More than three dozen Jefferson County residents could soon expand their property for an unusually low price.
The only catch is that they can’t build any permanent structures on the property, and they have to mow the grass.
Jefferson County is looking for proposals from residents to lease 40 vacant lots that the county bought out in 2008. The properties largely are near Hillebrandt Bayou and other unincorporated parts of the county, largely in precincts 2 and 3, said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick.
Part of the county’s covenant with the federal government, which provided the buyout funding, is that the land can be leased to an adjoining property owner, but they can’t use the property in such a way that would obstruct the flow of water.
In fact, a sample lease agreement included in a request for proposals to purchase the properties reads “the subject property is below the base flood plain elevation and will flood from natural causes.”
It continues to say that the land is not suitable for human habitation and such use will result in immediate forfeiture of the lease.
“It’s been good for adjoining property owners who can use them as gardens and to put cows on,” Branick said. “They can put up barbed wire, but they can’t put up fences. Nobody can build on it. They can pull a trailer or something that can be gotten off of there within an hour.”
Additionally, on a number of occasions, Branick has lamented the money the county has to spend to keep up the properties that have been bought out.
The county pays about $25,000 to have such lots mowed.
“The value to us would really be getting rid of it,” he said previously of bought out properties that can be leased to adjoining landowners. “I’d be willing to sell it for $1.”
People interested in purchasing the property will be required to submit a purchase proposal by 11 a.m. June 16, according to the request for proposals documents.
Proposals will be evaluated with the intended use of the property making up 25% of the score, proximity of the lessee’s home to the property accounting for 35% of the score and the proposed lease payment making up the remaining 40%.
While the county has not set a minimum proposed lease amount, payment for all five years of the lease will be due at signing.
The county expects to award leases by June 29 and execute the lease on July 13, according to the documents.
More information about the proposal process as well as a list of the available properties can be found on the county’s website.
kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com
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