of general plan conformance and a California Environmental Quality Act clearance also is under way.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
