DNR hearing scheduled for Newberry Hill Heritage Park land swap

Published 11:07 am Friday, March 6, 2009

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a public hearing March 18 on exchange of trust land with Kitsap County Parks and Recreation.

County and DNR would exchange parcels for park area near Newberry Hill Heritage Park. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. with an informational meeting followed by a 7 p.m. public hearing at Kitsap County Commissioner Chambers, County Administrative Building, 614 Division St., Port Orchard.

The proposal would exchange approximately 520 acres of forested state trust land for approximately 520 acres of forestland owned by Kitsap County. The exchange parcels are located just north of the DNR-managed Green Mountain State Forest and south of the Newberry Hill Heritage Park.

Independent appraisals will be used to ensure the exchange lands are of equal value. The exact amount of acreage exchanged will be determined by the appraisal results and adjusted to reach an exchange of equal values.

Written testimony on the exchange will be received until 5 p.m., April 13. Address correspondence to: DNR, Asset Management and Recreation Division, ATTN: Newberry Hill Trust Land Exchange, P.O. Box 47014, Olympia, WA 98504-7014; or send comments by e-mail to exchanges@dnr.wa.gov.

Comments will be considered by DNR in developing a final exchange agreement. A summary of the comments and the exchange agreement will be presented to the Board of Natural Resources at a regularly scheduled meeting.

To download maps and descriptions of the two parcels, click here.