The Yachats Rural Fire Protection District has started the process of getting its downtown property re-zoned before putting it up for sale later this year.
The district plans to start moving into its new, $8.3 million station on the north edge of Yachats in late September. The district property on West Second Street is zoned for public use and consists of four tax lots and three buildings, including the 69-year-old two-story main station.
Board chair Katherine Guenther has started the re-zoning process with the city of Yachats. The property could either end up being zoned commercial or for multi-family residential use, she told the district board at its meeting Monday.
“It would be in the district’s best interest to have it be zoned for commercial,” she said. “My guess is that a buyer will come in, knock down the whole thing and start over.”
The board also asked district administrator Frankie Petrick to consult with its attorney over how to best let real estate agents know it will seek proposals on marketing and selling the property.
Board members said they have no idea how appealing the property might be.
“It’s such an unusual property,” she said.
Guenther said by the time firefighters move to the new station and the old station is rezoned, it will be winter – when real estate activity slows.
Petrick told the board Monday that work on the new station is proceeding quickly. The interior and some of the exterior is being painted, she said, and water lines will be connected later this month. Contractors are working on the west edge of the six-acre property, carving out swales and draining ditches before building the road leading from U.S. Highway 101 to the station.
She said district employees will soon start packing items to move to the new station, and discarding or giving away old, unneeded furniture or fixtures.
In other business Monday, the board:
- Swore in new member Donald Tucker, who was elected in May to an unexpired two-year term. The other new board member, A’lyce Ruberg, did not attend her first meeting.
- Swore in Guenther, who ran unopposed for a four-year term in May, and re-elected her board chair. Ed Hallahan was re-elected board secretary/treasurer.
- Discussed content for and management of the district’s new website, www.yrfpd.org
