Keep dunes intact.

Byline: The Register-Guard

A year ago, Florence residents were up in arms over the possibility that an 80-acre parcel that includes a stunning dune vista might be sold by Lane County to developers.

Now, it appears the dispute may have a happy ending. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department recently expressed serious interest in buying the entire site for preservation and public recreation.

However, this most desirable outcome could be threatened if county commissioners succumb to pressure to sell 22 wooded acres at the northeast end of the parcel to developers.

Commissioners should resist that temptation, even if it means the county ends up getting less money by selling the entire 80 acres to the state for public park use.

First, a bit of background: Two years ago, the commissioners approved a policy calling for transferring tax-foreclosed properties to the county's parks division for sale, with proceeds used to maintain the county's sprawling and chronically underfunded parks system.

While the original plan called for selling off smaller parcels, the county decided to consider cashing in on the 80-acre dune site, which is located outside city limits across the Siuslaw River from Old Town.

Florence residents reacted with a passionate protest, besieging commissioners with phone calls, petitions and e-mails, and stomping out the words "NO SALE" across the face of what many regard as the city's signature dune.

The plot line grew more complex last summer, when Eugene developer John Musumeci pledged $250,000 to the city with two provisions: that the land remain in city ownership in perpetuity and that the man who lost the bulk of the land in tax foreclosure be allowed to live on the site until he died. The offer eventually was rendered moot by a county-ordered appraisal estimating that the entire site was worth $817,000, even though only the 22-acre wooded parcel was zoned for residential development.

Now, some commissioners are wondering if they can sell the 22 acres to developers for a substantial sum and then sell the rest for a lesser amount to the state, which has stated its intent to negotiate a price based on the site's recreational, and not its developmental, potential.

That's a bad idea for several reasons. The first is that state parks officials so far have expressed interest only in acquiring the entire 80 acres, which border an adjacent 120-acre piece of state park property to the south. Splitting off a portion of the property for development could kill the potential deal with the state by making the remainder less desirable for park use. It's also possible that development of the wooded segment could destabilize the remainder of the dunes and result in long-term topographical shifting. Development could also threaten sites that may be of cultural significance to Native Americans.

For Florence residents, "The 80 Acres," as it has become known, has become an integral part of their community. It's a modern-day commons that provides a defining, inspiring view of the region's precious and dwindling inventory of coastal dunes.

Lane County commissioners should make certain that every inch of this parcel remains in public ownership, even if it means selling it to the state for less money than eager, well-heeled developers might offer.