Arlie execs offer to help save land near Buford.

Byline: Jack Moran The Register-Guard

A nonprofit foundation established by executives of the Eugene-based development firm Arlie & Co. wants to help buy and preserve for the public 1,400 acres of privately owned land adjacent to the Howard Buford Recreation Area.

The Arlie officials announced Monday that they are working with the Friends of Buford Park and Mount Pisgah to negotiate the purchase of property now owned by the Wildish Land Co.

If they're successful, the valued riverfront acreage would be added to the existing county park and maintained for public use.

The land is bounded to the north by the Middle Fork of the Willamette River and to the south by Buford Park.

Wildish outlined a plan to build homes on the 1,400 acres in a Measure 37 claim the company filed earlier this year with Lane County. Wildish says that land use restrictions imposed by government after Wildish bought the land now limit uses to timber, agriculture and mining. Under Measure 37, property owners whose land has been devalued by government restrictions can seek to have the restrictions waived or be paid compensation.

Arlie officials say they share park supporters' interest in seeing the Wildish property kept undeveloped.

"There is strong public sentiment that putting a housing development in that area would not only harm the wildlife and natural habitat, but would also severely impact the quality of recreation for thousands of people throughout Lane County," said Sadie Dressekie, Arlie & Co. marketing director.

"Protecting this property from development and extending Howard Buford Park would be a wonderful legacy for our community, and we want to work with the Wildish family to ensure that this happens."

Arlie officials aren't ready to say how much the foundation would be willing to contribute toward the purchase. Unless Wildish is willing to donate a portion of the property for park use, the acquisition probably would cost millions of dollars.

"It's too early to throw numbers around," Dressekie said. "We would love to fund the entire acquisition, but we don't know what the price will be."

The Buford Park group already has initiated talks with Wildish officials relating to the potential purchase.

The park group approached Arlie officials after learning that the nonprofit foundation headed by local developer John Musumeci and his wife, Suzanne Arlie, might be interested in the preservation effort.

"We stand ready to raise funds, allocate staff and mobilize volunteers to enhance the habitat and recreational amenities on this parcel," park group Director Chris Orsinger said Monday.

`On (Arlie's) side, the directors of the foundation have extensive real estate experience and a strong track record in successfully negotiating complex land transactions.'

Arlie Foundation President Suzanne Arlie signed a memorandum of understanding on July 31 with Friends of Buford Park. Under the agreement, the foundation has the exclusive rights to negotiate with Wildish a purchase agreement that is acceptable to the foundation and the parks group. According to the memo of understanding, either side can back out of the memo if it wishes to.

Orsinger said Florence Mayor Phil Brubaker recommended he contact Arlie officials. The Arlie foundation last year offered $250,000 to the city for the purchase of 80 acres of property across the Siuslaw River from Florence's Old Town, in order to preserve it for public use. Ultimately that money was not needed because the state Park and Recreation Commission stepped in to buy the land.

As for the Wildish property, company officials say they are discussing its future with a variety of interested parties, including private developers.

"We've been engaged in a dialogue with the Friends of Buford Park, and we're happy to do that," said Randy Hledik, Wildish's director of general services. "But there are others with an interest in it as well. Right now, we're pursuing our Measure 37 claim and leaving all of our options open."