Fifteen years ago, Page County purchased 50 acres near Stanley for industrial development, paying well above market rates. They bought the land despite citizens’ warning about the site’s unsuitability for industrial purposes. The result – no jobs created. Not one.
Fast-forward to today: after private discussions with a developer, county officials are rushing to sell.
First, the Economic Development Authority has conducted no public deliberations about maximizing this land’s value to county residents. There has not been a public hearing. All discussions have occurred behind closed doors in executive session.
Second, there is no evidence that there has been any consideration of much needed affordable housing for Page County’s working families. Instead, the likely outcome is high-end vacation homes and short-term rental properties that we cannot afford and that primarily benefit outside investors.
Third, the sale process raises concerns. No minimum bid has been established. The property hasn’t been listed through commercial real estate networks that might attract competitive offers. Advertisement on-line has been limited to the bare legal minimum — a single notice in the Page Valley News. These decisions virtually guarantee a below-market sale price.
This is public land. Demand a transparent process that helps solve Page County’s number one problem — affordable housing for the people who live and work here.
Call County Administrator Amity Moler at 540-743-4142.
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In 2023, the EDA requested that the land be rezoned to agriculture to pave the way for selling to a developer. The land would then be divided into smaller parcels with luxury housing to avoid the requirements for subdivisions.
The BOS denied the request and, particularly Allan Lauderback and Keith Guzy (running for reelection now) asked for more into about why it couldn’t be turned into workforce housing. He also noted that since the BOS had originally purchased the land, the county should decide what happens to it.
The EDA cited enormous expense associated with workforce residential development, but Mr Guzy called the engineering company and learned that the high cost for development quoted included many items that were not required. So it looks like the EDA was not really interested in workforce housing
The EDA was urged to submit a grant for a study for workforce housing.
No further discussion occurred
In Feb 2025, the EDA minutes note that an offer was made to purchase the property but provided no details
In July, EDA meeting minutes show that a developer expressed interest in the purchase. The EDA contacted their bond attorney, Daniel
Lauro, for guidance on advertising the sale
This apparently was done in a closed session
The property is now advertised for sale with plans to be submitted by 9/18
Sounds like they want it to be vacation homes or short term rentals for the very wealthy.
The EDA, it seems , is looking out only for the very rich. We deserve better.