The vote followed a public hearing on the purchase of five parcels located at 15771 Douglas St.; 21248, 21238 and 21268 Calistoga St.; and 21249 Washington Street in Middletown.
County officials want to use the property to create a town square and park.
The board approved an option to purchase agreement for the property at its Sept. 22 meeting.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox said the seller, Norman Alumbaugh, agreed to sell the county the property for $500,000 after originally asking $700,000. Cox said the current asking price is significantly less than what Alumbaugh paid for the property.
Since the board approved the option to purchase, the Lake County Planning Commission found the park project to be in compliance with the county's new General Plan, clearance under the California Environmental Quality Act was obtained and an appraisal was completed that supports the purchase price, Cox said.
He explained that county staff believes the property will have a tremendous beneficial impact on the Middletown Library and senior center project, which will be next to the proposed park.
District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock said the park will benefit Middletown aesthetically and, eventually, economically. He said he spoke to the architect for the project last week, and the architect plans to incorporate into the park an entrance for the senior center and library.
Cox said they don't expect the park project to be completed before the end of the fiscal year.
Board Chair Denise Rushing said there's a philosophical issue behind purchasing the land for a park, which can create a “critical mass for commerce possibilities.” She said creating town centers is one thing government can do to help foster business.
However, the vote to approve the park land purchase wasn't unanimous.
Supervisor Rob Brown said he had philosophical concerns about the county buying more land. In Middletown's case, Brown said it already has recreational opportunities – it's the only are in the unincorporated part of the county that has a swimming pool, and it has other big potential park areas.
He said he wanted to begin talking about surplusing other county-owned land. Brown said the land has been looked at as an investment, but he said that's like saying a gold wedding ring is an investment.
“Unless you plan on getting rid of it, it's really not,” he said.
Brown added, “Maybe that wasn't the best analogy I could have used.”
Nevertheless, he said he wouldn't support the purchase, and told his fellow board members that they needed to discuss selling other county-owned land in an effort to get it back onto the tax rolls.
Fletcher Thornton, representing the Middletown Area Town Hall, said a large meeting was held Oct. 8 and the park was discussed in conjunction with the senior center and other projects.
“The town hall thought this was the greatest thing that could happen to Middletown at this particular time,” said Thornton.
He said it will make a tremendous difference in the look of Middletown, and it's hoped that it will help draw more businesses. “We hope that you support it.”
Comstock moved the purchase, which was passed 4-1, with Brown voting no.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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